Music Video Showdown Vol. 02: Wynter Gordon, Usher and Sky Ferreira Do Battle

It's time to line up a handful of new pop videos, see what we like about them and then award them imaginary MTV Moonmen out 10 (I wish I had a Moonman :(((( I really do) It is a battle of sorts, so apply some sports reference to this showdown and let us begin!

Usher - Scream

What Is It? Single no. 2 from Usher's latest album Looking 4 Myself (Plug alert. It's this week's GCN album of the week, full review from myself here). The upbeat tune with co-writing help from Max Martin has been kicking around for a while now, a slightly different vibe to the first single Climax (Which. was. AMAZING). This manages to stand out from similar dance-pop tunes with some sprightly production, surprisingly raunchy lyrics and spirited vocals from the man himself. The video has finally arrived this week. 

Is It Any Good? Um, it's a bit BORING if we are being 100% honest with you all. The clip looks budget (You get the impression they blew all the video budget money on that gorgeous clip for Climax awhile back) and has an odd concept. Usher runs around a black tunnel and does a few dance steps in a nice white suit, a hot girl swims above, which implies Usher is perhaps stuck downstairs in an aquarium. Then he flaps about in a Balmain-y jacket, a high-street knock off of which you probably bought 3 years ago. Then in the closing moments Usher has a dance with Aquarium Girl and suddenly appears at a live show where lots of punters flail around. If it sounds exciting it's really not and for someone with so many moves it's odd how little dancing there is. Sigh.

Do Say: "Usher sure can pull off a white suit"

Don't Say: "WHAT IF THE GLASS BREAKS ON THE AQUARIUM AND YOU DROWN USHER?? WHAT IF??"

MTV Moonmen out 10:  5

 

Sky Ferreira - Red Lips

What Is It? The new clip from the buzzed about singer-model-blogger favourite who has had many fawning over her quirky electro-pop and beautiful, husky voice for a few years. Still only 19, Sky has struggled to find a style and identity as an artist that lets her speak for herself. This track is the lead single from forthcoming debut album Wild At Heart. Red Lips, co-writen with recently-returned rockers Garbage is a scuzzy, gritty guitar-pop number with a snarly, aggressive momentum that will win you over.

Is It Any Good: Well yes. And no. It's directed by photographer Terry Richardson whose infamously sleazy style has made him a huge name and seen him shoot basically everybody for the cover of every magazine ever. As such, it looks exactly how you'd expect a Terry Richardson music video to look. Sparse, lo-fi lighting and plenty of uncomfortable sexuality. The imagery veers too much between a satirical take on the sexualisation of young women in pop videos and just being a few minutes of a young girl flapping about in her knickers. Ferreira is an intelligent and underrated talent and the way the video is set up as poking fun at the presentation of beauty in pop videos is interesting but ultimately it feels like Ferreira isn't really in control and the result is somewhat uncomfortable to watch. Not least because the whole thing features an ENORMOUS SPIDER CRAWLING AROUND : (

Do Say: "Isn't it nice to have Sky back?"

Don't Say: "I would love to have a tarantula crawl all over me!"

MTV Moonment out of 10 : 6

Wynter Gordon - Still Getting Younger

What Is It? The 4th single from the underrated US dance-pop queen's With The Music I Die Album/EP (depending on what country you're in.) Wynter had a huge hit with Dirty Talk but her other tracks haven't quite been as big. Which is a shame because her track record is pretty great and this one is no different. A breezy, 80s tinged number with a beautiful sense of yearning strewn across it's thumping beat, it's a pitch-perfect summer pop song. 

Is It Any Good? Yes. This isn't a huge splashy pop video but it completely brings the track to life. Wynter frolics on a building rooftop, having a water fight with her beau and looking  cool in various lovely outfits. It moves at a great clip with Miss Gordon serving both sultry looks and an easy, knowing joy that is a welcome relief from the sexual posturing and would-be raunchy moves most pop divas are pulling at the moment (not that we don't love that kind of thing, but still). 

Do Say: "I really want to have a water-fight now"

Don't say: "I prefer Rihanna grabbing her crotch 23432 times in 3 minutes to be honest"

MTV Moonmen out of 10: 8

In this battle we our handing all the kudos to Wynter Gordon for not only wearing some nice denim cut-offs but proving that water pistols will always have a place in pop videos. 

Wynter Gordon takes her "Dirty Talk" to the clubs

I mentioned the rather fabulous Wynter Gordon and her track Dirty Talk on here awhile back. And since then she's announced that is to be released officially as a single with an album "With The Music I Die.." ( the title according to a flier on her official site) to follow later this year.


This is of course great news, I've been playing Dirty Talk loads in the last few months. It is basically Madonna's "Celebration" with a shopping list of sex positions/places/situations in place of lyrics and getting up and dancing. Not only that but it means we finally get to a Wynter Gordon logo, as evidenced on the single artwork below:

Magical.

The song already sounds quite club ready but there are some remixes on the way. Not least one from remixer du jour Laidback Luke whose already done remixes for Daft Punk, David Guetta (his reswizz of When Love Takes Over will be familiar to anyone who was out in a club in some shape or form in the last 12 months), Black Eyed Peas (click here to hear him rescue I Got A Feeling from the land of the terminally overplayed) and Calvin Harris. His mix is a potent jumble of rave-y synths and full on electro bleeps and will only help this song become the club juggernaut it needs to be.

The best evidence of just how monstrous this mix can be seen in the video below. It features Laidback Luke himself playing the mix in one of his sets. The first time I watched this I thought it was somebody filming a cute guy singing along to the track and loved the idea that this was the lone Wynter fan in the crowd. Then I realised this was in fact Laidback Luke going crazy to his own mix. Which makes more sense.

Dirty Talk is a surprising start for an artist who seems to be more as soulful/intense sort but a girl's got to start off somewhere. Still it should be an effective launch pad for one of the most talented internet buzz artists in awhile and at the very least allow to snag some slots writing for high profile artists. Needless to say, it's all very exciting.


And just for fun I've put the original version of Dirty Talk and Madge's Celebration beside each other so you can play them back to back and revel in the pop meets Ibiza house meets divas in battle glory. Enjoy!

The Wonderful World of Wynter Gordon

Wynter Gordon came to the attention of eager pop fans at the start of last year when Popjustice mentioned her still-sounds-brilliant pop gem "Surveillance". It seemed to be a sure fire winner in the "best singles of 2008" lists but the track was never properly released and Wynter has yet to release her own material. She has built her own profile slowly but surely with new tracks and demos for other artists (including Jennifer Lopez whose new album features a number of tracks co written by Wynter) as well as guesting on Flo Rida's hit "Sugar" and a track on David Guetta's "One Love" ("Toyfriend" one of the highlights).

I've been keeping an eye on her stuff on and off and found this leaked track today (which seems to be knocking about for the last few weeks). A sprightly piece of club pop (produced by David Guetta allegedly though I'm not sure if that is true), not unlike "Celebration" by Madonna, "Dirty Talk" feels like a track that would sound very good blasting out of the radio and even better on a sweaty dancefloor. I'm not sure why Wynter hasn't taken off yet but I hope 2010 finally gets to be her year.