Top 10 Best Music Videos of 2022

Teaming up once more, these two pop stars find themselves telling the fictional story of young people going to college. A sequel to the artists’ previous music video for “Everything Has Changed,” we see two students’ stories run in parallel and intertwine. Viewers watch as they live through the highs and lows of being a teenager. This concept also features a nod to Swift and Sheeran’s real-life friendship. Each actor adds to every moment in dramatic performances without the need for dialogue. Both sentimental and engrossing, the coming-of-age tale has a universal quality and spark. The whole narrative plays out like a mini-movie, complete with its own emotional gut punch.

K-pop videos have a reputation for being huge productions. BLACKPINK’s work for “Pink Venom” is in keeping with that brand, containing an eclectic array of great sets and costumes. It feels like no expense was spared in the interest of creating an especially memorable experience. Each member of the quartet proves themselves as entertainers, dancing in environments straight out of a sci-fi movie. There's even a monster truck for added effect. One thing’s for sure, we’re anything but bored watching the video, as it moves fast and mimics the high-intensity flow of the song. The release broke records and gave Blackpink stans another reason to be happy.

Mitski isn’t afraid to completely embody her songs in surreal videos. You can see every note flowing through her during this appearance, moving along with the beat through a strange landscape. She segues from a nighttime motorcycle ride to a mysterious dream-type experience as the line between the real and surreal blurs. Even a full-body cast can’t stop her from engaging with the track in one tense moment. The narrative is a stunning interpretative piece about everything from pain to love to self-actualization. In one of the final sequences, Mitski turns to performance art in an unexpected visual feast. It all intertwines beautifully and thoughtfully. What more could you ask for?

As some kind of witch, Florence Welch appears in the music video for “King” donning a flowing robe and hood. She takes a man to an abandoned structure in a mystical and moody piece. Eventually, a group of other helpers arrive to conduct some kind of magical ceremony. The empowering concept leads up to a grand illusion where the sorceress does one final trick. From the atmospheric set to the spooky narrative, “King” receives a worthy visual pairing with the help of Welch’s presence. Director Autumn de Wilde makes her presence known throughout with all the skill of a true cinematic artist.

The clip for “Out of Time” turns seemingly simple images into an enthralling evening. A night out on the town becomes a memorable date for the two central characters, played by the Weeknd and “Squid Game” actress HoYeon Jung. Their romantic rendezvous includes a meet-cute in an elevator and even some karaoke to bring them closer together. Both the singer and his co-star could easily have their own rom-com, bringing palpable chemistry to their shared scenes. But everything comes crashing down on the Weeknd in a mind-bending finale that changes the genre to a horror film with unexpected results. Keeping us on our toes, these visuals more than deliver.

Lizzo joins a support group in this awesome video for “About Damn Time.” Taking a break from the meeting, she becomes a more lively version of herself that embraces the music in her soul. A magnetic energy jumps through the screen thanks to her captivating presence and dance moves. The feel-good clip follows the singer as she lights up the set, turning ordinary hallways and offices into disco palaces. The list of memorable images includes Lizzo playing the flute in the middle of a group of synchronized swimmers. The performer undeniably puts a smile on viewers’ faces with this committed effort.

“As It Was” quickly became one of the biggest songs of 2022, and it of course has a great video to go along with it. Styles appears in a multi-dimensional concept, with one section featuring a room with an elaborate circular platform. He and performer Mathilde Lin pose, embrace, and hang on as the not-so-Lazy Susan takes hold of them. Their dizzying rotations feel like a metaphor for Styles’ experience and evolution as a public figure. After spending time in an art room and stripping down, the artist takes life by the horns and escapes the monotony of existence. The finale features him dancing with the rejuvenated spirit of someone who’s rediscovered their happiness.

Taylor Swift goes above and beyond here, playing three versions of herself in a subversive look at her inner demons. The singer answers the door to find a much different and more destructive part of herself. Together, they deal with life in humorous scenes involving everything from drinking to impromptu life lessons. We also see the star in monster-sized form, representing another side of her struggles. It all leads to a hilarious scene after her fictional death with a few special guest actors who really commit to their parts. Another worthy entry from “Midnights” is the dazzling video for “Bejeweled.” But “Anti-Hero”’s music movie gets to the heart of the performer, serving her words especially well.

Using both black and white images and pristine color photography, Kendrick Lamar rails against the system in this video. His always-compelling performance shines through every inflection and emotion in this appearance. Beginning with his floating figure over the ocean, the narrative moves fast and to far-reaching places. Lamar grooves and exercises to the beat when he isn’t rapping to the camera with pure magnetism. Evocative locations accentuate the artistry of this piece in every fascinating second. Somehow, the video even finds time to add skateboarding to the mix before all is said and done!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Bam Bam”, Camila Cabello feat. Ed Sheeran
Enjoy a Free-Spirited Night Out Full of Dancing & Debauchery

“Betty (Get Money)”, Yung Gravy
A Gloriously Campy Salute to the ‘80s

“Part of the Band”, The 1975
The Beautiful Black & White Video Captures a Beach Performance with String Instruments

“Light Switch”, Charlie Puth
Puth Exercises in an Energetic Video Full of Pastels & High-Intensity Moves

“Bones”, Imagine Dragons
An Office of Day Traders Transform Into Zombies in This Wild Ride of a Video

“Cash in Cash Out” could have had a typical performance video, but the creators went the extra mile. Pharrell, 21 Savage, and Tyler, the Creator appear as animated characters with a world full of stunning visuals. Everyone involved roams around in wild visions and fantasy sequences designed by exceedingly creative technicians. They drift in cars, ride bikes, and dance around in an engaging concept that's constantly moving. Spinning around in zoetrope-like fashion, this idea is as technically impressive as it is entertaining. Music videos have rarely been full of this much spectacular chaos, and we’re here for it.