The 20 best music videos of 2016

Whilst they might not attract the same attention as the best album covers or adorn the screens of MTV that much any more, music videos are still as inspiring and creative as ever. Mixing 3D and 2D animation, commenting on virtual reality and producing some of the most gorgeous cinematography around, music videos prove that inspiration can stem from just about anywhere. We picked our favourites from the past twelve months, including big pop stars and lesser-known acts.

01. OK Go – The One Moment

OK Go are known for their stand-out music videos, creating innovative ways in which to challenge the norm. Over the years, the band have trained dogs, driven race cars and performed a dance routine on treadmills. This year’s ‘The One Moment’ saw the group turn one moment (which lasted 4.2 seconds) into something that could last for an entire song – and stay in time. You have to see it to believe it.

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02. Beyonce – Lemonade Series

Okay, so this is a series of videos but there’s no way that just one could be picked for the list. Premiering on HBO in April, this 60 minute visual project accompanied Beyonce’s latest album ‘Lemonade’. Through gorgeous cinematography and the use of prose and poetry, it’s a seamless, unforgettable project.

03. Michael Nau – Love Survive

A soothing track accompanies this simple but beautifully illustrated music video. Animated and directed by Parallel Teeth – aka Robert Wallace – who works and lives in East London. He describes his style as “poppy live action, hypnotic 2D animation, puppetry, and colourful illustration."

04. Massive Attack - Voodoo Blood

Massive Attack are always on-hand to provide intriguing visual accompianments to their releases. ‘Voodoo Blood’ stars Hollywood actress Rosamund Pike and was actually inspired by ‘Possession’ – a horror film banned in the UK until 1999. The nostalgic colour schemes teamed with the futuristic animation provide a wealth of inspiration.

05. zZz – Deadend

This interactive video encourages viewers to participate by drawing as it plays. Designed by San Francisco design studio Moniker along with Studio Puckey, it enables you to decide whether to follow the intstrcutions of a strict employer or not.

06. Radiohead – Burn the Witch

Radiohead released their much-anticipated new album this year, kicking off proceedings with a stop-motion video for single first single ‘Burn the Witch’. Animator Virpi Kettu has previously stated that the band wanted the video to depict Europe’s refugee crisis. The puppets were created by Bristol-based studio Jacknife.

07. The Avalanches – Subways

Inspired by the New York subway in the 70s, illustrators Mrzyk & Moriceau reimagined the journey into a surreal yet hilarious vision. The team took influence from Sesame Street style animation, 70s downtown NYC grit, The Last Days of Disco and The Warriors. They also listened to the whole album whilst coming up with their character designs

08. Mai Lan – Technique

Impressive choreography is the focal point of their bizarre but wholly creative music video for Mai Lan’s ‘Technique’. Writing in a statement, Lan said of the video; “it was a lot of fun to do with the crew Panamæra who immediately got into my mood. We invented a choreography with Aziz that illustrated the lyrics and made up some kind of a weird "cult of Technique" inviting you to follow the instructions. It's absurd, fun and dumb but so actual in a way.”

09. Coldplay – Up and Up

Placing the members of the band in otherworldly positions, the video for Up and Up is a visually stunning triumph. Clever green screen tactics create wondrous illusions and piece together a storyline that tackles political turmoil. It was co-directed by Prettybird's Vania Heymann – who worked on the interactive video for Bob Dylan's ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ – and fellow Israeli director Gal Muggia.

10. Red Axes – Sun My Sweet Sun

The video for Red Axes ‘Sun My Sweet Sun’ was produced by Blinkink and Phenomena Labs. Executive producer was Bart Yates and commissioner was Guy Dreifuss, with character design by Jack Sachs and CG by Blinkink Studio. Showcasing virtual reality in a new light, the surreal approach will certainly spark your interest.

Next page: 10 more of the best music videos this year...

11. Hanne Kolstø – Stein/Saks (Rock/Scissors)

This video takes literal inspiration from its title and creates a crafty stop-motion visual. Using approximately 1,500 photographs, a pair of scissors and a rock, the video was born – and it was all shot on an iPhone6. An innovative and inspiring work that proves sometimes a little nostalgia can go a long way.

12. David Bowie – Lazarus

David Bowie wasn’t going to go out without a bang. This stunning, artistic work speaks of mortality in a new light, showcasing existential thought and using subtle but heavily impacting imagery to put its message across. It was directed by Johan Renck, who produced the perfect way to say goodbye.

13. Fresh Snow – I Can’t Die

The internet was the main inspiration behind this video for Fresh Snow’s ‘I Can’t Die’; arrow clickers, pixellated infographics and screensaver-like compositions are included in the visuals, making for a nostalgic hook. Physcadelic and inspiring, this Benjamin Portas directed clip will bend your mind.

14. Grimes – Kill V. Maim

Grimes collaborated with her brother once again for the visuals for 2016 single ‘Kill V. Maim’. We’re shown a futuristic, cyber-punk apocalyptic world in which anime stylings collide with clever camera tricks. Shot in Toronto, the video showcases the Neo Tokyo cityscapes of Akira, and animated line drawings before ending in an underground blood rave.

15. ThisisDA – The Sufferbus

Directed by Antonia Blakeman, this video for Bristolian artist ThisisDA is a dystopian dream centred around the musician gripping onto a giant, spinning coin. The coin is said to symbolise a wish, with the coin thrown into a well to coincide with the dream themes.

16. Mr Oizo - Hand In The Fire (feat. Charli XCX)

In the 90s, a certain gloved-puppet grabbed the attention of the UK and soon became a number one hit. Flat Eric was one of the most surprising successes of the decade but this year proved his wasn’t done. Appearing in the Mr. Oizo and Charli XCX video, it’s proof that a character design, if done the right way, can stand the test of time.

17. The Chemical Brothers – Wide Open

The Mill collaborated with award winning directing duo Dom&Nic to bring Chemical Brothers’ brand new video ‘Wide Open’ to life. It’s an astonishing work, featuring a woman dancing in a warehouse to then reveal that parts of her body are made as 3D-printed lattice constructions. Be sure to check out this behind-the-scenes clip to see how it was put together.

18. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – ‘When I Try, I’m Full’

A hand-drawn music video created by Jules Guérin, Smith’s video for ‘When I Try, I’m Full’ is a strangely stunning piece. “An organic cell is born,” reads its description. “ts birth drives us through a shamanic vision where it will evolve with music, becoming more complex while mineral, organic, and cosmic elements orbit around it to transform it to its final state. This is the source of endless possibilities.”

19. Whitney – Polly

Tokyo-based award-winning animator and illustrator Sarina Nihei directed, animated and hand-painted the entire video for Whitney’s third single over the course of two months. Nihel says that the piece focuses on the causes of broken relationships between people and also represents the idea that no one is able to understand other people’s actual feelings.

20. Charles X – Can You Do it

Social commentary and creativity went hand-in-hand this year and this video for Charles X’s ‘Can You Do it’ is one of the best. The mix of 3D/2D animation – produced by Eddy and animated at Brunch Studio – gives this an inspiring and playful feel with a political undercurrent. Describing the video, designers Parallel said, it was “intended to act as a social commentary which aims to cast light on perceived societal expectations and social norms by integrating elements and people from different walks of life.”

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