Janet Jackson Reverts A New Video "Make Me"

We've been waiting for Janet Jackson to return to her true roots as an artist for awhile now. In a revealing interview that aired earlier this week, Janet said that the album that reveals the most of her is "The Velvet Rope," and that shows through it's production and lyrical content. Besides, it's one of my personal favorites! The official music video for her new song "Make Me" has just premiered and I have to say i'm lovin' it, and hope that "Make Me" signifies a new change in her music, back to the dance roots but still showing us the anger and emotion that we love from Ms.Jackson.
"Make Me" is a song from her second greatest hits compilation "Number Ones." It was written by Jackson, Rodney Jerkins, Thomas Lumpkins, and Michaela Shiloh. Janet gave the ultimate thank you to her beloved sibling by posting this new single, and initially presented as an audio stream to those who joined her website's official mailing list, on September 14, it was released via digital download a week after. "Make Me" is a fun, breezy tune with an elastic disco beat and a high-energy Euro-dance backdrop." A lot of uptempo stuff makes you feel good. There's so many different colors of Janet.
In her latest effort, Janet, 43, returns to form with a fast-paced dance routine cut with shots of the youngest of the Jackson siblings in a white room, wearing a space-age white suit with metallic shoulder-pads. The video features a vintage Janet vibe, and is shown she doing what she does best: Janet-worthy, sexy come-on, slick choreography, glamorous shots and a remarkably upbeat and countless hat-tips to brother Michael. The best-selling artist, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, struts her stuff in trademark modern routines, flanked by her stylish dancers. The video was directed by Robert Hales, and filmed in black and white. The way the three-minute movie for "Make Me" is shot is reminiscent of the Scream video the singer made with her late brother Michael in their 1995 collaboration. There are some pretty risqué moves in the performance, including one where she grabs the crotch of a male dancer and pushes him forward, and it was amazing she could dance so well wearing those boots!"
"Even though Janet was marking most of the dance moves today, the choreography is obviously very complicated, and she knew it all by heart," says the eyewitness. She is expected to perform the melody "Make Me," to kick off tonight's American Music Awards, which will share the stage with stars like Carrie Underwood and Lady Gaga at Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, and it could be the 'Nasty' singer appears poised for a major comeback. Janet is about to release a two-disc set of her second greatest hits album, "Number Ones," which includes the new single "Make Me," and comprising 33 of her global number one singles. The new album is expected in the second quarter of 2010 and will be produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins.

Alicia Keys's "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart"

After opening up to Billboard about new music video is revolving around through a behind-the-scene footage, the piano-friendly pop star Alicia Keys finally released a music video for her latest new single "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" earlier Tuesday on BET's "106 & Park." The video was directed by Syndrome and inspired by superhero movies "X-Men" series and "Hancock."
The melodic ballad and penultimate song was produced by Jeff Bhasker and was released late October as the second single from her upcoming fourth studio album, "The Element of Freedom," scheduled to be released on December 15. Keys called her "supersupersupersuper joint," a song everyone who has ever been brokenhearted can relate to, a song that is heartbreaking, and yet somehow also empowering.
Keys filmed the video back-to-back with "Empire State of Mind." In this Sydrome-directed video, sees Keys with a superhero ability. It features Keys as a woman with healing powers which brings consequence of not able to touch anyone. Keys takes on humanity and tries flying in a purple catsuit." The clip finds Keys playing an "X-Men"-esque superhero whose powers leave her unable to touch the man she loves. She rolls around in bed, shimmies in a stairwell, then heads off to various parts of the city to do heroic deeds? such as healing a little girl's hurt dog in the street! She eventually ends up shaking her booty on top of a building in said one-sleeved catsuit until she confronts the gentleman who we're to assume is the villain causing this super diva's broken heart. Speaking of the video, recently, Keys said "It basically pictures the movie "Hancock" or the character Rogue from "X-Men" and the way that they have an incredible power that is a blessing but also their curse."
The album will include "Empire State of Mind Part 2" which has her re-uniting with Jay-Z on the hook. Drake is also recruited to lend his vocal on the album and Beyonce Knowles is rumored to make contribution. Keys performed the song at New York University's Skirball Center for Pepsi Music, and also performed it on "Dancing With The Stars." She will performance on Sunday's American Music Awards.

Film: "Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans"

German director Werner Herzog doesn't do normal. His lengthy and fearlessly brilliant career has involved everything. He captured a gallery of oddballs both real and fictional, turning his lens on everyone from a doomed "Grizzly Man" to "Aguirre, the Wrath of God." He's finally met his match in manic actor Nicolas Cage, and the product of their unholy union, "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," a crime drama shocks and confuses in the Big Easy, from First Look Pictures opens theaters today. It should give fans of the cultish and weird a reason to cheer, and for those seeking mainstream fare should consider themselves forewarned.
"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," A powerful spiral into oblivion, works best as a study of a man in the grip of madness, magic and iguanas. The movie is not a remake of Abel Ferrara's 1992 tour of New York law-enforcement hell, nor is it a sequel. According to Mr. Herzog, who has taken "Bad Lieutenant" from New York to post-Katrina New Orleans, a perceptive move that allows him to explore his cardinal themes of man's inhumanity to man and the indifference of nature in a city stripped to its swampy essence. "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" is its own special fever-swamp of a movie, an anarchist film noir that seems, at times, almost as unhinged as its protagonist.
"A New Orleans mystery: A Cop So Bad, He's Good" in this Herzog's trippy new thriller, the Oscar-winning actor reunites with his "Ghost Rider" co-star Eva Mendes, and gives one of his best performances in years. Cage plays an on-the-edge and corrupted cop who's just promoted to lieutenant, and investigating the killing of five Senegalese immigrants. He plunges into drug addiction after a heroic on-the-job accident. He throws himself into this role with the energy of a man accepting a double dog dare, that lets him indulge in his most manic, unhinged mannerisms, taking viewers to the very precipice of nihilistic depravity while preserving just enough self-conscious humor to keep from tumbling in. He does some of his best work in over a decade here. Not all of it works, but it's a joy to see Cage take some risks again.

Mariah Carey's "I Want to Know What Love Is"

Madame Butterfly Mariah Carey has unveiled a new music video on her official website to accompany her recent cover of Foreigner's classic 1984 ballad "I Want To Know What Love Is" as the second single lifted from her twelfth studio album "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," was out November 16. The single has helped Carey reached another milestone, made new album hit her 20th top 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart Wednesday, only been beat by Celine Dion (21).
The single, produced by Carey, C. "Tricky" Stewart and James "Big Jim" Wright, was released in the US for digital download September 15. Before it was re-recorded, the song has been covered by other artists, such as Tina Arena, Clay Aiken, David Phelps and Gloria Gaynor among others. Mick Jones said of her version: "I think she's actually retained the integrity of the song. You know, the arrangement is very similar to the original. They haven't tampered with the song too much. She's captured a certain emotional thing, a feeling."
The Hype Williams directed CG-heavy video was shot in New York City and captures Carey making a live performance in an anonymous baseball stadium, whilst shots are intercut with people who have had tough times in their past, who get quite emotional watching her perform, where a particularly lanky-looking Carey sings into an old-school mic atop a giant butterfly emblem in the field as the True Worship Church Choir provides backup vocals. Mimi looks at least ten years younger in the clip, sporting her Unplugged-era perm-tastic hair and a notable lack of Hello Kitty clothing. This incredible Carey inspire-a-thon clip is so corny, almost magical and really breathtaking.
Career-wise, the 39-year-old R&B singer is almost as powerful as she's ever been. The single has garnered very positive reviews, with many critics praising Carey's version of the classic ballad. Australian magazine "Rhyme & Reason" stated that "While Carey stayed true to the original, this piano-led remake is less an overhaul of the classic '80s hit than it is a modest but impressive update." Bill Lamb from About.com said that "Mariah Carey's new version could leave you speechless. The diversity of vocal coloring expressed in this recording is stunning. This single is a reminder of just how formidable Carey's talents are given a strong production and arrangement."

Beyoncé And Lady Gaga Debut "Video Phone"

In a massive attempt to bring hype and shock, Beyoncé's highly anticipated music video supporting the remix version of her single "Video Phone" featuring eight new looks and glorified back-up dancer Lady Gaga has its global premiered an hour ahead of schedule across 60 channels on MTV networks.
Apparently it was Beyoincé's idea to team with Gaga for this Hype Williams-directed remix smashing new video, featuring two of the music industries biggest pop divas first ever collaboration in the music scene, is a color fest of fast edits, fashionable costumes and cool dance steps. The clip is catchy, nothing too crazy or over the top but still unbelievably sexy. The two superstars also breakout into a little choreography dressed in all white basque, eye masks and very high heels. The outfits are a mix between the two pop stars, dancing and posing pin-up style with massive toy guns and matching leotards. The best part for me is their sexy chair dance routine towards the end of the video. Overall a must watch video!
Beyoncé and Gaga hooked up a while ago, and they're both incredible performers who can actually dance and sing and write their own music. Gaga's cameo in the video was quite subdued unlike her usual self, a refreshing change. Her own gothic-pop aesthetic has grown more elaborate as her popularity has risen, said she wanted to honor Beyoncé for creating her own style, and praising the R&B performer as "a beautiful person." "I wanted to [work with her] because this was an era for her in her career where she defined herself aesthetically," she said. "And that should be applauded that a woman did that. She's so great at what she does." She added, "I want to do my version of Beyoncé. So the whole time I was learning the choreography they were calling me Gee-yonce."
In addition to making a duet on the hook and video of "Video Phone", Gaga has her new EP album, "The Fame Monster," coming out next week, November 23 with a song called "Telephone," which features Beyoncé, who will be released a live CD/DVD set "I Am Yours."on same day November 23.

Rihanna Rolls Out A Dark Tale "Russian Roulette"

Superstar songstress Rihanna debuted the powerful music video for "Russian Roulette" on ABC's 20/20 Friday. The song serves as the lead single from her fourth studio album "Rated R" will drops November 23.
The video for the ballad is far from light-hearted, and directed by Anthony Mandler, who has worked with the singer numerous times. "I think that with this song and the meaning of this song and how loaded it all is, no pun intended, how much imagery and perhaps symbolism that is loaded in this song, the only way to do it was to do something that was visually challenging," he tells MTV News.
"Russian Roulette" is dark, creepy and sometimes bloody. Jesse Williams, a familiar face from the new season "Grey's Anatomy," is the lead man in the music video as Jesse revealed in an interview with E! in late November. The video features Rihanna in a series of distressing situation, including what appears to be a gas chamber, a game of 'Russian Roulette,' a vehicular assault, an underwater shooting and a torture chamber. It involves gun play and underwater scenes in which Rihanna is pierced by bullets, her blood clouding as her body contorts. There are her shadowy tormentors, who keep her locked away and subject her to all sorts of torture including gassing her with red smoke and setting a cat on her. There are scenes of her twisting and pawing in a padded cell. At one point, she is mowed down by a speeding car. Through all of this however, she survives and her partner is killed in the 'Russian Roulette' game.
Bajan R&B singer's "Russian Roulette" portrays some seemingly real emotion as the songstress bounces back-and-forth between writhing around a padded cell, and has received positive reviews for her vocal performance and choice of lyrics. MTV News stated "it retains the same sort of attitude and atmosphere that has made Rihanna such a definitive artist." Entertainment Weekly said that Rihanna took some risks with this track and they "absolutely pay off." UK website Digital Spy stating that: "'Russian Roulette' is a haunting, tensely atmospheric pop ballad with lyrics as dark as daytime radio gets. It becomes clear that 'Russian Roulette' is a masterful return effort: brave, brilliantly-realised and bizarre enough to distance Rihanna from the pop-R&B pack. Factor in her most confident vocal yet and only her third songwriting credit on a single and the conclusion is inescapable." The 21-year-old Barbados beauty has confirmed that she will perform the song on 'The X Factor' on November 29, and will also perform the song on the American Music Awards of 2009 on coming Sunday on ABC.

Nickelback's Sad Story "Never Gonna Be Alone"

Grammy-nominated, mega platinum rock powerhouse Nickelback released their new video "Never Gonna Be Alone" on the Road Runner Records Twitter page Wednesday, and world premiered on Youtube. "Never Gonna Be Alone" is the sixth overall single by Canadian rock stars from their sixth multi-platinum studio album, "Dark Horse," produced by the legendary Mutt Lange and released on September 29. The song is a power ballad and featured on the soundtrack of the Brazilian soap opera: "Caminho das Indias." Canadian rockers have changed from a grunge-tinted metal band to a more melodically accessible pop-metal band. The die-hard traditional hard rockers may not be impressed with the band's more commercial direction, but new fans have been buying their latest CD, "Dark Horse," in droves.
The music video was directed by veteran producer and longtime Nickelback friend Nigel Dick and it tells an extremely sad story of a young woman who has lost her father. The video opens with the young woman in a limousine being taken to her wedding. She is holding a fake blue flower with her bouquet. As she walks down the aisle, she looks back at her mother and father, who are smiling proudly. The scene then cuts back to the woman's high school graduation, where her father is again smiling and clapping for her as she receives her diploma. The video flashes back three more times, the first with the girl's father seeing her off to her prom and the second with him teaching her how to ride a bike. The final flashback shows the father's funeral, the young woman being just a little girl. She is holding two fake flowers in her hand, one yellow and one blue. She tosses the yellow one into her father's grave. The events in the flashbacks are shown again from a different perspective, each time the girl looks up at her father and sees him disappear in a shimmer of light. Back at the wedding, the woman is still looking back, seeing her father's ghost surrounded in light. She realizes that he has still been there for her all along, even in death. The woman places the blue flower in her new husband's breast pocket, and the two wed. As they are leaving the church, the video cuts to her father once more, smiling proudly. He disappears for the final time, his daughter now fully grown up. The video is intercut with scenes of the band playing in a room with a large, light-filled backdrop.
Meanwhile Nickelback's new single "Burn It To The Ground" by Papa Roach has been chosen as the new theme song to WWE Monday Night RAW. The favorite band will also be spending November down under as they tour Australia, and will return stateside and pick up their US tour in San Antonio, Texas with holiday shows through Midwest. Breaking Benjamin and Sick Puppies will be their guests.