15. Diet Cig – ‘Scene Sick’
Video by: Christopher Daly
All you need is a camera on a tripod, a bit of imagination and some silly dance moves to make a great lo-fi video.
![Diet Cig - Scene Sick [Official Music Video]](https://files.nialler9.com/wp-content/cache/flying-press/3eb7e279658b2b5b0ec8efe760604167.jpg)
14. Nao – ‘Bad Blood’
Video by: Ian Pons Jewell
Along with his video for Vince Staples’ ‘Senorita’, Pons Jewell had a great year. ‘Bad Blood’ has a Medusa-type character seeking revenge.
13. Kelela – ‘A Message’
Video by: Daniel Sannwald.
The song is about despair and Kelela encapsulates it by cutting her own dreads for the camera before being reborn as an Anime character. The opening shot is stunning.
12. David Bowie – ‘Black Star’
Video by: Johan Renck
Bowie returned with a sprawling and beautiful 10 minute song that bursts with stunning imagery and restlessness. The man is 68. An interview with the director gives us some background, but the video matches the song’s ambition and speaks for itself.
11. M.I.A. – ‘Borders’
Video by: M.I.A.
A pertinent and physical manifestation of the refugee crisis, referencing the hazardous journeys undertaken by many humans this year seeking a better life and the hurdles they have to pass in order to do so. Massive border fences and boat crossings. The assembly of people into a boat and the dotting of gold foil emergency blankets on refugees at the shore have a poetic visual language to them.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
