Mighty Oaks Celebrate Love In "Just One Day"

Mighty Oaks just put out a great music video to one of the songs from their new EP, "Just One Day." The Berlin-based multinational indie folk trio, comprised of Ian Hooper (US), Claudio Donzelli (Italy), and Craig Saunders (UK), everything that determines this band is already laid out in their name: the timelessness and vastness, the greatness and strength and melancholy. Three young men, from three countries, combining three part harmonies, resulting in one unique sound.
Mighty Oaks write honest, authentic and emotionally driven songs with acoustic guitars and mandolins at the center of their sound, layers of electric guitars creating space and depth, which is rounded off through solid bass lines and the heartbeat of a simple drum. Over that comes the melancholy but hopeful lyrics, which often draw their inspiration from the Pacific Northwest, the birthplace of Hooper that celebrate tales of love, loss and the beauty of all that surrounds. The group's tight, three-part harmonies and effusive, largely acoustic-driven folk anthems have drawn comparisons to bands like the Lumineers, Fleet Foxes, and American Authors.
Their debut studio EP "Just One Day," provides a good taster of what's to come. The resulting "Just One Day" drew rave regional reviews, and was followed by the group's debut long-player, the Universal-issued "Howl." I can’t imagine a more perfect hold-onto-summer song than "Just One Day." Then again, the entire "Just One Day" EP is fitting for this time of year. It has a very nostalgic feel to it. Intricately layered folk, stacked up until it reaches epic heights.
Director by Paul Gerwien, the music video for "Just One Day," find the indie folk trio traveling while singing: "And it's a big old world we live in now/ And how mighty it can be.../ And all this time I pictured you standing next to me/ So we could go find things we've never seen..." Listen to this happy tune and read on as you wish. The truth is, I haven't heard in anything in quite some time that has moved me to want to share, to need to share. That bums me out. I assume it's my frame of mind. Music and introspection go hand-in-hand for me and my life has been on fast forward.

Sister Cristina Covers Madonna's "Like a Virgin"

Breakout star Sister Cristina Scuccia, the singing Sicilian nun who won The Voice of Italy, reciting the Lord's prayer at the final in June and signed a contract with Universal, debuted the first track, from her upcoming self-titled album, out on November 11, a cover of Madonna's 1984 pop classic "Like a Virgin." Ode to Madonna, her love of one Madonna is no secret, but her appreciation of another may come as a surprise.
Scuccia first rose to fame as a contestant on the second season of The Voice of Italy in March with a powerful version of Alicia Keys' "No One," which went viral online, racking up more than 62 million views on YouTube. She went on to win the singing competition after she lifted everyone's ears into the heavens with her angelic voice and made us all throw our hands up in the air while proclaiming, "Sister Act is real." Scuccia dipped "Like A Virgin" in holy water and scrubbed all the sex innuendos from it and changed it from an anthem into an inspirational ballad.
Scuccia told Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire that she wasn't trying to be controversial when she chose the song. She chose it, because to her, the song is about cleansing yourself of your past with the help of love. "I chose it. With no intention to provoke or scandalize." Her version, she said, is "more akin to a secular prayer than a pop song." If you read the lyrics without any bias, she explained to Avvenire, "it's a song about the capacity of love to make people new again, to release them from their past." She added, "This how I wanted to interpret it. That's why we've transformed it from the pop-dance track it was into a romantic ballad a bit in the style of Amos Lee."
In comparison to Madonna's controversial video of 30 years ago, the devoted Catholic avoids any animals and stays away from the signature white pearls the Material Girl donned in her project. Instead, clad in her dark religious habit and crucifix throughout and refrains from reclining on boats, the 26-year-old nun stands tall and extends her arms to the heavens on the checkerboard-tiled rooftop of a Venetian palazzo, casting angelic shadows and yodeled her heart out a slowed-down version of Madonna's No.1 hit. The black and white clip captures a few decadent views of Venice.

Bea Miller Captures Teen Angst In "Young Blood"

When we last saw Bea Miller, formerly known as Beatrice at the time, she was sobbing her little eyes out on a Thanksgiving-night elimination episode of The X Factor USA Season 2. (Worst. Thanksgiving. Ever.) But now, a little less than two years later, Miller finds herself with much to be thankful for. Now, the 15-year-old sensation gets all teen-angsty in her brand new video for "Young Blood," the lead single and title track from her debut album and debut EP. No need to fear the wolves at night... it's just Miller and a group of kindred spirits out on the prowl.
The Instagram sensation and the gravelly-voiced teen made enough of an impression to land a record deal with Hollywood Records, in conjunction with Simon Cowell's Syco label. Not that she's your typical reality-show singer or  Disney diva. The 15-year-old worships The Pretty Reckless, recorded her debut EP full of relatively rebellious pop/rock anthems burning up iTunes and is an outspoken LGBT advocate (she was raised by two awesome moms). And she proved she really does have the "X factor," even if it won't be long before she's made a name for herself outside of Cowell's old show.
Miller wanted to empower the teens who will rule the world when taking about "Young Blood," which has a rebellious edge that representative of what she's about? "It's very dark, but, like I said with the actual song, it's kind of a balance of light and dark. It's weird. I actually saw the rough edit. There are going to be so many more rough edits, but I saw it yesterday, and there's a lot of jump cuts and quick movements but there are also slow moments. It has kids laughing and then kids screaming and crying... it's kind of a balance all of these emotions."
Like the song itself, it makes sense then that the clip would be a fairly gritty affair. Directed by Mark Pellington, the atmospheric video was filmed in what appears to be an abandoned warehouse and finds Miller and a bunch of equally pained-looking teens in an extremely emo mood. It's a great fit for the catchy and surprisingly stirring anthem. "The song has darkness and light within it, which I think is really cool and representative of kids," Miller explained. "We're the future, and we can do whatever we want because someday this world will be ours. Literally, it will be because we will be the adults who are in charge some day."

Jasmine Thompson unveiled "Drop Your Guard"

Jasmine Thompson, 13-year-old indie sensation from Central  London, England, is leaving our jaws dropped with the release of new music video for a brand new original song "Drop Your Guard," which was co-wrote with Emily Philips and Duck Blackwell and featured on Thompson's sophomore full-length album "Another Bundle of Tantrums," released on April 22 in the US, follow up her debut album, "Bundle of Tantrums," was released in September of last year. The "Drop Your Guard" video was produced and directed by Simone Radclyffe of Oliver's Island.
Thirteen can be rough, but Thompson seems to be handling it pretty well, as she is already releasing her second album of cover songs, along with this original track "Drop Your Guard." In the past year, the talented London native made a name for herself in the new millennial way by posting covers and originals on YouTube. Thompson's crystal clear, haunting vocals have led her to gain early support and her numbers are astounding, as she has nabbed a whopping 44 million views on YouTube for her 60+ videos, and amassing a devoted fan base on both sides of the Atlantic with her gorgeously delivered covers of popular songs. Yep, she's totally owning 13.
So what' all the fuss about? All you need to do is hear her open her mouth and sing, and you will totally get why the Internet has fallen in love with this supreme talent. The London-based singer-songwriter/pianist/guitarist  has a gorgeously crystalline and ethereal voice - Ellie Goulding and Christina Perri are probably her nearest sonic relatives - and her voice wraps around the listener. She sounds like a seasoned vet, not like someone barely into her teens. Her voice is big and beautiful, but never showy, on these tracks.
When asked about the inspiration behind the single, Thompson explained: "'Drop Your Guard' is a song about being open with your family and friends. When you are upset about something you don't have to cope all on your own. Talking about it helps. But even if you are not ready to talk about it, just being with your family and friends helps. It was inspired by an experience I had with my brother. Once I was upset when we were on a family holiday in the Lake District. I walked ahead, sulking. My brother caught up with me and started talking to me about other things, fun things. I was surprised how quickly I forgot about my upsets, even though my brother didn't make me talk about what made me upset in the first place."

Rixton is back with "Me and My Broken Heart"

British boy band Rixton are the latest recording artists to emerge from major YouTube success into the pop music big leagues. Rixton are known for creating strong cover versions of everything from Chris Brown's "Don't Wake Me Up" to Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble." After grabbing everyone's attention and promoting the first buzz single "Make Out," a guitar-driven, hook-laced party anthem last October, the guys are back with their engaging sound to American audiences with the brand new sultry "Me and My Broken Heart."
Inspired by the soulful pop sounds of Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars, The Manchester-based boyband offer up a wealth of addictive pop/rock/R&B built on their own brand of songwriting, instrumentation, and vocal harmonies. Working with pop producer Benny Blanco, the ridiculously-catchy "Me And My Broken Heart" sounds like the old-school Maroon 5 on a very good day with its soulful vocal, funk-heavy bass and playful guitars. The sing-a-long chorus doesn't hurt either.
"Me and My Broken Heart" kicks off simply with piano and the lead vocals of Jake Roche. The sound is appealing, but it will take some maturation for Roche to match the voice of Maroon 5's Adam Levine. He remains one of the most technically skilled of vocalists in mainstream pop today. The vocals here are not his match in resonance or range. Another Maroon 5 echo is evident as the reggae-inflected beat of "Me and My Broken Heart," is highly reminiscent of that animating Maroon 5's massive No.1 hit "One More Night." The overall sound here goes down very easy, but it lacks originality.
The lyrics of "Me and My Broken Heart" match the pleading lead vocals quite well. The hook, "I'm hoping it might kick start me and my broken heart," is memorable. Rixton has shot a music video for "Me and My Broken Heart" with Cameron Duddy. In the 'Lock, Stock'-esque clip, we see the foursome (Jake Roche, Danny Wilkin, Charley Bagnell and Lewi Morgan) hit the boxing ring, playing poker and all fall victim for the tricks to a group of attractive female con artists and stuff, and later making a run for it with bags of cash in hand.

Rita Ora returns with 'I Will Never Let You Down'

Following a two-year hiatus since the release of her debut album, the British bombshell Rita Ora comes back strong on the music scene with a one-two punch, dropping a new single in the morning and an accompanying music video in the afternoon for the sumptuous pop track "I Will Never Let You Down," the kick off single from Ora's upcoming sophomore studio album. The sweet, fun and sexy video re-imagines the carefree rabble-rouser from the "How We Do (Party)" clip as an elegant model, complete with black-and-white poses, glittering gloves and luscious red lipstick that truly lets her personality shine.
Written and produced by real-life boyfriend Calvin Harris, the uptempo feel-good pop song features Ora singing sweetly about love as her vocals, with its EDM edges smoothed out, perfectly blend over Harris' up-lifting electro-pop big beats, a repetitive lyrical construction and creating a song and a sound that's a perfect lead-in for the upcoming summer months. When asked by Nick Grimshaw on his BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show what it was like working with her man, she confessed: "Honestly, it was so natural. I wouldn't have done it if it didn't make any sense."
"I think this is the perfect song to launch my new album because I wanted to be as personal as possible and honest as possible and I'm happy right now, I'm in a really good place," revealing details of the stylish spring jam to Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon on Heart FM, Ora said. "I really wanted people to see how I felt and how I want other people to feel when they listen to my music - happy - so I love the fact that this is such an uplifting love song... it has such a positive message."
Ora brought what she described as a "good, energetic love song," to life in the 80s themed visuals. With a bit of an '80s theme, the video, which was directed by Francesco Carrozzini, feels like a high-fashion photo shoot as it fully encompasses the fun vibe of the song. The clip flip-flops between black-and-white shots and color scenes, as we see the 23-year-old Kosovo pop princess striking several glamorous poses and choreographies around in an array of revealing neon outfits and show off her playful side, her dance moves, her runway walk and her love for fashion.

Shakira is a runaway bride on fire in "Empire"

Shakira is a girl on fire as a runaway bride in her latest glamorous video for her wailing single "Empire," the second single off her new self-titled tenth studio album, her first studio album in four years, out Tuesday. Love, motherhood, rock roots, a dab of country here, a drop of reggae there, and of course, Latin dance rhythms. Her new album may at first blush sound as if it could be a disparate affair, but instead, it's a cohesive, organic set, with roots that lie mostly in melodic pop-rock and unexpected touches from multiple influences. There's not much Latin-ness to be found here, but it doesn't matter. The album works on the strength of the songs.
Steve Mac-produced "Empire," is a mid-tempo rock-influenced song, described as being Shakira's biggest rock transition in a long time since her earlier music. Critics had immediately noticed the '90s piano rock influences in "Empire," which is a beauty of a rock ballad that begins pared-down with vocals over solo piano in acoustic mode with a sparse intro before Shakira unleashes her inner head-banger and howls her way through the chorus. Lyrically, the track talks about a bursting passion that the singer simply cannot express in words.
On the track, which has the 37-year-old Latin songstress channeling Kate Bush, she sings about the power of one particular man's love, but he is not the man she is set to marry, "Like the empires of the world unite/ We are alive/ And the stars make love to the universe/ You're my wildfire every single night." Pretty intense. Describing the kooky rock song as surprising would be an understatement. Colombia's finest export has dabbled in guitar-pop over the years, but "Empire" is her rowdiest rock adventure by far.
In the clip, Shakira plays a runaway bride, who enters what looks like a devastated church and is about to say 'I do' to an unknown man, only to realize she's not really ready. So, she turns around and bolts out the door and leaving her guests and groom behind. The video then takes us on a visual journey as Shakira breaks free from her past relationship, literally setting it on fire. After fleeing and dancing through a grassy field in a flowing wedding dress, the singer is seen in front of the church singing the powerful rock-pop "Empire" chorus as the veil and back of her traditional white wedding dress go up in flames.

Nina Nesbitt covers Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop"

Nina Nesbitt has unveiled the video for her cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop," which is included on the Deluxe edition of her debut studio album, "Peroxide," is filled with snappy pop songs about growing up, first love and heartbreak, released on Valentine's Day. The Scottish-Swedish singer-songwriter and guitarist recorded her cover version of the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac's 1976 hit rock track for the department store John Lewis last August, and it has been used in one of their advertising campaigns as she entered the hallowed clique of female singer-songwriters to have soundtracked.
Discovered by Ed Sheeran at the age of 16, and gained exposure as his support act, the Scots starlet is just 19-year-old, but her debut album "Peroxide" looks as if it's about to top the charts as the most pre-ordered record in the history of her record label. Nesbitt has already released several EPs, but the deluxe edition of her new album contains an impressive twenty tracks - quite a feat for somebody who only picked up a guitar four years ago. With her pretty, doll-like features and great big mane of dyed blonde hair, Nesbitt stares out of the cover of her debut album like a standard-issue pop starlet.
Following in the footsteps of friend and fellow female singer-songwriter Gabrielle Aplin, Nesbitt's cover of Fleetwod Mac's "Don’t Stop" for a John Lewis advert is perhaps a little muted and forced, but nonetheless showing off her versatility. The original "Don't Stop" reflects Fleetwood Mac singer Christine McVie's feelings after her separation from Fleetwood Mac's bass guitarist, John McVie, after eight years of marriage. "'Don't Stop' was just a feeling. It just seemed to be a pleasant revelation to have that 'yesterday's gone'," she remembers in The Fleetwood Mac Story: Rumours and Lies, "It might have, I guess, been directed more toward John, but I'm just definitely not a pessimist."

Nesbitt explained of the new single: "I have always loved Fleetwood Mac and am really glad that John Lewis liked my version of Don't Stop." If you've been anywhere near a tellybox over the past few weeks you'll probably have seen their new ad with Nesbitt's vocal chops chucked over the top of it. And now Nesbitt's made her very own video for the quirky little Fleetwood Mac cover. The clip basically features an actual real life tortoise and sees Nesbitt perform in a house, whilst a guy is pictured showering in blue paint (practical) and lots of amazing hair and clothes.

One Direction having fun in "Midnight Memories"

All those late nights filming in London have paid off for One Direction fans, as the English-Irish boy band has finally unveiled its official hilarious video for brand new single "Midnight Memories," the third single and title track off their third album, which was the UK's biggest-selling album of 2013, despite only being released at the end of November, and saw One Direction become the first band ever to have their first three albums debut at No.1 in the US Billboard chart. The video shows how the fivesome upgrades from a boring house party to adventures around London and having fun.
There's always been rock influence in One Direction's music, but it really comes to the forefront on "Midnight Memories," is an ode to the quintet's life on tour and sees the band at their most exuberant and energetic. Co-written by John Ryan, Jamie Scott, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Julian Bunetta and produced by Bunetta, the song reflects the band's growing maturity. Payne told Ryan Seacrest during a pre-release Q&A that this track is the most significant part of Midnight Memories. "This was the first song we wrote on the new album and it set us on course of what writing the rest of this album was going to be. It set the tone," he explained.
Bunetta told MTV News the song personifies the five guys' lifestyle. "It's the title of the album and it just happens to fall in line with Up All Night, Take Me Home, it's all references to in the evening," he said. "And midnight memories are where most of the memories of this record were made," the producer continued. "[It] was between midnight and 5 in the morning. We have so many memories of just being in the studio or being after a show or being in the back of the bus or going to one of the guys' places and hanging and writing. Or, [it's also] just when you're young and that's when you kind of have all your experiences."
The Ben Winston-directed video starts with the Brit boy-banders at a "weird cast party with a crowded kitchen," as the lyrics say. As the boys getting uncharacteristically rebuffed by boring house party guests who couldn't care less, they decide to make a quick exit from the party to beginning of a much better time as the song kicks into gear. The quintet roams around London creating havoc - from stealing a police boat to jumping restaurant counters. They even find some elderly fans in electric scooters and rock out with them as sparklers go off in the street before singing their hearts out while harnessed on top of Tower Bridge.

Ke$ha strips away with "Dirty Love"

Ke$ha has been threatening to rawk out for quite a while, so with the help of some elusive (to her) electric guitars and Stooges icon Iggy Pop, the pop singer finally gets to show off her snarl with the newly leaked "Warrior" track, "Dirty Love." And just before 2013 ended, might as well start off the new year with a nasty bang, the LA-born singer premiered the filtered grainy video for "Dirty Love" ("my favorite on the record," she's said) on YouTube. According to Ke$ha's track-by-track commentary, she loves this song "because we're just screaming about sex."
Pop's 1977 debut solo long player, "The Idiot," was cited by Ke$ha as one of "Warrior"'s main musical influences when she was constructing the album's sound, so it's not a major surprise that she ended up collaborating with the veteran rocker on this track. "Dirty Love" was inspired by Pop's music and draws from garage rock and punk rock and celebrates the lack of fancy things in favor of something more raw. It finds Ke$ha sporting a rockier tone to her vocals, influenced by her love of '70s music. Whilst the "TiK ToK" singer's previous records were dominated by synth sounds and the use of Auto-Tune and incorporate more guitar-based songs on "Warrior."
In a recent Billboard cover story, she said she was so adamant about proving herself that she first contemplated making "Warrior" a rock album. Speaking with UK radio station Capital FM, the singer described the experience of recording with Iggy as "insane." She continued: "It was amazing because, for me, saying something nice about someone, that's being polite. But to actually [work]... with someone that's putting both of your names and making a piece of art together, and you kind of have to respect one another for that. So I obviously respect the hell out of him, but for him to respect me enough to actually put his name on something and collaborate with me was incredibly flattering as an artist."
The song is a gnarly rocker with lots of distortion and Ke$ha's "out-there" visual is death by glitter, which is the the 26-year-old singer's directorial debut as she acting a fool, rocking garter belts, rainbow-colored hair and writhing around on the floor, plays a stripper, ripping her clothes off, shows off her hot booty to the masses. She also gets doused in champagne, which she spits at the camera, as well as dancing with a pair of transvestite dancers, as the mighty rock beat takes over her. Dirty, indeed. Yes, it's Ke$ha through and through. The clip closes with sound bytes from a news cast about smut peddlers!

The Fray get into a bar fight in "Love Don't Die"

The Fray get into a really bad brawl in a Texas bar in the music video for their sing-along anthem "Love Don't Die," the first single from the Isaac Slade-led pop rock band's upcoming fourth studio album "Helios," which is due in stores on January 14 via Epic Records. The members of The Fray have found themselves at the center of a bar fight in their latest video. It's mildly entertaining as far as videos go, which is to say it has something of a narrative, which a great many these days don't.
Normally the visuals from The Fray feature the band performing and some signature piano playing but this video for "Love Don't Die" takes the band and fans in a whole new visual direction. The music video focuses on the band performing at a very rowdy bar. Punches fly, glass is broken and drinks are spilled. "Love Don't Die" is very different from the typical style of video that the band puts out. Even though the setting for the video is a departure for The Fray, it is funny and fits into the upbeat and rhythmic styling of "Love Don't Die." The video might be the band saying that they are going in a new direction and are ready for a new fight.
If John Legend's "All of Me" music video proved anything, it's that having a significant other in the business is both incredibly convenient and incredibly amazing. Suddenly, music videos become much easier to cast, not to mention the fact that fans eat it up when real-life couples get all romantic on screen. It features the guest star Candice Accola from Vampire Diaries, who is also band's guitarist Joe King real life fiancée, and holds its setting at a bar. All Accola wants to do is watch her fiancé play with her best friends, but when a bar-goer gets a little too handsy, things take a turn for the violent. But hey, it gives her fiancé the chance to play hero.
It's a pretty simple visual, which was filmed November 13 at Cowboy Palace Saloon in Chatsworth, California. The group arrive at a Texas biker bar, they hit the stage to perform the song and singing from behind a fence for their protection, then Accola and friends comes in. But when a rude guy begins to harass Accola, her real-life fiance comes to the rescue, igniting in this way and starts quite the bar brawl. The fight progresses and comes to include the entire band, and ends when the band escapes the bar on motorcycles. Accola then does what any woman would do: She kisses the heck out of him. The moment is equal amounts fun and voyeuristic.

Katy Perry/John Mayer duet for "Who You Love"

John Mayer and Katy Perry make it clear who they love in the lovey-dovey new video for their mellow duet "Who You Love," which appears as the sixth song and the third single from Mayer's sixth studio album, "Paradise Valley." Yes, Mayer and his on-again-off-again girlfriend Perry are among the couples in love featured in their new clip trying not to get thrown from a mechanical bull which seems to be placed in the middle of the desert. This provides a more playful aspect to the video, which largely focuses on close-ups of twosome singing, snuggling, being adorable and unintentionally making single people cry.
This Folk-flavored soft ballad was written by Mayer, with Perry writing her verse. Lyrically, "Who You Love" is about accepting falling in love with someone, based around the idea that "you love who you love." Musically, it is a gentle and breezy song, drawing influence from country music. It has the feel of an old soul classic, while the lyrics discuss the joy of falling in love with someone when you least expect it. This was the first musical collaboration between the couple.
Mayer told Billboard magazine that he wanted to write a melodic and confessional song about accepting who you love. He explained on writing the song, "'Who You Love' is a sweet melody that tells the story of opening your heart up and allowing yourself to fully love the person in your life or specifically to 'love who you love, who you love.' It was a really great experience and the song is one of these like old FM '70s and '80s sort of like duets, and I listened back to it; it's, like, really convincing. And I watched it get made and I'm still kind of taken aback." There's romance here, but it's more of the greeting card variety.
"We set up the casting call for real couples," Mayer said of the Sophie Muller-directed clip that features him, Perry and real-life pairs snuggling while riding a mechanical bull and showered with flurries of confetti, the musical power couple laugh and gaze into each others' eyes. "There was nothing scripted in that video, except putting the bull in the middle of the desert." That's a metaphor about love, Perry explained, "Relationships are kind of like riding a bull. You hang on for dear life and sometimes you get a little buck here and there and sometimes you get things thrown at you but you get back on."

Lorde dreams up a different world in "Team"

To close out the year, New Zealand electro pop songstress Lorde has released a magical new arresting, adult-free video for her excellent ballad "Team," the second single and follow-up to her massive debut hit tune "Royals" taken from the 17-year-old chanteuse's debut LP, "Pure Heroine," the seventh best album of 2013. The down-tempo track, draws from the genres of pop, rock, electronic dance and electrohop, gets a suitably dark clip which is a beauteous, slightly melancholic series of striking images and a must-see.
Filmed in Red Hook, Brooklyn, the Young Replicant-directed clip opens with picturesque shots of the ocean, before settling on a giant abandoned edifice on the water. Inside, sporting a set of braids, is the self-anointed "queen bee," Lorde. Surrounded by greenery, the singer is flanked by her minions-who've all been transported to this mystical commune, and pass around a gallon jug of some mysterious blue liquid as she croons the song's addictive chorus. This is the "palace" within Lorde's dreams and it is, by the looks of it, a pretty magical place.
In between shots of the teenage pop singer spazzing out in a blue, foliage-filled universe, two young men have it out with one another, indulging in kidnapping and motorbike jousting. It's an unseen city, apparently, without any parental guidance. Lorde finds herself on what appears to be an island of misfit teens. It's a place that looks like the villain's lair from Skyfall, where Lorde sings about themes familiar from her breakout single while a dirt-bike jousting tournament takes place. The message of the story, at least according to the refrain about being "on each other's team," is one of togetherness, but the down-tempo track and bleak visuals suggest otherwise.
"This video was borne from a dream I had a few months ago about teenagers in their own world, a world with hierarchies and initiations, where the boy who was second in command had acne on his face, and so did the girl who was queen," Lorde posted on Facebook when the video debuted on last Tuesday. "I dreamt about this world being so different to anything anyone had ever seen, a dark world full of tropical plants and ruins and sweat. and of this world, I dreamt about tests that didn't need to be passed in order to be allowed in: sometimes the person who loses is stronger. Enjoy XX!"

Katy Perry bares her soul in "Unconditionally"

Love hits you like a car! Katy Perry gets hit by a car representing the force of love in the newly released abstract new video for her powerful ballad "Unconditionally," the fifth song from her latest fourth studio album, "Prism." Set in a Gatsby-esque party, Perry dons a gorgeous gold dress in a video that focuses on "beauty and glamour and gorgeous shots." There is not one whipped cream-shooting brassiere or bright blue wig in sight. Steering away from her usual colorful, campy and high-energy videos which produce laughs, Perry's latest seems to focus more on the track, while also being artistic.
Musically, the track is a power pop, rock, and electronic ballad, that contains elements of Christian and electronic dance music. Perry mentioned that "Unconditionally" is her favorite song from "Prism," and described the track as a song about unconditional love that could come in all forms, including those from relationships, from parent-to-child, and from sibling-to-sibling. Perry revealed to EW that the single was partially inspired by her romance with John Mayer, as well as her experience in Africa last year. "I went to Madagascar and did a UNICEF trip that changed my life and gave me this song. It's just a simple message about loving someone and accepting them and kind of driving at you don't have to be so self-conscious, you don't have to fear, because essentially, everybody has their stuff. Nobody comes stuff-free."
The Brent Bonacorso-directed video was filmed in October in London, and was partly inspired by a couple different movies, like "Dangerous Liaisons" and "Anna Karenina" with plenty of artistic imagery. The epic mini movie finds a vulnerable looking Perry swept up amidst a slew of dancers waltzing both in the snow and during a lavish party in a grandiose ballroom. But as she runs from the soiree, we see the singer get struck by a car while belting the ballad in a wintry wonderland setting. Perry told MTV at the EMAs that the poignant moment is "a metaphor to talk about when love finds you, it's kind of being like hit by a car."
She echoed that sentiment in a tweet shortly after its debut: "Yes, unconditional love sometimes feels like being hit by a car... Or being on fire... How does it feel to you?," the 29-year-old pop star tweeted about the  video. Perry also told MTV that the concept for the video is a bit of a departure for her: "It doesn't have a complete narrative. I do that all the time; I usually have quite a big story line. This time I wanted to give a lot of gorgeous, beautiful looks, which I don't usually go for. But it's mostly just a beautiful video that is supposed to evoke this power of love." There's also an owl, a fire, and flying flowers. It's beautiful, bizarre, and tragic.

RaVaughn falling in love with her "Best Friend"

RaVaughn has released a music video for her real love song "Best Friend," the second single from her upcoming solo debut album, "Love Always," which features production from Ne-Yo, The-Dream, Babyface, Eric Hudson, and Jerry Wonda. The singer-songwriter from California, who is initially signed to Ne-Yo's imprint Compound University which includes artists such as Adrienne Bailon, who later moved to Columbia Records in 2011, is steady working hard on her inaugural album, slated to release later this year. Until then, the pipe-flexing songstress teases us with "Best Friend."
Born in Carson, California, RaVaughn's passion for music started at an early age. At age 16, RaVaughn won two rounds and qualified for the finals in "Showtime at the Apollo" at the famous Apollo Theater in New York City. Influenced by artists like Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, and Anita Baker, Beyoncé Knowles, and Nas. RaVaughn brings a unique twist to R&B mixing in pop and rock elements of her own. After attending college in New York and putting out a few demos and has recorded background vocals for multiple artists including Celine Dion, Natasha Bedingfield,Jennifer Hudson and R&B singer Brandy.
The friend zone ballad, that many women will be able to relate to is an acoustic, guitar-driven track with RaVaughn's smoky vocals sounds sweet as could be. "I just feel like it's so relatable to everybody," the stylish and beautiful RaVaughn told Rap-Up.com of the song, which she co-wrote with her sister. "It's just having that best friend where you fall in love with them and they don't know it, so you have to be that best friend and coach them through whatever they're asking you. The song is all about getting that courage to finally let that person know, 'I'm not your f**king best friend.'"
RaVaughn co-directed the clip with her younger sister, actress Rhyon Brown along with Talia Myers. Draped in gold flakes, the clip features the stylish and beautiful RaVaughn attempting to sort out her feelings for her best friend (played by Justin Walker), but it's hard to tell if he's feeling the same. As she soaks in a swimming pool filled with rose petals while reflecting on their relationship. They share tears, laughs, and hugs, but he doesn't realize that she's in love with him. "My favorite moment of the video is probably the whole pool scene, just because I've never done anything like that before. I had this gold glitter on my face, and we created a scene that was pretty much a fantasy."

Demi Lovato gets somber and chilly in "Let It Go"

No word yet on a “Neon Lights” video treatment, but Demi Lovato has given fans a nice stopgap as she juggles a thousand-and-one projects (The X Factor! Glee! Touring! Promoting her own music!) by contributing the song "Let It Go," which is featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming Disney animated flick, "Frozen," and she sings in the dark and is surrounded by ice and snowflakes in her newest simple-but-sweet video for the track. In typical soundtrack style, it's footage of Lovato intercut with footage of the film, but the Demetria-centric stuff is lovely.
Disney's newest musical-fantasy, opens in US theaters on Thanksgiving. is loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson's fairly tale of a young girl named Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell), a fearless optimist, who sets off on an epic journey-teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff (voice of Jonathan Groff) and his loyal reindeer Sven to find her sister Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf (voice of Josh Gad), Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom."
"Let it go, let it go / Can't hold it back anymore," the 21-year-old 'X Factor' judge passionately sings in the chorus of the emotive liberation-themed power ballad. Then, "Standing frozen / In the life I've chosen / You won't find me / The past is all behind me," go the powerful lyrics of the propulsive bridge. "Let It Go" was penned by couple Robert Lopez & Kristen Anderson-Lopez. The song was originally performed by Broadway queen Idina Menzel who plays the central role of Elsa and performs the song in "Frozen" itself, but Lovato's powerful pipes absolutely demolish it.
Winter comes early in Lovato's new clip which is set in a mansion, atop a snowy mountain, where the glam singer, still in her blond-hair era, looks a bit sullen is bundled up in black, lacy Gothic dress inside a cold, dark and abandoned mansion and all of its furniture is covered in white sheets. As Lovato makes her way through the estate, even sitting at the piano, playing with some of the treasures, and expressively pours her heart out. With every room Lovato goes through, it seems she begins to feel more and more empowered. When she hits her most inspiring notes, she's suddenly a new woman with a gorgeous white gown, and throws the covers off of the furniture and the mansion is full of sunlight. The video's empowering message certainly pays homage to the film.

Bruno Mars turns up the heat in "Gorilla"

Bruno Mars doubles as a seedy strip-club singer in his just-released visual via Facebook for his banging tune "Gorilla" the fourth single from the 14-time Grammy nominee's platinum sophomore studio album, "Unorthodox Jukebox," which reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in March. The 28-year-old Mars has been deemed family-friendly enough to headline the upcoming Super Bowl halftime extravaganza, but the pop crooner sports a more R-rated side in the music video for the 'making sex like animals'-themed "Gorilla."

"Gorilla" an absolutely arena-sized sex jam, is a mid-tempo rock, soft rock and quiet storm song, where Mars sings about making love like animals and that he's feeling like he is high off of cocaine and drunk off of liquor and he feels great. Mars said that it was "the first song we wrote for this album and it really set the tone for the entire project and it kind of became the mascot," stating that it was the reason why there's a gorilla on the cover of the album. Musically, the song received mixed to positive reviews from music critics who praised its early 80's arena rock tendencies fused with power pop hooks, though "Gorilla" has been bashed for its explicit lyrical content.
Co-directed by the Hawaiian crooner and his longtime collaborator Cameron Buddy, the visuals follow the boundary-pushing nature of the track's lyrics, offering a raunchy video, which opens with two women speaking in Spanish while applying lipstick backstage at a gentleman's club called La Jungla. Actor Luis Guzman cameos as the club's seriously sleazy owner, and Mars and his mates serve as the house band performing the epic "Unorthodox Jukebox" cut, and practically every frame of the video drips with both sweat and sex, which, again, is probably the point.
After an introduction by Guzmán, Mars kicks things into gear and "Slumdog Millionaire" star Freida Pinto, an exotic dancer, begins pulling off some gravity-defying spins on the stripper pole with her entire sexual being. As his band bangs out some mid-tempo steamy soft-rock piano stabs, Mars pushes practically everything to the max, mugs at her intensely, singing "You and me baby making love like gorillas," as she disrobes and sparks fall from the ceiling. Then it cuts to the two of them heating up with in the backseat of a steamy car. The video ends somewhat ambiguously, with the woman setting the guitar on fire and Mars merely singing as if nothing is happening.

James Blunt trips motorcycle in "Bonfire Heart"

James Blunt traveling across America on a motorbike taking photos of everyday citizens in the music video for his new single "Bonfire Heart," the lead single from his upcoming fourth studio album, "Moon Landing," will be released on October 21. "There's just something romantic, old-school and lonely about the moon landings," Blunt said of his new project. "A nostalgic memory of something huge that we can hardly believe we once achieved, and for some sad reason, can't achieve again - like first love." He added: "This is a much more personal album, and also quite back to basics. It's about me and Tom [Rothrock], the producer, finding where the story all started and where we are now."
Okay, are you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside? Because you should be. Blunt has stolen our hearts in the past with unmistakable and unforgettable lyrics to his breakout hit "You're Beautiful" and this new song is no exception. Wrote with OneRepublic's frontman Ryan Tedder, the 39-year-old singer returned with a soft sound, and as a summer breeze relaxes you as you're enjoying. "Bonfire Heart" is a perfect blend of Jason Mraz, Train and Capital Cities. Having been through a number of relationships where the flame eventually burnt out, Blunt sings here of finally meeting a girl whom he believes will keep the fire in his heart alive.
"The song is about love, life, fear and hope," said the singer when sending out a link to the song stream to fans that belong to his email list, "and more than anything, you and me." At first listen, you'd think you're hearing some amazing acoustically driven, feet stomping Mumford track, but Blunt's tender boyish voice gives the charade away. "Bonfire Heart," a light hearted, sentimental look on life and finding the spark that ignites that lovely little thing called love, not only showcases that the British singer-songwriter has what it takes to be a relevant artist in the present of 2013, but has also reached a new maturity through his lyrics.
Blunt explained back-story of the video: "Shot throughout Wyoming and Idaho over two days using real characters, and the final scene took place in the car park of a bar, where everyone we'd met on the journey would meet up and we planned to film a wrap party. What we didn't know was that in the bar, a wedding was taking place, and when they saw us arrive, the entire wedding piled out and joined us. I played them all "You’re Beautiful" in the car park on my guitar, with the bride and groom pushed to the front by the 80-strong crowd, and then we lit fires and sparklers, put on 'Bonfire Heart,' and the bride and groom had their first dance to it. So if you think the girl looks happy at the end, you'll know, she's not acting." It's an emotional journey you won't likely forget. So here's to you and your blazing bonfire heart.

Elton John trying to get back "Home Again"

Elton John has him returning to his songwriting roots and dropped a new visuals to his latest single, "Home Again," the first premiere cut off of English rock composer/pianist's upcoming 30th solo album, "The Diving Board," which is his first studio album in seven years, scheduled to hit stores on September 24th. The familiar-sounding piano that opens "Home Again," instantly recalls the singer's hit material from the '70s, when he was the biggest pop star on the planet. More than 40 years after he first reached stardom, John remains a vibrant artist well worth hearing.
The 66-year-old British veteran artist returns to the spare piano led sound of his early solo albums and the result is a subtle gem. Bernie Taupin's moving lyrics speak of the desire to return to what feels like home, and the music sounds familiar, comfortable, and surprisingly current. Lyrically, John is in a reflective mood, looking back: "I'm counting on the memories to get me out of here," he sings in the song's opening line. By the time he gets around to the chorus - "We all dream of leaving but wind up in the end spending all of our time trying to get back home again" - "Home Again" isn't so much about returning to a place to stay there, but returning to find inspiration.
There is longing in the lyrics of "Home Again," but that is tempered by a sense that, at least musically, John is already back home. His piano work is backed by horns and subtle orchestration that gives the feeling of depth and wide open space that brings back memories of his early breakthrough pop efforts. "Home Again" brings us full circle sounding exactly like one of music's elder statesmen lovingly revisiting his earlier self. And "Home Again," thematically at least, could turn out to be his new album's anchor. John is giving fans a taste of his long-awaited upcoming album with this new video for “Home Again," as a series of actors plays a single character as he journeys home; the closer he gets to his destination, the younger he gets.
Directed by Brent Bonacorso, the beautiful three-and-a-half-minute video was shot in London, rural England and Iceland. It follows a Benjamin Button-esque man, who regresses in age as he seems to be trying to get back to the beginning, although the ending throws you off somewhat. The video opens with this older man leaving his current life and setting out on a journey to return to the place where he came from. Dragging his suitcase and walking through beautiful landscapes, the man back in time and becomes younger and younger as he gets closer to his final destination. Deep!

Gavin DeGraw debuted clip for "Best I Ever Had"

Gavin DeGraw premiered his new video for his latest single, "Best I Ever Had," the lead single from the golden-voiced singer's upcoming fifth studio album, still untitled, which is the followup to his 2011 release "Sweeter," and is scheduled for release this fall via RCA Records and Sony Music Entertainment. The 36-year-old is back in action with one of the most up-tempo tunes of his music career and "Best I Ever Had" takes you for a joyride from the first thump of the bass drum to the last strum of the guitar. The video like the song itself, it's a little fast and frantic, with a bit of romance thrown in.
Instead of composing a few tunes alone and co-writing the rest, the musician enlisted the help of other songwriters on every single track for his new album. Working with artists like Boys Like Girls' frontman Martin Johnson and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder. Outside the comfort zone of his past hits, DeGraw served up a foot stompin', heart felt, in your face single in "Best I Ever Had," which moves to the rhythm of a pounding kickdrum, galloping guitar and a horn section that recalls contemporary folk-leaning artists like Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Of Monsters & Men.
The song shows a clear evolution to his sound by adding a melody closer to folk rock, whose style may remind the English band Mumford & Sons. A perfect mix between folk and country music. This tribute to life on the road was co-written by himself with the collaboration of Martin Johnson, who also produced the track, the song moves to the rhythm of a brisk stomping beat. "I'm sitting in the room with Martin Johnson, the guy I'd been writing with before who's really gifted, and he's like, 'Hey man, what do you think of this track?'" DeGraw recalled to Billboard magazine. "He just starts playing this jangle-y, uptempo kind of thing, which ultimately was the foundation for 'Best I Ever Had.'"
Filmed in early July and was directed by Shane Drake, The song's official music video is full of fast cuts, preachy images, to crazy out of control country beats. The fast-paced visuals for "Best I Ever Had," finds DeGraw getting close to the 2013 Miss USA titleholder, Erin Brady who plays his love interest, as DeGraw sings in front of a screen with changing images that reflect and fit the song's rapid-fire tumble of lyrics for most of the video, while shots of Miss USA. of her in a field are scattered in the video. The end of the video features DeGraw being kissed by Brady. The video is enough to bring the folk and country-inspired song to life.