10/24/2011
10/23/2011
Beyonce Flaunts Baby Bump In 'Countdown' Video
New clip, released Thursday (October 6), references iconic dance films.
By John Mitchell
Beyonce in her video for "Countdown"
Photo: Columbia
Beyoncé has an affinity for recalling the past in her videos — from the "Mexican Breakfast" Bob Fosse/Gwen Verdon routine that inspired the "Single Ladies" video to her tortured '50s homemaker character in "Why Don't You Love Me" — and her latest clip for the horn-heavy "Countdown" jam is no exception.
The video is a feast for the eyes, with Beyoncé taking on a variety of iconic looks. Her makeup when the video opens recalls the mod styling of Twiggy, but soon enough, she segues into full-on Audrey Hepburn mode, taking both her look and dance cues from the 1957 film "Funny Face."
From there, we see the pop star in a variety of bold, brightly colored bathing suits and a black-and-white hat, set against a constantly changing background of vivid colors. It's an iconic image that brings to mind the classic Vogue photo shoots of yesteryear.
Find out what the "Countdown" director had to say about B's video shoot!
The pregnant diva's baby bump is less visible in the bathing suit scenes but is featured prominently earlier in the clip and is rubbed lovingly later in a scene that features 10 different incarnations of Beyoncé in a loft space. The visibility of Beyoncé's pregnancy varies throughout the video, indicating she likely shot a great deal of the footage for "Countdown" earlier in her pregnancy and more recently re-shot or re-conceptualized the clip to reflect her growing belly.
Viewers also see that even pregnancy can't stop Beyoncé from dancing. The clip cuts quickly from the bathing suit sequence to shots of the star in an audition space straight out of the film "Fame." The sequence features the kind of seamlessly choreographed moves that Beyoncé is famous for — moves that would be at home in an early-'80s dance film or onstage in 2011.
It's a perfect mix of classic and modern, which seems to be what Beyoncé is aiming for in this era of her career. It's a feeling reflected in the smooth, '90s vibe and reliance on live instruments that sets her album 4 apart from her previous work as well as other artists on the charts right now.
Breaking Down "Countdown," Look By Look
The "Countdown" clip is loaded with other references as well, including a wink to "West Side Story" as dancers snap in unison and a nod to Bridget Bardot when the video cuts to and from shots of Beyoncé in a men's dress shirt with her hair styled up with a scarf.
Check out what we spotted, and let us know what we missed!
She also briefly references her film "Dreamgirls" — or, more likely, that film's inspiration: Diana Ross — during a few brief scenes in which she rocks a short, sparkly dress and bob hairstyle.
The clip then sequences from "Fame" to "Flashdance," with Beyoncé and her dancers in another open warehouse-like space sporting the iconic off-the-shoulder look from the 1983 drama starring Jennifer Beals.
The video ends with the superstar in a chair, grooving to her uptempo track. Throughout the clip, which bubbles with excitement, she is all smiles, perhaps reflecting her joy at beginning a new phase in her life.
Share your thoughts on the "Countdown" video in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsJustin Bieber Treats Selena Gomez To Private 'Real Steel' Screening
Just a month after Staples Center date night, Bieber rents out a Winnipeg movie theater.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (file)
Photo: FilmMagic
Remember that Titanic-size date Justin Bieber took Selena Gomez on? The one he likely dropped about $500,000 on? Well, weeks after renting out Staples Center so he and Gomez could view "Titanic" in private, Bieber is back to his old tricks.
The Winnipeg Free Press reports that the couple headed to the SilverCity Polo Park Cinemas in Winnipeg, where they enjoyed a private screening of the Hugh Jackman-starring robot-boxing flick "Real Steel." The newspaper reports that the duo rented out one of the theaters and enjoyed pizza. OK, so it's not on the scale of steak dinners at a place that seats 20,000 people and is home to the L.A. Lakers, but the pair still got to chill out without being bothered.
A rep for the theater could not confirm or deny the report when MTV News called for further comment on the headline-making date night.
When Bieber brought his brand-new "Mistletoe" video to MTV News this week, he revealed some film plans of his own. "Hopefully next summer I can start on a movie or something," he told us of his future plans, adding that his team is already "working on the script."
Bieber is home in Canada now after wrapping up his My World Tour, and Gomez is currently on tour in the Great White North. She has a show in the area Friday night, and judging by her Twitter feed, she can't wait for it. "I had a great day here in Winnipeg. I can't wait to see y'all tomorrow!!" she tweeted Thursday night.
Bieber, meanwhile, is enjoying the rest and relaxation. He tweeted, "Feels good to be back in #CANADA - missed home." Despite the downtime, he's still expected to release a new track, "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," featuring Usher, from his November 1 holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, on Tuesday.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsMariah Carey and Nick Cannon Introduce Twins to the World
Mariah Carey may soon release a duet with Justin Bieber, but she made news this week for hanging with even younger, more adorable children.
The singer and husband Nick Cannon showed off six-month-old twins Moroccan and Monroe to the world!
"It's just love," Carey told Barbara Walters in an interview with her family and about her family. "It's a beautiful place to be."
The couple is unlikely to have more kids, Carey said, due to her difficult pregnancy. But she could not be happy with the new little men in her life - or with the big one, Cannon. Following a failed marriage to Tommy Mottola in 1998, it took awhile for the artist to be ready to truly fall for anyone else.
"Initially I was afraid of the concept of marriage [again]," Mariah said. "But this is a different situation and a different time in my life... No one will steal my spirit."
Victoria Pratt Victoria Silvstedt Vinessa Shaw Virginie Ledoyen
