last friday night (t.g.i.f.) - katy perry
retro high school fantasy about a geeky girl who incidentally throws a party that gets a little out of hand. internet starlet rebecca black makes an appearance as the best friend who gives the rockin makeover, debbie gibson and corey feldman are the parents, and even kenny g. shows up to blow his saxophone against the decidedly shermer, illinois-eseque backdrop of keggers, make-out sessions, and horny jocks. this is one of the rare examples of how a clip can elevate an otherwise boring tune.
the lazy song - bruno mars
a bittersweet testament to the advent of the information age. a camera is adjusted in the corner of a guy's bedroom while a shaded cool cat croons about not wanting to do shit but chill in his drawers and maybe hook-up. with charmingly comedic choreography done by ape-masked buddies in marvelous rhythm and a wry sex appeal that seems both simple and understated, bruno mars has forged himself an iconic marking in the world of pop music, forcing us to witness the makings of something potentially great.
judas - lady gaga
mary magdaelene rides on the back of a cornrowed jesus's motorbike with the rest of the apostles surrounding them like hell's angels. as they congregate to preach to the community, the art-metal-pop chords break out and we are transferred into a make-believe world of biblical postmodernism where the decor resembles of mexican western, floridan motels, and college bacchanalia. a grungy judas kisses jesus's plump cheeks, mary writhes at their feet while judas pours beer on her ass, toward the end mary is stoned in a white couture gown, almost stunned by what she expected to come. it's messy and sloppy, but absolutely fantastic.
yonkers - tyler the creator
never try to eat a beetle. tyler did and puked all over the floor and then decided to hang himself after rhyming about violence and bitches. there is a lush simplicity about the whole production, with only a stool and a white background, the artist taking center stage without frills or pyrotechnics. black contacts don't count. it is something of a coded call to arms for all rebels and assholes to come out and wreak havoc because, well, someone's got to.
run the world (girls) - beyonce
a futuristic goddess lords over a post-apocalyptic amazonian world that only uses men as perhaps fodder and more than likely, food. even though the song is all kinds of misdirected, the striking imagery of egyptian-style ritual, high-heeled prowess, and sheer mythical escapism allows you to bask in a maddening ancient(?) civilization and hangs them up to broadway proportions. the quick cut of queen b. giving the finger and the image of an exploding car are straight from hollywood action films, the lacquer slightly shinier than usual. and that of the siren gripping the leash of two hyenas only perpetuates the legend of her as african mistress to the world.
super bass - nicki minaj
bright candy-coated swirls and icy desserts make for a deliciously indulgent romp. here is a girl who is flirty and fun and is not trying to take herself too seriously while at the same time playing with a type of innocence that never crosses over into absurdity. with its snow globe motif and blinding colors, it could very well be a skittles commercial had it not been for its coherence and utter cuteness. but at the end, the pink barbie convertible and dripping igloo says it all: this is can be your fantasy as long as you allow it to be.
man down - rihanna
fresh-faced island girl saunters around town encountering friends and acquaintances before meeting her ultimate fate of being sexually-assaulted and then shooting down the man who did it. rihanna has never looked more free and laidback, sexy and joyful. there is such a vulnerability about the tropical settings, raw and untamed, spreading about the camera as if asking for mercy. it is all so-of-the-moment, so-yesterday, so-today, so-now. wish it was longer.
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