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Coldplay Goes Old Hollywood: Music Video Roundup

Mara Hyman |
April 14, 2014 | 1:08 p.m. PDT

Associate Entertainment Editor

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

Coldplay - "Magic"

Coldplay is back with the second single off of their upcoming album "Ghost Stories." Chris Martin's voice is smooth and laid-back on this track. It would've been nice for the band to come out with something more epic to follow up on "Midnight," but this song isn't bad either.

The video is a bit unusual for the band since it's very high production value, but it works for the feel of the song. It's structured as a black and white silent film reminiscent of Old Hollywood with a circus theme. The story follows a magic duo where the lead male (Chris) sees how toxic his partner's relationship is with her partner, and tries to woo her. Eventually, he uses a levitation trick to win her over. Are you pleased with the video or is it too out-there for Coldplay?

Calvin Harris - "Summer"

This song is quickly becoming an anthem for this summer and making us even more excited about warmer weather. The hook is super catchy with a decent drop. The Scottish DJ/singer is known for churning out top radio hits, including "Feel So Close" and "Thinking About You," and this one is sure to follow. It's refreshing to see him sing on his own tracks.

The concept for the video surrounds a drag race. It's pretty artsy at times, juxtaposing Calvin in white with a woman in black. The video also alternates between slow camera movements and fast ones during the racing portion. The video ends with a party scene (of course) with bright neon lights. Are you a fan of Calvin Harris?

SEE ALSO: Shakira Is On Fire (Literally): Music Video Roundup

Phillip Phillips - "Raging Fire"

While the "American Idol" winner may seem like a two-hit wonder ("Home" and "Gone Gone Gone"), he's back with an uplifting and catchy single. He performed the song fairly recently on "Idol" and it was well received by the audience. Phillip is known for his dynamic lyrics and sing-along, folsky quality, and "Raging Fire" doesn't disappoint.

In the video Phillip becomes a work of art (literally) with a flame being painted on and around him as he lays on the ground. When he's not being painted, the video uses an old (but interesting) effect of placing him in different settings at a rapid pace as he's performing on his guitar. It would've been interesting to see actual fire in the video, but nevertheless the concept is artsy yet simple, just like Phillip. Is he still relevant after his stint on "Idol?"

Luke Bryan - "Play It Again"

Luke Bryan is dominating the world of country at the moment. This song is a sing-along ballad about a woman hearing her favorite song on the radio. The lyrics aren't super original, but the track allows Luke's vocals to shine through.

The video is also pretty boring, but it's impossible not to love Luke. He performs in a concert in front of thousands of fans (like with several of his videos), which is his element. The video alternates between scenes in black and white and color, and plays with different lighting effects. What's your favorite Luke Bryan song?

Alicia Keys feat. Kendrick Lamar - "It's On Again"

Who would've thought Alicia Keys and Kendrick Lamar would team up?! This song comes from the "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" soundtrack. It's a little off because it doesn't sound like an Alicia Keys track at all, but it's unique. The song has a strong urban beat and a slight disco feel. The song is very word-heavy, but Alicia, who is known for slower ballads, definitely still pulls it off.

In the video Alicia appears to play a bad-*ss biker chick type of character, donning dark clothes and epic makeup. Pharrell makes a strange cameo in the video as the producer of the song, looking at a wall of security cameras. The dark background in the Alicia scenes are juxtaposed with epic action scenes from the movie. The video also plays with flickering lights, both in Alicia's scenes and pulling from the movie. Do you like this new side of Alicia?

Reach Associate Entertainment Editor Mara Hyman here. Follow her on Twitter here.



 

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