Top 10 Music Videos of April 2017

You have to be a special breed of musician to have legendary director Paul Thomas Anderson work with you. It’s been four years since HAIM’s impressive debut album Days are Gone and fans have been dying to hear something new from this sister trio. “Right Now” is HAIM doing what they do best, and the music video showcases the group’s incredible musicianship. It’s a slow jam through and through, and PTA’s video matches the song’s rhythm flawlessly.

Accompanying the poppy production of Oh Wonder, this music video celebrates the joy of truly living. There’s a relaxed feel to “Ultralife,” with band members Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West strolling about and just taking it all in. But it’s the supporting visuals that emphasize the song’s message, even if some of the visual effects veer towards the cutesy side. With that being said, the narrative reminds that it’s ok to step outside your comfort zone, whether you’re looking to develop better social skills or just trying to live a happy life. So, “Ultralife” succeeds with its positive message and highly relatable concept.

Abandoning their days as a pop punk band, Fall Out Boy seems to be veering into new territory here. In fact, we would argue this is a full on EDM banger. Revolving around the color purple, the video for “Young and Menace” is a surreal trip featuring parental goats and a disorienting carnival. While some fans may not be on board with the new sound, there’s certainly a lot to like about the visuals. Just hope you aren’t on the receiving end of a goat search party any time soon.

Featuring one of music’s biggest stars, this hallucinatory music video will likely mess with your head. At times, “Goosebumps” is apocalyptic and even horrific, yet the visuals capture how it can feel when you’re all shook up and drunk in love. There’s a definite fever dream quality to the video, too, with the darkened, fluorescent visuals creating a nightmarish vibe. When Kendrick Lamar ultimately appears, the director gets a little more creative with the visuals, while the seamless transitions contribute to the surrealistic nature of it all. So, with its tight direction and ambition, “Goosebumps” stands out as one of the more innovate productions of the month.

Directed by the artist herself, this is one of the more cinematic entries on our list. However, “Now or Never” requires some viewer patience, as Halsey takes her time when connecting the dots. There are existential themes within “Now or Never,” with the night sequences and bedroom scenes adding stylistic flair. In the violent conclusion, Halsey reminds that idealized romance and real life are two separate things, and that interferences may sometimes lead to necessary changes. It’s a distressing video, but one that leaves a mark nonetheless.

As a commentary on smart phones and technology, this production hits the mark early with all its distracted subjects. But while the first half of “Run Up” accentuates the obvious, Nicki Minaj’s Facetime rhyme infuses something new, further demonstrating how people NEED their phones to feel connected. Perhaps “Run Up” doesn’t make a wholly new statement, but it does tap into a timely issue without taking the matter too seriously. After all, it’s a party video – not a public service announcement - so there’s an ample amount of twerking, too.

For this video inspired by Japanese culture, director Mister Whitmore adds a new element to the John Mayer repertoire: dancing. At first, the production stands out with its symmetrical visuals and explosion of colors. But as the romantic narrative plays out, Mayer switches things up by delivering a full-on Panda dance sequence. Within a different setting, this could seem like a mistake. However, it adds some fun to the stylish video, allowing the musician to seem more relatable. “Still Feel Like Your Man” may not please everybody with its clichés and all, yet Mayer clearly wanted to please his core fans with something light-hearted. In that regard, he succeeds.

With an overt nod to 80s pop culture, this music video most definitely follows current trends. Yet the video doesn’t merely acknowledge the 80s– he’s goes all in across the board. So, “Hard Times” feels like it could’ve actually been released way back when, at least when considering all the modest animation, colorful outfits and New Wave-y dancing. From the insert shots to the stage production, Paramore doesn’t’ mess around with this one, and it all equates to something that fans of all ages can identify with, whether it’s 80s aesthetic or just the general vibe.

Shot entirely in black and white, this is more than just your typical indie rock production. Given the dramatic narrative intro and Young Replicant’s fluid direction, one can easily get lost in the visuals before the music even begins. With so many artists promoting their personal brands in music videos, Alt-J differentiates themselves by not appearing whatsoever – it’s all about the mood and the story. And so, there’s a meditative quality to “3WW,” as the traditional Mexican story unfolds through minimalistic visuals and a supernatural twist. It’s beautifully poetic, and it’s an impressive piece of filmmaking, too.

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

“Scared Money”
NxWorries

“No Frauds”
Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne

“Unforgettable”
French Montana feat. Swae Lee

In the first half of this high-octane music video, director Nabil stays focused on the subjects, played by Kendrick Lamar and the acclaimed Don Cheadle. Each man performs and pleads, essentially playing the good guy/bad guy roles. But when Kendrick gets released, the video takes an aggressive turn. In a just a matter of seconds, the director touches on visual themes of family, death and street life, with chaotic performance shots and rapid-fire editing communicating the subject’s state of mind. If Kendrick Lamar wanted to make a statement with “DNA.”, the in-your-face visuals most certainly get the job done.

So, do you agree with our selections? What is your favorite music video from April 2017? For more musical Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.