I’ve heard people say that not many good music videos were
released this year. I disagree enthusiastically.
Sadly, without a proper medium for showcasing music videos (RIP MTV, VH1,
etc.), people probably have not seen a lot of these videos. Even more
sadly, I’ve looked at some other top music video lists for 2013 and I think
that there are a lot of great videos missing from the line-ups.
Since I watch a lot of music videos, I’ve put together a
list of my own. Surely it’s somewhat subjective, but I can confidently
say that this is a pretty damn
good list. If you love music videos, you’ll appreciate this.
And even if you don’t usually care about music videos and/or if you did not
have a chance to watch many music videos this year, here’s everything you need
to see from this year: some fantastic marriages of striking visuals with great
songs.
Sorry, I love Katy Perry but her vids did NOT make me
ROAR this year. #KittyPurry
No Gaga here (but I can’t help but enjoy those hampsters
dancing to “Applause” in that KIA commercial).
Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” is essentially a cheesy,
soft-core porno fashion photo shoot. Of course I like a good boob shot,
but I find the video to be boring.
It should be noted that I’m an unapologetic fan of Kanye’s
35-minute “Runaway” multi-vid/short film, but I did not see anything visually
interesting from him this year (especially after being bested by Rogen and
Franco).
I don’t think they’ve launched all of the new Beyonce videos yet, but I have not been very impressed with what I’ve seen so far.
** I should mention that her sister Solange Knowles’ tune “Lovers in a Parking Lot” has a pretty awesome video that’s probably better than
I really like Aloe Blacc BUT I really don’t care for that
ridiculous Avicii
The new David Bowie videos have good art direction and
casting, but I would never want to watch them again…like…for enjoyment.
Arcade Fire’s new videos are FUN…but I just could not find a
place for them on this list.
The Killers’ “Shot At The Night” is a cute story of a hotel
maid that
Bob Dylan’s interactive “Like a Rolling Stone” video is too
gimmicky
And now, without further adieu, I give you THE TOP 30 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2013 !!!
ENJOY:
1) Imagine Dragons “On Top of the World”
Beyond the fact that every element - from wardrobe and art
direction to cinematography and lighting - are all EXCEPTIONAL, having some fun
with vintage pop culture, specifically referencing the films of Stanley Kubrick
(see: carpet pattern from The Shining), showing Kubrick directing the
moon landing (a popular conspiracy theory) was one of the most genius things
I’ve ever seen!!
#Nixon #CosmonautsWithMonkey
2) Lorde “Team”
Sure, “Royals” was the hit but this tune also rocks, and the
video, directed by Young Replicant, is magical; illustrating the wars we’re
forced to fight against foreign foes that might not be all that different from
ourselves.
3) Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Sacrilege”
Lots of music videos have used a reverse narrative in
interesting ways - typically playing all the action backwards (most notably
Coldplay’s “The Scientist”) - but what’s really unique here is that we see
snippets of the story going forward >> but with each edit
>> we actually go back in time to reveal a redhead (a fire crotch
- literally & figuratively – played by Lily Cole) that slept with the
whole town and subsequently undermined their Faith.
4) The Lumineers “Stubborn Love”
This little girl is pricelessly adorable and the video
really captures a hopeful spirit emerging from the depths of sadness.
Also, I especially love the SHORT (yet perfect) cameo from the band, that
somehow naturally fits into the world of the story.
5) Tegan and Sarah “Closer”
As I’ve always said, the future of music belongs to
biological twin lesbians. On this sexy jam, the dynamic duo manages to
deliver bubble gum pop in a way that still feels authentic. The circular
dolly-track shots (moving around the bed) edit together flawlessly and give the
video such a fun energy. Making the lighting really animated during the
performance shots was a really great choice.
6) Birday Nam Nam "Defiant Order"
This is just BEAUTIFUL! The (Russian?) motorcyclists
flow like cool warriors, catching the attention and imagination of young
(Ukrainian?) gals longing for love: sparking a mating ritual that beams with
defiant energy.
7) Just Blaze & Baauer feat. Jay-Z “Higher”
This is an incredibly engaging tale of children FIGHTING to
survive and become MEN (without proper father figures/role models), with
incredibly natural performances directed by Nabil and brilliant cinematography
from Chayse Irvin.
8) James Blake “Retrograde”
The intense-yet-subtle aesthetic of this video really
showcases both the sexy-and-sad vibe of the song PERFECTLY. #VisualPoetry
9) Mumford and Sons “Hopeless Wanderer”
The replacement of the band members with A-list comedic
actors was a bold move that could have resulted in parody, but I love that this
video somehow manages to be utterly hilarious without sacrificing heart and
still captures the earnestness of the song.
10) Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Despair”
Director Patrick Daughters (who’s also done several other
videos for the band) takes Karen O from the end of a lonely night at a dive bar
to a sunrise reunification with her band atop the Empire State Building .
SIDE NOTE: I love hearing the audio of the wind blowing throw her hair @1:43
(which I bet was added in Post because they probably weren’t rolling sound
on-the-day). AND…I love any video that ends with helicopter shots!!!
11) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “Can’t Hold Us Feat. Ray
Dalton”
Their video for “Same Love” (2012) is an incredibly touching love story about a same sex relationship. This video has a bit of a muddier story, essentially about Macklemore accepting a flag (from a
Their video for “Same Love” (2012) is an incredibly touching love story about a same sex relationship. This video has a bit of a muddier story, essentially about Macklemore accepting a flag (from a
12) Justin Timberlake “Mirrors”
The David Fincher-directed “Suit and Tie” video is fun, but
this video, directed by Floria Sigismondi (see her film The Runaways – even
Kristen Stewart is good in it), has a lot more substance to it. I’m a
sucker for love stories involving old people (and this video is dedicated to
JT’s maternal grandparents). The reflection shots are really well
done. I like how they essentially turn the last few minutes into a whole
other video, in-lieu of cutting JT’s performance shots in with the rest of the
story: a bold editing move, but I think it works marvelously.
13) Passion Pit “Carried Away”
This one takes some focus to watch (especially with
W-O-R-D-S that you’re supposed to read appearing on-screen), but it’s worth
it! The singer of the band has great chemistry with an
endearing-yet-complicated Sophia Bush.
14) John Legend “All of Me”
Another one directed by Nabil, this video really captures a
potent (and real) love connection in an intimate and private way. The
ending appears to be footage from their actual wedding.
15) Daft Punk “Lose Yourself to Dance”
This was probably the best album of the year and this is the
video that I think showcased one of the songs the best. Their now-iconic
performance outfits are showcased amazingly with the circular flow. It’s
essentially PTA’s Boogie Nights on a Gravitron (carnie movie nerds will get those
references). GET INTO EEEEET!!!
16) Disclosure “White Noise feat. Aluna George”
“When A Fire Starts to Burn” is certainly a bangin’
song/video, but as someone born near Detroit
17) The Naked and the Famous “I Kill Giants”
Two young girls dancing in front of an apathetic church congregation
seems like a really difficult concept to pull off in an interesting and poetic
manner, but they really knocked it out of the park! The slow-motion shots
and reverse action moments are massaged perfectly with amazing editing.
18) Passion
Pit “Cry Like a Ghost”
Directed by
legendary duo The Daniels, they give us some of their INFAMOUS tricks, but keep
it subtle and have some fun with the grooviness of the editing, as we watch a
young lady move through several romantic relationships that take their toll on
her.
19) Sky
Ferreira “Everything is Embarrassing”
One of the
sexiest songs EVER, with a pretty decent video companion piece, delicately
capturing the hard lines and patterns that make black-and-white visuals a
powerful (and appropriate) aesthetic choice.
20) The
Airborne Toxic Event “Timeless”
No one
seems to know any of this band’s songs besides “Sometime Around Midnight”, but
they have a fantastic catalog, so check out a song you may have missed this
year. In this video, the imagery of the business men feels like moving
portraits of nameless workers struggling to keep things orderly and chase the
almighty dollar, but still longing for some deeper purpose.
21) Rihanna
“Stay ft. Mikky Ekko”
Rihanna in
a bathtub. Game over. End of story.
22) Miley
Cyrus “Wrecking Ball”
Partial
nudity. Big tongue. Pervert director. Busting concrete
apart. What could go wrong?!? (Sorry folks, this one is really
unique and important and just has to be on the list.)
23) Local
Natives “You and I”
A man
investigating a rapidly declining dog population seems like such a difficult
concept to pull off, but they managed to make this really special. As with all music videos, it helps
that the song is really great!
24)
Pharrell Williams “Happy”
The 24-hour
version feels like too much of a gimmick to me, but the catchiness of the song
is so FUN that you simply can’t help but enjoy watching ANYONE dance to
it! Wisely, they assembled
a wide range of characters – from celebrities, to improv comedians like Gian
Molina, to random people on the street – and the upbeat energy of it is just
undeniable.
25)
Patterns “Sunny Days”
This video
is so incredibly weird, so
wrong that it’s right: taking us inside the odd-yet-lush fantasies of a
muscle-bound jock. SIDE NOTE: @3:18 the bronzed beauties are screwing
doggy-style (in the background). #PumpItUp
26) Postal
Service “A Tattered Line of String”
It sounds
like this tune was a leftover from their old (and only?) album (which I loved).
This video, starring artist/skateboarder/actor Danny Minnick, is a blast and
uses some really clever cinematography.
27) Kings of Leon
After years
of making crappy videos for great songs, KOL finally made a video that I
like. Cowboys. Horses. Love story. Tragedy.
28) MGMT
“Cool Song No. 2”
This video
is soooooo fucking odd and gross at times, but somehow finds a beauty even in
the disgustingness. What is
it about? A gay guy caring
for his partner who has a disease that’s slowly turning him into a
plant?!? Maybe, I don’t
know; but there’s certainly something brilliant about it!
29) Cat
Power “Manhattan
The song
just sort of meanders around aimlessly…and so does the video, but if you heart
NYC, you’re probably willing to go along for the ride with this love letter to
The Big Apple.
30)
Dam-Funk and Snoopzilla “Faden Away”
This video
relishes in the goofiest clichés of the 90s, and gets away with it by
worshiping the soulfulness of R&B and FUNK.
