Video Review: Britney Spears does Awake in new video for "I Wanna Go"

I Wanna Go is a tongue-in-cheek video where Britney Spears swears at journalist, gropes a fan, flashes random people -including a minor- and then begins a fight with cyborg paparazzi, only to be saved by an atypical “hunk” who apparently likes milk. But it seems too surreal to be true and at the end its revealed that its all been a daydream/fantasy that a bored Britney was having at the press conference that opened the video......or was it? Watch the end of the video to fully understand!

Whatever the case the video for I Wanna Roll is a light and bright video that has a strong narrative, is funny and is shot brilliantly with a Britney that's looking fresh faced, happy and-and most importantly- mentally alert. Although the actual song wouldn’t have been my next choice for a release from the brilliant Femme Fatale album (review here) -How I roll and Trip to my Heart are a lot stronger- the video is a nice, quirky and solid addition to Britney Spears’growing videography.

Video Review: Lady Gaga "Edge Of Glory"

Simple isn't a word usually associated with Lady Gaga but the video for new single Edge of Glory is just that, and frankly the timing for Gaga to embrace the word couldn't have been better. Nothing about the Born this way project has been simple so far and was starting to feel like it was relying too heavily on gimmicks, controversy and big money to guarantee high sales instead of trusting in the music to do so. But the  video for Edge of Glory bucks this trend.

The video contains no controversial religious imagery (gasp!), only one extra (double gasp!)- in the form of saxophonist Clarence Clemons - is all shot on one location/set (hyperventilating) and only features two outfits (FAINT!).

There are problems with the video though. The original director, Joseph Khan, left the project part way thorough, after supposedly having differences in opinion about the direction of the video, and as such the video is missing a strong, if any, narrative or structure to the video. However that's a minor quibble as the video could be seen as a performance piece. The main issue, and the one that makes me feel most uncomfortable watching the video, is Gaga's proactive postulating and scantily clad gyrations when the song is supposedly written about, or at least inspired by the passing of her Grandfather.


The bottom line is Gaga, simplicity can be good, but it needs to be supported by something; whether that be a strong narrative, brilliant choreography or star charisma- all of which are lacking in this video. However, the video for Edge of Glory does give us all a little space to breath after the juggernauts that were Born this way and Judas, and for that I'm thankful!

Video review: Lady Gaga's boring video for "Judas"

Lady Gaga in Christian Lacroix

Despite the use of heavy religious iconography, a rumoured 10 million dollar budget, and copious amounts of extras, the video for Lady Gaga's video Judas manages to totally underwhelm on all fronts. The dancing is dated, the fashion is pretty terrible-Crucifix titty tassels anyone?- and Gaga's panto level acting is pretty dire, as is the stiffness and dead eyes she displays throughout. Cultural baptism" this is not. So so Pop it is.

Judas Video stills:

Review : Rihanna's S &M Video

Rihanna isn't helping with the claims of her being associated with Illumanti
when at 3.20 "Rihanna Princesss of the Illumanti" is flashed on screen.

Rihanna's video for S and M, her third release from Loud, bypasses what could have been a risqué and provocative look at the underworld scene of S and M by approaching the subject matter in a playful, light-hearted and toothless manner.

The video does manage to include some imagery that is synonymous with the S and M scene- such as whips, bondage and PVC- but they are rendered ineffectual when contrasted with the "suggestive" way Rihanna "eats" a selection of fruit towards the end of the video.



Unfortunately the treatment of the video, and the sets it was filmed on, let the whole production down and give the video for S and M a cheap, low-budget feel that is at odds and unfitting of Rihanna's superstar status. Perhaps Mariah Carey started a new trend for; the low budget look with her Auld langs syne video from last year!

Overall the video fits in nicely with the bubblegum, sugary, 90's visuals that the Loud era has brought and is as such nothing special. Songs still good though ;)

Watch the video For S and M below.

Watch Mariah Carey's video for "Old Lang Syne": Laughs a plenty!

Mariah Carey in the video for Auld lang syne: seen the image, basically seen the video

Boy oh boy has the recession hit Mariah Carey hard if her current video is anything to go by. The video for Auld Lang Syne, from the Merry christmas ii you album, has got to be the cheapest video I have EVER seen from any singer, let alone an A-lister.

The video just has Mariah dancing- am i allowed to call it that?- in front of a green screen that has fireworks projected on to it while she mimes BADLY to the song. I think Mariah might have actually filmed this herself, maybe in her shed under the influence of all those pregnancy hormones, and released it online before anyone could stop her because the production values are next to nil. I especially love 2.45 when she twirls majestically onto the screen. Delightful.

Perhaps Mariah has just decided to inforce some austerity measures on her spending habits, she has got a baby on the way after all. Besides why should she still  spend huge amounts of money on her videos when it's not converting into sales for her.

Loving Mariah even more after this video. What do you think?