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No Doubt’s ‘Settle Down’ Video: The Key Scene

Posted 7/17/12 3:07 pm EST by in no doubt, The Key Scene

“Settle Down,” No Doubt fans! Yes, we know you’re stoked about the just released new music video for the band’s lead single off Push and Shove. We know you’re stoked about it because, well, we are too.

The clip, directed by longtime No Doubt collaborator Sophie Muller, is colorful and visually as bombastic as the song is sonically. It perfectly complements Diplo’s swaggerfied track, which pays homage to the band’s work on Rock Steady. In a sea of quirky images, there’s one moment in the clip that stands as the video’s key scene thanks to the heart at the core of it.

What fans will love seeing most is the moment when all four No Doubt members step out of their trucks and share in an embrace (00:42). It all happens as the Bollywood-inspired intro of the song transitions from strings to thumping drums, courtesy of the band’s beatmaster Adrian Young. What’s interesting to note is that not only is the foursome joyous to share in that momentous hug, but they are all sporting bleached out locks. Band solidarity!

It’s clear that after a long hiatus, this long-teased reunion album is full of the energy that catapulted the band to A-list rock star status. And that hug really says it all. They are as happy to be together as we are for them to be together again. They are reunited and it feels so good. And you know what? We have no plans to settle down our excitement anytime soon.

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Our Ultimate Roundup Of The Key Scenes From 2011's Best Music Videos

Posted 12/27/11 1:02 pm EST by in The Key Scene

2011 was a banner year for music videos. Pop stars released some insightful, fun and innovative clips that made us think and had us watching over and over again. From Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne to everyone in between, our favorite artists created some of the most eye-catching videos ever. With every big new release, MTV Newsroom was on hand to pay homage to the Key Scenes in every video. As 2011 wraps up, here are our Key Key Scenes.

Lady Gaga, “Marry The Night”
When the Mother Monster goes crazy, smears Cheerios on her naked body and ends up in a bathtub dying her hair, we pretty much had that scene on repeat.

Britney Spears, “Criminal”
OK, while we have that shower scene ingrained on our memory, when Brit and real-life fiancé Jason Trawick share that first kiss, we have to say it left us feeling hot and heavy.

Rihanna, “We Found Love”
Rihanna and her video beau have quite the drug-fueled, danger-filled relationship, but when Ri passes out in the street from a life lived too hard it serves as a wakeup call and the video’s most-stirring moment.

Read on for more. Read More...

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The Key Scene: Lady Gaga 'Marry The Night'

Posted 12/2/11 3:52 pm EST by in Lady Gaga, The Key Scene

Lady Gaga

A lot happens in Lady Gaga's "Marry the Night" video. She goes crazy AND goes to a crazy house, is a ballerina (OBVS!), practices a "Fame"-esque dance routine (ALSO OBVS!), dances on cars, gets her dreams destroyed and then resurrects herself as a pop star like the phoenix that she is. By the way, she says it's all a metaphor for events in her own life (like when she was dropped from Island/Def Jam and then signed to Interscope and became an internationally renowned pop superstar).

In the sea of everything that happens in the video (AND EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THIS VIDEO), Gaga’s breakdown, which is simultaneously tragic, bizarre and comical, happens to be a standout moment. It all goes down shortly after her ballet director tells her she should just quit. With her dreams dashed, she goes bonkers. She’s naked! She’s smooshing Cheerios all over her body! She’s naked, in a bathtub, dying her hair! She pretty much just doesn’t care anymore because, really, what’s the point!?!?

We won’t spoil it too much for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but post-meltdown it all works out for Mother Monster. She also bedazzles some denim. So that kind of rocks. The video was shot in New York City last month. It’s the first time the singer has helmed a clip solo. While the video serves as a "Dear John" letter to the darker moments that shaped her as an artist, the song is a love letter to the Big Apple.

Read on to hear MTV News' resident Gaga enthusiasts' reactions to the video after the jump. Read More...

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Beyonce's 'Party': The Key Scene

Posted 10/27/11 10:28 am EST by in Beyonce, The Key Scene

Beyonce dropped her candy-coated, trailer park party-themed video for "Party" last night, and while she switched out Andre 3000 for J. Cole, we have to say the cheeky clip didn't disappoint.

Beyonce kicked off her 4 era with the hard, dystopian video for "Run The World (Girls)" but her more recent clips for "Love on Top," "Countdown" and now "Party" have proven more lighthearted and fun. In "party," the colorful couture fashions, the summer BBQ vibe and the celeb cameos (hey there Solange and Kelly Rowland! But, wait, where are you Kanye?) really recall the summery vibe of R&B videos from the '90s. Its' happy! It's sexy! It's cool! … It's crazy, sexy, cool. See what we did there? Shout out to TLC.

While much of Beyonce's Alan Ferguson-directed "Party" video is certainly a big, well, par-tay, the key scene really comes close to the end of the video. What stands out most to us is when her Destiny's Child sibling Kelly Rowland appears, dancing side by side with her bestie. Sure, B's real sister is also in the clip doing her downtown hipster DJ thing, but there's something really cool about seeing Kells and B chilling out, looking ghetto chic and having a laugh with one another.

Read More...

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The Key Scene: Rihanna's 'We Found Love'

Posted 10/20/11 9:19 am EST by in Rihanna, The Key Scene


Rihanna on WhoSay

Rihanna got everyone buzzing this week when she dropped her video for "We Found Love." It was hard to imagine what type of video she'd cooked up for the sunny, Calvin Harris-produced clip, but she certainly threw us for a loop in the best way possible.

The dark, edgy video, directed by Melina Matsoukas ("Hard," "S&M," "Rude Boy" and "Rockstar 101"), takes a close look at a couple fueled by their love for one another and their passion for drugs and partying. While the video opens with the pair (Rihanna and British model/boxer Dudley O'Shaughnessy) seemingly in love, it ends with them broken by the weight of having meant so much to one another and letting themselves get swept up in drugs.

The key scene comes at about 3:33 into the clip. It's when things really start to take a turn for the worse and Rihanna passes out in the street, perhaps from an overdose or exhaustion or both. By this point, Rihanna and Dudley's fighting has gotten worse as their dependency on drugs and partying deepens. The beautiful parts of their love affair have gotten ugly, and Rihanna begins to question it all after a very public meltdown.

In the end, she leaves him, perhaps to get clean and get her life together. That's at least what we hope happens. Read More...

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The Key Scene: Justin Bieber's 'Mistletoe'

Posted 10/19/11 12:29 pm EST by in Justin Bieber, The Key Scene

Justin Bieber certainly has his romantic swag on full display in the video for "Mistletoe."

Whatever do we mean? Well, between the photo booth scene, the dress-buying sequence, picking up his girl in a very expensive vintage car and the kiss at a dance, it's hard for us to really not pine away about our first love when watching the holiday-themed clip. Bieber knows how to treat a lady. Selena, you got yourself a good one.

Director Roman White explained that a lot of the video was inspired by John Hughes movies from the past. And that inspiration is not on display more than about midway through the clip when Bieber picks up his lady love in his car. What kind of car? A vintage Porsche. No. Big. Deal.

Anyways, it's a full-on "Pretty In Pink" moment (Don't know what we mean? Go watch it and get back to us!) and it's pretty much the key scene in the video. It marks the turning point for Bieber and his girl, played by Allie Williams, as they finally make the transition from hot chocolate-swilling besties to mistletoe kissing boyfriend and girlfriend.

Just a note for the future: Bieber, we're pretty sure she was into you without all that swag. Check out the "Mistletoe" video, as well as vid director Roman White talking about the Key Scene, after the jump. Read More...

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The Key Scene: Britney Spears' 'Criminal' Video

Posted 10/18/11 10:48 am EST by in Britney Spears, The Key Scene

Britney Spears' "Criminal" video is very, very, very sexy. Like "wowser" sexy. In the Chris Marrs Piliero-directed ("I Wanna Go") video, Video Britney and her Video Boyfriend, played by real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick, share a lot of steamy moments, including one hot sex scene as well as a very naked shower scene.

While those moments are ingrained on our memory, it's a less NSFW but still passionate moment that really is the video's Key Scene. And, what is that moment? That first kiss the new couple shares at the apartment is the key scene because it kicks off the sultry onscreen love affair between Britney and Jason, the video's "criminal." The kiss comes right after Jason saved her from her abusive beau and takes her back to his place. Read More...

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The Key Scene: Beyonce's 'Countdown'

Posted 10/7/11 8:49 am EST by in Beyonce, The Key Scene, Video

Beyonce's “Countdown” video shows the many sides of the eccentric and eclectic pop star: funny, stylish, happy, manic, sexy and pop culturally savvy.

With references to 60’s icons like Andy Warhol, Twiggy, Audrey Hepburn, Diana Ross, Brigitte Bardot, and even nods to “West Side Story,” it’s clear that Mamma B wanted to take her fans on a trip back in time.

Co-directed with Adria Petty, the clip is drenched in vintage-hued colors and retro clothes as the singer dances around various setups that not only pay homage to the '60s but also the '80s and '90s thanks to a good dash of “Fame,” “Flashdance” and even En Vogue thrown in for good measure. Beyonce looks characteristically flawless in varying degrees of pregnant. The video is the latest entry into the already iconic videography of the 30-year-old.

While much of it is memorable and eye-catching, the key scene comes at the 1:58 mark when a sassy, posin’ Beyonce army pans across the screen, putting into perspective all those aforementioned sides. She sashays, shimmies, swaggers and is generally sexy in her pop art dance studio. The scene really sums up that Beyonce is the sum of many super cool parts.

Check out the full video, as well as fan reaction to the clip, after the jump, and let us know which part of the video is your favorite in the comments! Read More...

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