The much anticipated video for Demi Lovato's Neon Lights dropped today, unveiling a TRON-like visual.
I generally stand by my previous review of the track, that its lacking in euphoria and originality, but its not a bad song by most measures. The visuals for the video itself are a bit too jittery, there are too many camera splices, shifting between 47 different scenes in 2.83 seconds. The still scenes themselves are a bit harsh, dark scenes combined with bright lights and a bombardment of neon colors (of course). It all combines to be a bit of a migraine to watch, and the occasional epileptic seizure.
I do also have some criticism on the part of Hollywood Records. The video feels manufactured on the directive aspect, as a "lets push the envelope move," with scantly covered dancers and Demi flowing naked through the water; it comes across as a desperate move to have the single perform well.
I do however, give some praise to Hollywood Records and Demi for at least promoting the track and its video, after Made In The USA underperformed, after okay/lackluster promotion. Demi has been making more television appearances promoting the track (with some of her stronger vocals of 2013) and tweeting to make sure no one misses the video.
My last bit of praise and commentary, is that Demi herself still manages to make the video interesting and somehow classy. Although I was starting to get a headache from the visual war, Demi came across as sexy and confident, and didn't make her nudity come across as "LOOK AT ME I'M NAKED NOW TWEET ABOUT IT" (though the concept itself may have come across as pushy). That's the working of a true artist at their core, the ability to remain confident in every situation.
Overall: B-