So, I know this is a day late, but yesterday was Christmas and I got two kids and enjoy my evening wine, so, you know, it is what it is.
Anyway, as someone who grew up in the 90s, I have a deep appreciation for the music video. While music videos don’t really get played on tv anymore, many artists still put a beautiful amount of effort into their videos, and this year we saw some of the best music videos I’ve seen in ages.
So, to celebrate this Christmas, I’d like to share with you what I think are the top five music videos of 2018.
5. Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande
If you’ve been following this blog for the past five years, then you know I’ve consistently thought that Ariana Grande was a douche bag, but this year she really won me over. Primarily with the release of her music video for Thank U, Next, which paid beautiful homage to Mean Girls, Bring it On, 13 Going on 30, and Legally Blonde. Ariana killed it with this video, and cast Kris Jenner in the role she was made to play.
4. I’m Upset by Drake
I fucking die for nostalgia, and as a Canadian, I fucking diiiiiiiie for Degrassi, so Drake’s Degrassi reunion music video for I’m Upset gave me more feelings than I’m equipped to deal with.
3. Pynk by Janelle Monet
Janelle Monet’s pussy power music video for Pynk was epic. Starring her real-life lady love Tessa Thompson, this video, which featured women wearing pants representing various vaginas, was just way too good and way too beautiful.
2. Ape Shit by Beyonce and Jay-Z
Inserting their blackness into the traditionally white world of art at the Louvre, and borrowing from various pieces of art history, Ape Shit is stylistically compelling, visually stunning, and overall groundbreaking.
- This is America by Childish Gambino
This is the year we saw Donald Glover out here becoming a fucking legend. This video is political, artistic, and socially relevant. A brilliant commentary on race in America alongside Gambino’s fantastic song, this is the video that people had to watch over and over again to take in. Not just the best video of the year, but maybe one of the best videos of the decade.