Rocky Loves Emily Premiered "Clueless" Video

Rocky Loves Emily premiered music video on AOL.com for their new single, "Clueless," which can be found on the Detroit rockers' just-released EP "American Dream." Based on the title of the song, you might expect an Alicia Silverstone or Paul Rudd cameo in this brand-new video, "Clueless," by pop-punk/new wave band Rocky Loves Emily. But for as much as we love Cher and the rest of the gang from the '90s teen comedy, it's probably best that the Detroit six-piece kept the cultural references a little more contemporary.
The pop-rock group, who hail from a suburb of Detroit, has lived their vision every day since the band formed in early 2009. Because of their hard-working attitude and the band's creative ideas, all five tracks on the EP are accessible, lively and fun, inspired by good-time rock 'n' roll and even a little bit of country. They are uniformly catchy and the EP is enjoyable throughout so there's really no sense complaining. If it works, it works. And for the most part, it works. The standout track on the EP was the title track "American Dream." Unlike the band's first single "Clueless," which I found largely forgettable, this song really knocked it out of the park and started the EP off on a high note. All this fueled the group's mission to convey their new definition of what the American dream can mean.
"The inspiration behind the 'Clueless' video was popular TV shows like 'American Idol' and 'Making the Band,'" frontman Brandon Ellis tells us. "We thought it would be fun to do a similar idea about an 'open audition' to be the lead singer of Rocky Loves Emilyy. We hope you love it!" The video shows the band as a panel of judges, watching all walks of life come in for the audition. From biker dudes to beauty queens, it seems like Rocky Loves Emily has a tough task to tackle. It's quite the human tapestry. Then, the perfect candidate walks in and truly gets to live out a dream, just as the title of the band's new EP suggests.
"Our record portrays that just because you live in America, doesn't necessarily mean that 'the' American dream has to be your American dream." Brandon adds. "We all know that everyone has a specific dream in their heart. For instance, our dream is tour nonstop and meet as many people as possible all while trying to be sincere in what our fans are doing. The cool thing is, that's just our dream. Your dream is something awesome and unique." What is the American dream? For Rocky Loves Emily that dream isn't a white picket fence and a nine-to-five job. For them, the dream is something unique to each person, something that can only be defined from within. For Rocky Loves Emily, the American dream is traveling around the country in a beat-up van, making friends, and playing music that brings joy to people's hearts.

Tiffany Evans Promises Her Friend "I'll Be There"

A couple years after the release of her eponymous self-titled debut, and the collaboration with Grammy Winning R&B Songstress Ciara for her first single "Promise Ring," Tiffany Evans is back to the music scene and actually looks grown with a heart felt and thoughtful black and white video for her sultry inspirational ballad new song "I'll Be There." The Adam Tillman-directed video touches on the tough topic of abuse and carries the message that there is always help and always a way to overcome.
Most of you probably remember Evans as seen in the Tyler Perry movie as the little girl with the HUGE voice. Or maybe you're most familiar with her from her hit record, "Promise Ring". Either way, Evans is growing up right before our eyes and is a sweet heart and the voice is impeccable and a more mature look to match. The the Bronx born young R&B singer shows her mature side, showcasing an array of everyday people with issues and a word that was a representation of their current situation was printed on the palm of their hand. This video was very tastefully done and not overworked like the clips we have been seeing from other R&B stars lately.
"I'll Be There" is the first single to be lifted from the vocalist's sophomore album, "Ms. Evans," is slated to drop next year. The inspirational ballad is a winner on many a front. The 18-year-old talent powerhouse promises to stay by her friend's side when troubles arise, singing, "I'll be there when you need me/ No matter what, how, or when, my friend/ I'll be there." With its stripped-back piano-led production, Evans' stellar vocals are given centre-stage to shine, and shine they do. In an age where "it's not hot if it's not Electro-Pop," "I'll Be There" serves as a refreshing reminder that true talent is still on the come-up.
Evans delivers an emotionally charged visual with a really great message. Speaking about the emotional video for "I'll Be There," She says: "We want to focus on the characters in the video—a woman that is going through a breakup, a frightened child, and an underachieving teen. We want them to feel like they're going to go through a depressed, sad stage, and think everything is over. Then you have me praying for them and wishing the best for them. Magically, they start feeling hope and receive messages of hope and love in their hands." Evans looked wonderful and I'd forgotten how simple but colorful her amazing voice was. I quite liked the song as well as the video.

Easton Corbin Debuts "I Can't Love You Back"

Easton Corbin is on a roll, after he took home all three of the "Breakthrough Artist" awards at the inaugural American Country Awards, comes out of the gates with a new music video for the third single "I Can't Love You Back" off his self-titled strait-laced traditional debut album. "I Can't Love You Back" is as good a song as its pedigree would lead you to expect, but you need to watch the entire video to understand just what Corbin is feeling when he sings "I Can't Love You Back." It will definitely remind you to not take for granted the ones you love. You never know when they might be walking out the door for the last time.
Fresh off a pair of mid-tempo countrified hit singles, Corbin slows it down and shows his versatility with the broken heart ballad "I Can't Love You Back." The song has a universal message of loss and is about a man whose love can accomplish anything but bringing her back that is, and clinging on to his feelings despite the absence of the loved one. The song doesn't really rely on catchy witticisms to grab you, instead Corbin pours out his heart and bears his emotions and grabs you with a convincingly heartbreaking performance. He said: "When I heard the melody, I thought, 'that's a hit.' The song can mean different things for different people. She could have died, she could have left him—people can interpret it the way they feel."
The narrator goes through all the ways he wants to love his significant other except for the fact that the she is not returning to him. The emotion expressed is a straightforward one: no matter how much he continues to love her, that will not bring her back to him. It is very nicely presented, with Corbin's nicely understated vocal still sounding very reminiscent of a meld of George Strait and Alan Jackson. The tasteful production adds greatly to the effect, with Paul Franklin's sweetly slithering steel guitar underlining the delicate sadness of the mood. This alone makes this track a welcome breath of fresh air on country radio.
Corbin is the country throwback of the 2010s. His sound reflects back to the early 1990s sound that found the genre booming. "I Can't Love You Back" follows a tried and true formula: a simple song with a heartfelt message and a flawless execution. It is a mirror image of the style Corbin's early career has taken, and the simple yet strong execution of his songs has managed him quite a following, as many eagerly look forward to the blossoming of what is poised to become a successful career. He now knows it's over and seems to have finally accepted that fact, which in the tone of the song seems to be both freeing and depressing. Corbin eloquently weaves from wistful longing on the verses to the heartfelt plea of the chorus' making a strong emotional connection with the listener.

Katharine McPhee - "It's Not Christmas W/O You"

A Very Merry Katharine McPhee has released the official music video for her new co-penned Christmas song, "It's Not Christmas Without You," the only original song from her third studio album, and first holiday themed album "Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You" was premiered on Vevo on Friday morning. Waking up to a sad feeling that she won't be with her lover, the 'American Idol' graduate gets a surprise visit when trying to distract herself from the loneliness.
McPhee tells her loved one, "It's Not Christmas Without You," on a new song. Opening with elongated string chords and sleigh bell effects, the piano ballad with light percussion features the now darker-haired McPhee longing for her loved one to be next to her during the holidays. "Life on the road has made me realize how many people spend Christmas alone," McPhee explains when writing the song, "When visiting military hospitals or even meeting fellow travelers working during the holidays, it made me reflect on how hard it can be to celebrate anything when you're away from those you love."
The American Idol runner-up's first holiday album includes a slew of covers as well as the track that inspired this music video, which McPhee wrote herself. The video was directed by Judson Morgan and features actor Joel David Moore as McPhee's love interest. McPhee is forced to spend the holiday without her loved one in a music video for her single "It's Not Christmas Without You". Waking up to a call from her boyfriend saying he will be away at Christmas, she decides to make the day more cheerful by turning her room into a winter wonderland. As she finishes doing the decoration, her man surprises her by appearing at her door holding a beautiful mini Christmas tree.
With one of the most beautiful voices ever to grace the American Idol stage, McPhee battled all the way to the finals during season five in 2006. Ultimately finishing second to Taylor Hicks, McPhee has kept herself very busy in the last four years. "Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You" is her latest holiday project, a truly excellent collection of holiday music. McPhee and her producers have wisely chosen to keep the arrangements simple. Artists often shorten the shelf life of their Christmas-themed releases by layering on current production styles. Thankfully this isn't the case here, with a classic sense of style that will play equally well in years to come.
"Christmas really is my favorite time of year," she said. "It takes a little imagination to be recording right now but I don't need a ton of Christmas lights in the studio to inspire me. I know these songs so well. These are the songs I listened to growing up. Hopefully my versions will be unique but at the same time timeless; full and rich yet simple and intimate." McPhee's holiday tune fits right in. More often than not, "new" Christmas songs stick out like a sore thumb; an unfamiliar weak spot. Not so here, as McPhee and company have crafted a strong melody and backed it with unfussy instrumentation. Even if you haven't closely followed her post-Idol career, this is a perfect opportunity to become reacquainted.

Michael Jackson Feat. Akon For "Hold My Hand"

The video for Michael Jackson's posthumous stirring ballad single "Hold My Hand" has finally hit airwaves, is heavy on moody lighting, fairly light of images of MJ. "Hold My Hand," recorded by Michael Jackson with the help of Senegelese rapper Akon, is the first of what is sure to be a Tupak-level quantity of post-mortem music from the deceased pop star. The record debuted as the first single from the late great King of Pop's upcoming 10-unheard-song posthumous CD, "Michael," the first album released under a seven-year, come out on December 14.
"Hold My Hand" is a Jackson's classic love ballads, which is a heart-stirring call to unity with a touch of a Caribbean lilt. It sways along with its gentle piano line, and is punctuated by light synthesizer effects as the inspirational verses blossom into the track's singalong chorus. The from-beyond-the-grave duet with Akon was recorded in 2007 and, as a message on Jackson's site points out, "a handwritten note from Jackson belonging to his estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project." After an unfinished version leaked in 2008, Akon recently went back into the studio to complete production on the track. While the "Thriller" singer dominates the first verse, the remaining three quarters of the anthemic song are carried by Akon.
The legacy of Jackson is celebrated by his fans in this Akon-featuring music video directed by veteran video helmer Mark Pellington, who said in a statement, "The video is a tribute to all that Michael stands for -- life, in all its permutations...love, and its power. A video of memory, healing and joy." The clip opens with a crowd of people standing in front of a large airplane hangar and unleashing a flood of white balloons as they say "Thank you, Michael" and "We love you, Michael," while a gigantic image of the singer in silhouette appears on the side of the structure. As Jackson begins to sing the first verse, we see a variety of different hands — old, young, holding babies, reaching up to the sky, down into a bathtub... all intended to pull heartstrings and stir emotion.
But while Akon does play a major role in the crisply shot video, the visual product is undoubtedly a tribute to the King of Pop, who passed away in June 2009. Instead of the eye-popping special effects and intricate choreography of the past, the "Hold My Hand" video goes for a simpler, more predictable sentimentality. Without Jackson around anymore to call the shots and push the video envelope, it also signals a quiet, uneventful end to a career of constant reinvention and visual ambition via music video. Michael Jackson left behind a huge catalog of unreleased music, some completely mixed and some diamonds in the rough. So you can expect to be hearing new Michael Jackson music for years to come.

Erin Christine Just Wants The Chance To "Say"

Rising Soul/Pop talent Erin Christine premiered the official video for her first official buzz single "Say," during an exclusive celebration at NYC's The Eldridge. The emotionally captivating video was directed and edited by former MTV host Quddus with cinematography by Michael Dispenza, and Co-starring Silvestre Rasuk. The song was written by Tiffany Starr, composed on piano by Christine, and co-produced by Malay, the producer of John Legends's "Green Light" single.
Connecticut was the backdrop for this rising star's upbringing. Born to Italian and Lebanese parents, her diverse background is not the only trait that separates her from the rest. Christine is one of the newest artists out there to grasp the industry's attention. Tiffany Starr quickly recognized Christine's extraordinary talent at the young age of twenty-one and they started creating her sound using emotion filled lyrics and dramatic melodies on keys. The new song "Say" is a strong record with pop potential. The new R&B artist explained "I came up with this idea on keys and called [songwriter] Tiff [Starr] in the room and she just started spitting out words. It's about a relationship that didn't work out and later down the road she wants to SAY to him me still get's butterflies and she just wants the chance to SAY to him that there is no me without you."
Up-and-comer Christine has a hard time letting go in the video for her piano-kissed ballad "Say." The sensitive clip follows the chanteuse as she says goodbye to a boyfriend, eventually meeting back up with him down the road and discovering that he's moved on. Quddus took to the mic and expressed his inspiration from the song "Say," "I wanted the video to be just as raw as the song. Bring you right into a relationship and the moments that end up defining it." He directed singer and pianist Christine's debut video with an eye that captured emotion vividly. This video is about wanting the chance to SAY something before it's too late.
The talented vocalist have already caught the attention of John Legend and HOT 97 radio personality Peter Rosenberg. With all of the heat she currently has combined with a soulful, yet powerful voice and girl next door charm, it looks like the sky is the limit for this young up-and-coming, talented R&B singer. Whose upcoming debut EP "Something Better" is slated for a release in 2011. Once again, Christine stood out from the rest for her unique and soulful sound and was given numerous "once in a lifetime" opportunities.

Adele's Mega-Angry In "Rolling in the Deep" Clip

Adele, the UK songstress who successfully crossed the pond with her 2008 critically acclaimed debut album "19" is gearing up for "21," her highly anticipated new sophomore release. After winning the Grammy for Best New Artist last year, it seemed she took a break from the music scene in the states. Her official video for her amazing lead single, "Rolling In The Deep" has premiered on iTunes yesterday and it is breathtaking in its simplicity. Adele sits alone in a stark room belting out the song amidst scenes of destruction.
It's been a while since we've heard from the two-time Grammy Award winner songstress whose hit song "Hometown Glory" has been everywhere. She's still got that powerful, soulful voice and you can hear that influence in the stomping "Rolling in the Deep," which was written quickly and in the heat of the moment. "I was so angry that I finished 'Rolling in the Deep' in about an hour," the 22-year-old , tells PEOPLE of the witty revenge tune. Sometimes anger can produce something beautiful. On this revenge song, Adele lays into a former boyfriend. "It's me making a bit of a statement," she told Q Magazine.
The soulful Adele describes the revenge tune as a "dark bluesy gospel disco tune." it's a sweet mix of soul, blues and folk with a bit of an indie rock feel on top. Adele's vocals are as powerful as they ever were. "We were kind of expecting to come up with another 'Chasing Pavements,'" says Adele of another track on the album, "but we ended up with this beautiful gospel piano tune, and it's lovely." Yes, Adele is done chasing pavements on "Rolling in the Deep," which is sung from the perspective of a scorned lover, who is finally able to see the light, but despite regretful sentiments, reconciliation is not an option here.
Like "19," the "21" title refers to Adele's age at the time the songs were written. The British singer explained on her website that the album "knocked me for six when writing it." As for the themes of her new album, Adele explains, "I've grown up. I can deal with rejection better and I'm not as serious in my normal life as I was in my music." The video directed by Sam Brown featuring "strong images of a female warrior performing a contemporary dance." If any other artist said they could film an entire music video sitting in a chair and singing, while the world fell apart around them, I would laugh and say, "nice try Susan Boyle." But when Adele does it, the result is a magical and emotional mini-movie that tells a story just as heart wrenching as the song itself. Enjoy!