15. Kiesza, “Hideaway” (Directed by Kiesza, Ljuba Castot, and Rami Samir Afuni)
//www.youtube.com/embed/ESXgJ9-H-2U
For Kieza — a relative unknown — to inspire typically arm-folded Williamsburg residents join her in what is essentially a sidewalk flash-mob is almost as shocking as her stellar dance moves. Low budget never looked so glossy. B.C.
14. FKA Twigs, “Two Weeks” (Directed by Nabil)
//www.youtube.com/embed/3yDP9MKVhZc
The 300-meets-interpretive dance aesthetic of FKA Twigs‘ video conveys one thing — she is a god. The looming artist presides over the energetic dancers at her feet and is content to merely wave her arms with surprising impact. FKA Twigs is wise, talented, and sometimes hard to comprehend, but we’ll try our best to understand as we bow to her musical highness. J.G.
13. Iggy Azalea, “Fancy” featuring Charli XCX (Directed by Director X)
//www.youtube.com/embed/O-zpOMYRi0w
Say what you will about the woman behind the biggest song of the summer: Her taste in ’90s movies is unimpeachable. D.W.
12. “Weird Al” Yankovic, “Tacky” (Directed by “Weird Al” Yankovic)
//www.youtube.com/embed/zq7Eki5EZ8o
Write what you know, they say. So “Weird Al” took up a political cause near and dear to his heart on the Pharrell-aping hit from his biggest album: dancing ridiculously in the most outrageous outfits imaginable. Turns out it’s important to Margaret Cho, Aisha Tyler, Eric Stonestreet, Kristen Schaal and a fannypack-clad Jack Black, too. D.W.
11. Perfume Genius, “Queen” (Directed by Cody Critcheloe)
//www.youtube.com/embed/Z7OSSUwPVM4
Mike Hadreas’ thought-provoking visuals leave the viewer with plenty to ponder. Sights include, but are not limited to: heart-shaped chocolate boxes, pigs, smashed computers, giant shrimp dinners, a one-legged Elvis impersonator, and cheerleaders pom-pomming a suicide. Ultimately, Hadreas, who oscillates between playing himself and a street hustler, achieves his end-goal of embracing queer identity. R.B.
10. Smarf, “Too Many Cooks” (Directed by Casper Kelly)
//www.youtube.com/embed/QrGrOK8oZG8
Too many Cooks. Too many Cooks. Too many Cooks. Too many Cooks. Too many Cooks. Too many Cooks. Too many Cooks. Too many Cooks. Too many Cooks. SMARF
9. Beyoncé, “7/11” (Directed by Beyoncé)
//www.youtube.com/embed/OSAOsm1u-OE
Leave it to Beyoncé to end the year with another guerilla, “fuck your Friday night”-style release. The “Go-Pro with your girls” video lets Blue Ivy serve some shade and gets Queen Bey into her zone, chair-swiveling, bed-jumping, and all. B.C.
8. Flying Lotus, “Never Catch Me” feat. Kendrick Lamar (Directed by Hiro Murai)
//www.youtube.com/embed/2lXD0vv-ds8
The death-escaping fantasy of FlyLo’s clip for You’re Dead‘s standout track is all too poignant as 2014 comes to a close, with two children waking up at their funeral, escaping in a hearse, and — almost as implausibly — dancing to a disjointed Flying Lotus beat. D.W.
7. Tweedy, “Low Key” (Directed by Nick Offerman)
//www.youtube.com/embed/29YGcuRk3mM
Tweedy’s cameo-filled video — featuring John Hodgman, Melissa McCarthy, Conan O’Brien, Andy Richter, Mavis Staples, Steve Albini, and Chance the Rapper — is a hilarious bit of irreverent commentary on the state of the music industry. Is the father-son team hinting that the future of music is door-to-door D.I.Y. sales? Or are they trying to warn us about our secret ape overlords before it’s too late? Probably best to stock up on albums just in case. J.G.
6. Spoon, “Do You” (Directed by Hiro Murai)
//www.youtube.com/embed/fd6aXM8WHGw
Britt Daniel’s eerie-calm car ride looks like a single, beautiful unbroken shot. And while the camera-work is comparable to that amazing Children of Men car scene, what makes this video so great is the slow reveal. If you missed it, we’re not going to spoil it here. Just watch, and keep an eye out for clues that something is amiss. J.G.
5. Bobby Shmurda, “Hot Nigga”
A tossed hat, a pair of intercrossed arms and Jello-light legs, and a blaring, insistent cry of “about a week ago” was all it took for this Brooklyn boy to command Rap Twitter to follow along. B.C.
4. Jenny Lewis, “Just One Of the Guys” (Directed by Jenny Lewis)
//www.youtube.com/embed/Irvcf6dCk-k
Jenny Lewis revisits her acting roots in the video for “Just One Of the Guys,” which also features Hollywood A-listers Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, and Brie Larson starring as Lewis’ heavy-lidded cohorts. Face it: Hers was the best backing band since Robert Palmer’s dead-eyed “Addicted to Love” models. R.B.
3. Nicki Minaj, “Anaconda” (Directed by Colin Tilley)
//www.youtube.com/embed/LDZX4ooRsWs
Without the jiggling, subversive “Anaconda” visuals, Nicki Minaj’s re-appropriating rump-bumper wouldn’t have registered nearly the same impact. We’ll never look at bananas without quivering again. B.C.
2. DJ Snake, Lil Jon, “Turn Down for What” (Directed by Daniels)
//www.youtube.com/embed/HMUDVMiITOU
This proudly insane clip could also be called “Turn Down For What the Fuck Am I Watching?” Yet you can’t deny that this unstoppable, totally out-of-control video captures the spirit of DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s raucous ode to partying. It’s a perfect fit: big, bonkers, and in your face. Just like that poor lady’s rapidly expanding boobs. J.G.
1. Sia, “Chandelier” (Directed by Sia and Daniel Askill)
//www.youtube.com/embed/2vjPBrBU-TM
With its low-gloss grit, unglamorous set design, and sobering subject matter, Sia’s “Chandelier” visuals meld commercial music video with highbrow performance art. Wearing a now-ubiquitous blond “Sia” bob, Dance Moms contestant Maddie Ziegler is a stand-in for the video’s press-phobic creator — our Artist of the Year — as she winds her form around a decrepit apartment, letting her body tell the story of a pre-recovery alcoholic barely clinging onto the edge of control. R.B.
