Videos of the Week October 14th

Live performances were the name of the game in this week's top five. Led by The Chainsmokers and Desiigner's 360 video from their recorded performance at Austin City Limits, the bar was set high from the start. It was set high, but Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals brought every ounce of funk the set of Ellen when performing Come Down. I'm still in awe of how he's solving the timeless problem of Hip Hop not being able to be translated into a live show. "You're damn right it can be and this is what it should look like," says Anderson. And even though it's probably more of a personal novelty to me, seeing Slushii, Skrillex, and Marshmello share the same decks on a B2B2B was a cool sight. I don't expect you to be interested enough to watch the hour long Shanghai set, but if you skip around you might just be as entertained as I was.

Then there was the trippy forest video for Frequency that Kid Cudi self-directed. It was about what I expected from Cudi, but music aside, I'm in total support of him tackling his demons head on and seeking help this week. It takes a real man to admit when he needs help and I'm extremely glad he reached out before doing any harm to himself. In case you missed it, here was his incredibly brave and transparent note about why he was choosing to seek help during a time when he's releasing an album. And in case the music wasn't entertaining enough, there was that time Kevin Hart and Jimmy Fallon made their way through NYC's scariest haunted house wearing GoPros. There's always something funny about seeing comedians get scared to death, even if it's staged...#WhatNow
The Chainsmokers' 360 Video for Closer and Desiigner's Panda at Austin City Limits

Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals Perform Come Down! on Ellen

That Time Slushii, Skrillex and Marshmello Performed an Epic B2B2B in Shanghai

Kid Cudi - Frequency (Video)

Kevin Hart and Jimmy Fallon Visit a Haunted House

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week September 16th

A little bit of this and a little bit of that is the theme of this week's top five. If novelty is the name of your game, then you might enjoy Michael Phelps pulling his best Eminem impression when he lip synced Lose Yourself on Lip Sync Battle. If you'll allow me to be critical for a minute, I was expecting a bit more raw energy. Where's that gold medal effort Phelps?!?!

If you're like me, you've done your best to tune out politics, but when Hip Hip artists want to make a statement, they know how to get peoples' attention. The black and white aesthetic with the colored flag was tastefully done in the FDT Part 2 video from Macklemore, YG and G-Eazy. If spontaneous is what you want, it doesn't get more freestyle than Donald Glover riffing on stage with Late Late Show's Reggie Watts. A little bit of funk and some harmony is all you need to get people dancing. If an actual music video is what you're looking for then enjoy some tribal dancing in exotic scenery during Major Lazer and Bieber's Cold Water video. And last, but not least, the whole gang showed up on stage when Chance the Rapper performed on Ellen. Lil Weezy and 2 Chainz joined him on stage to perform their hit No Problems with a whole lot office destruction happening in the background. Can anyone say, 352 paper pickup?...#NoProblems

Michael Phelps Lip Sync Battles Eminem's Lose Yourself

YG, Macklemore & G-Eazy - FDT (Part 2) (Video)

Donald Glover and Reggie Watts Freestyle on The Late Late Show with James Corden

Major Lazer feat Justin Bieber & Mo - Cold Water (Video)

Chance the Rapper Performs No Problems with Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz on Ellen

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week March 11th

There are two clear cut favorites in this week's top five in my eyes. First, the live debut of Kygo's new single, Fragile, with Labrinth was more than a little awesome. What a cool ballad! I can't wait to hear the mastered version, which will probably be slightly more electronic. Second, Seal and Gallant's Weight in Gold duet in studio was worth a few looks. While Seal doesn't get near the credit he deserves, he more than held his own with Gallant on the mic. When they combined forces, the result was special.

Was it entertaining to watch Jonah Hill sing Drake's verse on Future's Jumpman? Yep, you bet it was. Glad they're getting more an more creative with the monologues on SNL. In other news, DJ Khaled is continuing his assault on pop culture through Snapchat. Now he's even landing on talk shows like Ellen to talk his motivational talk. Crazy how social media can be used as a tool to get so much notoriety. And last, but not least, Skrillex and Jauz released their new animated video for Squad Out with Fatman Scoop. Leave it to Adult Swim to put together something that trippy. Did I see Fatman Scoop with an elephant nose? Still trying to wrap my head around the plot of the video, but that's kinda of what Adult Swim does...#SquadOut
Kygo feat Labrinth - Fragile (Live)

Seal and Gallant Sing Weight in Gold as a Duet

Future feat Jonah Hill – Jumpman on SNL

More Getting to Know DJ Khaled on Ellen

Skrillex & Jauz - Squad Out (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week January 15th

This week's top five is all about variety. There's a bit of Trop House, Hip Hop, Pop and even some mashed up alternative. Led by the editing insanity of The Usual Suspect on his use of 183 movies to mash together Linkin Park's In the End, there was some high end novelty potential this week. No idea how long it took for him to create that video, but the nearly two million views are well deserved. Coming in close behind is a much tamer, but equally awesome performance Stole the Show from Kygo and Parson James on Ellen. Sidebar - Kygo killed it last night in SF.

In the realm of Hip Hop, DJ Mustard and Travis Scott led the way with their booty shake inducing new one Whole Lotta Lovin'. Speaking of booty shaking, the final two videos offer plenty of dancing. 99 Souls video for The Girl is Mine is about as fun as it gets with creative editing and interesting transitions. The final video of the week from Miike Snow is about as interesting and outlandish as it gets from a plot perspective. Picture a Dr. Evil-esque villain who is experiencing some bit of sexuality confusion. Then, he falls for the secret agent that he captures and lives happily ever after as a same sex couple. Can't make that type of stuff up, you just have to watch...#GhengisKhan
Kygo Performs Stole the Show on Ellen

Linkin Park's In the End Sung by 183 Movies

DJ Mustard feat Travis Scott - Whole Lotta Lovin' (Video)

99 Souls feat Destiny's Child & Brandy - The Girl is Mine (Video)

Miike Snow - Ghengis Khan (Video)

Photo Credit

Videos of the Week November 6th

If you thought that somehow there wouldn't be multiple Hotline Bling themed videos this week, you're sorely mistaken. Funny enough, the best of the bunch was a seriously awesome acoustic cover of the track by Dan Henig. I'm not at all familiar with his music, but I'll definitely be on the look out after hearing his cover. On the other side of the spectrum is Bernie Sanders getting down to Drake's newest single on Ellen. Yes, it's Jib Jab quality, but admit it, you thought to yourself for a minute, is that really what my grandpa would look like dancing to a Drake track?

In other news, Ariana Grande is eye candy and she went all Willy Wonka style on her new video for Focus. Some choose to sell sex, others like Sia sell dance and choreography. There was no Maddie Ziegler sighting, but the martial arts choreography for her new video Alive was intense! Finishing out the week on a funny note was Aziz Ansari impersonating Bobby Jindal. Needles to say, he does look similar and he did a spot on job of poking fun at how terrible he's doing in the polls with his dated views...#FeelTheBern2016
Dan Henig Cover of Drake's Hotline Bling (Video)

Bernie Sanders Gets Down to Drake's Hotline Bling on Ellen
Ariana Grande - Focus (Video)

Aziz Ansari Plays Bobby Jandal on Fallon

Sia - Alive (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week October 16th

There were a few live performances that stood out in this week's top five. The first two having to do with The Weeknd's visit to SNL. He's been one act that has alluded me in a live setting, so seeing him on SNL was pretty cool. I'm really digging both of his remixes for The Hills and seeing Nicki's dramatic performance was icing on the cake.

In other live performances, Pharrell got everyone and their mom singing along with his performance of Freedom on the Ellen Show, which was cool to see. The mystical ZHU also released some shocking new visuals for Automatic. I won't spoil the plot, but let's just say, I definitely did not see it ending the way it did. And last, but definitely not least, the fake Barack Obama spoof of Trump using Drake's Back to Back beat delivered a nice climax to an eventful week of videos. Much love to the authentic Barack delivery and on point lyrics...#BacktoBack
The Weeknd feat Nicki Minaj - The Hills (Live on SNL)

The Weeknd - I Can't Feel My Face (Live on SNL)

ZHU feat AlunaGeorge - Automatic (Video)

Pharrell Performs Freedom on Ellen

Barack Obama Back to Back (Drake Spoof)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week May 29th

It was a bit of a historic week for videos with Avicii's invention of the 360 interactive video. I'll be the first to admit, it kinda blew my mind that a recorded video could be interactive, but that's what I get for underestimating technology. At the end of Waiting For Love, I was left feeling like I had to watch it a couple more times in case I missed something like that Avicii cameo mid way through. Overall, it was a cool experience and you can bet many more artists will be following suit.

In the world of ordinary videos, K Dot delivered a spirited performance of his newest single These Walls on Ellen. The performance is another great reason why To Pimp a Butterfly probably deserves a few more listens. If eye candy is what you want, Taio Cruz has you covered with his video for Do What You Like. Creative video of the week goes to Alesso for his dancing crosswalk people in his video for Sweet Escape. And last, but definitely not least, Coldplay delivered a week's worth of funny in their Game of Thrones Mockumentary. I'm not a Game of Thrones guy, but kudos to Coldplay for keeping a serious tone throughout and doing what they could to pitch in for #RedNoseDay.
Avicii - Waiting For Love (360 Video)

Taio Cruz - Do What You Like (Video)

Kendrick Lamar Performs "These Walls" on Ellen

Coldplay Makes Mockumentary of Game of Thrones

Alesso feat Sirena - Sweet Escape (Video)

Photo Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week January 30th

For the life of me, I can't come up with a good way to describe the group of videos being posted this week. There's some creativity, plenty of childishness and even some heartfelt love in the mix. Leading the way is OnCue's video poking fun at other videos and memes that have become popular over the past year or so. Props for creatively using an interface as the viewport for a video making fun of the internet as a whole.

As far as childishness is concerned, N.E.R.D. and Jimmy Fallon have you covered with a Spongebob flavored video and an Ew! montage. For those of you who dislike Kanye West, take a deep breath because there's a soft side behind the often antagonistic exterior. The way he opens up and outwardly shows massive amounts of love for his family makes you want to cheer for him. Closing out the top 5 is a new one from Selah Sue, who for some reason is extremely enchanting to me. She's got an aura and voice that continues to suck me in like a bug looking at bright light...#Top5Videos
OnCue - No Way (Video)

N.E.R.D. - Squeeze Me (Video)

Kanye West Debuts Only One on Ellen (Video)

Jimmy Fallon - Best of Ew! Supercut

Selah Sue - Alone (Video)

Image Credit: YouTube

Videos of the Week September 26

Sort of a throwback week with Andre 3000 and Nas surfacing with interviews and a much hyped documentary. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see Outkast as they make their way across the US on tour. Along the same lines, I'm intrigued from a historical perspective of how "Time is Illmatic" puts a proper bookmark on Hip Hop history.

If nostalgia is your drug, you'll enjoy One Republic's new one for I Lived. If funny is what you're looking for you're going to have a tough decision between Nardwuar's interview and Jimmy Fallon/Andy Samberg's brief snippets of hilarity. When it comes to breaking stereotypes and general social awkwardness, it really doesn't get any better than Nardwuar...#Nardwuar
One Republic - I Lived (Video)

Nardwuar vs Flosstradamus Interview

Andre 3000 Talks Being on Tour Again

A Look Inside the Making of Time is Illmatic Documentary

Jimmy Fallon & Andy Samberg - 5 Second Summaries

Photo Credit: YouTube