A bit of Rihanna's "Disturbia" for us all! It fits in nicely for my Halloween Special! This was possibly the turning point that put me off Rihanna. I didn't like the direction she was going down with this song and her subsequent songs never matched up to the love I had and still have for "Don't Stop The Music". Besides this entire music video freaked me out back in 2008. Rihanna is pretty much possessed in this "Disturbia" music video. Freakish dancing, disturbing themes and it still chilling to this day.
Rihanna, real name Robyn Fenty, is a worldwide global superstar. Everyone practically knows who she is and at least one of her songs. She's iconic and has really built a name for herself. She's at a point in her career, much like Beyoncé, where she can create the music she wants to and it'll still be a hit, regardless of whether it's likeable or not. She's worked her way up to this level and she isn't coming down from it whatsoever. This song was released on a reissue of her 'Good Girl Gone Bad' album, titled 'Reloaded'. The song hit number three in the UK but became another number one hit single in the US for Rihanna. It was written by Brian Kennedy, Chris Brown, Robert Allen, and Andre Merritt.
Directed by Anthony Mandler and Rihanna, the music video is extremely haunting, it freaks me out. It makes me think Rihanna is possessed by something.
The whole concept is intriguing with various scenes depicting the same idea. If anything, it really proves Rihanna's acting ability, because she pulls this off perfectly.
There are many scenes that will take me ages to comment on, although there is something freaky about the blonde wig and the contact lenses she is wearing when she is behind the bars. I also love the chamber where she's tied up via handcuffs; the way she struggles to get out is full of panic.
The spider scene is spine-chilling, I don't like spiders all that much, but those are tarantulas. I don't know how Rihanna kept her cool. Well, she was possessed.
The dance scene is flawless; great, relatable choreography that is totally on point throughout. The only problem I had was that not enough of the dance sequence was shown.
This music video is jam-packed full of everything. It's so disturbing, it works effortlessly and as much as it freaks me out and as much as I don't like it, the music video is relatable, brilliant and total perfection.
Going down a more country house music route, Calvin Harris' "My Way" is being reviewed as this week's Chart Mondays. He is throwing quite the spanner in my Halloween Special unless you supposed the love interest in this music video is a ghost, a pixelated one at best... Let's run with that, although, she is a robot. The song has been in the UK top 10 for a while, but the video has only just been released. With Little Mix's "Shout Out To My Ex" happily sitting on top, I'm reviewing this music video instead. Calvin Harris has stated that this song isn't about Taylor Swift, the song is about an ex-girlfriend being in his way. The accompanying music video for "My Way" shows her appearing and disappearing in a set of pixels, is she even real?
Calvin Harris, real name Adam Wiles, is the Scottish DJ who has won numerous awards and has worked with some of the biggest stars. He has a string of hits that just don't stop coming. He's definitely the one to watch around the world, because he is one of the hottest DJ's going at the moment, and I don't just mean his looks, even though he is pretty damn fine (especially considering what he used to look like when he released his debut single "Acceptable In The 80s"). This song was written by Calvin Harris.
The music video was directed by Emil Nava, who has directed a lot of Calvin Harris' music videos. The love interest is played by actress Emanuela Postacchini.
There is a kind of massive narrative behind this which is hard to follow. At first, I didn't get this video one bit, but I'm slowly understanding it, from my own perspective. This concept of the video may not be the intentional theory behind the narrative from the director or Calvin Harris.
We start off in a futuristic world, where there is a tall building standing in a desolate destroyed Earth. The camera pans into a window where we see a person with a Virtual Reality helmet on.
In an extremely clever cut, we see Calvin Harris on the steps of a country home. Into the past we go. We watch as Calvin Harris sings about the one thing being in his way, it's clearly his robotic love interest, but is she even there? The one complete stable throughout is Calvin Harris himself, everything else becomes a pixelated mess.
As the story continues, we watch her appear everywhere, taking control, destroying things. Almost as if it's a virus amongst his computer system; definitely an atrocity for any producer in the world.
The video ends with no one in the futuristic building; instead, there's a stand-alone computer from the 90s, maybe earlier, and there's one in each window-room of the building. Has this futuristic person become a pixelated specimen to run away with this person who isn't even real? Or does this video just not make sense?
What I do know, is that there is an awesome dance break during the barn house scene, where the choreography is nailed completely. With laser lights and an upbeat melody, you really can't go wrong.
This video is confusing, it gets even weirder the more you watch it. The pixels mess with your brain, disengaging the audience, which is the point of the video. Amazingly futuristically brilliant. Yet, I still can't quite make sense of this.
To be totally honest, I wasn't aware of this song until the Glee Cast covered it in a mash-up with Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Now it's become a global sensation and definitely a song to feature on all Halloween playlists. It totally deserves to be a part of my Halloween Special. This haunting song didn't do so well on the charts, but it is still an iconic haunting track. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs perform "Heads Will Roll" in front of a small audience, as a dancing werewolf finds its way on to the stage who later rips into everyone, rolling heads everywhere.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a three-piece American indie band consisting of Karen Orzolek, Nick Zinner and Brian Chase. They have had moderate success in the UK, both single wise and album wise. They are currently on a hiatus. This is probably their most known song, regardless of it only reaching number 89 on the UK Chart, it managed to place on other charts around the world too. Although, their highest charting single was in 2003 with "Date With The Night". This song was written by Brian Chase, Karen Orzolek and Nick Zinner.
Directed by Richard Ayoade, the music video uses comedic horror which allows for a humorous scary music video.
I love that they have used red glitter and confetti as blood, and the conclusion of Karen O continually singing whilst being decapitated is epically original.
The story is easy enough to follow, and what seems to be a performance piece easily turns into a narrative which is such a simplistic engaging move.
We watch the band perform, they're energetic and enthralling, but then a dancer appears. He struts towards the stage when we realise he's actually a werewolf. It isn't long until he becomes blood hungry and chases the audience, ripping them apart as red confetti pours out of the bodies. The ending sees the band murdered in red glitter, but Karen O continues singing.
How can anyone not love this music video? It's pure genius, even if it is a little too simplistic for my liking. More development of the story is needed, as well as making it a little more relatable to the music video. Apart from those slight things, it works magically.
A bit of cheese on my blog, once again, but this is one of my all-time classic Halloween songs. I used to listen to this song all the time, and it always reminds me of Halloween. I actually remember the music video being on the music channels, at the time, which really goes to show how much of an impact it really was. Coinciding with the Scooby-Doo theatrical release, allSTARS*'s van breaks down and they are lost in the woods. "Things That Go Bump In The Dark" are best left alone.
allSTARS* were a five-piece pop group consisting of Sam Bloom, Thaila Zucchi, Ashley Taylor Dawson, Rebecca Hunter, and Sandi Lee Hughes. The name came from their first initials of their names, grouped together to make "STARS". They had four top 20 singles and one album, which failed to hit the UK's top 40 albums chart. Their low-charting positions ended up with the band parting ways with the label and subsequently each other. They were mostly known for their TV show on CITV called "STARStreet*". Rumour has it that a reunion is happening, although it's only rumours. Since the band; Ashley Taylor Dawson returned to play his character Darren Osbourne in Hollyoaks. Thaila Zucchi has had an all-right career in TV. Rebecca Hunter and Sandi Lee Hughes have had TV stints and children. Sam Bloom is a co-founder of 'Inspiring Interns'. The song is actually quite known, and is a must, on most Halloween playlists, although not many people actually know that it's sung by allSTARS*, especially with the original not being on iTunes.
The song appeared on the Scooby-Doo theatrical film soundtrack. The music video doesn't have any clips from the movie, although does feature a camper-van which is suggestive of the Mystery Machine.
The group members all disappear and get lost in the woods. That is the basic storyline and it isn't quite developed the way we want it.
Throughout the cheesy dance steps and the extremely bad lighting, it's intricate. Feeling quite similar to Hear'Say, allSTARS* rock the scary vibes thanks to the haunting visual. However, the choreography isn't anything we'd want to see again.
It's quite shocking that this group was aimed at kids and yet pelvic thrusts are throughout the video suggesting the song is quite sexual. There are certainly other "Things That Go Bump In The Night". Too suggestive for my liking in a cheesy pop video and group.
The video fails to wrap up the storyline. What happened to them? Regardless, the video is quite freaky and definitely a little scary. Perfect for Halloween!
This is for sure one of Ashlee Simpson's most underrated songs, most people don't even know about it. It's definitely one of my favourite Halloween songs, probably next to the other Halloween songs I choose for my Halloween Special! This is freakishly good, the song is so personal and although may come off a bit bland on first listen, it becomes an emotional party banger, on second listen, that will be perfect for all those spooky playlists out there! Trust me, this song is fire for any Halloween themed party. Raw and emotional, the song and the video work well together, Ashlee Simpson is in pain because of a guy who has a "Bat For a Heart".
Ashlee Simpson is probably best known as the sister of Jessica Simpson, yet she has established a career for herself both in the music industry and in the acting world. She has more a rock-edge to her tone, that definitely fuelled her chart success in the 00's. She is apparently working on a new album with her husband. Since this single was released back in 2012, I doubt it will be included in the said album. This single was apparently written by Linda Perry & Ashlee Simpson.
The music video is incredibly basic from start to finish. A consistent theme throughout as Ashlee Simpson pours her emotions out in a chaotic way.
Filmed totally in black and white, which definitely gives this an eerie feel, the video is quite quirky, to say the least. Ashlee Simpson has unlocked some sort of possessive beast from within, possibly a bat-transforming vampire.
At times we see her in a vocal booth or displaying dysfunctional dance moves, which doesn't fit singularly, however, would work fluidly with a full-set choreography, but then again something clean and perfect wouldn't work.
As a whole piece, it's quite unnerving yet interesting. Definitely haunting and perfect for my Halloween Special. On the other hand, I feel it doesn't quite relate to the song, and by itself, it's nothing special.
