MTV Buzzworthy Blog › Sam Sparro

A few months back, we were all aflutter over the emergence of Wonky Pop, a loose group of artists who were trying to infuse their electro-pop with some romance and dance moves. The chief proponents of the genre? Sam Sparro, New Young Pony Club, Little Boots and Dan Black.

Black made a lot of waves with his track "Symphonies," which earned him a 2010 MTV VMA nomination. And now he's back with "Alone," the new single from his delightful 2009 album, UN.

Directed by Chic & Artistic (how's that for a directorial duo's name!), "Alone" features a bunch of charmingly lo-fi animation and effects, throwing different backgrounds behind Brown, having him perform as a cartoon (à la A-Ha's "Take On Me" video), and generally sprucing things up.

All of which should not distract from the fact that "Alone," along with Robyn's "Dancing On My Own," is one of the most infectious dance-pop singles of the year.

Check out Dan Black's "Alone" video below. UN is out now.

Tags Dan Black, Little Boots, New Young Pony Club, Robyn, Sam Sparro, video

(Credit: Michele Crowe/MTV)

According to the BBC, Dan Black makes something called "Wonky Pop." What's Wonky Pop? Think of it as genre-bending, dance-friendly electro-pop—much like the music of Little Boots, La Roux, Sam Sparro and New Young Pony Club—that happens to be currently emanated from similarly themed club nights in London.

As for Black, this particular British singer/producer has recently been making a big noise outside of the Wonky Pop scene with his song "Symphonies," which combines the always fun ingredients of hip-hop drums and classical strings.

With all this hype, we had to find out more about this enigmatic new artist. In this episode of "The 5," Black talks about his adopted hometown of Paris and the attitudinal similarities between Parisians and New Yorkers. He also muses on the role computers play in the way he shapes, creates and records his music, recalls an amazing trip to Senegal and waxes nostalgic about his time in dysfunctional bands.

Check out Dan Black's episode of "The 5."

+ Click here to see all of MTV's exclusive Dan Black photos

Tags Dan Black, Kid Cudi, La Roux, Little Boots, New Young Pony Club, Sam Sparro, The 5, video

With more buzz than a hornets' nest, The Ting Tings had the music blog-uh-sphere in the palm of their little British hands in the first half of 2008. Then they dropped their "Shut Up And Let Me Go" video and we were basically eating out of those same hands, which opened up to reveal one of the most visually mesmerizing videos since a-ha's legendary "Take On Me."

Directed by British duo Alex and Liane (Bloc Party's "Banquet" and Sam Sparro's "Black and Gold" -- an absolute Buzzworthy fave) in just one day (!!!), "Shut Up And Let Me Go" is a hypnotic tunnel of Kill Bill-reminiscent kung fu, moving walls, wry transitions, more hand signs than exercise hour at a prison yard, more depth than an empty swimming pool, and more dimension than a box of 3D glasses. Plus, the tension, energy, and dynamism of the video takes the whole "trapped-in-a-crappy-relationship" theme to new levels... You reading this, Audrina?

"Shut Up And Let Me Go" was nominated for Video of the Year at the 2008 VMAs but got trounced by Britney. It did, however, win Best UK Video, and, far more importantly, the esteemed honor of my very favorite video of 2008!

This is my VERY last post of 2008, so go have yourself a safe, happy new year, and go watch Miley!

+ Runner-up: No Age's visually arresting "Eraser" video
+ Pop Cultured's No. 1 Video: Madonna's "4 Minutes"
+ My No. 2 Video: Jonas Brothers, "Lovebug"
+ Pop Cultured’s No. 2 Video: Flo Rida, “Low”
+ My No. 3 Video: Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights”
+ Pop Cultured's No. 3 Video: Rihanna, "Rehab"
+ MTV’s Best of 2008

Tags Alex and Liane, No Age, Sam Sparro, The Ting Tings

Let's get a few things out of the way real quick: if I said I was overly familiar with Aussie electro-funk artist Sam Sparro before last night's episode of Dancing With the Stars, I'd be lying. Second, my mama didn't raise no liar. Third thing: Yes, I realize I'm expressly uncool for watching DWTS or using abbreviations thereof. Addendum/ fourth thing: I don't care, and I already came out of the closet with my love for Dancing With the Stars last week, so let's move on.

Sam Sparro's "Black and Gold" video -- off his self-titled album (yes, it's been out in the States since June 2008 and abroad since Spring) makes me want to rent the glassed-in penthouse of The Hotel on Rivington, climb into a hot tub filled with real pearls and Veuve Cliquot with Sam Sparro, Gabe Saporta (Sam Sparro + Gabe = possibly separated a birth? Mmm... Gabe Saporta), Mark Ronson, and Robin Thicke... and watch Dancing With the Stars until one of us passes out from heat stroke.

Tags Buzzworthy Obsession, Dancing With the Stars, Gabe Saporta, Mark Ronson, Robin Thicke, Sam Sparro, video