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Britney Spears Is Back: Music Video Roundup

Mara Hyman |
October 13, 2013 | 5:57 p.m. PDT

Associate Entertainment Editor

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

Britney Spears - "Work B**ch"

When Britney tells you to "Work B**ch," you do it. She comes to us after some time off with a brand new single, which has a strong dance electronic vibe. The song is extremely repetitive, but very catchy. It seems oddly similar in style and concept to drag queen Ru Paul's "Supermodel (You Better Work)," but hey, imitation is the greatest form of flattery!

The video primarily takes place in a stranded desert where Britney is surrounded by her backup dancers. It's refreshing to see her dancing in a video again since that was a big part of what she was known for. A Lamborghini also stars in the video, as it circles the dancers in the desert and parks in front of her with bright headlights. There are also lots of whips and uses of bondage, which some may say is promoting domestic violence, but it's her way to show that she is the queen. Overall, the video is super spicy, has sharks, and proves that Britney is back. Will you see her at her Vegas show?

Janelle Monae feat. Miguel - "PrimeTime"

Janelle made a genious decision to partner with Miguel on her next single. The two's voices sound perfect together on this slow ballad. The song is definitely on the more sensual side and strays a bit from Janelle's upbeat, jazzier hits like "Tightrope." Miguel stands out with his smooth tone, especially on the chorus as his part is an octave lower and gives it a different feel.

The video matches the feel of the song as it's very slow moving. We see Janelle "turn on" a red light on a couple of dancer robots as she and Miguel stare at each other practically through the entire song. The video plays a lot with dim lights and dynamic hues of red and blue. While it strays from Janelle's typical style, it stays true to her futuristic vibe. Are you a fan of the Janelle/Miguel duet?

Jennifer Nettles - "That Girl"

This song represents Jennifer's introduction as a solo artist away from the popular country band Sugarland. It tells the story of a woman who discovers a man's intentions and tells his wife he doesn't want to be "that girl" that helps him cheat and destroys what they had. The song shows off her vocals with a country-blues feel and a clapping percussion in the background.

The video initially shows shots of Jennifer laying still in shock, as it cuts to the "original woman," also played by Jennifer but with a brunette wig. It's very slow moving and has a somber feel, expressed by the muted colors and Jennifer holding a bunch of flowers. She confronts the woman in the bathroom at the end, only to remove the wig and be looking at a reflection in an odd twist. Are you happy that Jennifer went solo?

The Wanted - "Show Me Love (America)"

The British "man" band is back with a power ballad. The song shows off the members' vocals (specifically Nathan's angel voice and Max's falsetto) and their strong harmonies. The background instruments come to life in the song, with a strong influence of strings and piano.

The video was brilliantly shot and very different for the band. Edited completely in black and white, it feels very raw in nature and highlights the orchestra in the background as the first scene is sped up to show the lead girl fighting with her boyfriend. She then walks down the street, crying, as we see each member portraying everything from a policeman to a homeless person. We also see Nathan, who has the largest role in the song and video, jamming out on a grand piano. It feels slightly cheesy especially in the scene where the members sing in the rain, but all in all, it's refreshing to see them try a new style. Do you want to see more ballads from The Wanted?

Pentatonix - "Royals" (Lorde Cover)

This up and coming acappella group is dominating YouTube with their covers of popular songs. Recently they took on Lorde's "Royal," which was perfect because the original song is already stripped down. Avi shines as he takes the lead, with great harmonies by the trio and Kevin and Avi holding down percussion and bass. The cover is arguably better than the original because it surprisingly has more elements, as Lorde's version has very little harmony or bass.

Since Pentatonix's sound is perfection anyway, there was little need for a dynamic video. Instead, like the song, it is stripped back to nothing but the five of them singing in front of a gray wall. The members pop out behind Avi when it's their turn to sing. Most of the video shows them in "glamorous" black and gold clothing, only to reveal the group standing in a line again back as their normal selves. Are you a Pentaholic?

Reach Associate Entertainment Editor Mara Hyman here.



 

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