Sometimes a video can speak a thousand words. And just watching this short interview with Cheryl as she steps out onto American soil for the first day of auditions on the US X Factor, you just fall in love with her all over again. Seriously the most adorable thing ever. For starters, she looks absolutely incredibly rocking a real 70s disco inspired look with big hair and bright colours to match the increased scale America operates in.
The American reporters seem just as enraptured with Cheryl as we are over here and her answers express that instant natural charisma and charm we've come to adore her so much for. True perfection - Cheryl really is fast on her way to becoming a global star.
Katy Perry's Teenage Dream album campaign is a prime example in how to convert a nation of pop lovers to your cause - and with the run of four stellar singles she's released from the album, I can safely say I count myself among those converts.
If it's consistency you're looking for, then Katy delivers; something the brilliant video for ET seems keen to establish. You don't see many artists lavishing this much care and attention on the fourth video from their album, yet here we have a stunning science-fiction flick, brimming with CGI. Normally the fourth single is just hastily thrown out there as an afterthought to mop up the last of the album's sales before the artist moves onto the next project, but here it genuinely feels like this is the next project.
The other thing I love is that Katy isn't afraid to go out there with her outfits. You feel these days that some artists are almost intimated by the ever-prevailing nature of Lady Gaga's vastly extravagant creations, so much so that they don't even dare to attempt anything on that scale. But in the ET video, Katy arguably goes one better with her 'alien' attire. Certainly, it's visually striking - and for me, genuinely chilling, as opposed to the often quasi-comical or just outright bonkers Gaga outfits. For a song that is all about 'other-ness' and things coming from beyond our world, it fits perfectly.
The whole visual feel of the video is sumptuous - very Final Fantasy meets the Fifth Element. Kanye gets to ride in one of those cool futuristic sphere things that could have come straight out of Girls Aloud's Untouchable video.
ET works so well because it's a thing of contrasts, the harsh, mechanical beats with Katy's airy, supernatural vocals... her astounding beauty (particularly in the final vampy get-up) with the unsettling nature of the alien touches. You're never quite sure how you should feel, bewitched or frightened, enchanted or scared. One thing's for sure though, it's a great song, made even better by a brilliant video.
This promotional video advertising the new Dance Central game on Xbox is genius. How many of us have watched Kylie Minogue's iconic Can't Get You Out Of My Head video and had its racey white dress and robotic dance moves imprinted on our minds? Now, massive Kylie fan I might be, but I don't think I'd ever go as far as the guy here, who takes it on himself to make his own home-made Kylie outfit and sneak into her dressing room. Cue quite a few chuckles, especially when he takes those gold hot-pants into a launderette.
But it gets even better when Kylie herself appears and is promptly locked up back-stage. I love this whole little send up and it's a great collaboration between the forces of video-gaming and pop music. Now, it's very nearly time for Kylie's UK tour dates and I can't flippin' wait!
