Last night No Doubt pulled their video “Looking Hot” after online commenters complained the video was offensive. The music video included Native American imagery, such as a teepee, smoke signals, feathers and headresses.
YouTube commenters and online bloggers were quick to bash the video for insensitively appropriating Native American culture, and soon after, No Doubt took the video down and issued an apology.
In a post titled ”In Regards to Our ‘Looking Hot’ Music Video” on their official website, No Doubt wrote:
As a multi-racial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures. Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialize Native American people, their culture or their history. Although we consulted with Native American friends and Native American studies experts at the University of California, we realize now that we have offended people. This is of great concern to us and we are removing the video immediately. The music that inspired us when we started the band, and the community of friends, family, and fans that surrounds us was built upon respect, unity and inclusiveness. We sincerely apologize to the Native American community and anyone else offended by this video. Being hurtful to anyone is simply not who we are.
The track was the follow up single to “Settle Down” from their sixth studio album Push and Shove. Did you see it? What did you think of it?
While No Doubt didn’t intend for their music video to be offensive, many artists before them have released music videos deemed too insensitive by major networks. And sometimes that’s the whole point…
Seven controversial music videos
Madonna — “Like A Prayer”
When the music video for “Like A Prayer” was first released people were shocked at its Catholic iconography. The video tells the story of a black man wrongly accused of murdering a child. Madonna witnesses the whole thing and later kisses a Saint on the mouth. This is heavy stuff, especially for 1989. The Pope wanted to ban her from performing in Italy.
Nicki Minaj — “Stupid Hoe”
Nicki Minaj‘s “Stupid Hoe” was so controversial that BET banned it from airing. Although they didn’t specify why, it was probably because the raunchy lyrics. The count? Minaj says stupid hoe an astounding 52 times and f*ck 10 times.
Lady Gaga — “Alejandro”
Because of the religious imagery, MTV chose to air Lady Gaga‘s “Alejandro” only on its sister stations after midnight. Gaga’s video combined Catholic imagery with sexual themes like S&M and androgyny. Gaga, who wears a latex version of a nun’s robe, even ingests rosary beads in one scene. Needless to say, she was criticized by everyone from Katy Perry to the Catholic League.
Bjork — “Cocoon” Read more…
One Direction was taunting us everyday with the many countdowns to their new music video “Little Things” and my head was about to explode in anticipation. It’s finally here and #LittleThingsOnVEVO is already trending on Twitter.
The guys were pretty practical with the music video too, filming it in a recording studio as they casually sing and look adoringly into the camera. Overall, the video is pretty low key. It was shot in black and white and has a simple theme, which makes sense considering it’s a slower ballad. This way, we really get to focus on the message of the song (that you’re BEAUTIFUL) and their ridiculously good-looking profiles.
Also, how bout these gifs from magnificent-mofo, huh?
Watch it here
We’re used to seeing half-naked women and drugs in Snoop Dogg’s music videos, but the thing is, he’s not Snoop Dogg anymore — he’s Snoop Lion. With a new name and a new music direction (reggae) it seems the rapper has also made over his wild music videos.
In the visuals for “La La La,” Snoop Lion talks to cute costumed kids about his new name and whether or not they like it. One of the girls, dressed as a bumble bee, confesses that she liked him better when he was Snoop Dogg (I’m guessing because she prefers dogs to lions).
Snoop Lion leads a conga line of these cute kids through a cartoon version of Noah’s Ark. Then he’s put in a coffin and is resurrected as a lion — King of the Jungle. He sits in his throne while a smoking pineapple floats up and down on the screen.
The song is from his forthcoming album Reincarnated.
Watch it here
Taylor Swift is basically living my dream in her new video for “Begin Again.” The singer lives in Paris and bikes along the Seine to a romantic looking cafe, where she writes letters and sips vanilla lattes. We’re happy Taylor found love again, most notably because her new love is smoking hot but also because her ex sounds like a gigantic douche.
The video is beautifully filmed and her thoughtful vintage-y outfits are eye candy. Check out the video below and all of her looks underneath.
Watch the video below
What’s your favourite look?
Red floral sundress
Sheer top and skirt
Pastel purple gown Read more…
Alicia Keys’ new music video for “Girl On Fire” is an ode to super mom. You know, the moms who work so damn hard to keep everything together but never let the frenzy show on their face. The positive concept of the song and music video is a refuge from the club bangers on the radio and much more inspirational than tracks about hooking up, breaking up and smoking up.
This version also erases Nick Minaj’s verse, which seems to make the song flow better, plus I don’t know where Minaj would fit in the video.
Watch it here:
The main characters in Bonnie Bears Bon Iver’s new video “Beth/Rest” kind of remind me of those cheesy, other-world inspired figurines you’d find sitting on a senior citizen’s fireplace beside fine china and doilies.
In the video, a forest-dwelling couple’s love literally shines as they go tromp through the woods. They float around a hot air balloon and collect eggs, before returning to their treehouse to cuddle in Snuggies. Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon roams among the trees, playing a colourful keyboard.
The whole video is awesomely ’80s and kind of looks like it was inspired by the director of Touched By and Angel (it was actually directed by Dan Huiting and Vernon himself). The song is from his album sophomore album Bon Iver, Bon Iver, which came out nearly a year and a half ago.
Watch it here:
This tone deaf singer named Gnesa’s single “Wilder” is probably a joke, but my ears don’t think it’s funny. In fact, they entered into a state of shock after the fourth out of tune “lalala.” She posted her music video on her YouTube channel gnesamusic, which thankfully has no other “songs.”
While I’m impressed with the positivity of the commenters, who are saying things like “A voice of over 9000 angels!” and “I like the part where she goes “la la la la laaa la la laa la laaa,” I’m worried it will encourage her to put out another tune. Stop Internet! Stop her while you can.
Unoriginal is one thing you’ll never hear me call South Africa’s rap-rave group Die Antwoord. In their new video “Fatty Boom Boom,” a Lady Gaga look-a-like tours the local sites of South Africa before her concert, admiring the local fauna, including hyenas, black panthers and of course, local musicians Die Antwoord.
Before Gaga has a chance to ask the curious specimens to open for her, her tour guide is held up by some masked gunman and she’s forced to flee in her meat dress. In reality, Die Antwoord really did turn down the opportunity to open for Lady Gaga because they thought it would f*ck up their cool.
In the video, Die Antwoord keeps the beat whileGaga goes to the gynaecologist’s office, worried that she’s picked up something while running for her life (she does and it’s DISGUSTING). The video is definitely WEIRD, which is exactly what we expect from them. They describe it on YouTube as a bright and colourful African adventures, with wild animals, zef savages and a prawn star.
Watch it here:
When the parental advisory warning came up for The Wanted’s new music video “I Found You” I thought to myself, come on really? How explicit could it be? Well m’am, there’s violence (lots of it) and definitely some type of criminal activity.
The dapper gents are on their way to find and rescue a blonde looker (or so we think) who was kidnapped by a creepy looking dude. The guys kick and punch their way up to her makeshift prison cell to release her, but not before Baby Nathan steals a steamy kiss. He’s growing up so fast!!
While I originally thought the “you” they were talking about in “‘I Found You” was the kidnapped beauty, I was wrong. All I can say, is there are just enough tough, sexy men in suits being aggressive with their adversaries to draw me in.
Here are the best comments on YouTube:
“*Parental Advisory explicit content* More like: *Warning. This video contains sexy men in suits. We are not responsible fo any ovaries that may explode whilst watching this*” — peridotemma
“bad boys rawwwrrrr : )……… no matter ….ilove U <3 the wanted” — iveth marcela salazar
“OOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMFFFFFFFFFFF
“Justin biber” — metin330
“Stop comparing TW and 1D. There is a huge difference between the two bands. One Direction: 5 cute little boys The Wanted: 5 sexy men You’re welcome! : )” — africanbeautyqueen89
“omg I died I died. They are so hot omg omg and Jay’s hair and Nathans’s voice and Siva at all and Tom at the end omg omg omg I died.” — SwagOnMeBiebs
Watch it here:
Bruno Mars’ new video for his pop single “Locked Out of Heaven” is delightfully old school, like it was recorded on an old VHS tape that had already been recorded over a dozen times before.
The concept of the Cameron Duddy-directed video is pretty simple, as it’s basically Bruno performing in a packed, sweaty club and playing games with his buddies during the day. While I love the song and the video’s retro quality I was expecting a little more. With lyrics like “Cause your sex takes me to paradise” and “Open up your gates cause I can’t wait to see the light” I was hoping for something a little more steamy and romantic.
The song is from his upcoming album Unorthodox Jukebox, out on Dec. 11. Instead of waiting for a big television premiere he gave the music video directly to his fans. He tweeted: “Everyones telling me to wait for a big primetime premiere on TV but you know what i says to em? I says NO! My fans desoyve to see it foist!”
Watch it here:
It’s only necessary to celebrate the day you become a man by going big. So proving there is nothing more epic than dancing in front of a green screen complete with neon colours and seizure-inducing backgrounds, this crew thought it would be a good idea to commemorate the occasion by making a music video.
With some very happening shades and rocking dance moves, making a music video is simply THE BEST way to celebrate your Bar Mitzvah while growing up in the ’80s/’90s.
Just when you thought you got THAT SONG out of your heads, Carly Rae Jepsen is about to release a music video for yet ANOTHER hauntingly catchy single.
Titled “This Kiss”, the teaser for the song features the singer partying with her friends while she chases a really hot guy. And at the end of it all, it appears that they’ll FINALLY share a kiss while swimming in a pool.
From the looks of it, this track is very much a bubble gum pop song. But I don’t even care. I think I just found my next guilty pleasure jam.
Pink’s new music video for “Try” is a stunningly choreographed and emotional journey into a passionate relationship. The aggressive contemporary dance only highlights the primal basis of the lyrics. She sings in the chorus: “Where there is desire/ There is gonna be a flame/ Where there is a flame/ Someone’s bound to get burned/ But just because it burns/ Doesn’t mean you’re gonna die/ You’ve gotta get up and try try try.”
I never knew pink was such a strong dancer, though she’s always seemed like a very physical, movement-based singer.
Besides the artistic element of this video, I love Pink’s colourful look. Her blonde hair is highlighted with streaks of blue and yellow, and her sheer dress floats when she moves.
The track is from her new album The Truth About Love, which is available on iTunes now.
Watch it here:
By Sabina Sohail
Red will never go out of style. It’s a colour that remains classic, regardless of the season. Taylor Swift rocked a red-inspired look in Paris while filming her “Begin Again” music video, off her upcoming album, aptly called Red .
Like Taylor, this look is simple yet stylish. You can rarely go wrong with bold red pants, regardless of what you pair them with. However, be careful with secondary colours because they don’t always complement red. Unless of course you’re colour-blocking — then by all means, knock yourself out.
Here’s how you can get this look for less:
Pattern-knit jumper, H&M, $40
Cuffed high-waisted trousers, Forever 21, $28
Ballet Pumps, H&M, $15 Read more…
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ new touching video for “Same Love” chronicles the life of a gay man from his birth to his marriage to his death. The seven-minute video was created in support of marriage equality and literally makes me want to bawl (in a good way).
The beautiful video, which was directed by Ryan Lewis, Jon Jon Augustavo and Tricia Davis, encourages love and acceptance over hatred. It’s a strong, goosebump-worthy message that everyone needs to see. It’s especially pertinent in the rap industry, where homophobia is commmon.
The song features singer Mary Lambert and will be on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ debut album The Heist, out on Oct. 9.
They write on YouTube: “We support civil rights, and hope WA State voters will APPROVE REF 74 and legalize marriage equality.” You can visit Music For Marriage Equality for more information.
Watch it here:
I know, I know. We write about Gangnam Style a lot. But who can blame us when the song is so catchy and PSY’s moves are contagious?
So in another installment of Gangnam Style videos, this witty person had decided to take the music out of the original and replace it with sound effects.
And I must say, it’s very realistic!
Christina Aguilera’s new video for “Your Body” is like a mashup of all her past personas. She’s got the sex appeal of Stripped some of the retro style from Back to Basics and of course her bold, trademark voice that’s oh-so-Christina.
In the Melina Matsoukas-directed video for the song, Christina is a murderous temptress who’s on the prowl… FOR BLOOD. Why do you hate men so much X-Tina? Brace yourselves for lots of colours (especially pink), rhinestones, costume jewelry and schexy dresses. Also expect tons of brutal yet unexplained murders. The track will be on her upcoming album Lotus, which will be out Nov. 13.
Do you like the new Christina?
Watch it here:
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Woodley takes stop motion to a whole new level with his Lego-fied version of Foster the People’s “Houdini” music video. Woodley is from Insomnia Animation and re-created the video entirely with Lego bricks over several hundred hours.
In Woodley’s version the tuxedoed SWAT team who engineer robot versions of the band members to perform become chirpy trumpet players. The sequences are pretty seamless and well detailed. We can tell this guy is going places!
The often lovely and talented Florence Welch showed us some different sides of herself in a music video for ”Sweet Nothing,” her collaboration with Calvin Harris.
Playing the role of an abused woman in the video, we see Welch rocking an androgynous look with her hair tied up and wearing suit during a performance in a club.
While Welch sings the song’s lyrics, “I’m tired of hope, with nothing to hold / I’m living on such sweet nothing / And it’s hard to learn and it’s hard to love / When you’re giving me such sweet nothing,” we are then introduced to the back story that explains the pain Welch is singing about.
With the video going back and forth to a man sitting in a diner to Welch singing, it is revealed that they are involved in an abusive relationship.
It’s an interesting look and feel for the often glamourous singer of Florence+ The Machine. But with her powerful vocals set to a darker tone and beat, her collaboration with Harris definitely shows Welch’s ability to expand as an artist.
These two friendly Canadians took some time out of their busy schedules, packed with maple syrup tapping and curling, to teach a few typical Canadian dance moves.
These dance moves extend far into the roots of Canadianess and I’m sure if you travelled back to the days of John A. MacDonald and Wilfred Laurier you would have seen them (sometimes drunkenly) pulling out these tricks on Parliament Hill.
The educational video also takes you on a visual tour of Canada’s biggest city Toronto (no it’s not the capital) so you’ll get a glimpse of the CN Tower, ROM and Steam Whistle Brewary.
Some of our favourite moves include “The Friendly Backpacker,” “Scrape the Windshield” and “The Glove Save.”
What’s your favourite move?
