From The Beatles to Barbie: Best Music Videos of 2023

Many years ago, in the early days of the 21st century, the landscape of music videos underwent a significant transformation. With the rise of downloading and streaming services as technology advanced, music videos gradually shifted away from the traditional MTV channel. They became increasingly accessible, easily searched up, and watched by a broader audience. On February 8, 2010, MTV officially removed the "Music Television" tagline from its logo, reflecting a shift in its focus towards non-scripted reality programs and other youth-oriented entertainment.

Simultaneously, as smartphones and portable video cameras advanced, a growing number of musicians took on the role of directors and created their own music videos to promote their latest works. This evolving landscape allowed artists to have greater creative control over the visual representation of their music.

Despite these shifts, the Grammy Awards, which serves as the paramount celebration of achievements in the music industry, continues to acknowledge the significance of music videos. Within its system, music videos found their place in the broader category of "Children's, Comedy, Audio Book Narration & Storytelling, Visual Media & Music Video/Film."

The 66th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4, 2024. The ceremony will broadcast on CBS and be available for streaming on Paramount+. As we anticipate this upcoming event, let's take a retrospective glance at the Grammy nominees for Best Music Video in 2013.

Among them, some were directed by the musicians themselves, showcasing their dual talents in both music and visual storytelling. Others were crafted by professional directors, adding a cinematic touch to the visual representation of the music. Additionally, there were instances where classic songs were revitalized through visual interpretations, offering fans a fresh perspective on timeless tunes.

The Beatles: I'm Only Sleeping

During the deep chill of winter, it seems that hardly anyone wants to emerge from the warmth of their bed covers. Instead, one will opt to catch a few more hours of sleep. Few can rival the legendary musician John Lennon in this regard. In an article published in March 1966, his friend Maureen Cleave revealed, "He can sleep almost indefinitely, [and] is probably the laziest person in England. 'Physically lazy,' he said. 'I don't mind writing or reading or watching or speaking, but sex is the only physical thing I can be bothered with any more.'"

Five months later, on August 5, 1966, Lennon's penchant for extended sleep became the inspiration for The Beatles' new song, "I'm Only Sleeping." This track found its place in their studio album "Revolver," which eventually claimed the top spot among their albums according to Rolling Stone's Readers’ Poll.

On November 1, 2022, British filmmaker and animator Em Cooper, renowned for her unique hand-painted oil-paint animation style and her role as the animation director of acclaimed documentary feature films like "Kiss The Water" and "Deej," shared her latest creation on YouTube. Titled "I'm Only Sleeping," this work was set to The Beatles' psychedelic rock song. To bring this project to life, Cooper painstakingly hand-painted a remarkable 1,300 individual oil paintings, engaging in a formidable frame-by-frame painting process that spanned several months.

She expressed satisfaction with its intensity , stating, “It was a project that I felt an immediate spark for right from the get go, and somehow that momentum carried me right through to the end. The song itself evokes such a mesmerizing, languid, dreamy state of being, and in a way my job was only to follow its lead with a paintbrush in my hand.”

The animation video begins with a depiction of Lennon in bed and smoothly transitions to various images such as his glasses, a paint bottle, running water, a printer factory line, whales, bombers, and many more. The use of the backward guitar played by George Harrison, a pioneering technique at that time and the first to be used in a pop recording, along with the accompanying fuzz effects, contributes to the dreamlike atmosphere of the music video.

Tyler Childers: In Your Love

In the 1950s, two gay coal miners in Kentucky cross paths, fell in love, and navigated the challenges posed by their conservative environment. They manage to build a happy family life together with their efforts. However, the harsh reality of long working hours in the deep mines takes its toll, as one of them succumbs to black lung disease, leading to a tragic ending.

This plot summary encapsulates the entire narrative of the music video for "In Your Love," a song by country music artist Tyler Childers. Its poignant storytelling draws parallels to themes found in works like "Brokeback Mountain." Childers' heartfelt performance earned him nominations for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song at the Grammy Awards, underscoring the emotional depth and impact of the song.

Indeed, the original lyrics of "In Your Love" do not explicitly reference any LGBTQ content. Instead, the song follows the traditional country music theme of enduring and unwavering love, with lines like, "I will wait for you. Till the sun turns into ashes. And bows down to the moon. I will wait for you."

Childers was inspired to incorporate LGBTQ themes into the accompanying music video by his gay cousin, whom he considered his musical mentor. In collaboration with poet Silas House and director Bryan Schlam, coupled with the remarkable performances by actors Colton Haynes and James Scully, the country singer was able to bring his imaginative story to life and depict the challenges and triumphs of a same-sex couple in the cultural context of Mid-western life in the 1950s.

Similar to the narrative music videos during the golden age of MTV, this short story places two gay protagonists within the gaze of a musician. As Childers performs the heartfelt song on stage in a pub, a tangible intertextual relationship unfolds. The music video extends slightly beyond the duration of the album song, incorporating the beginning and end of the story to complete the narrative. In a poignant moment, the surviving aged protagonist holds onto a leaf from his field, initiating a journey into the deep recesses of his memory about his lost lover.

Billie Eilish: What Was I Made For?

In the concluding moments of the widely discussed film of the year "Barbie," as the protagonist Barbie encounters her creator and resolves to transition from a doll to human, the song "What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish seamlessly begins. The lyrics — "Think I forgot how to be happy. Something I'm not, but something I can be. Something I wait for. Something I'm made for." — reflecting Barbie’s introspective musings. As she tells her creator, “I want to do the imagining, not be the idea”.

Similarly, in the case of Eilish, one of the most popular and innovative singers in recent years, her self-directed music video draws parallels to the narrative of "Barbie." Wearing the same yellow dress featured in the film's ending, Eilish is akin to the famous Barbie and systematically arranges all the outfits she has worn at various awards ceremonies on a miniature clothes rack. However, her efforts are thwarted by an incessant onslaught of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes and rainstorms. Ultimately, faced with the destruction of her meticulous organization, Billie finds herself with no choice but to pack all her Barbie-themed clothes into a suitcase. She then embarks on a journey in search of "what is she made for".

The music video was shot entirely in one take, showcasing Eilish's decisive message that she is over her signature baggy look and symbolizing the transition into and commencement of a new era for her.

Kendrick Lamar: Count Me Out

Helen Mirren is Kendrick Lamar’s therapist!

Well, at least in the acclaimed rapper's latest music video, "Count Me Out." The Oscar award-winning actress rouses Lamar, who is seated serenely beside a piano, and resumes their therapy session. Their conversation commences with a scene of him taking a woman's parking spot, an incident that leaves him feeling unsettled.

Responding to her probe about why he feels “fallen” with a simple word "life," Lamar begins a song that expresses the weighty burdens on his shoulders. The lyrics unfold with introspective lines like, "In my head too much. I shut down too. I ain't there too much. I'm a complex soul. They layered me up, then broke me down".

"Count Me Out" is one of the tracks featured in the hip-hop artist's fifth studio album, "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers." Directed by himself and Dave Free, the co-founder of his music production company "pgLang", the music video for "Count Me Out" follows the former’s therapy talk with Mirren. It employs a three-window vertical screen split, featuring Lamar on the right, and Mirren on the left, while contemporary dance performances that explore life and death are displayed in the centre. Throughout the music video, its visuals use a consistent colour scheme of monochrome and red, mirroring the aesthetic of Lamar's Big Steppers tour.

Lamar took a five-year musical hiatus after the release of his fourth studio album "Damn" in 2017. His new songs, including "Count Me Out," collectively form a concept album that delves into and reflects on his life experiences during his therapeutic journey.

Troye Sivan: Rush

Berlin, renowned as a vibrant nightlife hub and haven for the queer community in Europe, is once again in the spotlight due to the new music video "Rush" by Australian dance pop singer Troye Sivan.

In this short 3’42’’long video, there is no narrative akin to "In Your Love", no introspective exploration of personal mental states like "What Was I Made For?" or "Count Me Out," and no dreamlike imagery as seen in "I'm Only Sleeping." Instead, "Rush" features captivating visuals of perfect athletic bodies of men and women dancing and enjoying drinks in the summer heat in Berlin.

Kicking off with a provocative spank, the beautiful youth embarks on a search for an instant lover by the riverbank. The scenes transition into rooms where people share passionate kisses. The title "Rush" carries a dual meaning, referencing both a recreational drug's brand name and the exhilarating feeling of dancing with someone attractive. According to the singer, "Rush" is the "feeling of kissing a sweaty stranger on a dance floor, a two-hour date that turned into a weekend, a crush, a winter, [and] a summer." This introduction provides insight into the essence of this new hot dance song.

The embrace of queer culture and sexuality in the music video, particularly within the open and inclusive city of Berlin, is generally well-received. However, some critics express dissatisfaction with its exclusive portrayal of model-like beauty. They argue that the absence of diversity, especially the lack of representation of individuals with different body types, may perpetuate narrow beauty standards. The absence of overweight individuals in the dance video has led to criticism, with some viewing it as a potential return to body fascism and focus on emaciation.