Tag Archives: music video

Music Video of the Day: Criminal by Britney Spears (2011, dir by Chris Marrs Piliero)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

But mama I’m in love with a criminal
And this type of love isn’t rational, it’s physical
Mama please don’t cry, I will be alright
All reason aside I just can’t deny, I love the guy

Well, seriously, can you blame her?  By showing us who she was with before she hooked up with the title character, the video for Britney Spears’s Criminal leaves little doubt that Britney made the right choice.  To be honest, that prologue makes the entire video and, especially when you consider the way that she’s been treated in real life, there’s something deeply satisfying about seeing Britney kick that jerk in the balls.

Britney’s co-star in the video was her then-boyfriend, Jason Trawick.  It was Britney’s idea to cast Trawick in the role and the director has said that he originally wasn’t enthused about the idea as Trawick was a former agent with little acting experience.  However, I think Trawick did alright.  The fact that he and Britney already had chemistry helped and, if nothing else, he’s not Kevin Federline.

This video was shot in the Stoke Newington district of London.  Apparently, there was some controversy because, at one point, Britney is seen holding a revolver and some locals felt that was insensitive given the district’s history of rioting.  Honestly, though, if you’re dating a criminal, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll end up holding a gun at some point.  Southern girls understand.

#FreeBritney

Music Video of the Day: Till The World Ends by Britney Spears (2011, dir by Ray Kay)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Remember that whole Mayan calendar thing that we kept hearing about from 2009 to 2012?

Basically, some people interpreted an ancient Mayan calendar as saying that the world was going to end in December of 2012 and, of course, there were people who believed that it had to be true.  Of course, back then, you could still make jokes on twitter without some self-righteous dumbfug attempting to “cancel” you so we all had a lot of fun with the speculation.  Still, I think everyone signed a bit of relief when we reached the final hour of 2012 without the world suddenly coming to an end.

The video for Britney Spears’s Till The World Ends comments on the whole Mayan calendar thing by specifically telling us that it’s taking place on December 21st, 2012.  While the world appears to be ending above ground, Britney Spears has a good time underground.  Buildings burn.  Rubble falls from the sky.  It’s probably safe to imagine that a lot of people ended up dying.  But, at least Britney survives.  Which is only fair because, after everything that Britney’s been through in her life, she’s earned the right to survive the apocalypse.

This video was directed by Ray Kay, a Norwegian filmmaker who has done videos from everyone from Justin Bieber to Beyonce to the Backstreet Boys.  The video was choreographed by Brian Friedman and was filmed in a basement in Los Angeles.  So, if the world’s ending, head for Los Angeles and break into a basement.  You won’t be sorry.

Enjoy!

Music Video Of The Day: I Wanna Go by Britney Spears (2011, dir by Chris Marrs Piliero)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

“Are you having Brad Pitt’s love child?”

“Fuck you.  Fuck you.  You’re cool.  And fuck you!”

You tell them, Britney!

(Though you do have to wonder why there’s a guy wearing a Burger King hat at Britney’s press conference.  Did he just sneak in or is he a reporter who was having lunch when he got an emergency text telling him that he needed to get across town immediately?  Either way, that crown saves him from the wrath of Britney.)

With this song and this video, Britney Spears tells the paparazzi and the haters and the exploiters and the judgers to all go to Hell and it’s totally awesome.  Britney also pokes fun at her own image in this video, which is something that she never gets enough credit for.

The opening of this video also pays tribute to the press conference in Fellini’s 8 1/2.  Fellini, I think, is a filmmaker who would have appreciated Britney Spears.  Perhaps he also would have appreciated actor Guillermo Diaz, who appears as the driver of a convertible.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Crossroads 2: Cross Harder.

Music Video of the Day: Work Bitch by Britney Spears (2016, dir by ????)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Happy Labor Day!

I’m not really sure what this day is supposed to be celebrating.  I mean, I assume that it’s the day in which the workers are all supposed to unite or join a union or whatever but I’m not sure how that links to a few people getting the day off and no trash being picked up.  Personally, I’m just happy for the long weekend and I’m going to hope that none of my neighbors accidentally put their trash out tomorrow because then it’ll end up sitting out in the alley for three days and a 3 day-old trash bag is not something that anyone needs to see.

Anyway, it’s a part of the Bowman family tradition that, for the entirety of Labor Day weekend, I only listen to Britney Spears.  Usually but not always, I not only listen but I also sing along.  For the most part, it depends on the air quality.  As important as it is to sing along with Britney, that part of the observance can be ignored if you were running the danger of losing your voice before the holiday began.  The important thing is that you have to make your decision whether or not to sing along before Labor Day actually begins and, once you make the choice, you have to stick with it.  This year, due to some seasonal allergies, my voice was already a little bit hoarse before the holiday weekend began so I’ve chosen only to sing along to a few of Britney’s songs.

Anyway, this being Labor Day and all, it only makes sense that today’s music video of the day should be Work Bitch.  Now, I already shared the first video for Work Bitch.  The version that I’m sharing today is the live version, which was filmed during Britney’s performance at the 2016 Apple Music Festival.

Work Bitch is probably my favorite Britney song.  If nothing else, it’s the one that my sister Erin and I seem to quote from the most.  “You better work, bitch,” is a phrase that has many different meanings in Lisa-and-Erin speak.  To understand the phrase’s meaning at any particular time, it’s important to listen for which word gets the most emphasis.  “You better work, BITCH,” is actually the most affectionate use of the phrase.  On the other hand, “You BETTER work, bitch,” means that someone’s in trouble.

Britney’s been going through a lot recently and, as always, she’s had to do it all in the glare of the public spotlight.  (Just imagine how any of us would come across if our every personal difficulty and/or emotional moment was displayed on TMZ?)  On this Labor Day, keep her in your thoughts.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Don’t Care by Amy Peters (2019, dir by ????)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

I’m a fan of any song about not caring.

Plus, look at that pretty house!

On a serious note, this video has a definite sort of 90s retro feel to it that I like.  Visually, it keeps thing simple and it allows the emotion behind the song’s lyrics to carry things through.  There’s something to be said for the song and the video’s simple honesty, which is a trait that seems to be all too often missing in music today.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Downtown Life by Grandma (2019, dir by ????)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

I have to admit that, living down south, I’m pretty much jealous of any city that has an actual downtown.  Oh, don’t get me wrong.  My homecity has a very pretty center that we refer to as being “downtown” and I spend a lot of time there and I’m proud of where I’m from and I love living here.  But, at the same time, this place that we call “downtown” is not a real downtown as much as it’s a somewhat random collection of structures and monuments, some of which are more interesting than others.  It’s not like a New York downtown or a Chicago downtown or even a Boston downtown.  A true downtown isn’t so much a geographical location as it’s a state of mind.

A true downtown also has a life of its own.  In a way, it’s a city within a city.  You don’t find that much in my part of the world.  The action down here is in the suburbs as opposed to the downtown.  And that’s fine and all but seriously, it’s not the same as having a legitimate downtown.  For instance, I once saw a picture of a seven-story Barnes and Noble in New York.  Down here, we’re lucky if we get a second floor.

Anyway, this video seemed to capture a certain idea of living downtown and having your entire future ahead of you.  So, it’s today’s music video of the day!

Enjoy!

Music Video Of The Day: All My Friends Are Rich by UPSAHL (2019, dir by ????)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

UPSAHL is already responsible for my favorite song of the year, Drugs.  And now, she’s responsible for my second favorite.

Poor UPSAHL.  All of her friends are drinking champagne and hanging out on their huge lawn and smoking expensive cigars and enjoying themselves the way that only people with money can.  Meanwhile, UPSAHL can’t even pay her rent or, to judge from this video, afford a decent lawn mower.

Now, of course, it’s also totally possible that her friends are just better at handling their money than UPSAHL.  The thing is …. when you don’t have much money, everyone around you seems like they’re rich and they don’t have a problem in the world.  I remember the first time I ever had to pay rent and I was shocked to discover that apparently the apartment manger was serious when he said that we had to pay by the end of the first week of the month.  Seriously, I just kinda figured that was just a general suggestion.  I remember very clearly thinking, “How does everyone else handle this so easily?”  Only later would I discover that no one was handling anything easily.

(Fortunately, I was able to pay my half of the rent.  I sold some of my friend’s college textbooks back to the student store and then I borrowed the rest from my mom.  So, I may not have been rich but I still survived.)

UPSAHL’s songs are so relatable and her DGAF attitude should be an inspiration to us all.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Tegan and Sara — I’ll Be Back Someday (2019, dir by Natalie Fait)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today’s music video of the day is for the first single to be released off of Tegan and Sara’s upcoming album, Hey I’m Just Like You.

Seeing as how the album is made up of re-recorded versions of songs that the Quin sisters originally wrote in high school, it’s perhaps appropriate that this video has a retro, 90s feel to it.  At this point, just seeing a landline phone hanging on a wall almost makes the video seem as if it’s taking place in some strange fantasy world.  According to Tegan and Sara, this video is about the angst of waiting for someone to acknowledge your efforts to reach out to them.  It’s also about people’s obsession with checking their phones.

It’s about a lot of things.

Enjoy!

Music Video Of The Day: Summer 09 by Vancouver Sleep Clinic (2019, dir by Max Galassi)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today’s music video of the day is this haunting and rather sad video for Summer ’09, the second single to be released from Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s upcoming second album, Onwards to Zion.

The song itself was inspired by the passing of a friend of Tom Bettison’s.  (Bettison is the artist behind Vancouver Sleep Clinic.)  Bettison’s friend passed away (“out of the blue,” as Bettison puts it) in 2017 and this song was Bettison’s way of dealing with the pain of his loss.  It’s not surprising, then, that both the song and the video are both nostalgic and sad, a song of regret that also celebrates the time that these two friends were able to share with one another.

Onwards to Zion is set to be released on October 18th.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: All Eyes On You by Active Child (2019, dir by Isaac Ravishankara)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

This is without a doubt one of the best music videos that I’ve seen in a while.

Through a series of images that seem still but aren’t, this video tells a story that …. well, I’m not going to ruin the story.  When it begins, you might think it’s just going to be another dramatic lover’s quarrel in a parking lot but it instead turns into something far different.  What do the video’s final images mean?  I’m not sure that there is a definitive answer.  Perhaps it’s all in the eye of the beholder.

Enjoy!