Hottest New Videos: Nicki Minaj, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, and YouTube Video Game

"POUND THE ALARM"  NICKI MINAJ

Who's had a better year than Nicki Minaj?  In less than 48 hours, "Pound The Alarm" had 2,000,000 hits on YouTube.  Nicki voiced a character in the #1 movie in the U.S., Ice Age: Continental Drift, appeared on the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and guested on many big hits including songs by Britney, Lil Wayne, Will.i.Am, and David Guetta.   An unprecedented run for Nicki's debut CD, Pink Friday (and the reloaded version), eight songs making the Billboard Top 100, an all-time record for any solo female artist.  Nicki's even starring on TV in commercials for Pepsi, Adidas, and Mattel for her own Barbie doll.   The new single features amazing Caribbean colors inspired by her Trinidad homeland.   What a party!   Love the confetti, the thumping bass, "burn the floor", easily one of my favorite Minaj songs.

"GET IT STARTED"  PITBULL Ft. SHAKIRA

Talk about a hot collaboration, Colombia's finest export, Shakira, teams up again with Pitbull, the pride of Miami and Cuba for a brand new club ready dance track.  They previously worked together on Rabiosa, this song is even better. Captivating video with some international intrigue, a woman on the run, beautiful people in amazing tropical locations, and fireworks, what's not to like!  Shakira is back with the blonde hairstyle and looks amazing in a gold dress while overlooking the city.   Pitbull's raps might be wearing thin but he managed to sneak in a great rhyme about the "thrilla in Manilla and knocking em out like Pacquiao."

"GOIN' IN"  JENNIFER LOPEZ ft. FLO RIDA
One of the most stylish videos of the year.  Jennifer sporting rhinestone covered lips, two beautiful white wolves, old school breakdancers, lasers, MC Hammer pants, a closeup on Jennifer's most famous ASSet, pink fire hydrants shooting out paint, all in the first minute of the video!   If you imagined what a Jennifer Lopez and Flo Rida collaboration would sound like then you'll be in no surprise hearing the new song.   It's pop, dance fluff but everyone loves a little junk food now and then.  I really enjoyed the Lil Jon addition on the hook.  Fun summer song that will appease J Lo's fans and give the haters something new to jump all over.

DAILY MUSIC TRIVIA:  What historic "first" was Jennifer the first to accomplish in Jan. 2001?  Yesterday:  Christian Science

From YouTube "BAND SLAM",
"IRIS" by KIMMIE SMILES

Become your own music talent scout.   YouTube has an addicting new game called "Music Slam" where you're given two homemade video submissions and you choose the one that is the best.   If you guess the most popular, you get another set to compare.    See if you can beat my record of 610 points!   One submission I enjoyed was "Iris" by Kimmie Smiles, although once the song ends at 3:01, stop the video! Unless you want to hear her ramble on about her friends, violet eyes, and potato chips.     

  

Los Angeles Is Burning: Bad Religion, Sniff 'N The Tears, Forever The Sickest Kids, Arthur Alexander

"DRIVER'S SEAT"    SNIFF 'N THE TEARS

1979 hidden treasure song from a UK band that snuck into the US top 40 charts.   I remember having the 45 single and wearing it out.   The song was also used in Mark Wahlberg's "Boogie Nights".  The homemade video is just an attractive woman on a roadtrip but it's captivating in its simplicity.

"FOREVER GIRL"    FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS

From Dallas, TX, Forever the Sickest Kids are a pop punk/emo band that teenage girls love.   "Forever Girl" isn't full of deep lyrics and complex musical interludes.   It's a simple direct love song to make you smile.   Love the line: "Cause we've got that thing that other people dream about and see on silver screens, it's undeniable!"  

"LOS ANGELES IS BURNING"   BAD RELIGION

Not your typical California punk band, Bad Religion is known for three part harmony, intellectual  political messages in their deep lyrics.    Their CD, "The Empire Strikes First" was "dedicated to get George Bush voted out of office".   "Los Angeles Is Burning" features Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.   Ironically, the L.A. Lakers use this song as a promotional clip when they're "on fire"!

"SHARING THE NIGHT TOGETHER"   ARTHUR ALEXANDER

Dr. Hook took this song to #6 in the 70's but the original was a classic R&B classic but the little known Arthur Alexander.   Music trivia:  Who's the only songwriter to have his songs covered by The Beatles, The Stones and Bob Dylan?   Arthur Anderson

When You Were Mine (Rare): Art Of Dying, Tesla, Cyndi Lauper, and Day Of Fire

"WHEN YOU WERE MINE"  CYNDI LAUPER

Cyndi Lauper covering early Prince, here's a rare AMA video captured from a Japanese fan site.  Never afraid to take chances, Cyndi's visual stage presence, her performance art style, and her ability to mesmerize a crowd was seen here early in her meteoric career.

 
"BEST I CAN"    ART OF DYING

The song opens with the ominous lyrics:   "Tonight I feel the world won't miss me, so much to say but there's no one listening" and you wonder if it's a song about suicide.   But as the lyrics progress, you feel the fight, the hope, determination: "I got a picture of what matters and I keep it close to my heart, it's a little faded but so am I."   From the 2009 Canadian New Artist of the Year, Art of Dying is a new band on the rise.

"THE FIRST TIME"   TESLA

Tesla returned in 2008 with their finest CD since Psychotic Supper in the early 90's.   The sound is the perfect combination of contemporary rock with their signature sound.   "First Time" is embracing life to the fullest and adds to Tesla's legacy.

"THE DARK HILLS"  DAYS OF FIRE

Christian rock band, Day Of Fire, only released three CD's but my favorite track by them is "The Dark Hills".  Questioning your worth, your place in this world, the lyrics hit you like a punch in a face:  "searching for the truth through stained glass windows covering up in shame only things I know"  "If anyone knew this ugliness inside me would they throw a stone, would they crucify me?   How heavy was the crown of thorns?"   The theme of forgiveness is laced in the chorus in this dynamic song.

 

Old School Rap, Run DMC with LL Cool J: Evans Blue, Huey Lewis, Paula DeAndra

"ERASE MY SCARS"                    EVANS BLUE

Imagine losing your 8 year old nephew to cancer.     The lead singer is shouting out to God his anger, confusion, and outrage.    But the song isn't all about aggression, it's about moving on from the pain and wreckage in your life.    Even if you can't let go of the past, you've got to fight, quit feeling helpless.   "Erase My Scars" is intense but it's a wake-up call to get off your ass!    It almost looks like the drummer will get paid extra if he can destroy the drums before the song ends!   Beast Mode!

"HOPE YOU LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY YOU DO"   HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS

Before they became the most overplayed band on MTV, Huey Lewis and the News were the perfect "bar band" with high energy horns, a charismatic lead singer, and a no-frills all-American rock and roll sound.    From their 1982 debut CD, comes their first video that will have you singing along before the video ends and you hit "replay"!  


What does a girl like you, see in a man like me ?
Just cause I love you baby, don't think I'll be,
Just what you want me to be.
Ooh, yes I'm stubborn, I'm hard headed, but baby I love you.

"WALK AWAY"                      PAULA DeANDRA

A recent one-hit wonder pop song with a little Latina hip hop flavor, "Walk Away" has a catchy beat, a memorable hookline ("you're gonna remember me") and a cute video.   This song co-written by Ne-Yo and Christina Milian almost made the Top 10.   The legendary Clive Davis signed Paula DeAndra, who only released just one CD.  Her follow-up included "Easy" featuring Bow Wow (oh no! that was probably the kiss of death) and now she's onto acting :)

"KRUSH GROOVIN'"   FAT BOYS, RUN D.M.C., KURTIS BLOW, SHEILA E.

Krush Groove was a 1985 biopic of hip hop mogul, Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam.   In the movie, Russell is trying to sign artists to his new label, Krush Groove (aka Def Jam) with producer Rick Rubin.   Even LL Cool J was first introduced in this retro film.  The movie concludes with an all-star old school jam where all of the superstars join together for this moment of early rap history.  

Hard Rock Garth Brooks: Ronnie James Dio, Oasis, Limp Bizkit, Overscene

"DREAM ON"            RONNIE JAMES DIO & YNGWIE MALSTEEN

One of the biggest classic rock songs in history covered by two heavy metal legends.   Ronnie James Dio, from Elf, Sabbath, and Rainbow teams up with Swedish guitar virtuoso, Yngwie Malsteen for Aerosmith's timeless classic, Dream On.     Yngwie is famous for his Yellow "Duck" Stratocaster solos and his blend of classical music with metal.     Ronnie James Dio, standing only 5'4" still cast a major shadow on metal with his distinctive, unmistakeable voice.    Ronnie's other claim to fame is supposedly getting the "devil's horns" hand signal brought to prominence.

"DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER"     OASIS

Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher led the controversial band, Oasis.   Known as much for their stage fights, lawsuits, and the feuds between the two brothers, Oasis' music was a mix of Stones swagger combined with Beatlesque melodies.  "Don't Look Back In Anger" is brilliantly produced, the song carries a different meaning to each listener, and sounds like a lost John Lennon track.  

 


"BREAK STUFF"       LIMP BIZKIT


So bad, it's good?   Late 90's, early 2000's, Fred Durst and his band ruled MTV.     Remember their cover of George Michael's Faith?    Nookie?   That red Yankees cap and their mix of rap and hard rock was forever engraved in our memories.   "Break Stuff" is so ridiculous and the lyrics are so over the top that you have to laugh and jam out to this one!      Who hasn't had this day?


It's just one of those days
When you don't wanna wake up
Everything is fucked
Everybody sux
You don't really know why
But you want justify
Rippin' someone's head off
No human contact
And if you interact
Your life is on contract
Your best bet is to stay away motherfucker
It's just one of those days!!


Check out the cameos in the video (Snoop!, Jonathan Davis, Eminem and his daughter Hailie, Pauly Shore, Dr Dre, ...........)  

"THUNDER ROLLS"  (Garth Brooks Cover)    OVERSCENE

If ever a country music song deserved a hard rock cover, it's the "Thunder Rolls".   Garth's song about a wife waiting for her husband to come home, suspecting the worse, and "praying it's the weather that kept him out so late".   As the lightning crashes, "he knows that she knows".    Like Garth's live version, this one has the famous "lost lyrics" about the pistol in the drawer.   Great cover by a Dallas band that remind me of Sevendust mixed with Saliva.    :)   Hmmmm, that combination sounds nasty!