‘Look Ma, No Mike!’ N°129 – 2010s Music Videos

Keri Hilson, Avril Lavigne, Vampire Weekend, Ellie Goulding, Rae Morris, Esmée Denters, Britney Spears, Billie Eilish, Biffy Clyro, Katy B, Susan Boyle, Elvis Presley, Alicia Keys

They are the performers of twelve “live” music videos that ranked in various charts, this week (05/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.

Here, they are reunited in one glorious playlist. Enjoy!

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Tracklist

1 . Keri Hilson – Pretty Girl Rock

“Pretty Girl Rock” by Keri Hilson swivels with the kind of swagger that runs on loops of self-assuredness, backed by mid-tempo R&B beats that know their worth.

Its production, courtesy of Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony, nods slyly to Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us,” but with drums that stomp heavier and piano lines that slink tighter.

The song straddles the line between empowerment anthem and vanity flex, offering lyrics that can either be a wink at self-love or a side-eye to insecurity.

The accompanying music video doesn’t simply portray Keri Hilson—it transforms her into a chameleon of cultural references, with each iconic female artist she embodies acting as a confident timestamp in pop and R&B history.

There’s a kitschy charm in seeing her channel Josephine Baker’s theatrical flairs, Diana Ross’ glamour, and Janet Jackson’s sleek assertiveness.

Even so, the track’s message lands with a modern accessibility, walking the tightrope between fun and narcissism without losing its balance.

Remixes like the flirtatious “Kimmy Girl” by Lil’ Kim and Parachute’s acoustic cover extend the song’s reach, reshaping it through entirely different lenses.

While the song may not dig deep into sonic innovation, it plants a flag firmly in the arena of unshakable confidence—a glittery mirror that offers listeners permission to revel in their own shine for a moment.


The music video is directed by Marcus Raboy.
HEAR IT

Featured on the 2010 album “No Boys Allowed”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Twitter

2 . Avril Lavigne – What The Hell

“What the Hell” by Avril Lavigne adds a technicolor burst of mischief to her discography, cementing a signature mix of irreverence and melodic punch.

The track borrows from bubblegum pop-punk while decorating itself with retro synth layers and hand-clapped rhythms, unabashedly leaning into playful chaos.

In the lyrics, Lavigne channels her offbeat charm into a shrugging declaration of defiance, celebrating impulsivity without a hint of apology.

Its chorus thrums with electric guitar riffs, propelling the song with an energy that feels like a caffeine rush paired with a rebellious smirk.

The production by Max Martin and Shellback infuses a top-40 sheen, but the sass in the delivery proves Lavigne’s stamp is unmistakable.

The music video amplifies this wild streak, showing her stealing a cab, dodging a lover, and commanding a stage, as if rebellion itself were choreographed to her beat.

Chart-wise, the song enjoyed its passport of success across continents, proving its universal knack for anthemic hooks and a no-holds-barred attitude.

For all its pop gloss, “What the Hell” never loses track of its carefreely messy charm—it lets loose with unapologetic exuberance and dares listeners to shrug alongside it.


The music video is directed by Garth Jennings.
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Featured on the 2011 album “Goodbye Lullaby”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

3 . Vampire Weekend – Cousins

“Cousins” by Vampire Weekend ricochets with frenetic energy, offering a whirlwind of sharp guitar riffs and rapid-fire rhythms that seem tailor-made for chaotic foot-tapping.

With Ezra Koenig’s distinctive vocals leading the charge, the track feels like an impromptu yet calculated musical sprint, bursting with quirky charisma and lyrical winks.

Recorded in Mexico City, the song’s brisk tempo mirrors its production’s cultural shift, nodding to its global yet cosmopolitan edge.

The accompanying music video, directed by Garth Jennings, amplifies the song’s idiosyncratic personality—masked bandmates trade places on a rotating platform in a claustrophobic alley, creating a loop of absurdist charm.

While lyrically enigmatic, its themes of familial ties and individuality are delivered with enough ambiguity to invite both interpretation and playful guessing games.

Commercially, it carved a modest space for itself, charting in the UK and US, striking a chord with indie rock enthusiasts without overstaying its welcome.

“Cousins” thrives on contradiction: polished yet frantic, personal yet universal, dismissive yet surprisingly earnest.


The music video is directed by Kinga Burza.
HEAR IT

Featured on the 2010 album “Contra“.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

4 . Ellie Goulding – Goodness Gracious

“Goodness Gracious” by Ellie Goulding exudes an infectious energy, coupling a buoyant beat with self-reflective lyrics that dwell on romantic missteps.

Crafted with collaborators Greg Kurstin and Nate Ruess, the track juxtaposes its introspective themes with an upbeat, electro-pop soundscape that feels both restless and radiant.

The production is polished to a fault, showcasing Goulding’s distinctive, breathy vocals layered over shimmering synths and an insistently lively rhythm.

Lyrically, the song teeters between regret and self-awareness, with Goulding navigating the contradictions of staying in a flawed relationship, striking a chord with anyone who’s ever grappled with cyclic indecision.

The accompanying music video, shot in the sun-drenched streets of Los Angeles, complements the track’s electric vibrancy with neon hues, kaleidoscopic visuals, and carefree revelry, though it leans more on aesthetic appeal than narrative depth.

Charting well in several countries, the song proved itself as a pop contender, though not exactly a powerhouse hit.

The remixes, especially the Chainsmokers Extended Remix, give it a club-ready edge but don’t stray far from its original charm.

While Goulding’s vocal prowess shines, the track struggles to break new ground, sticking closely to the era’s pop formula of slick production and introspective confessionals.

The result is a buoyant yet somewhat predictable offering, lively in its execution but lacking the risk or reinvention to place it among her most memorable works.


The music video is directed by Alex Southam.
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Featured on the 2013 album “Halcyon Days”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

5 . Rae Morris – Under The Shadows

“Under The Shadows” by Rae Morris crafts an intricate sonic architecture, blending electronic pulsing hooks with an atmospheric sheen of reverb and synth choirs.

Produced by Jim Eliot and co-written with Morris, the song leans into textured production that evokes a sense of escapism and inward contemplation, its grandeur seemingly teetering on the edge of menace.

Thematically, the track channels vulnerability and the push-pull dynamics of longing, mirrored by lyrics that oscillate between introspection and outward yearning.

Its indie pop sensibilities manage to balance sleek vocal delivery with a bite, ensuring it captivates without straying into overly polished territory.

Though tied to her debut album “Unguarded,” which earned critical commendation and solidified a top 10 spot in the UK Albums Chart, this specific track doesn’t rely on accolades—its strength lies in mood setting and immersive audibility.

Paired with its brooding video visuals, the song becomes a layered experience, threading emotion and aesthetic innovation seamlessly.


HEAR IT

Featured on the 2015 album “Unguarded”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

6 . Esmée Denters – Outta Here

Esmée Denters’ **Outta Here** is a bold pivot from YouTube covers to chart-ready pop as a product of Justin Timberlake’s Tennman Records.

Produced by Polow da Don and Timberlake himself, the track leans heavily into polished pop-meets-R&B territory, punctuated by flashes of rock and electronic influences, though it often plays it safe within its genre trappings.

Thematically, the song chases freedom and strength, cutting ties with an ex while navigating a checklist of breakup clichés—empowering but a bit formulaic.

Its hook carries an easy charm, though some might find its production so glossy that it risks feeling impersonal, a trap many debut singles fall into when guided by industry heavyweights.

Chart success in Europe and beyond underscored its commercial appeal, and the accompanying music video, drenched in fashion-forward cuts and moody backdrops, added style to substance without overshadowing its sleek production.

Outcome? A debut single that’s polished but hesitant to take risks, standing as more of a Timberlake-co-signed calling card than a personal artistic statement.


The music video is directed by Jonas Åkerlund.
HEAR IT

Featured on the 2009 album “Outta Here”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Instagram

7 . Britney Spears – Hold It Against Me

“Hold It Against Me” by Britney Spears encapsulates the frenetic pulse of 2011’s pop zeitgeist with its fusion of industrial grit, electropop gloss, and a dubstep-inflected breakdown.

The track’s lyrical premise hinges on a flirtatious interplay, couched in seductive lines that blur the boundaries between assertive confidence and coquettish energy.

The chorus contrasts airy synths and bruising, metallic beats, creating a soundscape that feels both confrontational and magnetic.

Co-written by pop architects Max Martin, Dr. Luke, and Bonnie McKee, the song’s structural ambition mirrors the blurring lines of genre during the early 2010s.

Chart feats followed as predictably as night follows day, with the single debuting at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100, tethering Spears’ legacy to three consecutive decades of dominance.

Internationally, its reception was no less impressive, cementing strongholds across Canada, Denmark, and New Zealand, indicative of its global appeal.

The accompanying music video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, morphs into a hyper-stylized fever dream of celebrity’s illusory glamour, oppressive pressures, and commercial overtures, packed with visual metaphors and product placement.

Critics dissected the video’s chaotic mix of artifice and authenticity, but in true Spears fashion, its disjointed brilliance only fueled the conversation.

On stage, the track served as a fiery opener for the Femme Fatale Tour, where its boisterous rhythm met choreographed frenzy.

As of 2015, its digital sales surpassed 1.6 million in the US, ensuring its foothold in Britney lore.


The music video is directed by Eli Born.
HEAR IT

Featured on the 2011 album “Femme Fatale”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

8 . Billie Eilish – idontwannabeyouanymore

Few tracks encapsulate internal strife quite like Billie Eilish’s “idontwannabeyouanymore.”

This indie pop ballad threads elements of jazz and R&B with an unvarnished vulnerability that feels equal parts intimate and universal.

The gentle tempo—a languid 57 beats per minute—acts as a sonic mirror to the song’s introspective lyricism, unraveling themes of self-doubt and societal scrutiny.

Co-written with her brother and producer Finneas O’Connell, the composition wields restraint as its power: the sparse arrangement allows Eilish’s vocal fragility to take center stage, toeing the line between confessional and resigned.

Released in 2017 as part of her debut EP *Don’t Smile at Me*, the track sidesteps radio-friendly tropes for something rawer, nestling itself in minor chords that amplify its mood of aching introspection.

The accompanying COLORS video strips it down further—there’s nothing to distract from her delivery, and nothing needs to.

It’s less a song that climbs the charts and more a diary entry set to music, thriving in its quiet honesty.


The music video is directed by Andy Morahan.
HEAR IT

Featured on the 2017 album “dont smile at me”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Twitter

9 . Biffy Clyro – Many Of Horror [When We Collide]

Biffy Clyro’s “Many of Horror” captures a turbulent emotional landscape with striking melodicism and raw vulnerability.

The song’s alternative rock framework brims with soaring guitar riffs, dramatic percussion, and Simon Neil’s fervent, aching vocals.

Lyrically, it’s an intimate meditation reflecting personal struggles, inspired by the strain on Neil’s marriage amid devastating miscarriages.

The chorus clings to a bittersweet balance, intertwining themes of love and fracture with a haunting refrain that lingers.

As its title suggests, there’s a quiet violence beneath the surface that generates tension, echoing both tenderness and pain.

Recorded in Hollywood’s iconic Ocean Way studios, the production achieves a cinematic depth without slipping into excess.

The track’s impact surged after the X Factor cover controversy, highlighting the band’s authenticity against the backdrop of glossy pop culture appropriation.

Although its chart performance spiked post-drama, the music holds its own as an evocative piece.


The music video is directed by Andy Morahan.
HEAR IT

Featured on the 2009 album “Only Revolutions”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

10 . Katy B – Crying For No Reason

“Crying for No Reason” by Katy B strikes a poignant chord as an electronic pop ballad that toes the line between vulnerability and cinematic grandeur.

The song showcases Katy B reflecting on unspoken emotions bubbling to the surface, delivering her revelations through a sleek balance of haunting piano chords and dynamic synth beats.

Its production, helmed by Geeneus, cleverly integrates breakstep influences, lending the track both emotional weight and a subtle, club-ready momentum.

Her voice navigates the narrative of regret and suppressed feelings with a finesse that avoids melodrama, instead inviting the listener into an intimate confessional space.

The accompanying music video, drenched in a moody, futuristic aesthetic, complements the track’s emotional undercurrents without distraction.

While the remixes—ranging from the Tom Shorterz twist to Infinity Ink’s rendition—offer varied takes, none eclipse the raw simplicity of the original, which thrives on its honesty and precision.

The track’s chart performance may not define its impact; its real triumph lies in reaffirming Katy B’s ability to craft both personal and universal moments within the parameters of pop.

Whether a late-night anthem or a solitary listen, its reflective tone resonates just as profoundly, leaving a mark that’s more about experience than metrics.


The music video is directed by Karen Cunningham.
HEAR IT

Featured on the 2014 album “Little Red”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Instagram

11 . Susan Boyle, Elvis Presley – O Come All Ye Faithful

The unlikely union of Susan Boyle and Elvis Presley on “O Come All Ye Faithful” brings together an archival vocal with a modern powerhouse for a charitable cause.

Presented as a Christmas hymn, the song leans on its roots as a Latin carol, “Adeste Fideles,” penned in the 18th century and later translated by Frederick Oakeley.

Boyle’s soaring voice blends with Presley’s era-defining croon, weaving a harmonious balance between her TV-bred fame and his long-standing legacy.

The rendition is unabashedly traditional, favoring reverence over innovation, with orchestral backdrops underscoring the spiritual gravitas.

Released to aid Save the Children, the project carries as much emotional heft from its purpose as from its polished delivery.

While the vocal production serves as proof of technical finesse, the song feels less like a reinvention and more like a resurfacing of timeless nostalgia.

Equal parts homage and marketing move, it succeeds in evoking festive warmth but treads no new ground.

For fans of either artist or classic carols, it’s a sentimental triumph; for others, it may settle as an easily agreeable seasonal wallpaper.


The music video is directed by Taj Stansberry.
HEAR IT

Featured on the 2013 album “Home for Christmas”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

12 . Alicia Keys – Brand New Me

“Brand New Me” by Alicia Keys channels personal transformation into a piano-laden ballad infused with a subtle R&B undercurrent.

Co-written with Emeli Sandé, the track leans heavily on its introspective lyrics, weaving a narrative of self-reclamation and independence.

Musically, it’s a restrained affair, letting Keys’ soulful vocals take center stage while the sparse arrangement avoids unnecessary embellishments.

The production, anchored at Oven Studios in New York, opts for a subdued polish that aligns with the song’s reflective tone.

The accompanying music video mirrors this introspection, capturing poignant moments of reinvention as Keys rejects artifice to confront her authentic self.

While critics appreciated the empowering message, the song didn’t achieve significant commercial success—a reality that feels almost immaterial given its earnest delivery.

“Rolling Stone” lauded the effort, framing it as a deliberate, if understated, pivot in her artistic journey.

Though not groundbreaking, the song holds its own as a quietly confident rebuttal to external expectations.


HEAR IT

Featured on the 2012 album “Girl on Fire“.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

For THE FULL ‘ARE WE LIVE?’ COLLECTION click here

This week Top 20 New Music on RVM *

(*) According to our own statistics, upadted on February 9, 2025

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