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Adam Lambert "Better Than I Know Myself" [Video Review]

Adam Lambert will be the first to tell you that he's not perfect. Some choose to hide their flaws and not-so flattering moments, but the singer has the confidence to face his imperfections and turn them into a strength. Lambert fully embraces his humanity in his music and performance, and the excellent new video for his current hit single "Better Than I Know Myself" is a perfect example of that.

"Better Than I Know Myself" is a gritty and gut-wrenching pop ballad that was produced by Dr Luke and co-written by Claude Kelly. The song taps into the frenzy of emotions that often goes along with a relationship that is on the brink of survival. Lambert perfectly captures that very moment that you sit down and try to make sense of it all.

In a recent interview, Lambert explains, "Sometimes you screw up or you say something to hurt your partner’s feelings, or you haven’t been supportive.This song basically owns that, says, ‘Look, I’m sorry. Sometimes I’m not perfect but without you I don’t know what I would do with myself. I need you because you are the only person that knows me better than I know myself."

Sobering lyrics like, "I get kind of dark (. . .) but try to see my heart," clearly inspired the video for the song that depicts the conflicting forces that can destroy the special bond between two people. In the video, Lambert is pictured both as his calm, Zen-self who is meditating and fully in control sipping tea, while next door his antagonizing alter ego is creating a ruckus, drinking and playing with fire. But every ying needs its yang, and at the end of the video the two scenes collide with "troubled" Adam reaching to "peaceful" Adam to unite as one.

Lambert further amplifies the message of the song in the closing scene of the video when he walks down a Los Angeles street. He pierces into the camera and reveals that he has two different eye colors. It's proof that he has found a way to balance his inner-conflict.

It may be just a storyline for the video, but it's also a fitting nod to Lambert's own artistry that balances between dealing with people's expectations, and his ongoing desire to take risks and to push his boundaries as an entertainer. It's those two very public sides of him that make Lambert truly one of the most exciting new male forces in pop to reckon with.

The Daily Crunch: The Wanted, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Drake, Trey Songz, Super Bowl, Mary J Blige

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[NEW] Listen to Sam Sparro "The Shallow Ground" (From "Return To Paradise")

Sam Sparro serves up some stirring disco-soul on "The Shallow Ground," the very first track unveiled from his much-anticipated new album, "Return To Paradise." The song was produced by Jesse Rogg and Greg Kurstin, and is "about life in Los Angeles," Sparro writes on his web site.

Set to a mighty infectious "woo-hoo," a bouncy bass, lots of cowbell and a sultry sax solo, Sparro explains in his warming timbre that Los Angeles is a city close to his heart. It's a place where you can live "a beautiful life" and if you can swim in "the shallow end" then you will be "alright," poignantly referring to the city's many trappings. He adds that the "fun in the sun" city may be full of dreamers, fakers and crazies, but "crazy people need love to."

Sparro created an Instagram-styled video for the song with a compilation of clips from the new album's recording sessions. Pop fans should look for a cameo of Swedish pop singer Erik Hassle around the 2:10 mark with whom Sparro collaborated on "Return To Paradise." 

Madonna "Give Me All Your Luvin'" feat. Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. (Video Review)

Madonna keeps it light and fluffy in the video for her new single "Give Me All Your Luvin'" that perfectly matches the fun and quirky qualities of the song. The Martin Solveig-produced single is not all that new to Madonna fans as an earlier version leaked a few months ago much to Madonna's dismay. The final cut of the song is pretty much the same track plus some polished raps of Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. who add some cross-over appeal to the song to conquer both pop and urban radio in the U.S. 

The video of "Give Me All Your Luvin'" is clearly inspired by Madonna's much-hyped Superbowl performance and takes a few cues from her "Material Girl" past as well. Filled with hunky football players and wildly enthusiastic (and oddly masked) cheerleaders, Madonna works her way out of her suburban home, confidently stepping all over her adoring jock squad and letting them carry her through the dark city streets of a Hollywood sound stage. It's a scene not unfamiliar for those who remember the choreography in the "Material Girl" video. Even some of the camera angles are very similar. 

Half-way through the video, Madonna makes a quick wardrobe change to meet her pals Minaj and M.I.A. in a downtown gentleman's club. They are laced up perfectly as Marilyn Monroe lookalikes, which is once again a clever nod to the "Material Girl" video and clearly an attempt by Madonna to poke some good fun at herself. There are a few other noteworthy references as well, including one to Madonna's Bay City upbringing with a big "M" for Michigan on the football players' jerseys. Also note the clever product placement of the Smirnoff voda brand that Madonna has an ongoing marketing partnership with.

After building a reputation for being controversial and pushing the envelope once in a while, it's surprising to see that Madonna decided to let the aesthetic of this video be guided by a mainstream, All-American sporting event. But then again, she's a savvy businesswoman and with the eyes of all of America on her half-time performance this Sunday, it only makes sense to fully leverage that opportunity to promote this new single.

Mixing up Stefani's "Hollback Girl," with Toni Basil's "Mickey" and Solveig's "Hello," "Give Me All Your Luvin'" may not be a giant artistic leap forward for Madonna, but this new musical baby is hella fresh, radio-ready and has a global appeal that helps usher in an exciting new phase in the icon's ever-evolving, unstoppable career. 

The Daily Crunch: Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Ricky Martin, Azealia Banks, Lana Del Rey, GRAMMYs, Skrillex, Kelly Clarkson

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