6 Music Videos That Will Stop You In Your Tracks

There are many music videos out today and most seem like they’re all the same. Here are a few of the music videos that break the mold.

Taylor Swift "Bad Blood" 

If you haven’t been living under a rock or stranded on a desert island with no WiFi for the past year, you’ve probably seen this video. The build up to its release was that of a movie and it did not disappoint. 

Ed Sheeran "Give Me Love" 

A female cupid that just wants to find love for herself...can this please be a full length movie? This video is perfection. Things do get pretty weird at the end, though. Not to mention, Ed performed “Give Me Love” at the Paramount in 2014.

A-Ha "Take on Me"

This music video is iconic. The seamless combination of live action and animation is captivating.

OK Go "Upside Down & Inside Out"

OK Go is no stranger to unique music videos. I thought “Here It Goes Again” was a super unique music video, and then I stumbled upon their 2016 video for “Upside Down & Inside Out,” which they shot in ZERO gravity. Both of these videos, filmed a decade apart, are expertly choreographed and shot in one continuous take. Fun fact: it took 8 tries to get the video for “Upside Down & Inside Out” right.

Yellowcard "Ocean Avenue"

Throwback to Yellowcard at the Paramount in 2013! This video is probably what would have happened if Groundhog Day was an action movie.

Panic! At the Disco ft. LOLO "Miss Jackson"

Brendan Urie dancing alone in a motel parking lot probably would have been enough to make it onto this list. Fortunately for us the rest of the video just gets weirder....someone call CSI: Las Vegas.

-Intern Michaella

County Craze Hits Long Island

You don't have to be from the heart of Nashville, Tennessee to enjoy good ol' country music. Country music has lassoed the hearts of Long Islanders with a strong glass of whiskey and a pair of cowboy boots. Featuring festivals, concerts and various radio stations on Long Island; it’s no wonder why everyone is obsessed with southern charm. Singers including Carrie Underwood, Sam Hunt and Luke Bryant have the ability to dominate country radio as well as pop stations.

While Long Island doesn’t have local honky tonks, many festivals and concerts for country music will be going on this summer. The Paramount has jumped on the band wagon by hosting artists including Kelly Pickler, Thomas Rhett, Dustin Lynch, ZZ Top, Brothers Osborne, Willie Nelson, and Marshall Tucker Band. Kick off your summer right by seeing Thompson Square at The Paramount on May 6th. 

Grab your cowboy hat and your favorite flannel and get ready for a wild hoedown! Tickets are available for Thompson Square through Ticketmaster or visit us at our box office open daily from 12 pm-6 pm. 

-Intern Victoria 

Gone But Not Forgotten: RIP Prince

Music legend Prince Roger Nelson, commonly known as Prince, has passed away this morning in his home in Minnesota. The cause is believed to have been from flu like symptoms, he was 57 years old. The American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor was well known for 1984’s Purple Rain. He was known as an innovator with combining rock, R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, disco, pop, and jazz. His album Prince went platinum making him well-known for his sexual lyrics, and ability to incorporate funk, dance, and rock music. His last concert performed was on April 14th at Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. Prince released 39 albums, won seven Grammy awards, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Prince is gone, but he will not be forgotten. At his last show, he told the crowd, “Wait a few days before you waste any prayers.”

-Intern Victoria 

6 Artists That Prove Women Should Run The World

In recent years musicians, such as Beyoncé, have become more vocal about their feminist ideals. The feminist discussion has blown up on social media. Here are some of the musicians contributing to that conversation.

Charlie XCX, in collaboration with BBC, recently released a documentary on what it is like to be a woman in the pop music industry. The documentary featured Charlie interviewing other pop musicians on the festival circuit. Her interviewees included Marina and the Diamonds, Jack Antonoff, and Ryn Weaver, who is very outspoken about feminism on social media.

Jenny Lewis’s “Just One of the Guys” has been hailed as a feminist anthem. The video features Brie Lawson, Kristen Stewart, and Anne Hathaway who are all outspoken feminists.

Pat Benatar rejected the image that was forced on her at the beginning of her career. She wanted her music to be the focus rather than her body. Pat will be at the Paramount with her husband, Neil Giraldo, on May 10^th, 2016.

Janelle Monae has been outspoken about feminism and her song Q.U.E.E.N. has come to represent intersectional feminism.  “And as women I think we should be in control of our body, whether we’re naked or whatever. But let that be your decision, not, ‘these are the standards, you are a woman, you need to do this.” –Janelle Monae

From a young age, Joan Jett made waves in the male dominated music industry. “People don't want to see women doing things they don't think women should do.” –Joan Jett

-Intern Michaella

Music Legends We’ve Lost This Year

It only takes three minutes for music to connect people. Listeners attach songs with current situations in their lives and learn through lyrics…now that’s powerful. Music has the ability to transform audiences back in time. With the passing of some of our most iconic artists, their music will continue to live on through our memories. Here are the Top 10 Icons we’ve lost this year.

David Robert Jones aka "David Bowie"

The legendary British singer/songwriter passed away at age 69 from cancer. His memory lives on with the release of the album Blackstar which was released on Bowie’s birthday, January 8, 2016. He passed away two days after the release of the album.

René Angélil

The former husband and manager of Celine Dion passed away at age 73 on January 14. He passed away from throat cancer. Unfortunately, two days later, Celine Dion lost her brother as well. January was definitely a hard month on her.

Glenn Frey

A founding member and guitarist of The Eagles passed away on January 18 from complications with his battle with rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia, while recovering from gastrointestinal track surgery. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998. Frey, the famous singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and painter, was 67 years old.

Jon Bunch

Known for being the front man of the 1990s hardcore punk band “Sense Field” and front man for the band “Further Seem Forever.”  Sense Field was a pioneer band in emo music. The musician passed away at age 45 on January 31st.

Maurice White

Known best for being a founder of the group Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White passed away on February 3 from Parkinson’s disease. The 74 year old won 7 Grammy’s and was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and Vocal Group Hall Of Fame for his work in Earth, Wind & Fire. He stopped touring with the band in the late 1980s when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Dan Hicks

The founding member in San Francisco psychedelic folk scene passed away on February 6. He combined a variety of genres (folk, jazz, country, swing, bluegrass, pop and gypsy) to create a new sound in music. The cause of his death was liver cancer. Hicks was 74 when passed away

James Hugh Loden aka "Sonny James"

Sonny James was a country music singer/songwriter who passed away on February 22 at age 87. He’s known for the release his 1957 hit song “Young Love.” From 1967 to 1971, he had 16 No. 1 country records and in 2007 he was inducted in the Country Hall of Fame.

Francis Wayne Sinatra Jr.

Known as the son of legendary Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr passed away on March 16 from cardiac arrest. The 72 year old followed in his father’s footsteps with a career as a singer, songwriter, and conductor. He passed away while he was on tour in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Malik Izaak Taylor aka "Phife Dawg"

The rapper passed away at age 45 in his home in Contra Costa County, California on March 22nd. The cause of death is from type two diabetes. His battle with diabetes began in 1990. After waiting two years to receive a kidney transplant, his wife was finally able to give hers in 2008. Unfortunately, he required another transplant in 2012.

Leandro “Gato” Barbieri

The famous Grammy winning saxophonist passed away on April 2 from pneumonia. The 83 year old Argentine musician was popular in the jazz genre. He gained fame during the free jazz movement in the 1960s and is known for his Latin jazz recordings in the 1970s.

We lost a lot of figureheads this year in music; may they rest in peace. They’ll be missed, but their music allows them to live on forever.

~Intern Victoria