Vampires, Bears, And 10-Year-Old Girls, Oh My!: Music Video Roundup
Every other week, writer Mara Hyman takes a look at the latest video creations coming from the music video universe. Here are her latest picks:
Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran - "Everything Has Changed"
Taylor and Ed, who have been hitting the road together on the wildly popular summer Red tour, have joined forces on Taylor's next single "Everything Has Changed." The song is very simple and sweet with a simple melody. The video is a bit unexpected, showing the journey of two little kids who appear as the mini-me's of Taylor and Ed. Like the song, the video is also very simple and slow moving. Some of the stand-out moments are the kids's slow dancing sequence and when they unite with their older selves, known as Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. Not surprisingly, the video has brought about speculation as to whether the two are dating. What are your thoughts on the video and their possible relationship?
Carrie Underwood - "See You Again"
Carrie Underwood is back with a heart-wrenching new song for which she intended to dedicate to the Sandy Hook and Oklahoma victims. The song is a power ballad with a catchy pop-country vibe that is uplifting despite the sad nature of the subject. The video is also very inspirational, playing with light and nature shots. It appears as a collage of major life moments with everything from college graduation to soldiers leaving and then reuniting with their families. Carrie appears in front of a simple backdrop of flowing curtains. She also recently performed the song at the CMT Music Awards as tribute to the Oklahoma victims. What did you think about her performance?
Vampire Weekend - "Diane Young"
Vampire Weekend's newest single allows them to showcase their unmistakable unique sound. The song has a very old-school, sock-hop groove, Elvis-type feel. The video has a very interesting concept, pulling obvious inspiration from The Last Supper as the band and others sit at a long table. It combines a party scene, food fights, and a mysterious robber mask. Overall, the video seems to match the authenticity and oddity of the song very well. Are you a Vampire Weekend fan?
OneRepublic - "Counting Stars"
Jumping off of the success of their latest album "Native" comes their next single. The song is much more folksy and stripped back than their past hits, but it works, and almost has a Mumford and Sons vibe. The video incorporates muted colors and lots of flickering lights. They also use a bit of humor with the alligator wandering around and the final scene, where the band was so loud and the party upstairs was moving around a lot that a man fell through to the basement. What do you think of OneRepublic's evolving sound?
Sophia Grace - "Girls Just Gotta Have Fun"
Whether you thoroughly enjoy seeing her and her sidekick Rosie on "The Ellen Show" practically every other week or wish she would disappear, Sophia Grace is now dabbling into a solo music career at just 10 years old. If you thought this was going to be a remix of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper like I did, you will be thrououghly surprised. The song combines rap as well as showcasing her vocal ability (for a 10-year-old) and cute chipmunk sound. While extremely cheesy, the video is thankfully age appropriate and shows Sophia Grace dancing with her friends and driving in a toy car. What do you think of the song?
USC Bonus: Bear Attack - "The Backpack Song"
Bear Attack, a sensitive indie band which originated at USC, released their first music video last month for their dynamic song "The Backpack Song." Most well known for its appearance on ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars," the song has captivating lyrics that describes one's journey and longing for their life back home. The video is really pretty with tons of nature shots near a waterfall. Most notably, each of the band members pick up a crystal which they all throw into the water. What do you think about this USC-born band?
Reach Staff Reporter Mara Hyman here.