Today in New Madonna and M.I.A. Music Videos

by Blanca Mendez

Not only is Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Luvin’” a drab song, the video is essentially saying “now you don’t have to watch the Super Bowl.” And if you plan to tune in for the halftime show to maybe catch a glimpse of the ghosts of Madonnas past, they’re here, too: Madge crowdsurfs a team of football players, recalling “Material Girl,” and her top-notch backup singers’/cheerleaders’ lacy ensembles harken back to “Like a Virgin.” It’s too bad M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj are stuck with minor supporting roles, because they only have time to drop the obligatory “Roman” and “swag,” and their verses fall flat. The fact that Nicki’s rocking an Adidas bustier alone calls for a verse longer than five seconds.

The best thing about this video is how checked out M.I.A. looks — she’s like a kid who got dragged into the school play because her aunt was directing. “Fine. But I won’t like it.” And just to make it clear, she ends her verse with “I don’t give a shit.”

Also out today is M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls” video, directed by Romain Gavras (who also directed her controversial “Born Free” video), and the reworked single from last year’s Vicki Leekx gets super-stylish and badass-cinematic in the desert. Car stunts! Shiny suits! Sandal skidding! (Is there a proper term for this?) I also love how M.I.A.’s just chillin’ atop a tilted car, filing her nails like NBD.

Blanca Méndez loves that song!