WVAU 2014: Best Music Videos

Music videos have come a long way from the hair metal days. Musicians use their videos to explore new sides of their artistic persona, adding visuals to an already formed sound. Our top five videos span genres and moods, from goofy to surreal to sexual (guess who).

5. The Flaming Lips feat. Miley Cyrus & Moby – “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” (“Blonde SuperFreak Steals the Magic Brain”)



When I found out that the Flaming Lips would be collaborating with perennial favorite Miley Cyrus on their Sgt. Peppers tribute album, I knew that it was going to be even weirder than the Flaming Lips‰’ stuff typically is. And the music video for one of the songs they collaborated on, a cover of John Lennon‰’s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,‰” is fucked up. But it must be a good fucked up, or I wouldn‰’t be writing about it right now.

So the plot is easily summarized as such: Moby, also featured on the track, is a cult leader who sends a nude blonde to steal JFK‰’s brain from Miley Cyrus because apparently it contains the formula for LSD. I couldn‰’t make this up people. So the blonde steals the brain while Cyrus is passed out, so Miley then enlists two characters (Santa and Bigfoot, but not quite) to get her “FUCKING BRAIN‰” back.

So essentially it‰’s 1967 again and everybody is tripping balls on acid. It is a nice change of pace from the majority of music videos today which don‰’t tend to evoke the same “what the fuck?‰” feeling in literally EVERYONE that sees it. What makes it one of the best videos of 2014 isn‰’t the coherent story—there really isn‰’t one at all to speak of—nor is it the message contained within the video. It is the fact that the video dared to be different. While you probably will not see this video played on television (Wait? Is that even a thing anymore?), the fact that such a psychedelic piece of art was released in 2014 is what separates it from the rest and makes it my personal favorite.

-Jonathan Skufca

4. Die Antwoord – “Ugly Boy”



South African rap duo Die Antwoord have always been known by their expressive music videos, most of which take a dark and self-indulgent tone to complement their musical aesthetic. “Ugly Boy‰” is no different, with group members Ninja and Yolandi Vi$$er credited as director and producer, respectively. Full of cameos, including Marilyn Manson, Jack Black, Dita Von Teese and others, the odd but visually nuanced music video dropped on November 4th and has since gathered over 8 million views. 

The video itself contains everything you‰’d expect from a song titled “Ugly Boy:‰” endless amounts of black circle, dancing ATL twins, Cara Delevigne pantsing Ninja, burning roses and The Shining-style walls of blood. There are two distinct color schemes in the video, one wholly black room where Yolandi sits painted stark white against the backdrop and one where a majority of the video takes place that is largely red and white.

Die Antwoord is known for similar motifs and equally absurdist videos, even at this level: what seems to be a nonsensical montage of everything from Yolandi looking comically small next to the myriad of male celebrity guests handing her roses, to Ninja covered in blood, to a man (potentially in black face) dancing around in a “Hello, my name is God‰” sweatshirt. While most fans of the duo are used to the group’s diverse and eccentric tendencies, the sheer star presence in “Ugly Boy‰” seems to have put it a cut above the rest.

-Leigh Hopkins

3. Big Sean feat. E-40 – “I Don’t Fuck With You”



On November 6, 2014, everything changed. After watching this music video, I wish that I had played football in high school. With rare appearances from producers Kanye West & DJ Mustard, as well as the featured E-40, the party grows with cameos by Azealia Banks and Teyana Taylor. The video places the viewer right on the football field during a crucial away game for Quarterback Big Sean‰’s Lions as they face the dreaded Pirates. Big Sean has been struggling to keep his head in game as relationship problems have left the high school student distracted. This all comes at a time when his football future and scholarships are at risk. Big Sean had to pull off a few incredibly wild plays to eventually win the game, but the video showcases the emotional struggles of letting go during such a pivotal point in the character‰’s young life.

During my first viewing, I was confused as to why “IDFWU” was paired with this football scene; however, over time, I began to understand. The video is painting Big Sean as an artist making a comeback. He has never really been known as one of the greatest rappers of all time… but guess what? That is over. He doesn‰’t fuck with the haters anymore. He doesn‰’t fuck with his old girl anymore. He is in a good place with more solid music on the way.

-Jack Fitzpatrick

2. Krill – “Peanut Butter”



Boston‰’s own Krill released a music video in October of this year for their song “Peanut Butter,‰” featured on a split LP along with Ovlov, LVL UP and Radiator Hospital. The video was directed by Ellie Marshall and shows the band doing what they do best: just being Krill. 

Band members Jonah, Aaron, and Ian took a literal approach to their song title by featuring the intoxicating peanut butter at a party with their friends. The rest of the video was filmed in the abandoned bear cages of Jamaica Plain, a historical neighborhood in Boston founded by the Puritans. 

The video is goofy and gross and gives a good perspective of how the band usually functions at shows. To create the party dynamic the band bought a fog machine and laser, said drummer Ian, then returned both 10 hours later. 

After a year of building momentum with fog machines, lasers, and videos like this, we can look forward to more Krill in 2015. The band recently announced that they are releasing their new album, A Distant Fist Unclenching, with the help of Exploding in Sound Records and Double Double Whammy, on February 17th.

-Nicole Brunet

1. Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”



“Anaconda‰” gave us a lot to be thankful for ‰ÛÒ Victoria‰’s Secret tracksuits, tropical fruits, floor twerking. But all the chopped bananas and island of misandry imagery in the world could not compare to the video‰’s final scene.

Cut to helpless baby rapper Drake, bathed in blue-black light and seated on an unstable metal chair. Enter stylish witch Nicki Minaj. Zoom in on Drake‰’s devastated face as lizard queen Nicki crawls toward his chair of punishment. Drake does not know what exactly is in store for him, though the premonitions have been getting stronger every day. This is the moment he has been waiting for, dreading, all his life. As he ponders the world and how everything has been leading up to this moment, Drake is startled to see that dark angel Nicki has already reached him. 

There is nothing now for puddle-in-human-form Drake, only this inhuman enigma of light and darkness. He wants nothing more than to reach out and touch ‰ÛÒ but he knows such blasphemy is impossible. Still, despite all the years preparing for this very moment, his instincts override his judgment. He commits the ultimate sin, only to be slapped away like the puny and insignificant flea he is. As literal God Nicki Minaj rises and glides out of the room, former rapper Drake finally realizes that this was always the outcome. If only we‰’d known.

-Carson Bear

Check in tomorrow for our favorite live acts of 2014!