“Every great idea is on the verge of being stupid,” according to Michel Gondry, the French director responsible for some of the best music videos of all time.
Billy Ray Cyrus in a hot pink cowboy suit; Aldous Harding wiggling around in a phallic hat; a man with a lizard face driving to visit his lizard girlfriend; a bearded house music DJ riding around in a shoe.
2019’s been a great year for weird and wonderful music videos – here’s our top 14.
15. Lil Nas X – ‘Old Town Road’ ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
There’s no denying that 19-year-old Lil Nas X won the internet this year with ‘Old Town Road’. Using a $30 beat he bought online, he tipped his hat to the ‘Yeehaw agenda’, tapped into tik-tok, and went viral.
After getting booted off the Billboard Country Chart, the internet cried racism, then wily old Billy Ray Cyrus spurred into action, adding a verse, calling it a remix, and the world went bonkers for it.
The video, or ‘official movie’ is styled as a sort of Western Back to the Future. It starts with a scene that trolls the racism controversy surrounding this track, with Lil Nas X saying, “Last time I was here they weren’t too welcoming to outsiders.” Billy Ray replies, “You’re with me this time. Everything’s gon’ be alright.” It’s hilariously meta, beautifully shot, and the cowboy bling is inspiring.
- Kirsten Johnstone
14. Neil & Liam Finn – 'Where's My Room'
This wonderful video takes you on a hazy, dream like journey through hotel corridors and haunting spaces. Eventually the band appears, accompanied by the amazing choreography and incredible costumes of South Auckland arts collective Fafswag. Watch right to the end.
- Charlotte Ryan
13. Mel Parsons – 'Bottom of the Street'
A late entry, this beauty from Kiwi indie-folk musician Mel Parsons came out today! It stars and is directed by comedian and Snapchat dude Tom Sainsbury. Featuring multiple leaotards and a passionate performance from Tom, it's nothing short of spellbinding.
- Alice Murray
12. Taylor Swift – ‘You Need to Calm Down’
Super catchy candy-coloured pop with a sharp message and some fabulous cameo appearances. This is one big joyous burn: “’Cause shade never made anybody less gay.” Also, Tay-tay serving tea = hot. I live with a 14-year-old, and neither of us are sick of this yet.
- Liisa McMillan
11. Flying Lotus – ‘Fire is Coming’
Freaky factor is high in this teaser vid directed by Flying Lotus himself. You’d think David Lynch dreamt it up, but he can’t have, because he’s in it… well, just his face, which is in a wolf’s mouth addressing a clutch of feral Lord of the Flies-style latchkey kids. Unsettling and memorable with next to zero music.
- Yadana Saw
10. Solange – ‘Almeda’
Solange is just really clean and precise in everything she does, and the visuals for ‘Almeda’ are no different. The cinematography is so dreamy and I love the kind of Black Houstonian pride it exudes: low riders, cowboy hats, horses and pistols. Country, but make it futuristic. Hot.
- Jogai Bhatt
9. Megan Thee Stallion – ‘Big Ole Freak’
“Suck it then look in his eyes, then the next day I might leave him on read.”
- Leilani Momoisea
8. Lizzo – ‘Tempo’
This perfectly captures the weekend party mood. Bouncy cars, booty-shaking, glitter and pre-loading. “Slow songs are for skinny hoes, can’t move all of dis here to one of those.” Then at about 1.38” Missy Elliott jumps out of a car bonnet. Hell yes.
- Liisa McMillan
7. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – ‘Crime Pays’
Stunning vistas... zebras... Freddie Gibbs drinking champagne while fly fishing. It’s hard to explain why this video is so funny, but boy it is. “C’mon, man, expeditiously!”
- Tony Stamp
6. Benee – ‘Glitter’
Maybe it’s the promise of summer holidays, but I’m in an uncharacteristically pop-tastic mood. I love this charming Where the Wild Things Are-esque, old school video for yet another banger from local queen Benee.
- Liisa McMillan
5. Billie Eilish – ‘When the Party’s Over’
Is it a spirulina smoothie gone wrong? Is it oily? Is it black or blue? Whatever ‘liquid’ Eilish glugs back in this video is enough to make you gag, and when it starts pouring out her tear ducts, you’ll want to dunk yourself in a tank of eye bleach. Big ups to the VFX work in this video – it’s so hard to execute something as simple-looking as this. I can’t stop watching it.
- Yadana Saw
4. Finn Andrews – ‘One by the Venom’
Any video that starts with a warning about scenes of regicide and homicidal nuns is off to a good start. This one from Finn Andrews (of The Veils fame) depicts 45 ways to die, each in about 1.5 seconds, and it’s wonderful. Especially the cannibalistic gridiron player.
- Alice Murray
3. Iggy Pop – ‘Sonali’
This video is crazy and very L.A. A man with a lizard face driving to visit his lizard girlfriend in his fluffy pink car, having traffic woes. The colours are so bright and the décor’s so classic. I can just imagine the weird brainstorm Iggy Pop had with director [and musician] Mac Demarco.
- Charlotte Ryan
2. Aldous Harding – ‘The Barrel’
Aldous Harding staring down the camera, doing her weird wiggles in a phallic hat and pilgrim’s collar is all I need to feel deliriously happy. She’s incredibly telegenic, even with a blue troll mask on.
This was the first announcement of her new album Designer, and it set the tone: fun, nonsensical, bizarre, and slightly bonkers.
- Kirsten Johnstone
1. Salvatore Ganacci – ‘Horse’
A sober warning about the dangers of animal cruelty. Also at one point a man drives a giant car-shoe.
- Tony Stamp
