10. Beck – “Wow”
There’s no such thing as a dull Beck music video. Enigmatic and eccentric in all the best ways, and typically extraordinary, the versatile, mononymous musician is always in a league of his very own, and that can often be said about his enticingly absurd visual accompaniments. That includes “Wow,” his latest, which isn’t necessarily his greatest, but there’s very, very few occasions where a new Beck video would be unwelcome. He’s one of those rare artists who seems to challenge himself to different, if not necessarily greater heights with each new project. “Wow,” which the artist co-directed with Grady Hall, displays that grand attention to glorious weirdness that comes so easily to him. In fact, it’s more evident than ever that being bizarre simply comes naturally to him, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. This gorgeously picturesque video is another shining display of Beck’s unique tranquility, and we won’t have long to wait for more, as his recently teased new album gets released later this year.
9. The Avalanches – “Because I’m Me”
Young love is usually endearing and wickedly charming, especially on the screen. It sees no boundaries and it’s entirely innocent in its open-hearted affections. It’s also not prone to logic, which is what can make it such a buoyant cinematic display, like it is in The Avalanches’ compassionate, infectiously delightful “Because I’m Me.” Like a chip off “The Get Down”’s block, this ‘70s-era period video, directed by Greg Brunkalla, is richly realized and deceptively simple, which is what adds to its fabulously warm-hearted nature. Easily likable, in fact completely adorable in its earnestly gooey plea, it leaves your heart singing.
8. Bonobo – “Kerala”
Bonobo’s deceptive, minutely detailed “Kerala” music video is one that demands your utmost attention. Centered around a frantically unhinged Gemma Arterton, this attentively edited, instantly unsettling production is frustrating at first, due to its frantic cuts and perpetual repetition, but once you find yourself taken by its loopy grooves, you — the viewer and listener — quickly become uncomfortable, disturbed and completely invigorated in all the right ways. As a captivating depiction of paranoia and hysteria, director Bison’s unconventional, unwavering music video knows how to absorb your attention and leave you thirsty for more. Multiple viewings are not enough to catch every detail. Convulsive, confounding and completely crazy, it’s kooky and creepy enough to keep you on edge.
7. DJ Shadow feat. Run the Jewels – “Nobody Speak”
Between Brexit, President-elect Trump and the imploding world-at-large, most political satire became tame in comparison in 2016. After all, how do you get more surreal than what’s transpiring in the news? That’s what makes DJ Shadow and Run the Jewels’ rambunctiously silly “Nobody Speak” so fantastically fun: they broke the code. They got more loud, extreme and subversive than anything said by the future Cheeto-colored Commander-in-Chief, and THAT’s an accomplishment! Maddening, richly inspired and beautifully shot in its one-location decadence, this “Dr. Strangelove”-esque farce is not merely exceedingly NSFW in its lyrical content (wear headphones, at least); it’s also boisterous, gleefully irreverent and delightfully nonsensical in its video form. Directed by Sam Pilling, it did the near-impossible last year: it made us laugh at politics again. Now, that’s quite a feat.
6. Michael Kiwanuka – “Black Man In A White World”
Stunning and simple, just to put it mildly, Michael Kiwanuka’s foot-tapping, soul-crushing “Black Man In A White World” is a haunting melody build on aching empathy and endless moral contemplation, which is made all the more powerful, poignant and beautifully bittersweet with its astoundingly tender, emotionally spellbinding music video. Shot entirely in black and white, while featuring some of the best cinematography of the year, it’s as absorbing and immersive as it’s fragile and introspective. The kind of music video that knows how to take your breath away and keep it firmly under its grasp until well after it’s over, Kiwanuka’s ingenuously straightforward single is given the equally memorizing music video it rightfully deserves. Don’t expect to return to earth soon afterwards.
5. Radiohead – “Burn the Witch”
Radiohead never disappoints in the music video department. A Moon Shaped Pool the band’s first studio album in four long years, came with lofty expectations — almost all of which were exceeded when it was released mid-2016. But hungry listeners knew they’d wind up in good hands already, with the debut of “Burn the Witch,” the first track and first music video the group released from the album, which is possibly among their most vivid, contextualized compositions to date. Accompanied by a piercing orchestra and their well-plucked stringed instruments, Radiohead’s unsettling, unnerving and, quite appropriately bewitching opening single is made all the more fabulously eerie with its inspired accompanying music video. Paying homage to both 1973’s “The Wicker Man” and BBC’s short-lived claymation series “Trumpton,” director Chris Hopewell’s delectably bone-tingling latest is yet another example of Radiohead at their absolute best.
4. Jamie xx – “Gosh”
In terms of sheer scale, Jamie xx’s “Gosh” is a mammoth among mortals. The kind of music video that rivals (and, arguably, quite handedly beats) the size, scope and grandeur of some of our biggest blockbusters, writer/director Romain Gavras’ stunning, singular feat is a jaw-dropping, heart-pounding, goosebump-raising visual accomplishment that demands to be seen in its full glory, by any means necessary — and, if possible, on the largest screen available. Reminiscent of Gaspar Noe’s “Enter the Void” and Terry Gilliam’s “Brazil,” to name a few inspirations, it’s an optimal extravaganza in the tallest order — and to know that it was created with no added CGI or 3D effects, according to Gavras, makes it a sensational triumph for the eye that can’t be celebrated enough. Dexterous, expansive and utterly captivating from frame one until the very last, it’s not merely one of the best music videos of 2016; it’s one of the greatest cinematic achievements in years.
3. Radiohead – “Daydreaming”
Radiohead and Paul Thomas Anderson go together like milk and honey. Guitarist Jonny Greenwood’s incredible scores for “There Will Be Blood,” “The Master” and “Inherent Vice” were all among the very best of this past decade, and their swelling, ingenious working relationship paved the way for Radiohead’s wonderfully contemplative, profoundly-layered “Daydreaming” music video, which might possibly be among the acclaimed band’s most revealing, open-hearted work thus far. Filled with textured symbolism and deep-seated lyricism, both visually and melodically, this wonderfully-envisioned production is the type only artists truly in sync with each other could create. Brilliant in its expressive design and engulfing in its metaphoric meticulousness, it’s undoubtedly the creation of two of our greatest modern collaborators working in pitch-perfect harmony beside one another. To consider it a dream come true would ultimately sell it short; this collaboration feels like fate.
2. David Bowie – “Lazarus”
A troubled lullaby laced in forlorn, melancholy and remembrance, David Bowie’s aching gorgeous “Lazarus” is meant to explain the unexplainable, accept what has not come and surrender what has not been given. It’s a portrait of contempt and sorrow, love and heartache, forgiveness and demise. Director Johan Renck’s music video, released a mere three days before Bowie’s death, bears chilling similarities to Johnny Cash’s “Hurt,” his own mournful farewell in video form, and that’s likely not unintentional. Surreal and simple, it explains so much of Bowie’s endlessly tortured mental/physical psyche, yet it leaves him an unsolvable enigma, an incurable oddity, without forcing any easy answers in the process. Bowie is — and will always remain — one of our finest original artists, and that’s painted wondrously, emotionally, sorely, tenderly, and quite beautifully in this yearning adieu.
1. Beyonce – “Lemonade”
Whether it’s your personal favorite music vido of the year or not, Beyonce’s undeniably brilliant 65-minute visual album “Lemonade” has to sit high on any list of 2016 Music videos, if only for how thoroughly it reimagines the form, and how it singlehandedly made music videos part of the cultural conversaion once more. An important, empowering piece of work Beyonce’s gargantuan, all-encompassing video has the kind of raw, emotional impact that’s going to define the musician’s legacy for some time — although, it’s not as if that was ever in question. Her stunning, deeply inspired accomplishment is evocative and richly influenced by the indie filmmaking stylings of Terrence Malick, David Lynch, Cameron Jamie, Jonas Mekas and Terence Nance, to name a few (it was a collaborative efort between Beyonce herself and creatives Kahlil Joseph, Melina Matsoukas, Dikayl Rimmasch, Todd Tourso, Jonas Akerlund, Mark Romanek and Warsan Shire) yet Beyonce’s HBO-aired film/promo hybrid is a beast all its own, thanks largely due to the central musician’s astounding ferocity and heart-pounding (and heartbreaking) commitment towards opening herself up wholly and completely onto the screen. It’s the kind of filmmaking dexterity and unshakable cultural phenomenon that will, in future times, define the year 2016.
Note: the video below is simply one part of “Lemonade.” It can be found in its entirely on HBO Go.
Honorable Mention
There were more than a few other contenders that were considered for this list, but they ultimately didn’t make the cut. Those include PUP’s heartfelt, deeply emotional “Sleep in the Heat,” which should hit home for anyone who ever called themselves an animal lover, as well as Mitski’s heart-aching, richly sparse “Your Best American Girl,” and Baauer’s commanding, sternly impacting “Day Ones,” featuring Novelist & Leikeli47 and directed by “Atlanta” helmer Hiro Murai.
Also considered were Rostam’s “Gravity Don’t Pull Me” and Grimes’ bubbly, bizarre “Kill v Maim,” which plays like a kinky mix of “Speed Racer,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” “Mad Max,” “Akira” and, uh, “Law & Order,” to name a handful. Additionally, there were almost certainly a ton that we missed along the way. If we did, then we apologize. We can’t catch them all.
Also, while it’s not typically a music video, we felt we should celebrate Spike Jonze’s entirely fun KENZO World perfume ad, which plays like a spiritual sequel to the filmmaker’s iconic “Weapon of Choice” video. If it were eligible, you could beat your bottom dollar that it would be found on this list.
What were the music videos that inspired you this year? What should be put a more careful eye on for the new year? Let us know your own musical preferences in the regular spot in the comment section.