A surprise release from Taylor Swift that also might be surprising in its embracement of indie folk vibes. The video itself is a magical journey, with the piano serving as a portal to new territories.
It's a fairy tale where Taylor Swift doesn't need to wait for any Prince Charming to save her in this latest epic collaboration with director Joseph Kahn. She just needs to decide to turn around and move on from her entanglements. That journey is anything but easy, however, as our heroine goes from the oceans edge to an icy peak and into a forest that's invariably filled with snarling dogs, menacing fire and malicious brances (note: I'd reference Evil Dead her, but why start the New Year that twisted, right?).
Yes, we know Taylor Swift is popular, but just to make sure you realize how big she is on the heels of her star-studded "Bad Blood" video, take a look at the numbers:
20 million - "Bad Blood" broke the 24 hour VEVO record for most views in one day, getting nearly 20 million views in one day.
37 million - Total "Bad Blood" views as I write this, four days after the premiere.
5 billion - Total view count for all her videos.
11 million - Total estimated viewers to the Billboard Music Awards, which televised the exclusive world premiere of the video.
It's like there's the music business, and then there's the Taylor Swift business, with the only similarity being that they use some of the same notes...
Welcome to EXTREME Girl Power. Taylor Swift, director Joseph Kahn and a seemingly countless amount of cameos — Rihanna, Ellie Goulding, Lena Dunham, Hayley Williams, Hailee Steinfeld... you get the picture] — do in four minutes what Sucker Punch tried to do in about 110.
Wouldn't be surprised if the budgets were similar.
Pity the fool who decides to ruin a fairy tale romance with Taylor Swift, because not only do you get banished from the palace — yes, palace — but you also find yourself in serious danger once she unleashes her inner She-Devil.
Director Joseph Kahn constructs a tale of two loves in this unexpected video from Britney Spears. "Perfume" is Britney unguarded — favoring a soaring, yet barbed ballad that's worlds away from her recent electro facades — with a video that does away with the occasional superhero and dominatrix motifs she's used in the past: This is the pop star at her most vulnerable, but still stronger than ever.
Ever feel like your iPhone has become a part of you? The hero/victim in Valibation faces a uniquely literal version of that affliction, forcing him to stop living through his technolofy and start learning to love himself. And yes, that's a masturbation joke.
Don't tune out before the epic band/crowd confrontation that greets the climax of Biffy Clyro's neo-grunge anthem,"Black Chandeliers." That said, there's plenty to hold your attention before that asBigTV deliver a large-scale cinematic vision of a dark night that descends upon a city and clings to its citizens like tar.
Razor & Tie signing Kelly Sweetsits front and center with the whole Razor & Tie/Ingenuity Engine team on the bedroom set of her video, "Raincoat." Pictured from left: Sally Bunel of Razor & Tie, manager Bruce Berman, producer Ken Franchi, Kelly Sweet, Ryan Ingrasin of Razor & Tie, director Todd Strauss-Schulson, editor Dave Michalson and executive producer Dave Lebensfeld.
Not quite as rebellious as Kurt Cobain wearing a "Corporate Magazines Still Suck" T-shirt on the cover of Rolling Stone — I dare say it's the opposite — but kudos to director Todd Strauss-Schulson (fourth from left) for recognizing that I am indeed his proverbial daddy.
Director Joseph Kahn set new pop/rock band Pink Spiders in the midst of a fun rollerskating party for their video, "Little Razorblade." Shot back in early January, the video is now finished after visual effect house Ingenuity Engine filled in a giant dot matrix backdrop, neon rainbow effects and artwork for the letterbox borders.
artist: Pink Spiderssong: "Little Razorblade"label: Geffendirector(s): Joseph Kahnproduction co: HSI
