The video of the month is "Harlem Shake." All of them. Even if you think most of them are awful. And timing is partially the reason why.
The most important news to hit the music video world in years: YouTube views now count when calculating the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which is standard barometer of what America listens to, and based predominantly on the viral YouTube success, "Harlem Shake" debuted as the #1 song.
Music videos have been responsible for creating hits since "Video Killed The Radio Star." But it's only last week that video DIRECTLY influenced the official chart. And that's a big deal that potentially changes the decision-making math that occurs when it comes to a video.
Now, onto the business at hand.
Two of my faves this month are interactive experiences and don't fit in a traditional playlist:
- An "alpha channel" Tanlines video that lets you maniulate a video performance as if it were a Photoshop doc.
- Beck "Sound And Vision" (Chris Milk, dir.) — This is the future of music performance videos in terms of how it was plotted, recorded and presentation. There's a "linear" version available, but it's worth the processing power and headphones necessary to really exerience it.
Also, there's a great Foals video for "My Number" (Us, dir.) that's unofficial and only resides on Vimeo. So go there and watch it.
Otherwise, check the individual links for full credits and reviews; or watch the sequential playlist below.
Best Music Videos Of February 2013 (Some NSFW)
- Darwin Deez "You Can't Be My Girl" (Keith Schofield, dir.)
- Passion Pit "Carried Away" (Brewer, dir.)
- Bat For Lashes "Lilies" (Peter Sluszka, dir.)
- David Bowie "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" (Floria Sigismondi, dir.)
- James Blake "Retrograde" (Martin de Thurah, dir.)
- Husbands "Dream" (Cauboyz. dir.)
- Rihanna "Stay" (Sophie Muller, dir.)
- Jim James "A New Life" (Mimi Cave, dir.)
- Justin Timberlake "Suit And Tie" (David Fincher, dir.)
- Drake "Started From The Bottom" (Director X & Drake, dir.)
- Fun "Why Am I The One" (Jordan Bahat, Dir.)
- Pissed Jeans "Bathroom Laughter" (Joe Stakun, dir.)
- Anberlin "Unstable" (Jodeb, dir.)
- Woodkid "I Love You" (Yoann Lemoine, dir.)
- Miguel "Candles In The Sun" (Sarah McColgan, dir.)
- Nick Cave & Bad Seeds "Jubilee St." (John Hillcoat, dir.)
- Matt & Kim "It's Alright" (Jacob Lincoln & Matt Johnson, dir.)
- Atoms For Peace "Ingenue" (Garth Jennings, Dir.)
- The Weeknd "[28]" (NABIL, dir.)
