Here Are 10 Of Our Favourite Music Videos Of 2016
From Die Antwoord to Jamie XX to Dune Rats.
Music
December 14, 2016

There’s been an avalanche of solid visuals throughout 2016, and here we’ve rounded up 10 of our favourite music clips.

From Die Antwoord to Jamie XX to Dune Rats, watch them all below:

JAMIE XX – GOSH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTGJfRPLe08

‘Gosh’ features no special effects, just a huge army of swaggy Asian kids in matching tracksuits dancing in synchronisation underneath a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Tianducheng, China. Here, Jamie XX proves that you don’t need three-dimensional hypercolour visuals to wow audiences – just a solid concept with stellar execution. Anyone got the link for one of those tracksuits?

ARIANA GRANDE & NICKI MINAJ – SIDE TO SIDE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXiSVQZLje8

This song comes on all the time at my gym, and is definitely more distracting than motivational. For their irresistible reggae-infused R&B collaboration, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj provide you with some #summerrig inspiration by donning their activewear and engaging in a spin class – and just in case it wasn’t obvious, they’re not talking about being sore from cycling all night long .

KANYE WEST – FADE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxGvm6btP1A

Keeping on with the exercise theme, Kanye West’s ‘Fade’ wowed audiences with its snap-neck and sweat-inducing choreography, inspired by Flashdance and performed by his G.O.O.D Music colleague, Teyana Taylor. It arrived after the controversial (and slightly confusing) video for ‘Famous’ – and this one seems to have far singing Ye’s praises an Taylor dances vivaciously to the pulsating bass. Watch the ending, trust us.

DUNE RATS – BULLSHIT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNwWzBXIycQ

Dune Rats are experts at sticking to what they’re good at – riffs, sing-a-long hooks, punching bongs and drinking copious amounts of beer, usually out of a shoe. That was proven once more in their recent video for ‘Scott Green’, but it was ‘Bullshit’ that stole the visual show for the Brisvegas boys. Nothing fancy here, just a backyard party in Byron Bay where someone gets a watermelon dropped on their head and people vomit on the verandah. Good times had by all!

BEYONCE – FORMATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDZJPJV__bQ

Beyonce made a serious social statement with her video for ‘Formation’ which was also one of the year’s most aesthetically riveting. Referencing Black America’s continuing struggles against police mistreatment and murder, Beyonce uses the video to connect with her Southern roots in New Orleans, and enforced the message with a politically-laced performance on the grand stage of the Super Bowl halftime show.

L D R U – NEXT TO YOU FT. SAVOI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYDilLUDna0

Entropico are the Sydney crew behind the groundbreaking ‘R U A Cop‘ video by The Meeting Tree, so its no surprise that they’re the masterminds responsible for the ridiculous and creepy ‘Next To You’ video. Basically, this features an animate banana who wears a turtleneck and goes on dinner dates. Need we say more? If you need anymore convincing, the tune is also a certified summer banger in typical L D R U style.

SOLANGE – CRANES IN THE SKY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0qrinhNnOM

Solange released one of the year’s best albums with A Seat At The Table – read FlexMami’s analysis here, where she describes it as an “abundant serving of truth.” The video for single ‘Cranes In the Sky’ sees her sing in a range of pastel outfits atop some stunning backdrops – it’s all beautifully executed and a reminder that while Solange may be Beyonce’s sister, her ideas are equally as ambitious.

RAE SREMMURD & RAE SREMMURD – BLACK BEATLES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8m9zhNAgKs

Yeah, the mannequin challenge is pretty bloody annoying, but it was enough to propel Rae Sremmurd to their first #1 single with ‘Black Beatles’. It’s refreshing to hear two young larrikins compare themselves to the greatest rock band of all time, and when it sounds as infectious as this, even the harshest critics will have to hum along. With the rock star theme comes lots of leather jackets and post-prison Gucci Mane wearing sunglasses covered in gold crucifixes. The Trap God is back.

DILLON FRANCIS & NGHTMRE – NEED YOU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6byaTlhGJXM

Dillon Francis has long established himself as the funny man of EDM – and ‘Need You’ is nothing short of a huge effort. Starting off wearing a visor and speed dealers, Dillon heads along to DJ a neighbourhood party. Things start off calmly enough, but after the first drop, things get hyperactive as the punters begin losing control and some WWE action even ensues towards the end. If only all parties were like this.

DIE ANTWOORD – BANANA BRAIN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXlZfc1TrD0

There’s nothing like drugging your parents so you can go on an all-nighter – and that’s exactly how Die Antwoord continue to out-weird themselves in the video for ‘Banana Brain’. Ever thought of going on a bender with a South African rap/rave crew? This is probably the closest your ever going to get – either this, or their upcoming Australian exclusive performance at Origin NYE. Damn you Perth!

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