How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Little Mix, Jonas Blue, Liam Payne, Maroon 5, Example, Hailee Steinfeld, Grey, George Ezra, Tom Walker, OneRepublic, Emeli Sandé, Florence + The Machine, Labrinth
They are the performers of twelve “lip sync” music videos that ranked in various charts, this week (39/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
For TWELVE more ‘Look Ma, No Mike!’ – 2010s Music Videos – week 39/52 – click here
Tracklist
1 . Little Mix – Black Magic |
‘Here’s the answer, come and get it While you’ve still got time’
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| Co-written with Ed Drewett, Little Mix’s “Black Magic” marks a sonic shift for the group, bringing an ’80s vibe with catchy claps, stomps, and harmonies. Inspired by the teenage film “The Craft,” the music video, directed by Director X and shot at the University of Southern California, features the group as nerds transforming a dull lecture into a lively dance party, showcasing a blend of magic and empowerment. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Get Weird”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
2 . Jonas Blue – Rise (w/ Jack & Jack) |
‘But what they don’t know, know, know is we don’t don’t care.’
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| A collaboration with pop duo Jack & Jack, Jonas Blue’s “Rise” embodies classic EDM pop with a catchy hook, resonating a feel-good message about perseverance. The music video, directed by Sashinski and filmed in Lisbon, closes on a vibrant festival scene with Jonas performing to 8,000 fans. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Blue”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
3 . Liam Payne – Stack It Up (w/ A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie) |
‘But that ain’t enough to satisfy ‘Cause I got dreams for you and I’
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| Liam Payne’s song “Stack It Up,” featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie, is penned by Ed Sheeran, embodying themes of hard work, inspiration, and dream realization. Directed by Nathan R. Smith, the music video, shot in New York, stars Liam and Boogie in an amusement arcade, blending colorful visuals with fun animations of the duo on an arcade game screen. |
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Featured on the 2019 album “LP1”. |
4 . Maroon 5 – Memories |
| Encapsulating the bittersweet essence of reminiscence through its melancholic melody and heartfelt lyrics, Maroon 5’s “Memories” is a reggae-pop rendition of the classic eight-chord progression of Pachelbel’s Canon. Directed by David Dobkin and cinematographed by Jeff Cronenweth, the music video, primarily a close-up of Levine’s expressive face, is a poignant tribute to the band’s late manager, Jordan Feldstein. |
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Featured on the 2021 album “Jordi”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . Example – Say Nothing |
‘Say nothing Cause your eyes do the talking’
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| Set in a desert, the music video for British rapper-singer Example’s “Say Nothing” is directed by Adam Powell and filmed in Almería, Andalucia, Spain. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “The Evolution of Man”. |
6 . Hailee Steinfeld, Grey – Starving (w/ Zedd) |
‘By the way, right away, you do things to my body’
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| Encapsulating the euphoria of falling for someone, Hailee Steinfeld’s song “Starving,” created with Zedd and duo Grey, starts with soft guitar strums, transitions into a mellow dance tune as it progresses. The music video, directed by Darren Craig and set in a neon-lit warehouse, features Steinfeld engaging in sultry choreography alongside topless male dancers, while Grey appear briefly in a retro car. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Haiz”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . George Ezra – Budapest |
‘Oh, for you, ooh, you, ooh’
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| With its chorus, a catchy plea for change, “Budapest” by George Ezra is a captivating folk-pop tune with a catchy melody and upbeat rhythm, illustrating the singer’s whimsical desire to elope to Budapest with his lover. Interestingly, despite the song’s narrative, Ezra had never visited Budapest. Spoiler : he has visited since. |
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Featured on the 2014 album “Wanted on Voyage”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
8 . Tom Walker – Leave A Light On |
| Inspired by two real-life stories close to Walker, Scottish singer Tom Walker’s song “Leave A Light On,” produced by Steve Mac, digs into the theme of battling addiction, urging individuals to seek help and face their issues head-on. The music video is directed by Charles Mehling. |
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Featured on the 2019 album “What a Time to Be Alive”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
9 . OneRepublic – Kids |
| OneRepublic’s “Kids” starts with a gentle acoustic intro, before transitioning into a lively beat with Ryan Tedder’s notable vocals delivering a message on cherishing childhood friendships. Shot in one take using Nokia’s OZO VR camera, the music video, directed by Hal Kirkland, follows the band visiting Mexico City’s iconic sites like the Angel of Independence and Bellas Artes Palace before their concert, while a young love blossoms as a guy musters courage to approach his crush, culminating in a shared moment during the show. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “Oh My My”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
10 . Emeli Sandé – Hurts |
| Encapsulating the raw emotion of love lost, Emeli Sandé’s “Hurts” begins with a soft a capella melody, escalating with spine-tingling vocals, loud claps, orchestral strings, horns, and a choir, embodying an emotionally-epic sound as it progresses. Mirroring the emotional turmoil and desire for solace, the cinematic black and white music video, directed by Dawn Shadforth, depicts Sandé and a model on separate shores, reflecting on their past. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “Long Live the Angels”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
11 . Florence + The Machine – Spectrum |
‘With no colours on our skin We were light and paper thin’
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| Directed by David LaChapelle and John Byrne, the music video for Florence + the Machine’s energetic song “Spectrum” showcases California’s Southland Ballet Academy/Festival Ballet Theatre dancers pirouetting around Florence Welch before a young red-haired girl, who resembles a juvenile Florence, joins the dance. |
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Featured on the 2011 album “Ceremonials”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Labrinth – Jealous |
| In “Jealous,” a poignant ballad, co-written with Josh Kear and Natalie Hemby, reflecting on his parents’ departure when he was four, Labrinth – real name Timothy McKenzie – shares his personal narrative, aiming to resonate with others facing similar situations. Directed by Sophie Muller, the music video embodies simplicity, featuring a somber Labrinth, dressed in a mustard wool sweater, performing the song on his couch, his expression laden with sorrow and reflection. |
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Black Magic” debuted at number one on the UK Official Singles Chart, making it Little Mix’s third UK number one single. The track’s success was accompanied by a playful music video featuring magical mishaps.
2. The distinctive riff in “Rise” by Jonas Blue is played on a flute. The song blends house-pop elements with this unique sound, adding to its catchy appeal.
3. Liam Payne collaborates with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie in a track focused on self-reliance and ambition. The song underscores the importance of striving for financial and personal success.
4. Maroon 5’s song from *Jordi* is based on Pachelbel’s Canon, albeit in G# minor. The harmonic structure parallels sentiments of loss and remembrance.
5. Example’s “Say Nothing” differs from typical covers by featuring a childhood photo of Example. The artwork’s uniqueness reflective of Example’s desire to stand out.
6. Hailee Steinfeld’s “Starving” peaked at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The track was well-received internationally, solidifying Steinfeld’s presence in the music scene.
7. The B-side to George Ezra’s “Budapest” is “Angry Hill.” The single found chart-topping success across several countries, expanding Ezra’s global footprint.
8. Tom Walker’s “Leave a Light On” was inspired by family and friends struggling with addiction. Its heartfelt message encourages openness about such challenges.
9. The music video for OneRepublic’s “Kids” was filmed in Mexico City. It features city landmarks and highlights a concert, complementing the song’s youthful energy.
10. Emeli Sandé’s “Hurts” includes a sweeping cinematic sound with percussive layers and chugging strings. The song’s production captures the emotional intensity of a breakup.
11. Calvin Harris is the DJ who remixed Florence + The Machine’s song from *Ceremonials*. His version brought a fresh danceable touch to the original track.
12. Labrinth’s “Jealous” was influenced by his personal experience of parental separation. The song’s lyrical depth resonates emotionally with listeners worldwide.
For THE FULL ‘ARE WE LIVE?’ COLLECTION click here
NB . You may wonder what are these “Quotes” attached to certain photos above. Well! For a specific song, we select a still image from the video on one side and choose a lyric from the song on the other side. We ensure that the lyric has a connection to the image, although sometimes the connection may be far-fetched or based on a double entendre, creating a humorous or meme-like combination when the two are merged together. Et voilà!
No Mike Quotes • Here’s the answer, come and get it While you’ve still got time (Little Mix) • But what they don’t know, know, know is we don’t don’t care. (Jonas Blue) • But that ain’t enough to satisfy ‘Cause I got dreams for you and I (Liam Payne) • Say nothing Cause your eyes do the talking (Example) • By the way, right away, you do things to my body (Hailee Steinfeld, Grey) • Oh, for you, ooh, you, ooh (George Ezra) • With no colours on our skin We were light and paper thin (Florence + The Machine) •
Music-wise : Pop, Electronic, Folk-Pop, R&B, Rock, Uk Dance