In this week’s top music-video picks, we take a journey through shoot-‘em-up action sequences, nudist colonies, and forlorn love. From hip-hop to electronic and indie rock, featuring artists like Christina Aguilera and the Airborne Toxic Event, see which music videos are becoming viral.
Justin Timberlake: “Mirrors”
Got a box of tissues handy next to you? Good ... because you’ll need it for Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors.” In this touching narrative directed by Floria Sigismondi—acclaimed director for big-name acts like the Cure and Ellie Goulding—we get a 20/20 look into JT’s family roots. The video is a tribute to his late grandfather William (who passed away last year) and his grandmother Sadie, covering the dips and valleys of their 63-year marriage, as reported by MTV. Fans who long to catch a glance of the megastar won’t be disappointed, though, as there is a nearly three-minute sequence of him looking handsome as ever, dancing in front of fun mirrors (see 5:44). Mirrors—get it?
Django Django: “WOR”The carnivals in the U.S. certainly aren’t like this. The English boys of Django Django take their Afro-beats-meet-psychedelic-rock sound over to India for their “WOR” video, revealing the exciting events that would make Evel Knievel proud. Daredevils ride cars and motorbikes around the high walls of a circular arena, defying gravity, lapping at a 90-degree angle, and basically ghost-ridin’ the whip.
The Airborne Toxic Event: “Timeless”
One thing’s for sure—this band doesn’t hold back on using fog machines at the beach. The Airborne Toxic Event returns with a dreamy and poetic music video for the first single off of their third album, Such Hot Blood. Ballerinas get lassoed into the colorful fog (see 0:35), and businessmen get lost in a flurry of flying documents (see 2:50).
Iggy Azalea: “Work”
Watching Australian female rapper Iggy Azalea in her “Work” video is mesmerizing. From her high-fashion looks off the Dolce & Gabbana and Jeremy Scott x Adidas runways to her impressive gyrations, she doesn’t fail to entertain. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the cinematography in this video is topnotch—vibrant in color with gorgeous, dusty landscapes (see 2:49).
Biting Elbows: “Bad Motherfucker”
Biting Elbows’s NSFW video isn’t for the faint of heart. If you can get past all the graphic violent scenes, then you’re in for a wild ride. Already amassing over 4 million views in just a few days, the video was banned from YouTube soon after its release, but reinstated when it went viral elsewhere, as reported by Promo News. Director Ilya Naishuller—who also just happens to be the front man for the Russian punk band—strapped a GoPro camera onto a stuntman, revealing a first-person-point-of-view shootout, with the same energy of the Crazy 88s brawl in Kill Bill: Vol. 1.
Margaret: “Thank You Very Much”
Director Chris Marrs Piliero is known for his humor—from bringing out Britney Spears’s cheeky side to getting the mini versions of the Black Keys into a playground brawl. In his latest video, he has Polish singer and fashion blogger Margaret endure an excruciatingly long birthday party for her father, who just so happens to be part of a nudist community.
Pitbull (featuring Christina Aguilera): “Feel This Moment”
Come on. Pitbull and Xtina just want us to “feel this moment” with them, so we might as well give in. In this highly energized black-and-white montage, we get a glimpse into the Cuban-American rapper’s extravagant lifestyle of jets and tailored suits and see behind-the-scenes footage of his concerts and fandom. We also get to see the “Genie in a Bottle” diva run her hands through her hair about a million times.