warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Carly Rae Jepsen, Rihanna And... Justin Timberlake?: Music Video Roundup

Mara Hyman |
February 24, 2013 | 11:22 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

Every other week, writer Mara Hyman takes a look at the buzzworthy short films coming from the music video universe. Here's her latest picks:

Carly Rae Jepsen - "Tonight I'm Getting Over You"

At first she may have wanted you to "call her maybe," but now she's "Getting Over You." Carly Rae Jepsen is back with her latest single, which is a hard-hitting dance track. It's very catchy, especially in the chorus, and has pretty solid lyrics. The song shows off more of her vocal ability, and one could argue that her singing has significantly improved since she first started. The music video is a mix of muted colors, happy and sad scenes juxtaposed together, and lots of jumping in the air. The scenes move pretty quickly but nevertheless the video is easy to follow. She also displays a very youthful, carefree vibe in the video (and really all of her music videos), making it hard to believe that she's 27! Do you think Carly has finally grown out of her one-hit-wonder status?

Justin Timberlake feat. JAY Z - "Suit & Tie"

Ladies and gentlemen, Justin Timberlake is back! Justin released his first single off of his next album, "The 20/20 Experience." The song, while very long, transitions well between the different songs. It's very smooth and has a very classic, vintage feel - there's definitely nothing like it on the radio currently. The music video also evokes an old-school vibe appearing completely in black and white, ironically just like the lyrics say, "All dressed up in black and white". We see Justin and JAY Z jam out on a large stage as Justin is accompanied by dynamic choreography. In the end Justin dances in a large puddle of water, which seems to act as a tribute to "Singing in the Rain." What do you think of the song? Are you happy to see Justin back in music?

Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko - "Stay"

Rihanna's latest single, "Stay," is a very slow-moving ballad that shows a vulnerable side of the edgy pop singer. The song, which shows of Rihanna's vocals and has powerful lyrics, is a smooth transition out of Rihanna's preceding single "Diamonds" which has a similar effect. The music video is an interesting visual choice because fans might not be used to how basic and straight-forward the concept is. The entire time, Rihanna sits in a bathtub with water up to her chin, besides occasional cuts to Mikky Ekko who also sings beautifully. Her subtle movements evoke a lot of emotion and even make the video a bit haunting. Do you like this more stripped side of Rihanna?

Phillip Phillips - "Gone Gone Gone"

Like Carly Rae Jepsen, "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips also seems to succeed at transitioning out of his one-hit-wonder status, from mega-hit "Home" to "Gone Gone Gone." The song has a simple acoustic flair, similar to that of Mumford and Sons, and has a great message of sticking through relationships through the thick and thin. The music video accompanies the song well and is very uplifting. Half of the scenes are shot in nature, and the other half are quite nostalgic, showing old film of older couples who have stayed together. The video is very honest and inspiring. What are your thoughts on Phillip Phillips?

One Direction - "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)"

Whether you cringe at the thought of them or fall in love every time they appear on the radio, it's clear that One Direction has gained massive global popularity. Recently they decided to cover "One Way or Another," a classic hit, which is fun and lighthearted. It doesn't necessarily showcase their vocal ability, but it's clear that they like the song. Their choice in style for the music video was interesting; rather than make a high-budget video, they decided to film it completely on their own taken from snippets on tour. They made the single for Comic Relief, a British charity, in hopes of raising money for the cause. What are your thoughts on One Direction and their cover?

Reach Staff Reporter Mara Hyman here.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness