In this week’s top music-video picks, we dance on an ass float with Robin Thicke, set a car on fire with Jay Z, and mind our manners. From hip-hop to electronic and indie rock, with artists like Fall Out Boy and Pearl Jam, see which music videos are becoming viral.
Pearl Jam, “Mind Your Manners”
It’s a blast from the past! Nineties' grunge rockers Pearl Jam are back with a stunner of a video and a great song. Quick cuts between the shredding band and the screen behind them, which features stylized cartoon destruction and real footage of destruction, gives this one a frenetic feeling. The video was directed by Danny Clinch and features footage of Hurricane Sandy, atomic explosions, and rising water levels. It ends with a 1950s PSA clip asking viewers to count the blunders.
Daft Punk, “Lose Yourself to Dance”
It’s a short clip, but it’s dazzling. Viewers may need to lower screen brightness or don some sunglasses. The funky '70s train keeps rolling with this single from Daft Punk’s retro-throwback Random Access Memories. Pharrell Williams is once again paired up with the French robots, joined by Nile Rodgers on guitar. The clip premiered on the MTV VMAs ,which was a cool treat, but people were still scratching their heads over why the duo didn’t perform as promised.
Robin Thicke, “Give It 2 U”
Robin Thicke is a subtle guy, so we’re really having trouble figuring out what he wants to give to us. If you figure it out, leave a helpful comment. Robin Thicke ups the ante from his controversial “Blurred Lines” by having leagues of sexy dancers, hot cars, dancing children, floats, cotton candy girls and more. If all of that isn’t enough to win viewers over, there is an ass float. The video is certainly one of a kind.
Gemini Club, “Sparklers”
Gemini Club has been known to make danceable electro-pop, but this video is a bit more somber. The beat is still good to get down to at the club, but the music video tells the blurry story of a paramedic trying to save the life of a girl who is waiting for something. At the same time delicate and frantic, it’s a quality video with a catchy tune to boot.
Jay Z and Justin Timberlake, “Holy Grail”
Jay Z and Justin Timberlake collaborate once again for this lavish, dark video for Jay Z’s “Holy Grail.” Hova eschewed normal methods of video distribution and instead released “Holy Grail” directly to his Facebook. It looks like Jay Z might have recycled the set from Korn’s “Freak on a Leash,” but it works! It's over-the-top bombast of girls under sheets and breaking Champagne glasses in slow motion and of course explosions and fire. And of course there’s a lot of art, going with Jay Z’s recent art kick. Anything less wouldn’t be Jay Z.
Fall Out Boy, “The Mighty Fall”
Part 5 of 11! No need to go back and watch the other five to enjoy the video, though here's a quick recap of part 4. Fall Out Boy continue their run of videos with “The Mighty Fall.” Warning: this one is violent. A roving gang of youths armed with bats and huge boom boxes hunt the band. Big Sean shows up to help Fall Out Boy by playing music that turns at least one band member into a yellow-eyed monster, but ultimately he can’t outrun the violent youngsters either.
Chris Brown, “Love More”
Chris Brown has made headlines recently for everything but his music. Amid his personal troubles, it seems like he made some time to put together a pretty cool video for his song “Love More.” Chris Brown brings along a special guest, who is half of the reason this video is great: Nick Swardson. Swardson is the world’s most awkward pimp, referring to the girls in the car as his stable, then his stallions (which are male horses), and then later enthusiastically plays Chris’ song not knowing he’s the singer. The other half that makes this great is the dancing. For all his legal troubles, Chris is a great dancer.