The Best Videos of 2013

We're in interesting times, people. With MTV only giving a hoot about EDM when it's convenient or during the wee hours of the night, the art of the mu

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

We're in interesting times, people. With MTV only giving a hoot about EDM when it's convenient or during the wee hours of the night, the art of the music video is set to thrive online. And while we still get the usual barrage of boring computer graphics-laden clips, there are some artists who are linking up with directors to craft truly memorable music videos. Whether they tell a story or are just insane for insanity's sake, these music videos helped emphasize how important the visual is for dance music these days. In the age where YouTube is king, a great video can separate an OK single from something that feels magical. Here are the best videos of 2013.

Benga & Kano - “Forefather”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Staple House

An awesome look at Benga and Kano's time spent over the years, going from pirates to main stages.

Starkey ft. Sway & Jareth - “Money”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: El Malito

This feels like a Saturday morning cartoon on acid.

Breach ft. Andreya Triana - “Everything You Never Had (We Had It All)”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: The Sacred Egg

While at times this felt like an EDM take on Slim Goodbody, visually this was just interesting to look at.

Drums of Death ft. Yasmin - “True”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: You Ness

Yasmin shines as brightly as she did in the clip as she did in the track.

Brodinski ft. Theophilus London - “Gimme Back The Night”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: HELMI

Live life through Brodinski's mouth.

Blastranauts - "Primal"

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Ryan Hendrickson & Bobby Galvan

This is a dope look at the underlying issues in suburbia, from sex to utter hate. It's just as funny as it is deep. Plus, FOOD FIGHT!!

Duck Sauce - “It’s You”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Phil Andelman

A-Trak and Armand return as barbers... and the hair in the shop dances?! What?! Do Haircuts Dance?

Oliver - “Night Is On My Mind”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Greg Brunkalla

Sometimes, the crazy old man gets the girl.

Hayden James - “Permission to Love”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Entropico

Creating a slightly-creepy 8-bit video game for your music video? Hell yeah! It's a humorous throwback that played well to the song's strong points.

Skream ft. Sam Frank - “Rollercoaster”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Ian Robertson

Many slated Skream for his disco turn, but the doomsday scenario depicted in this clip is too quirky to seep on.

Just Blaze & Baauer ft. Jay Z - "Higher"

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Nabil

The video was defintiely far from what many would've assumed a "Higher" video would've been, but Nabil's mini-movie is heads above what anyone could've done.

Chase & Status ft. Louis Mttrs - “Lost & Not Found”

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Alexander Southam

With that "one shot" feel and full of melodrama, Chase & Status commissioned an epic video to breathe life into their throwback masterpiece.

Dillon Francis ft. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - "Without You"

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Mister Whitmore & Devon Gibbs

This is already one of the best songs of 2013, from the heartfelt lyrics to the beautiful arrangement, and somehow they were able to catch the sense of lost and longing of a crackling relationship in this video. The lyrics being strewn throughout the video in random places is key.

Gesaffelstein - "Hate Or Glory"

Not Available Interstitial

Director: FLEUR & MANU

This intense clip practically makes a James Bond character out of someone that could be in The Wire. It's gritty, it works perfectly with the music, and speaks louder volumes that most people expect from their dance music videos.

Disclosure ft. AlunaGeorge - "White Noise"

Not Available Interstitial

Director: Luke Monaghan

The perfect combination of off-beat story, interesting locale, and dancing that should make up a quality dance music video. Monaghan smacked this one out of the park, and we even got some insight on the clip when it initially dropped. A big track like this needs a fresh video to accompany it.

Latest in Music