Every other week, writer Mara Hyman takes a look at the buzzworthy short films coming from the music video universe.

Daughtry – "Start Of Something Good"

Daughtry is back! The music video for their latest single, “Start of Something Good,” premiered on September 28th. The song is very catchy and tells the story of someone starting a new relationship that will be good for them despite wounds from past relationships. However, one thing that Daughtry fans might notice when they first hear the song is that there is a bit of country influence, something the American Idol rocker isn’t quite known for. The song is more raw and has a stronger acoustic sound than the band’s past hits. The video further emphasizes the country influence as Chris jams out in an open pasture. There is a lot of nature influence and country scenery in the video. What do you think of Daughtry’s new song and slightly different change in style? Do you prefer their older music better?

Chris Brown – "Don’t Judge Me"

Chris Brown’s newest song, “Don’t Judge Me,” shows a more raw side of the singer as he seems to comment on the continued reference to the Rihanna incident by people he encounters and the media as a whole. In some ways the song seems like a cry for redemption from constant judgment and ridicule for his actions. The video is interesting because it shows him in the military fighting for his country, when a journalist questions him in training about why he’s in the army. We then see him embark on a suicide mission where he leaves behind two women. What are your thoughts on the video? Does the video help Chris explain his side of the story or does the very reference of the past cause him to remain in the past?

Christina Aguilera – "Your Body"

Christina strikes again with her newest hit, “Your Body.” The song is fun, spunky and energetic, plus Christina gets the opportunity to show off her famous vocal runs. The video is filled with color, from the wild accessories she wears in the beginning to the color extensions in her hair. The plot is a bit twisted as The Voice judge plays a sneaky character who kills boys and literally just wants them for their bodies. She first lights a man’s car on fire with him inside, kills another in a bathroom stall, and hits the last one with a baseball bat in a motel. The death scenes are witty though – the last two have blood represented in artistic ways, first as blue paint and then as pink glitter. Overall the video shows a more fun, light-hearted side of the singer. Do you think the video is too creepy or just plain fun? Also with The Voice Season 3 now in full swing, do you think the timing of the video was too coincidental as promotion for the show?

Walk the Moon – "Tightrope"

Walk the Moon released their newest video for “Tightrope.” The song is very energetic with a cool rock edge and also has some techno influence. When first seeing the music video some people might immediately think of the video for “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye. In this case it involved the band standing in front of a piece of tarp that is constantly changing , but in this case there is a lot more going on in the background. The video also has tribal influences and is very clever with the timing. Just like in “Somebody That I Use to Know,” they get painted on and gradually blend in with the background but continue singing. Do you think Walk the Moon was trying to pay homage to Gotye’s video or does it stand on its own as an original concept?