It’s only the second week of 2021 and already we’ve had a number of memorable music videos released by some top artists. Setting the standard high for the rest of the month, and for the rest of the year, could these tracks and iconic music videos just be a taste of what’s to come for great music this year?
- Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Ahead of her new album releasing March 19th, Lana Del Rey shared the music video for her title track, ‘Chemtrails Over The Country Club’ on January 11th. The video starts off very Del Rey – lace and pearl adorned and Gatsby-esque, showing a large house, a little red sports car and a pool scene, all shot somewhere between 1920 and 2020, brought up to covid times by the mesh diamante mask that caused her criticism last year. The music video then takes a darker turn as the song slows and the scene changes to dark shadows, wolves and vampires, and the same little red sports car now on fire. The video’s dark and fantastical last two minutes have us all wondering about the theme and concept of the upcoming album, we can’t wait to hear and see more.
2. Bree Runway – ATM (Ft. Missy Elliott)
Bree Runway returns with another iconic video for her 2020 album 2000AND4EVA, this one featuring an appearance from the one and only Missy Elliott, who features on the track, costume changes and all. When released, the visuals were described as ‘the 1950s meets ‘2000AND4EVA’: a celebration of women, black beauty and luxury living, [with] the final frame an homage to the iconic Grace Jones’, and it conforms to this statement entirely sporting cabaret scenes, diamond-studded performance and ATMs galore.
3. Harry Styles – Treat People WIth Kindness
Styles brought us joy with the visual for his topically titled song ‘Treat People With Kindness’. Spoiling the internet with his (pretty impressive) dance moves and a feature from Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) – his dance partner in the video – we couldn’t have asked for more as a positive start to the year. The cheerful, black-and-white clip will surely be on everyone’s mind for a while to come, due to the rare and wonderful sight of Harry Styles dancing and the delightful optimism of the track.
4. Saweetie – Best Friend (Ft. Doja Cat)
Saweetie’s latest video served us fashion and feminism with Doja Cat in the passenger seat. The video for her single ‘Best Friend’ starts with a telepathic conversation about fake woke men (“B*tch please that kind of crass virtue signalling is nothing but a less overtly nefarious form of toxic masculinity”- Doja Cat) and shows the pair having fun in the strip club, jail, a hotel lobby and a bedazzled Tesla. Styled by Bryon Javar, Doja and Saweetie wear Dapper Dan for Gucci head to toe, making ‘Best Friend’ an iconic fashion moment as well as a girl anthem. As the title of the upcoming album says best, this is indeed Pretty B*tch Music.
5. Justin Bieber – Anyone
Justin Bieber kicked off 2021 with a new single and music video, both released on New Year’s Day. In this video, clearly inspired by the film Rocky, Justin trades in his tattoos and plays an old-fashioned boxer, training and fighting for a living. It’s a dramatic video, mostly focusing on the boxer and his love interest, played by Zoey Deutch (Why Him?, Set It Up), as Bieber sings about the only one he’ll ever love over the retro-hued beach and boxing scenes. Bieber released the single and video with fans in mind, describing the song as a ‘hopeful anthemic song’ that ‘sets the tone for a brighter new year full of hope and possibility’.
Words by Daisy Greetham, Graphics by Victoria Zhao
