'Book of Mormon' Party Bus Performance of the Day: VIDEO

Tim Koll, Sam Leicht, Leland Raymond, Damian Wille, and Logan Lang make a van ride Mormon-tastic.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via boy culture)

Vampire Weekend's Latest, 'Ya Hey': Video

Vampire Weekend dropped the lyric video for their latest single, "Ya Hey" yesterday.

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously...
Towleroad Interview: Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij [tlrd]

Graphic, Violent Music Video Depicting Bullied Student's Crucifixion Stirs Controversy: VIDEO

A new music video by gay Quebecois director Xavier Dolan for the popular French rock band Indochine features the crucifixion and graphic shooting of a bullied student at a Catholic school. In the clip, a bullied teenage boy is taunted in the hallways of the school before being pursued, thrown down stairs, kicked and pissed on, then nailed to a cross and shot several times by his classmates while others shoot the scene on their mobile phones.

It is being censored in Canada and France.

The video has been banned during daytime viewing hours in France, The Local reports:

Dolan reacted angrily to the prospect of the video being banned during daytime hours on music channels in France.

“That really bothers me. On these kind of channels you see situations that are racist, violent and degrading – particularly to women. “So it seems absurd to me that this video should be censored," he added.

While French regulators may be shocked by the video, Dolan and Indochine have received significant support from French users of social networks.

Radio and TV host Emilie Mazoyer summed up the view of many Twitter users, saying: "Some people find Indochine's music video 'violent.' Yes, it does turn your stomach for six minutes. But bullied students go through that 300 days a year. Imagine that."

Canada's MusiquePlus will not play the clip.

Watch (warning: graphic), AFTER THE JUMP...

Janelle Monáe and Erykah Badu Q.U.E.E.N. Out: VIDEO

Janelle Monáe and Erykah Badu turn it out in "Q.U.E.E.N.", the lead single from Monáe's upcoming sophomore album The Electric Lady.

"Welcome to the living museum where legendary rebels throughout history have been frozen in suspended animation."

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...

Pet Shop Boys Unleash 'Axis', Opening Track of New Album: VIDEO

The Pet Shop Boys today released the first video clip off their upcoming, highly-anticipated album produced by Stuart Price.

Watch the banging track "Axis", AFTER THE JUMP...

Along with some more news:

Pet Shop Boys new album, "Electric", will now be released worldwide on July 15th (international dates vary) and is the first to appear on their own label x2 through Kobalt Label Services. Produced by Stuart Price, "Electric" features nine tracks in total – eight brand new songs plus a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s "The last to die" - and has a running length of 50 minutes. The British singer and rapper, Example, performs on one track, "Thursday". The album was recorded in London, Berlin and Los Angeles over the last six months with one track, "Fluorescent", written and recorded within the last month. Neil and Chris comment: “Our latest album often evolves as a response to our previous album and, whereas ‘Elysium’ had a reflective mood, ‘Electric’ is pretty banging! And working with Stuart Price on a studio album is something we have wanted to do for a very long time." The artwork is by Farrow.

Watch "Axis", AFTER THE JUMP...

Mika's Video for 'Popular' is Here: WATCH

Ariana Grande and Mika plot to rid a school of its bullies in "Popular Song", which is a remake of "Popular" from the Broadway show Wicked. Some of the lyrics have been rewritten.

Arjan writes:

"Popular Song" is partly based on "Popular" from the musical Wicked that Mika skillfully incorporated into his own version. In a making-of series on YouTube, Mika explains that the song's original composer Stephen Schwartz came to his studio one day and listened to his second album. "Even though we never wrote together, I sent him an email after meeting to ask if I could play with ['Popular'] a little to change up its meaning," he explains. "I respect him as a songwriter and wanted to make sure he was okay with it."

The song's lyrics describe in not-so subtle terms what it was like for Mika to turn from a misfit into the most popular kid of the class - so to say. "I never was a scholar/You were always popular/You were singing all the songs I don’t know/Now you’re in the front row/Cause my song is popular." It's an important message about the profound effects of bullying that now comes with a playful yet meaningful new video that raises awareness about this issue we should all deeply care about.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...