Music Video Run Down: Cheryl, Little Boots and Rihanna debut new clips.

It's a busy week for music videos. There's pop biggest star Rihanna unveiling another surefire winner, the slinky high-fashion visuals delivered by Little Boots and the return of UK popstrel Cheryl Cole. If you need to catch up and get some rapid fire knowledge on the latest pop videos than you've come to the right place.

Cheryl - Call My Name

What Is It: The video for the first single from Cheryl's (because she has dropped the surname for pop purposes it seems) new album A Million Lights, her 3rd (!) solo album. The track is helmed by Calvin Harris and has all the hallmarks of a summer smash.

Is It Good: YES. Yes it is. This is a perfect example of how to do a big budget, dance-heavy pop video that sums up why the star in question is in fact a star. There's a faintly ridiculous opening 50 seconds of slow-mo Cheryl, the song slowed down and a Marquis de Sade quote (!!) before the high energy dancing kicks in. Cheryl does her best Janet Jackson circa Rhythm Nation moves in a pair of leopard-print parachute pants (WE'LL TAKE 10 PAIRS PLEASE) while she buzzes around LA in a car and saunters down a tunnel. It's equal parts choreography driven pop fun and fashion spread beauty shots and it's a real treat for the eyes. And unlike Rihanna's new video (See below) Cole looks confident and in control of her moves. Great stuff.

Do Say: "I COULD DEFNITELY PULL OFF THOSE NEON PLATFORMS IF I WAS DANCING IN A TUNNELL"

Don't Say: "Is she not a bit cold running around in her leopard-print knickers?"

MTV Moonmen out of ten: 9

Rihanna - Where Have You Been

What Is It: The video for the 4th single from Rihanna's Talk That Talk album (although the title track's run as a single was somewhat undermined by no video being made), the Calvin Harris/Dr Luke produced cut Where Have You Been has all the makings of another Riri hit. So, the video comes just in time to make it contender for song of the summer.

Is It Good? : Well, here's the problem. It's not really. Rihanna has nailed the art of the big pop video in recent years. We Found Love was a near perfect mix of storytelling and controversy baiting imagery and Rihanna has developed an ever-changing sex kitten persona that leaves the blogs buzzing. This video though lacks much of the pulse of the song itself and while it's nice to see Rihanna try her hand at dance routines, she never quite pulls them off. The Rihanna-in-the-swamp bits are undeniably great (more popstars in swamps please) but it never quite lifts off the way it should. Basically combine Beyonce's Run the World dancing, with Amerie's video for Touch, a smidge of Kelis' Acapella and Nelly Furtado's Turn Off The Light and you have this video.

Do Say: "Well, at least it was nice of Rihanna to TRY dancing I suppose"

Don't Say: "WOW RIHANNA REALLY IS THE BEST DANCER IN POP RIGHT NOW NOBODY ELSE CAN TOUCH HER WOWOWOWOWOW"

MTV Moonmen out of Ten: 6

Little Boots - Every Night I Say A Prayer

What Is It: Little Boots is slowly building momentum towards her eventual second album release with promising dance tracks that combine her pop nous with cutting edge production that still doesn't try too hard. Every Night I Say A Prayer was released as a free download for Record Store Day, with Andy Butler, he of Hercules and Love Affair, given this tune plenty of classic house-music flourishes and plenty of club-kid cool. Thankfully there's a stonking chorus too that suggests that Little Boots has found her groove again.

Is It Good: Yes. Very very very good indeed. This isn't a hugely lavish affair but the sleek vogue-infused choreography works a treat and the minimal but stylish presentation of both Little Boots and her turbo-cool dance troupe is spot on. It's a nice art-y take on your typical "people dancing around to an upbeat song" video that doesn't bash you over the head with pretentiousness.

Do Say: "I could definitely whack a few of those dances moves out after a few vodka and cokes"

Don't Say: "LOL DOESN'T IT REMIND U OF D MDNA SONG VOGUE"

MTV Moonmen out of Ten: 9

What a merry band of pop clips. here's hoping that this rather strong start, leads to a Summer of equally strong numbers!

Tunes of the Moment Circa Mid August 2009

Lets list some more top tunes shall we?

In no particular order:

Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill : shimmer-y, sassy and uplifting disco pop and a great comeback single for Miss Houston.

Eva Simons - Silly Boy: Still sounds like a Rihanna/Lady Gaga demo but really thats no bad thing. The video is bonkers too which helps.

Eve - Me N My (Up In The Club) : a blippy, noisy electro hip hop track that I wasn't expecting from Eve but great nonetheless.

Little Boots - Catch 22 : I don't know why it took me so long to find out how amazing this and also why it wasn't on the album! Forshame Little Boots, forshame. See also Stuck On Repeat (Fake Blood Mix)

Fake Blood - Mars : this is one of those "dimly aware of it ages ago, finally got around to listening to it now" songs and I love it.

MGMT - Kids (80skidz Remix) : adds a lick of a paint and covers ovrt some of the overplayed sheen this had a while ago. Not a new mix as far as I know but I stumbled on it and it makes me happy.

Sean Kingston - Fire Burning : I hate Sean Kingston with a fiery passion but I really love this completely by the numbers Red One number and I'm not sure why!

Might Like You Better - Amanda Blank: I like that the first time I heard this I was dancing like a trooper on a Sunday evening. Always a nice way to be introduced to a song.

Richard Vission & Static Revenger feat. Luciana - I Like That: Brilliant dirty dance pop. Why isn't Luciana huge?

Jade Ewen - My Man : So four years ago but so fun. a great slice of R&B pop. The Cahill Remix is great.

Boys and Girls - Pixie Lott: Chirpy and enjoyable pop. The Moto Blanco and Hot Pink Deleorean mixes are fantastic too.

Backstreet Boys - Straight Through the Heart : Catchy, immediate old school pop.

Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA : You can try and resist. But why bother? This is sunny, carefree and will plaster a smile over your face. You cynic you.

Music Video Roundup

Anyone who knows me knows that I love music videos very much. Just the mere thought of a 4 minutes of overly edited glossy looking shots of people grinding in a club to the tune of the new Madonna track is enough to get me excited. Music videos are bizaare utterly unique art form where no logic or plot just visuals galore can work. Or you can tell a whole little story like a great short film all set to music. So as such I still find new videos a joy to watch be it from new aritst or established stars and for a variety of tracks. With that in mind lets have a look at some new and recently released videos I've enjoyed (or maybe not enjoyed!)

Little Boots - Remedy

This is a solid gold pop stomper from a girl who has gone from overhyped to unfairly maligned in the space of a second. Many have moaned that Boots is too commerical and lacking in edge etc. Well as stupid as these comments are they might enjoy the new video from the lady herself. A slick and glossy looking video with simple but effective visuals it brings home the technology friendly and quirky side of Little Boots that has endeared her to so many. This video probably should have been a big obvious "up in the club" type affair but this space age effort actually works brilliantly. This video is sleek and edgy and stands out a mile from everything else at the moment. It does both the song and Little Boots justice.

Dolly Rockers - Gold Digger

These girls are hard to dislike. A girl group with a strong Spice Girls meets Lily Allen feel, these three English lasses gleefully tear strips out of blonde bimbo wags. The song is a wierd but strangely brilliant mixing of cheeky lyrics, very little singing and a silly dance beat. It shouldn't work but it does. And much could be said about the video which is basically cleverly edited and staged set ups that show off the gumption of the Gold Diggers. It is basically Wannabe 2009 in its off the cuff charm and cheekiness. It fits in well with other Dolly Rocker videos they've already done on YouTube which are all worth a look. Not only do these girls brim with personality they've knocked out a great little debut single and a video that sums them up quite efficiently.

BoA - Energetic

Korean pop star with eyes on the US market BoA released her cracking English language debut stateside earlier this year and recently released the video for the 3rd single .Given that the album is a straight up dancefloor stormer all the videos have had a similar. I was delighted to hear Energetic was a single given that is a fantastic slice of aggressive synth hip hop pop. Not so delighted by the dull, unimaginative video and poor sound and crappy remix. Still this is catchy and BoA's moves are a joy to behold. Like Britney but better!

Fun Fact: Both Little Boots and Dolly Rockers filmed other videos for their respective tracks but went back to the drawing board and filmed second videos instead. And they record labels don't like to spend money