‘We Are Live’ N°125 – 2010s Music Videos

1 . Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar

With “I Need A Dollar,” Aloe Blacc crafts a poignant narrative of financial hardship and perseverance, channeling a sense of grit that resonates far beyond its release year of 2010.

Written alongside Leon Michels, Nick Movshon, and Jeff Dynamite, the track pairs an old-school groove with lyrics that cut straight to the heart of economic struggles—a theme that feels eerily timeless and universally relatable.

Musically, its foundation lies in a head-nodding bassline and laid-back percussion, harking back to classic R&B and funk influences while remaining refreshingly modern in execution.

Its cultural footprint includes its role as the theme for HBO’s “How to Make It in America” and appearances in mediums as diverse as boxing games and wireless service commercials.

Blacc’s earnest vocal delivery elevates the song’s emotional heft, though it walks a fine line between evocative and overly earnest.

The accompanying music videos offer contrasting lenses—one set against New York’s gritty energy, the other aiming for a desert-bound existentialism in Las Vegas, both underscoring the song’s layered exploration of place and circumstance.

It’s a track that defies boundaries, achieving certifications from Platinum in the UK to double Platinum in Australia, proving its global reach while receiving reinterpretations from artists like Yelawolf and Xavier Rudd.

What makes “I Need A Dollar” compelling isn’t just its chart success or media ubiquity, but the way its lived-in authenticity clashes with its use in glossy commercial contexts, creating a paradox both intriguing and oddly fitting for the modern listener.

Featured on the 2010 album “Good Things”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

2 . Beyoncé – Love On Top

“Love On Top” struts onto the scene with a swagger that only Beyoncé can command, steeped in a buoyant 1980s R&B glow.

Marrying influences from Stevie Wonder to Whitney Houston, the track doesn’t linger in nostalgia—it revives it with gusto, demanding attention with its infectious energy.

The narrative is straightforward: love as a victory parade, where Beyoncé’s piercing vocal agility acts as the grand marshal.

Four modulations in key may sound like a gimmick on paper, but in execution, they feel like an athletic feat—she doesn’t just hit the notes, she soars through them.

The performance at the VMAs, punctuated by the world’s most glamorous pregnancy announcement, burned “Love On Top” into pop culture history, giving it a visibility spike that the charts mirrored immediately.

Its Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance feels apt, not just for its technical excellence but for how it bridges the traditional with a modern sensibility.

The accompanying video? Retro flair meets no-nonsense choreography, with nods to New Edition that feel part homage, part triumph.

Beyoncé may be conjuring ghosts of R&B past, but she’s unflinchingly present, wielding the track less as a throwback and more of a coup de grâce for any who doubted her stature in the genre’s lineage.

Featured on the 2011 album “4”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

3 . Bring Me The Horizon – Mother Tongue

“Mother Tongue” by Bring Me The Horizon represents a departure from their gritty origins, leaning into a bright, electro-infused sound that borders on pop with undeniable finesse.

The track rewrites their narrative, swapping darkness for an almost painfully earnest optimism, a tonal shift that some fans embrace while others remain skeptical about its sincerity.

Inspired by a deeply personal experience, Oli Sykes channels the raw vulnerability of navigating a connection that transcends language, crafting a lyrical narrative steeped in cross-cultural affection and longing.

Sonically, its shimmering synths and upbeat tempos sidestep gothic motifs for a polished sheen that feels more festival-ready than mosh-pit-proven, yet undeniably catchy.

Set against the broader scope of “amo,” which crowned UK charts, the song builds on the band’s ongoing evolution, offering layers that are as accessible as they are divisive within their fandom.

There’s a meticulous gleam to “Mother Tongue,” but this polish risks alienating purists longing for the grit of their early metalcore days.

Whether this progression constitutes a betrayal or bold reinvention depends on where listeners draw their line between authenticity and experimentation.

Regardless, the track flirts with mass appeal, marrying heartfelt lyrics with commercial sensibilities that nod to the expanding definition of modern rock.

Featured on the 2019 album “Amo”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

4 . Bebe Rexha – Meant To Be (w/ Florida Georgia Line)

“Meant To Be” is a curious blend of pop and country, the sort of genre-mash that raises eyebrows while keeping toes tapping.

Bebe Rexha’s sleek, radio-friendly vocals mesh with Florida Georgia Line’s country drawl, creating a track that feels engineered for crossover appeal.

Written in a last-minute session, the song’s simplicity is its charm, with an easygoing chorus that leans hard on themes of romantic inevitability.

The track’s success is undeniable—it spent 35 straight weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, a record-tying feat illustrating its mass appeal.

Yet its dominance also stirs debate: is this really “country music,” or an unabashed pop song with a southern veneer?

It thrives on streaming platforms, amassing over a billion global plays, yet some critics argue its polished production feels overly calculated.

Still, Rexha’s collaboration with Florida Georgia Line, though serendipitous, struck a chord, buoyed by a catchy hook and broad relatability.

Thematically, the lyrics revolve around leaning into fate, pairing romantic optimism with an undeniably commercial sheen.

Performances on mainstream TV further cemented its cultural visibility, turning the track into a watermark moment for genre fluidity in contemporary music.

For Rexha, the song marked a historic entry into country music, albeit via a pathway paved with pop sensibilities.

Featured on the 2017 album “All Your Fault: Pt. 2”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

5 . The 1975 – The Sound

“The Sound” by The 1975 lands somewhere between an exuberant anthem and a wink at its own genre conventions.

Anchored by a gleaming four-on-the-floor rhythm, it riffs off 1980s disco house while borrowing elements of funk, new wave, and R&B for a maximalist production that doesn’t apologize for its own polish.

Lyrically, Matty Healy zeroes in on a relationship teetering on the edge, juggling deceit and an obsession more tied to heartbeats than deep connection, all while delivering vocals sharp enough to be ironic.

The London Community Gospel Choir, layered into the mix, brings some heft, though the song never pretends to be more profound than it is.

It’s catchy, self-aware, and distractingly fun, embracing the synthetic without trying to transcend it.

This track could’ve easily been a sugar-coated gift for One Direction, but in The 1975’s hands, it’s half-commentary, half-party, refusing to sit still long enough to be boxed in.

Chart figures aside, its real triumph lies in how it winks at its own commercial sheen while owning every glittering second of it.

Featured on the 2016 album “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

6 . Catfish And The Bottlemen – Longshot

Catfish and the Bottlemen’s “Longshot” delivers a polished indie rock anthem that intertwines sharp lyrics with dynamic instrumentation. Released on their third album, “The Balance,” the track suggests a calculated move toward arena-ready choruses, with just enough grit to keep things grounded.

The song rides on a steady guitar riff, propelling its undercurrent of risk-taking with a confident, almost swaggering energy. Van McCann’s vocals alternate between restraint and fervor, layering themes of ambition with an edge of unpredictability.

Beneath its polished hooks, “Longshot” feels both ambitious and familiar, conjuring anthemic vibes that seem tailored for festival singalongs. The production by Jacknife Lee tightens every corner, sacrificing a hint of rawness for wide-reaching appeal.

Chart success points to its effectiveness, not just as a single but as a statement of intent. The accompanying music video, set against a coastal backdrop, mirrors the song’s contrasting elements of serenity and thrill. It offers a visual nod to the track’s overarching blend of calculated risk and natural momentum.

“Longshot” avoids overcomplicating its narrative while leaning heavily on its ability to stick in memory. It doesn’t reinvent indie rock, but it masters the balance between smooth delivery and a jagged core.

Featured on the 2019 album “The Balance”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

7 . Clean Bandit – Symphony (w/ Zara Larsson)

Released in March 2017, Clean Bandit’s collaboration with Zara Larsson delivers a polished hybrid of classical and pop influences.

Clocking in as a UK chart-topper, the track confidently blends sweeping orchestral strings with contemporary electronic production.

Zara’s emotive vocals glide over the pulsating arrangement, crafting a song that feels both radio-friendly and theatrically ambitious.

The accompanying video, directed by the group’s Grace Chatto and Jack Patterson, tells a poignant narrative centered around love and loss, underscoring the song’s themes without veering into melodrama.

Commercially, the song achieved impressive longevity on the UK Singles Chart, securing a year-long presence while landing notable international certifications.

From live performances on major platforms like *The Voice UK* to TikTok-fueled revivals years later, it has maintained cultural relevance beyond its initial release.

Remixes by names like R3hab and Dash Berlin further extended its presence within electronic music circles, though not all reworkings captured the impact of the original arrangement.

As a whole, it’s a neatly constructed piece of pop craftsmanship that pairs emotional accessibility with technical finesse, avoiding unnecessary flash while still commanding attention.

Featured on the 2017 album “So Good”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

8 . The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy

“Sick Boy” by The Chainsmokers occupies a precarious space between introspection and irony, channeling themes of identity and modern alienation through the lens of a generation raised on filters and likes.

The track contrasts the stark cultural archetypes of America’s east and west coasts, with the former depicted as emotionally dulled yet proud, and the latter as a place where deception masks itself in a glittering facade.

The pulsating beats complement the lyrics, swirling together self-awareness and subtle cynicism in a way that feels emblematic of the duo’s approach to electronic music.

While the song itself didn’t chart independently, its role in the success of the “Sick Boy” album, which climbed to the top of the US Dance/Electronic charts, is undeniable.

The absence of featured artists on this track makes its narrative feel singularly focused, standing as a counterpoint to other album collaborations with names like NGHTMRE and Aazar.

The accompanying music video echoes the song’s unease, blending stark imagery with a sense of constrained rebellion that aligns well with the lyrical exploration of identity under digital surveillance.

Though not groundbreaking, it’s a track that finds intrigue in contradictions—catchy but critical, introspective yet performative, indulgent and self-aware in equal measure.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

9 . Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey – The Middle

“The Middle” operates at the intersection of multiple genres, a sonic space where EDM, pop, and country flirt without fully committing to any one identity.

With Zedd’s polished production, Grey’s sleek arrangements, and Maren Morris’s twang-tinged vocals, the track feels like a calculated balancing act rather than an organic fusion.

The lyrics are straightforward, speaking to themes of compromise and meeting halfway, which resonate universally but lack a certain lyrical depth or ingenuity.

Musically, it’s all about the hook—a persistent, catchy refrain drilled into the listener’s memory, largely thanks to the meticulously layered beats and synthetic flourishes.

The song’s chart success and billion-plus Spotify streams highlight its effectiveness as a carefully engineered earworm, but it’s arguably more a product of precision than passion.

Its cultural impact is solidified by extensive radio play and Grammy nods, though these accolades often blur the line between genuine artistry and algorithmic appeal.

The accompanying music video injects a visual energy absent from the track itself, pairing intricate choreography with bold aesthetics that reflect its mass-appeal sensibilities.

While thoroughly enjoyable, “The Middle” feels less like a creative risk and more like a meticulous calculation—proof that sometimes, collaboration is more about strategy than synergy.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

10 . Anne-Marie – Then

Anne-Marie’s “Then,” released in late 2017, positions itself as a mid-tempo pop ballad with a delicate balance of melancholy and resilience.

The production, courtesy of Steve Mac, leans on string plucking that feels faintly borrowed, vaguely reminiscent of Vaults’ “One Last Night.”

Its tempo of 113 beats per minute offers enough space for Anne-Marie’s reflective tone without veering into lethargy, framed comfortably in D minor.

The lyrics circle around the repeated phrase “I loved you,” a confession that feels simultaneously intimate and universal as it surveys the wreckage of past relationships.

Mixed by Mark “Spike” Stent and mastered by Stuart Hawkes, the track doesn’t shy away from its polished surface, though it treads lightly between polished pop and emotional candor.

It barely cracked the top 100 in the UK—a modest No. 87—while earning Silver certification, suggesting that its resonance lies beyond typical chart metrics.

The minimalist music video underscores the song’s emotional core, resisting bombastic imagery in favor of straightforward vulnerability.

It may not reinvent the heartbreak ballad, but “Then” captures a particular blend of fragility and strength that suits Anne-Marie’s vocal style.

Featured on the 2017 album “Speak Your Mind”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

11 . Khalid, Kane Brown – Saturday Nights Remix

“Saturday Nights” Remix, the brainchild of Khalid and Kane Brown, merges two distinct musical sensibilities—Khalid’s signature R&B warmth and Brown’s modern country flair—with surprising cohesion.

The track, originally a contemplative slow jam from Khalid’s 2018 “Suncity” EP, transforms with the inclusion of Brown’s textured vocals, adding a nuanced dynamic to its progression.

Released in January 2019, this rendition made a moderate impact on the charts, peaking at 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, while carving a stronger presence in R&B/Hip-Hop territory by reaching 21.

Internationally, it resonated in markets like Canada, where it landed at 31, signaling its global crossover appeal.

Its success is further underscored by a 4× Platinum certification in the United States and additional platinum recognitions in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Visually, the accompanying music video paints a mellow, emotive scene, with the artists performing against a cinematic sunset backdrop that amplifies the song’s introspective narrative.

Balancing lyrical nostalgia with contemporary production, the remix bridges genres without sacrificing authenticity, demonstrating how collaboration can serve as a creative experiment rather than a mere marketing strategy.

Featured on the 2019 album “Saturday Nights REMIX”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

12 . Little Mix – Cannonball

Little Mix’s “Cannonball” lands somewhere between sentimentality and strategic showmanship, functioning as both a statement of arrival and a calculated move to capitalize on reality TV momentum.

A cover of Damien Rice’s introspective original, it retains the skeleton of emotive vulnerability but wraps it in pop polish, trading the starkness of Rice’s acoustic despair for the group’s layered harmonies and carefully measured earnestness.

Released as their debut single after clinching The X Factor title in 2011, its trajectory to #1 on the UK and Irish charts reads less like a natural ascent and more like the gravitational pull of prime-time exposure.

The track itself dips into the well-trodden theme of uncertainty in love, with its “still a little bit of your taste in my mouth” lyric carrying just enough rawness to resonate, albeit in a sanded-down, radio-friendly format.

The accompanying music video leans into the group’s underdog narrative, featuring soft-focus visuals and a mood of upliftment, but stops short of anything truly memorable.

If anything, the release serves as a bridge—a necessary but uninspired stepping-stone to the dynamic pop identity the group would later claim with original material.

What “Cannonball” lacks in originality, it compensates with context, marking their first tentative step into a competitive industry while nodding to the template they had yet to fully disrupt.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site