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.
VIDEOS 20 - 16 | VIDEOS 15 - 11 | VIDEOS 10 - 6 | VIDEOS 5 - 1
Also See: 40 BEST ALBUMS | 20 BEST SONGS
51 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By Casey Coleman
03.16.10 3:23 AM
your taste in music sucks.
- Posted By mandy
01.01.10 3:18 AM
Lady Gaga should be higher up on the list! I did a stint in a Mental Hospital this November(true story) and it was the only thing that I looked forward to every morning on VH1's jump start :) The other crazies didn't too much enjoy it but luckily they were too doped up to operate the remote. Go GAGA!
- Posted By theumpteenthtimes
12.28.09 10:47 PM
Thirty-Something Man Asks Girlfriend, “Who in the Hell is Lady Gaga?”
Burlington, VT—While reading the paper Monday morning, Burlington resident, Frank Glumm, 37, stumbled upon an article concerning the attendees of MTV’s 2009 Video Music Awards, prompting him to turn to his girlfriend at the breakfast table and ask, “Who in the hell is Lady Gaga?” “He had no idea who she was,” said girlfriend, Hannah... »
READ MORE at theumpteenthtimes.com/?p=1344
"Music NEws That's Fit to Fake"
- Posted By Eric Chicago
12.28.09 4:01 PM
The Chairlift video “Evident Utensil” is number one through twenty. I do not mean to denigrate any other video, but this work is beyond anything anyone else has created year to date. Comparing it to any other work is the same as comparing the genius of a Joan Miro to that of a childish scrawl. Please do not embarrass yourself.
This video has received a lot of attention. No one is surprised as the attention was fully expected, warranted, and justified. Although I do admire the “Evident Utensil” video, I must stop here and comment on the music of Chairlift. Chairlift creates music that can only be described as creative genius. I realize that my comments and praise are both cautious and conservative, but I see no need to torture the obvious. The music of Chairlift is challenging, beautiful, innovative, uncompromising, and original. Chairlift should be at the top of all your other lists staring today and moving forward. I strongly suggest you post all of your lists for the next decade with each number one spot held by Chairlift. The other spots can remain blank, as there is no way of knowing if anyone else will create anything approaching the abilities of Chairlift. As for the number one spots, Chairlift will hold them all and it will then become a matter of choosing which Chairlift song or video for that particular year for that particular category is most worthy. A formidable and unenviable task!
My fervent hope is that I have helped to simplify your workload.
-Eric Chicago
- Posted By Benjamin49
12.20.09 5:20 PM
Charlotte Gainsbourg for ever!!
- Posted By TheCosmicKiz
12.19.09 1:06 AM
AWESOME SELCTION!!!
LOVE ALL!!
- Posted By maribonpr
12.18.09 9:22 PM
what is this crap? ok i get it. u are like sooo indie. woohooo. omg.
but seriously. most -if not all- of this videos suck.
[im not criticizing the bands or their music. just their crappy videos]
and this shows some people are just plain haters and dont know how to appreciate artists of other genres.
bad romance is the best video since thriller.
nough said.
05.01.10 9:25 PM
are u on crack? how can you not like it?