Streaming

The absolute best music videos of 2017

This year’s all about fluorescent lights and love.

Photo of Kristen Hubby

Kristen Hubby

Best music videos 2017: Beyonce's Love Draught

Nothing beats the hype of a hot new track from your favorite artist, that is unless the song is accompanied by an equally amazing music video.

Featured Video

2016 was epic with the release of Rihanna‘s powerful Anti, Beyoncé‘s revolutionary Lemonade, and Frank Ocean‘s highly anticipated Blonde. But 2017 is rolling out with powerful music videos that rival last year’s batch.

After hours of scanning through music videos, we’ve gathered the cream of the crop, listed by month. See you on the other side.

The best music videos of 2017

March

“Unholy War” — Jacob Banks

Advertisement
The Best Music Videos of 2017:
Screengrab via JacobBanksVEVO/YouTube

Banks was the first unsigned artist to appear on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge in 2014, and also won the Adidas “Are You In” music competition in 2012.

“Use Me” — Future

Advertisement
The Best Music Videos of 2017:
Screengrab via FutureVEVO/Youtube

“Green Light” — Lorde

The Best Music Videos of 2017:
Screengrab via FutureVEVO/Youtube
Advertisement

If you’ve ever had to deal with someone who left you for another love, this music video will inspire you do go out and show the world that you are worth it all.

February

“Love Drought” Beyoncé

Advertisement
best music videos 2017: Love Drought - Beyonce
Screengrab via BeyonceVEVO/YouTube

The music video features a haunting voiceover from Bey, frames of the artist gracefully wading ankle-deep in formation with her Beyhive in angelic white gowns, and the famous tilted wooden chair debuted in her performance.

“I Wanna Prove to You” the Lemon Twigs

Advertisement
best music videos 2017:
Screengrab via TheLemonTwigsVEVO/YouTube

The pop-rock band fronted by two brothers, Brian and Michael D’Addario, offers the canddi “I Wanna Prove To You” that tells the story of their director’s grandparent’s 50 years of marriage in quaint Utah. The two brothers stay at the married couple’s house to see what life is actually like in an everlasting, monogamous marriage.

The video is shot with vintage pomp, incorporating home video shots and jump cuts of the two learning how to bake cookies and tie a tie. The music video had me chuckling a few times, especially with the twist of betrayal during the outro. The video ends with the director rhetorically asking: “Isn’t life one big lesson in letting go?” Maybe!

Advertisement

“Venus Fly” Grimes ft. Janelle Monáe

Best Music Videos 2017:
Screengrab via Grimes/YouTube

The credits are a mesmerizing extension of the music video with reflected, fast-forwarded frames.

Advertisement

“POWA” MIA

Best Music Videos 2017:
Screengrab via MIAVEVO/YouTube

The music video begins with M.I.A. lying in the bed of a truck filled with assorted flowers in pastel chiffon, and jumps to a group of choreographed dancers delivering an amazing stunt that makes you wish you had a crew large enough to pull off a wave like that.

Advertisement

“Love” Lana Del Rey

Best Music Videos 2017: 'Love' by Lana Del Rey
Screengrab via LanaDelReyVEVO/YouTube

The video is a mixture of close-up shots of Del Rey’s set, and the cosmic voyage two couples take. The road trip ends on another planet, colliding reality and dreams. It’s surreal as hell.

Advertisement

“Reminder”  the Weeknd

Best Music Videos 2017: 'Reminder' by the Weekend
Screengrab via TheWeekndVEVO/YouTube

But the music video was skillfully shot in low lighting with red and blue fluorescent lights, an emerging aesthetic for headlining rappers. (Think “Work” by Rihanna, and “Hotline Bling” by Drake.) The visuals are distinct and captivating, and you’ll want to run it back.

Advertisement

“Swang” Rae Sremmurd

Best Music Videos 2017: 'Swang' by Rae Sremmurd
Screengrab via RaeSremmurdVEVO/YouTube

“Кольщик” — Ленинград

Advertisement
Best Music Videos 2017: 'Tattoo Artist' by Leningrad
Screengrab via RaeSremmurdVEVO/YouTube

January

“HEAVEN” Troye Sivan ft. Betty Who

Advertisement
Best Music Videos 2017: 'Heaven' by Troy Sivan
Screengrab via TroySivanVEVO/YouTube

“Better Than Me” Blood Orange

Best Music Videos 2017: 'Better Than Me' by Blood Orange
Screengrab via TroySivanVEVO/YouTube
Advertisement

The video features notes from a serenading saxophone and starts out with a moving letter: “I did not grow up to be you but I did grow up to be me and be in love with who this woman is. To be a woman playing a man’s game and not be apologetic about any of it.”

“Pops” Angel Olsen

Best Music Videos 2017: 'Pops' by Angel Olsen
Screengrab via AngelOlsenVEVO/YouTube
Advertisement

Editor’s note: This article is regularly updated for relevance.

 
The Daily Dot