Today, Eminem and Rihanna premiered the music video for their #1 smash "Love The Way You Lie".
The video depicts an abusive relationship between characters portrayed by Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan. The scenes switch between physically abuse to rabid passion, with cuts to Rihanna in front of a burning house and Eminem in a cornfield. The two megastars come together in front of the burning house at the end as the man in the relationship is also consumed in flames.
The video is a simple, yet effective depiction of domestic violence and volatile love. I was expecting a bit more, and I feel like some scenes were left on the cutting room floor. but kudos to Eminem for not being afraid to take the bull by the horns and deciding to confront abuse head-on. I think this video actually may help young people diagnose their own relationships and escape them if they are troublesome.
What do you think of the video?
Showing posts with label Eminem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eminem. Show all posts
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Brandon's Best of....Top Singles of 2010 So Far
Okay, so the halfway point of 2010 was last month, but as the summer winds down and I head back to college in a few weeks, I thought now would be a great time to list my favorite songs of 2010 so far (well, since the end of July). Luckily for me, this was pretty easy.
First, because I realized there were lots of songs I loved, here is my #20 - #11:
20. Breakeven (Falling To Pieces) - The Script
19. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias
18. Crossfire - Brandon Flowers
17. Memories - David Guetta featuring Kid Cudi
16. I Got You - Leona Lewis
15. Ego - The Saturdays
14. Missing You - The Saturdays
13. Hands Tied - Toni Braxton
12. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
11. Your Love - Nicki Minaj
Now, for the Top 10:
10. Airplanes - B.O.B featuring Hayley Williams
I mostly skipped over his first single with Bruno Mars, so his second single with Paramore's frontwoman is what really got me interested. Between the effortlessness of the chorus and the true lyrics about wishing for a simpler life, "Airplanes" was clear evidence that hip hop could be more than sparse beats and lame rhymes about money and swag.
9. OMG - Usher feat. will.i.am
Was it a sellout move? Usher went the electropop route on his album Raymond v. Raymond, teaming up with BEP frontman will.i.am. Instead of playing like a cheap trick, it was one of the hottest songs of the year, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and saving what would have been a flop era. While it didn't push boundaries with it's lyrics (Boobies? Are we twelve?) but it did remind everyone why Usher was once the biggest male popstar since MJ.
8. Commander - Kelly Rowland
Who knew she had it in her? After the worldwide (a.k.a, outside of the US) success of "When Love Takes Over" last year, the former Destiny's Child member teamed up with David Guetta for "Commander", a full-stop dance-pop smash, instant on first listen. For reasons that are beyond me, she didn't release it to radio in the States, just as the dance-pop fever hit full force.
7. Dancing On My Own - Robyn
The Swedish dance diva delivered a sweet treat for her first single from Body Talk Pt. 1. With it's mournful lyrics paired with pulsating, somber beats, "Dancing on My Own" embodied everyone's fear of lost love and loneliness while on the dancefloor.
6. Love The Way You Lie - Eminem featuring Rihanna
Domestic violence isn't supposed to sound this good. The two music superstars teamed up on a surprisingly personal, visceral, and accessible duet about the truth behind abusive relationships. Currently #1 on the charts, it goes to show that lyrical honesty can make for an amazing pop tune. Plus, Rihanna plus rappers is always guaranteed gold.
5. Find Your Love - Drake
Last year, he set the pop world on fire. This year, he fanned the flames. "Find Your Love" was an unexpected turn for the Canadian rapper. It was sharp, yet sensitive. Pulsing, yet melodic. Fierce, yet tender. Of course, that's because of Kanye's excellent production and Drake's great vocal performance. It made for a true blue pop hit for him and the confirmation that he may be the future of hip-hop.
4. California Gurls - Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg
Pegged as the West Coast answer to "Empire State of Mind", Katy snatched the summer with what may become her signature hit. It's bouncy electropop sound, the cute and clever lyrics, and an excellent cameo from Snoop made this song a #1 hit throughout the dog days of summer. Even with the sweltering heat, Katy made us wish we were all chillin' on the beach, melted popsicles and all.
3. Alejandro - Lady Gaga
So maybe the macabré video killed the vibe of the song a bit, but "Alejandro" was one of the highlights of an album full of them, The Fame Monster. It's ABBA-esque charm and it's tale of unwanted desire made it an excellent soundtrack to the summer. It also showed that seven singles into her career, she shows no sign of stopping her effortless domination of pop music.
2. Telephone - Lady Gaga and Beyoncé
What happens when you put two of the biggest female singer in the world on one track? Um, how about dancefloor heaven? Okay, so not all the time, but the unstoppable duo's second try together yielded much sweeter fruit. Thrown in a colorful, Tarantino-styled music video and you have a pop juggernaut on your hands.
1. All The Lovers - Kylie Minogue
I had been waiting for this song before I even knew I was waiting for it. The Aussie pop princess threw out the baggage of 2007's X and came back with an absolutely epic first single. Part teary-eyed, part euphoric release, and part dancefloor stomper, "All The Lovers" was a goddess send (the album is called Aphrodite after all). After only three months, it is only the eighth song ever to have over 400 plays in my iTunes. It also made me rabid for two months until the release of her equally as epic new album. Kylie is back!
First, because I realized there were lots of songs I loved, here is my #20 - #11:
20. Breakeven (Falling To Pieces) - The Script
19. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias
18. Crossfire - Brandon Flowers
17. Memories - David Guetta featuring Kid Cudi
16. I Got You - Leona Lewis
15. Ego - The Saturdays
14. Missing You - The Saturdays
13. Hands Tied - Toni Braxton
12. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
11. Your Love - Nicki Minaj
Now, for the Top 10:
10. Airplanes - B.O.B featuring Hayley Williams
I mostly skipped over his first single with Bruno Mars, so his second single with Paramore's frontwoman is what really got me interested. Between the effortlessness of the chorus and the true lyrics about wishing for a simpler life, "Airplanes" was clear evidence that hip hop could be more than sparse beats and lame rhymes about money and swag.
9. OMG - Usher feat. will.i.am
Was it a sellout move? Usher went the electropop route on his album Raymond v. Raymond, teaming up with BEP frontman will.i.am. Instead of playing like a cheap trick, it was one of the hottest songs of the year, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and saving what would have been a flop era. While it didn't push boundaries with it's lyrics (Boobies? Are we twelve?) but it did remind everyone why Usher was once the biggest male popstar since MJ.
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8. Commander - Kelly Rowland
Who knew she had it in her? After the worldwide (a.k.a, outside of the US) success of "When Love Takes Over" last year, the former Destiny's Child member teamed up with David Guetta for "Commander", a full-stop dance-pop smash, instant on first listen. For reasons that are beyond me, she didn't release it to radio in the States, just as the dance-pop fever hit full force.
7. Dancing On My Own - Robyn
The Swedish dance diva delivered a sweet treat for her first single from Body Talk Pt. 1. With it's mournful lyrics paired with pulsating, somber beats, "Dancing on My Own" embodied everyone's fear of lost love and loneliness while on the dancefloor.
6. Love The Way You Lie - Eminem featuring Rihanna
Domestic violence isn't supposed to sound this good. The two music superstars teamed up on a surprisingly personal, visceral, and accessible duet about the truth behind abusive relationships. Currently #1 on the charts, it goes to show that lyrical honesty can make for an amazing pop tune. Plus, Rihanna plus rappers is always guaranteed gold.
5. Find Your Love - Drake
Last year, he set the pop world on fire. This year, he fanned the flames. "Find Your Love" was an unexpected turn for the Canadian rapper. It was sharp, yet sensitive. Pulsing, yet melodic. Fierce, yet tender. Of course, that's because of Kanye's excellent production and Drake's great vocal performance. It made for a true blue pop hit for him and the confirmation that he may be the future of hip-hop.
4. California Gurls - Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg
Pegged as the West Coast answer to "Empire State of Mind", Katy snatched the summer with what may become her signature hit. It's bouncy electropop sound, the cute and clever lyrics, and an excellent cameo from Snoop made this song a #1 hit throughout the dog days of summer. Even with the sweltering heat, Katy made us wish we were all chillin' on the beach, melted popsicles and all.
3. Alejandro - Lady Gaga
So maybe the macabré video killed the vibe of the song a bit, but "Alejandro" was one of the highlights of an album full of them, The Fame Monster. It's ABBA-esque charm and it's tale of unwanted desire made it an excellent soundtrack to the summer. It also showed that seven singles into her career, she shows no sign of stopping her effortless domination of pop music.
2. Telephone - Lady Gaga and Beyoncé
What happens when you put two of the biggest female singer in the world on one track? Um, how about dancefloor heaven? Okay, so not all the time, but the unstoppable duo's second try together yielded much sweeter fruit. Thrown in a colorful, Tarantino-styled music video and you have a pop juggernaut on your hands.
1. All The Lovers - Kylie Minogue
I had been waiting for this song before I even knew I was waiting for it. The Aussie pop princess threw out the baggage of 2007's X and came back with an absolutely epic first single. Part teary-eyed, part euphoric release, and part dancefloor stomper, "All The Lovers" was a goddess send (the album is called Aphrodite after all). After only three months, it is only the eighth song ever to have over 400 plays in my iTunes. It also made me rabid for two months until the release of her equally as epic new album. Kylie is back!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Lady Gaga Owns 2010 MTV Video Music Awards with EIGHTEEN Nominations
Pop behemoth Lady Gaga has proven why she is the new queen of music videos.
Today, the MTV Video Music Award nominations were announced, and Gaga is nominated no less than 18 times for her videos "Bad Romance", "Telephone", and her feature on Beyoncé's "Video Phone". She is nominated for virtually every award she is eligible, including Video of the Year twice. In fact, she is double nominated in five other categories, and triple nominated for Best Choreography. She has broken the record for most nominations in one year by a mile.
With their shared eight nominations, is it possible that Beyoncé and Gaga will perform together on the VMA stage? Here's to hoping.
Eminem's video for "Not Afraid" comes behind Gaga with 8 nominations, including Video of the Year. Beyoncé also scores eight nominations, despite I Am Sasha Fierce being released almost two years ago.
A big nomination surprise comes from Florence + The Machine, who landed a slot in the Video of the Year category for "Dog Days Are Over". Rihanna is majorly snubbed this year, only being nominated for Best Editing for "Rude Boy".
The VMAs will be held on September 12th in Los Angeles.
Below is the full list of nominees:
Best Collaboration
B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams - Airplanes
Beyoncé featuring Lady GaGa - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Lady GaGa featuring Beyoncé - Telephone
3OH!3 featuring Kesha - My First Kiss
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
Best Female Video
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Ke$ha - Tik Tok
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg - California Gurls
Beyoncé featuring Lady GaGa - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Taylor Swift - Fifteen
Best Male Video
Eminem - Not Afraid
Usher featuring Will.I.Am - OMG
B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams - Airplanes
Drake - Find Your Love
Jason Derulo - In My Head
Best Hip Hop Video
B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams - Airplanes
Eminem - Not Afraid
Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem - Forever
Jay-Z & Swizz Beats - On To The Next One
Kid Cudi featuring MGMT & Ratatat - Pursuit Of Happiness
Best New Artist
Ke$ha - Tik Tok
Jason Derulo - In My Head
Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris - Baby
Nicki Minaj featuring Sean Garrett - Massive Attack
Broken Bells - The Ghost Inside
Best Pop Video
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dog - California Gurls
Ke$ha - Tik Tok
Beyoncé featuring Lady GaGa - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars - Nothing on You
Best Rock Video
30 Seconds To Mars - Kings and Queens
Muse - Uprising
Paramore - Ignorance
Florence + the Machine - Dog Days Are Over
MGMT - Flash Delirium
Best Dance Music Video
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull - I Like It
Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor
David Guetta featuring Akon - Sexy Chick
Usher featuring Will.I.Am - OMG
Video Of The Year
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over
30 Seconds To Mars - Kings and Queens
Lady GaGa featuring Beyoncé - Telephone
Eminem - Not Afraid
B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams - Airplanes
Best Art Direction
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over
Eminem - Not Afraid
30 Seconds To Mars - Kings and Queens
Beyoncé featuring Lady GaGa - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Best Choreography
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Lady GaGa featuring Beyoncé - Telephone
Beyoncé featuring Lady GaGa - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Usher featuring Will.I.Am - OMG
Janelle Monáe featuring Big Boi - Tightrope
Best Cinematography
Eminem - Not Afraid
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over
Best Direction
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Eminem - Not Afraid
Pink - Funhouse
30 Seconds To Mars - Kings and Queens
Best Editing
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Eminem - Not Afraid
Rihanna - Rude Boy
Pink - Funhouse
Miike Snow - Animal
Best SFX
Lady GaGa - Bad Romance
Eminem - Not Afraid
Muse - Uprising
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Dan Black - Symphonies
Breakthrough Video
Dan Black - Symphonies
Gorillaz featuring Bobby Womack & Mos Def - Stylo
Coldplay - Strawberry Swing
The Black Keys - Tighten Up
Monday, June 21, 2010
Download of the Day 6/21: "Love The Way You Lie" by Eminem featuring Rihanna
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| Eminem calls on Rihanna to aid in "Love The Way You Lie", an ode to the truths of volatile relationships |
The album's early release means something else, though. It means you can finally download one of the year's best songs, and one of the best of Eminem's decade long career.
"Love The Way You Lie", the rumored second single, is already scorching a path up the iTunes chart, with good reason. The song is about a very volatile relationship, a subject that Eminem is no stranger too. What is astonishing about this record is how it presented. It is one of Eminem's most listenable singles, thanks to its guitar and clap-driven melody, produced by Alex da Kid. He also produced the brilliant song "Airplanes" by B.O.B and Hayley Williams, which is why it may sound familiar. However, the songs are different enough to withstand too many rip-off claims. Plus, this song is much deeper in content. Some of the lyrics are very intense, and Eminem's delivery is as sharp as its ever. He conveys so well the conflicting emotions that come with relationships with elements of abuse embedded in them. In one line, he shares how much he loves that his lover hates him. He also acknowledges that both of them are suffering and desperate for more pain and love. It is a powerful show of growth for someone who's indulged in some of the most misogynistic lyrics in recent pop history, While he does rap about the struggles that his significant other is dealing with, he leaves the complex, yet simple feelings in the chorus, sung by pop superstar Rihanna. Having her, a domestic abuse victim herself, sing the amazing chorus was a stroke of genius on Em's part. It makes you wonder how Rihanna felt singing lyrics that pretty much summed up her interview with Diane Sawyer last year. Either way, her vocals are great, and she is just as responsible for this record's imminent success as he is.
"Love The Way You Lie" will probably be the second consecutive #1 singles for both artists, a feat well deserved. Eminem has surely grown up since his days as Slim Shady, but his musical brilliance hasn't wavered a bit.
Rating: 9/10 (Even if you downloaded it when it leaked, just do it again on iTunes. It's worth the $1.29)
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