Miley Cyrus - Fly On The Wall

Miley Cyrus, real name Destiny Cyrus, has appeared on my blog quite a few times. This time my iTunes decided to get it stuck in my head, and it sure managed to do that. This song is probably one of my favourite songs from Miley Cyrus, and I'm interested in what she has in store for us in the future, clearly it's going to be big, but can she get higher up the UK Chart?

"Fly On The Wall" was written by Miley Cyrus, Antonina Armato, Tim James and Devrim Karaoglu. Many different interpretations of the song has been made, from sympathy to the boyfriend, to the boyfriend wanting to know everything. Miley Cyrus soon enough cleared it all up, saying it was about the paparazzi... And the music video empathises that perfectly.

This music video shocked me over and over again, from the start to near to the end, and then the completely surprising ending. This video really reflects what it is like to be followed by the paparazzi. Britney Spears has been portraying her concerns for ages now in the videos for "Everytime", "Piece Of Me", "If U Seek Amy", "Hold It Against Me" and "I Wanna Go", I'm sure there's probably more. Other music videos include: Stone Sour's "Through Glass", Kelly Clarkson's "Mr. Know It All" and Cher Lloyd's "Swagger Jagger".

And although this song came out it hasn't stopped anything, and it's only getting worse, only a few months ago, Miley Cyrus posted a video of her walking her dogs while one of the paparazzi parked in a handicapped place and ran in front of her taking pictures (video can be found on the right).

Once again we have a narrative and a performance piece. First off we think her boyfriend is going to turn into a werewolf with the full moon being out and stuff. Instead he turns into one of the paparazzi. She then ends up in the car park and is being chased everywhere she goes.

The best bit has to be when the paparazzi start to dance, I can't help but laugh as I'll always remember the first time I saw this and I really wasn't expecting it, and it still manages to draw me into that surprise every time. And then we get the more shocking ending, where her boyfriend sells her story about the paparazzi. That's just wrong on so many levels.

There's a bit of a performance side in the car park, which she lets lose and has a little bit of fun. I reckon she really enjoyed filming this music video, and in doing so, it's just as fun to watch.

Overall a great song that only managed to get to number 16 on the UK chart, it clearly deserves a higher position. The music video is pure brilliance, and definitely one of my favourites. It has a close theme to Michael Jackson's "Thriller". So you can all guess what my rating is going to be...

Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me

Britney, Britney, Britney. What else can I add to this blog post, that I haven't added in previous posts? I just feel like I'm going to keep on repeating myself. So let's start with what's new... She is a judge/mentor on The X Factor US, which I have been watching, and I'm definitely rooting for Britney's Teens, however the UK is one episode behind the US, so please don't spoil what happens for me. She has been through a lot in her life, and I really like how this video shows the stages of her life.

"Hold It Against Me" was written by Max Martin, Lukasz Gottwald (Dr. Luke), Bonnie McKee and Mattieu Jomphe (Billboard). The song was almost given to Katy Perry, but they decided it wasn't a "Katy Perry song". It's extremely catchy and very different to what we expect from these amazing song-writers. The single was pushed forward as demand was high for it, even in the UK. However it peaked at number six on the UK chart. It deserved higher. Will Britney ever get a new number one? She hasn't got there since "Everytime" was released back in 2004 (almost 10 years ago now). It shows she's not quite fully back just yet, but I bet we'll see her top the charts once again in the next few years.

This music video doesn't link in with the song,. however it does show Britney is back. It shows her life and how she has battled through it, and she isn't going to give up.

I like the progression that this video gives. We see her as a strong, on-her-game sort of person that represents the late 1990's, where she was on top. Then things start to go wrong, showing her meltdown. I like the use of Britney fighting herself, representing her fighting her inner demons, trying to hang in there. She collapses, every Britney falls to the floor. Showing her breakdown. But she gets back up again showing she is back and ready to get back on top again. The question mark at the end means the future is what you make it, and that there is a future for Britney.

I like how we see all her past music videos as well. And it's extremely brave to show her breakdown. It proves that she realises it's a part of her past, and although she isn't proud of it, she has to accept it to move forward, and that is exactly what she is doing. Again we see a couple of references, one of Madonna's music video "Bedtime Story", a reference to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and there is also a reference to the paparazzi who just won't leave her alone.

Overall a very catchy song that should've charted higher. The music video doesn't link in that well with the song, however there is product placement, from Sony TVs, "Make Up For Ever" and "PlentyofFish", the latter adding into the meaning of the song, so it is there. Now what should my rating be? Since this video is superb and the only thing I can find wrong with it is not linking with the song all that well, I have no choice but to give it the rating it clearly deserves.

Britney Spears - If U Seek Amy

Britney Spears once again appears on my blog. She is a worldwide star and has recently been confirmed as an X Factor USA judge. I was kind of hoping she'd be signed for the UK, but guess not. Will she be a good judge? I'm not sure, but guess we'll find out soon enough. This song brought a lot of attention upon herself, with many people not happy with the song lyrics.

The song was written by Max Martin, Shellback, Savan Kotecha and Alexander Kronlund. Once again they have created a great hit. This song wasn't going to be released as a single, Britney decided to ask Facebook followers what should be her next single, and they chose this one. It worked out well as it charted high in some countries, but in others it didn't fair out so well. In the UK it got to number 20, which is quite low for Britney. Although it has been 8 years since she has had a number one hit.

This music video is quite shocking, I love how it's a reference to the song's meaning. For those of you who don't know there are two meanings, one is: "all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if u seek Amy" suggesting they want you to find Amy, and the other one is "all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to F-U-C-K me", this explains the start of the music video perfectly.

The second half makes Britney look like a traditional mom, with a family and a normal life, with the paparazzi unaware of what is going on behind close doors. This is yet another paparazzi Vs. Britney music videos, which are frequently popping up with "Piece of Me" and "I Wanna Go".

There is quite a few references to past music videos in this video, these include the start for "Piece of Me" and at the end where her "daughter" is dressed in the school wear found in "...Baby One More Time".

Overall I love this song, and the music video is quite surprising, but are we getting bored of these paparazzi vs. Britney story lines for music videos? I'm not sure I could cope with another one, but guess we'll eventually find out. Also, a little more trivia... Amy is possibly Britney's alter-ego, hence why their trying to find her. But also when Britney went "off the rails" so did the now late Amy Winehouse, could the Amy in the song reference her instead?
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Stone Sour - Through Glass

So today my randomiser chose SpeedATW and he has chosen this music video, which I was so happy about, since this is probably one of my favourite music videos.

Stone Sour is a rock band that consists of Corey Taylor (also lead singer of Slipknot), Jim Root, Josh Rand, Shawn Economaki and Roy Mayorga. They have been going for a number of years, and tend to go on hiatus when Slipknot starts releasing and vice versa. Therefore I'd be unsurprised if the other members of the band do different things during the hiatus times.

"Through Glass" was written by Corey Taylor. This got to number 98 when the song was released here in the UK, but I bet it would have done a lot better. And I guarantee it would be great for the charts if it was released nowadays, or some sort of cover got released. Most people know the song now, and people would've expected it to have got high on the chart, but that wasn't the case. The song is about music cornering the world. Corey wrote this song in a hotel room while watching a music channel, and he was surprised that the artists weren't aware of what they were singing, and that they were just there to be famous. It kind of made him mad, as it makes it harder for bands and people who make their own music.

The music video should go down in history as one of the best music videos ever made. It's really interesting and funny and clever at the same time, it relates to the song perfectly and it just shows that a lot of things in life aren't really real. But the main thing they focus on is that the people there, if you look between the lines, it's not them. Which works with the song as the singles that are released by some artists aren't their lyrics.

This is an extremely clever video and I don't even know where to start with it. It's both performance and narrative. I like the start there's a party going on and everyone is there. There is even a paparazzi who is taking photos, to capture the moment. But when Corey Taylor looks between the lines people are just cardboard, they aren't real, even the pool isn't real and none of the layout either.

I like how they've included look-a-likes of people and made references to others. There's a Paris Hilton look-a-like who's just cardboard. There's some rap people, a rich singer, a few others. And there is Chris Daughtry, who is the guy picking up the cardboard. I like how some of the comments on YouTube state that Chris Daughtry is the only guy in the world capable of picking up a swimming pool. For those unaware, Chris Daughtry is of American Idol fame.

Even the place where the band is, isn't real. And I also like the fact that instead of Hollywood, it's actually Hollowood (implicating Hollow Wood, which is cardboard). There is a lot to like about this music video, and I don't see anything wrong with it. Maybe the fact that some of the stars that are referenced in this may not agree with what is going on, but that is about it.

Overall, a great music video that I haven't got anything bad to say about. The song is very catchy and I am surprised it never got higher than 98 on the UK chart. Let's hope someone covers it on the X Factor or The Voice, it might make people download it.

Britney Spears - Everytime

Britney Spears has been around for ages, she has released a number of hits, but unfortunately she has yet to gain a number one album here in the UK. However she has had a number of singles that have topped the chart, but "Everytime" was her last number one in the UK back in 2004, and it doesn't look like she will get to the top spot again. Her last two singles "I Wanna Go" and "Criminal" didn't even make the chart, so is Britney falling so fast that there will not be any pieces left to build her back up? Or will she get to the top spot with her next single and manage to release that parachute?

This song was written by Britney Spears and Annette Stamatelatos. This is probably one of the reasons why this managed to get to number one because it is so personal to Britney and she was the one who wrote it, which is different to her new releases because she doesn't sing it with the passion it clearly deserves. This single is amazing and the music video fits in perfectly. Apparently the song is a reaction to Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me A River", Britney and her younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears, were shocked at the music video for "Cry Me A River" as it showed a side of Britney that she didn't want revealed. So this is more of a comeback, and it works perfectly.

The music video is amazing, I've watched it a number of times and realised it's probably the most emotional music video that was ever made for Britney. There's a lot to like about it, and it gives us a bit of an insight about her, that we wouldn't normally have. Personally, a good music video is sometimes what influences a single to get to the top spot, which explains why this is her most recent number one single to date.

The music video shows her concepts of fame and the behind the scenes reflection on how she really feels. I think it's quite clever how she gets mad at her boyfriend for being angry at the photographer, but really she is angry at the amount of paparazzi that just wants the perfect shot to expose her. It shows a perfect struggle, in which she doesn't want to let her guard down, not even for a minute, because if she does it could be the end of her, or that what she thought back then.

The music video also suggests that she can't put up with it all, and in a moment of hesitation she ends up attempting suicide, this is basically letting the paparazzi win, they've got her right where they want her, and in a world without Britney would music now be the same? I like how we see her running back, as if she wants to be alive and not dead, and then she comes awake with a smile. That smile could be for anything, it could show she isn't going to let her stardom fail her, that she's going to live life to the full. But it could also reference a threat, that this is how easy she can disappear from us all, so back off or else. It's quite inspirational and shows how gutsy she can be.

Overall I like this music video, but it's simple and slow and not much going on. It can be read so many different ways that complaints had been pushed through here and there, but there were people who liked it and didn't want to complaints to prevent the showing of the video. I like it because it shows Britney as herself, we get to see parts of her that the paparazzi has no chance of getting, and I think that is the great bit about it.
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New Release: Kelly Clarkson - Mr. Know It All

She is about to perform on the X Factor this Sunday, and I really hope it will help her get this song to number one, it's one of those songs that are very powerful and should get to the top spot. Kelly Clarkson won the first ever series of American Idol. Ten years on and she's still making amazing music, and although she is still classed as an American Idol winner, she would very much like to push that label aside. She has already proven to be one of the best international winners, and will probably be a success for a very long time, so expect to see more from her. I'm kind of wondering if a greatest hits may be in the works? Or maybe it's something that will be available in a few years time, but I definitely think she's qualified for one, as she has had a number of great hits, and this song definitely will be another.

This song was written by Brian Seals, Ester Dean, Brett James and Dante Jones. And it's a break-up song. Kelly's vocal is amazing and she has totally pushed the boundaries on what you would expect from her, and I'm definitely interested in this song. The song is very different to her other releases, and that's always a good thing as it suggests that there is something differently intriguing about her, which is exactly what she wants. So that hopefully her album and singles will gain a lot more interest from others who aren't necessarily her fans, but I bet they will become one as soon as they hear this!

I really like the music video, first up, we have the wall with all the newspaper cuttings, I think this is a really good idea, as it suggests at how much Kelly finds this troubling, and most artists tend to sing about the paparazzi, when really it is also the journalists who are giving these celebrities a bad name. My only question is whether or not they are actual newspaper clippings or they are made up for the purposes of this video. I also like the shadow technique used with this wall of articles, it shows that she does have a backing band, but also that she and the director appreciates them, which is similar to Avril Lavigne, as her backing band appears every now and again.

I find it funny how there's this guy standing doing nothing, and Kelly is screaming the song lyrics at him, whether he is a dummy or not, I'm unsure, but I can imagine the take-outs of this, they must have been in giggles a lot of the time. I also like the fact that Kelly is watching over past videos, but if you watch closely you'll notice that during "I Do Not Hook Up" music video, she imagines how she would hook up with certain people, and she doesn't have the guts to do it. When she fall off the bar table, that is also a figment of her imagination, and doesn't actually happen, so why is she able to watch it? Or maybe this was some filming error?

Overall I really like this music video, and it's accompanying song, I think they link in perfectly, and although the video isn't one of the best, I'm glad it has a narrative storyline and it fits in perfectly with the song.  I am looking forward to seeing her perform this, but it's already been a big hit in Australia and the US, let's hope it's as big here. I also like the ending in the video, it suggests a whole new route she plans to take, which is what I'm really looking forward for.
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