The 20 Best Videos of 2009

SPIN Lists



Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance"
Directed by Francis Lawrence

Oh, decadence: so 1999. Let's welcome its brief return in this big-budget, fetishistic vision -- which also serves as an important reminder that mind-bogglingly absurd outfits happen everywhere, not just in Japan.

Death Cab for Cutie, "Little Bribes"
Directed by Ross Ching

Using rocks, Post-Its, and, best of all, melted cheese, an inventive fan spells out the lyrics to Gibbard and Co.'s song -- a far more advisable expression of devotion than, say, tattooing the words to "Transatlanticism" on your torso.

The xx, "Crystalised"
Directed by Alex Flick and Masato Riesser

A track so good that it's enough to watch the band stand onstage in the dark while cumulus clouds roll by behind them. Anything more would be a distraction.

UCB featuring Wale, "Pat Your Weave"
Directed by Rik Cordero

Patting one's weave is just a sassy little gesture of self-confidence, much like this video.

Beck and Charlotte Gainsbourg, "Heaven Can Wait"
Directed by Keith Schofield

Every scene here would be almost normal if something wasn't a tiny bit… off. Come to think of it, the same could probably be said about the songwriters.

 

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 Also See:   40 BEST ALBUMS  | 20 BEST SONGS