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the best music video moments of 2013

The 50 Best Music Video Moments Of 2013

December 11, 2013 - 8:37 pm by Clover Hope

Who said music videos are obsolete? This year, not only were our ears jamming to new music from our favorite artists; our eyes were glued to the mini motion pictures that accompanied those tunes. Artistry has been at an all-time high, along with concepts in music videos. Don't believe us? Just watch... er, click, as we round up 50 eye-catching screenshots that captured our small attention span.

the best music video moments of 2013
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drake worst behavior the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Drake Song: "Worst Behaviour" We’ve heard Drake rap about his pops in songs like “Look What You’ve Done,” but in the opening scenes of this Director X-driven video, we got a closer look at a pimp (metaphorically) named Dennis Graham.
kanye west bound 2 the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Kanye West Song: "Bound 2" This intimate image is so instantly classic that Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi recreated it. So did James Franco and Seth Rogen. We'll #NeverForget this scene from the Nick Knight-directed reel.
miley cyrus wrecking ball the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Miley Cyrus Song: "Wrecking Balls" Miley Cyrus swinging on a wrecking ball in her birthday suit led to more than few confused expressions.
beyonce bow down the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Beyonce Song: "Bow Down" It was a less than 30-second clip, and still no full-version release, but frenzy ensued once Beyonce appeared in a sparkly costume and a grill on YouTube for this Hit-Boy-produced number.
ciara body party the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Ciara Song: "Body Party" This musical break within the song provided an insight as to how the recently engaged couple met.
j cole crooked smile the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): J. Cole Feat. TLC Song: "Crooked Smile" After gaining inspiration from Fruitvale Station, J. Cole made a moving video tribute to Aiyana Stanley-Jones, a 7-year-old girl who was shot and killed during a police raid in Detroit.
jay z holy grail the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Jay Z Feat. Justin Timberlake Song: "Holy Grail" Symbols and strange imagery plastered Jigga’s visuals for “Holy Grail,” including this one of JT sitting at a table fit for a king, overlooking a group of bodies covered in sheets.
katy perry unconditionally the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Katy Perry Song: "Unconditionally" Katy Perry's regal appearance is a thing to behold.
MIA yala the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: M.I.A. Song: "Y.A.L.A." Visual effects and infrared hues kept our eyes glued to the screen.
2 chainz used 2 the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: 2 Chainz Song: “Used 2” 2 Chainz paid homage to the origins of this bounce instrumental when he traveled to New Orleans and shot the video for “Used 2.” He also hosted a mini-reunion of the Hot Boyz, capturing Lil’ Wayne, Turk and Juvenile in the frame while Chainz rocked a “FREE B.G.” tee next to Mannie Fresh.
kendrick lamar bitch don't kill my vibe the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Kendrick Lamar Song: "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" The all-white funeral symbolized the death of molly references in hip-hop. Powerful.
macklemore and ryan lewis same love the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert Song: "Same Love" The hip-hop duo’s depiction of same-sex love symbolized a new step in advocating for LGBT rights.
j cole power trip the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): J. Cole Feat. Miguel Song: "Power Trip" The Born Sinner rapper commits a deadly act when his envy of Miguel gets the best of him.
drake started from the bottom the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Drake Song: "Started From The Bottom" You know you’ve made it when you get your own billboard in your hometown.
macklemore cant hold us the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton Song: "Can't Hold Us" From land to sky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis traveled by every mode of transportation to reach the Space Needle in their hometown of Seattle and flew “The Heist” flag high for all to see.
wale back 2 ballin the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Wale feat. French Montana Song: "Back 2 Ballin" Sega Genesis erstwhile users rejoiced when Wale and French Montana took viewers back to their childhood days.
audio push shine on the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Audio Push Song: "Shine" Their imitation of Smokey and Craig in the classic movie Friday was nostalgic and comedic.
danny brown dip the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Danny Brown Song: "Dip" What can these little star imprinted candies represent?
kanye west black skinhead the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Kanye West Song: "Black Skinhead" The KKK hats and Kanye's diesel video game like visage in this Nick Knight-directed video sparked controversy once the video was released, officially and unofficially.
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Artist: Jay Z Song: "Picasso Baby" In his most artistic concept yet, Hov stands forehead to forehead with art connoisseur Marina Abramovi?.
chance the rapper everybodys something the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Chance The Rapper Song: "Everybody's Something" Religious instances were caught in Chance The Rapper’s silhouette.
joey badass my yout the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Joey Bada$$ Song: "My Yout" The Brooklyn native met his grandfather for the first time when he traveled to St. Lucia to shoot this clip.
robin thicke give it 2 u the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Robin Thicke Feat. 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar Song: "Give It 2 U" The Alabama State’s Stingettes turned up the ante in this Diane Martel-directed video.
tyler the creator ifhy the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Tyler, the Creator Song: "IFHY" Tyler and his love interest transformed into dolls that probably took hours of makeup to appear so realistic.
chris brown fine china the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Chris Brown Song: "Fine China" Breezy danced his way into the future on this high-energy melody.
asap ferg asap rocky the best music video moments of 2013
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jhene aiko bed peace the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Jhene Aiko Feat. Childish Gambino Song: "Bed Peace" Their sit-in reenactment took its cues from John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s bed-ins for peace in the '70s.
marsha ambrosius without you the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Marsha Ambrosius feat. Ne-Yo Song: "Without You" Child molestation was depicted in the English songbird’s music video, showing Marsha reflecting on those troubling times in the visual.
janelle monae queen the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Janelle Monae Feat. Erykah Badu Song: "Q.U.E.E.N." The eccentric pair looks powerful and royal even when standing stoically.
ariana grande the way the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller Song: "The Way” Was that kissed planned or just going with the flow?
robin thicke blurred lines the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Song: "Blurred Lines" T.I. showing off his two-step skills is both replay and gif-worthy.
janelle monae featuring miguel primetime the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Janelle Monae Feat. Miguel Song: "Primetime" Miguel’s on-screen chemistry with the Kansas City native looked like innocent fun.
katy perry roar the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Katy Perry Song: "Roar" Swinging from a vine, Katy Perry took her video production to new heights.
lady gaga do what u want the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Lady Gaga feat. R. Kelly Song: "Do What U Want" Lady Gaga straddling the Black Panties artist overshadows all the previous performances of Mother Monster’s track.
lupe fiasco old school love the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Lupe Fiasco Feat. Ed Sheeran Song: "Old School Love" Who would’ve seen a collaboration between Lupe Fiasco and Ed Sheeran coming?
rihanna what now the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Rihanna Song: "What Now" This emotional shot was a big switch-up from her previous video for “Pour It Up.”
ariana grande baby the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Ariana Grande Song: "Baby I" Bubbly expressions, a feel-good melody - this shot sums up the entire video.
miley cyrus we cant stop the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Miley Cyrus Song: "We Can't Stop" What helped catapult the twerking sensation into mainstream media, this shot of the “Wrecking Ball” singer and her gyrating teddy bears became synonymous with Cyrus’ bold transformation.
lady gaga applause the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Lady Gaga Song: "Applause" This high-energy dance number added to Gaga’s portfolio of choreographed routines.
solange losing you the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Solange Song: "Losing You" The Houston native is known for her quirky yet envious fashion ensembles, but the “Bad Girls” singer placed the spotlight on the Les Sapeurs, a revered fashion society in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
ciara im out the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Ciara feat. Nicki Minaj Song: "I'm Out" This collaboration was a first for the pair and turned out to be a smash single.
pusha t numbers on the board the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Pusha T Song: "Numbers On The Boards" Yes, the scenic Parisian backdrop was nice to view along with Pusha T’s silhouette, but what stood out the most was Chief Keef’s quick cameo.
asap rocky wild for the night the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): A$AP Rocky & Skrillex Song: "Wild For The Night" The Dominican Republic served as the destination spot, highlighting the wildest moment of the pair’s trip to be their performance on stage.
lorde royals the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Lorde Song: "Royals" Lorde’s fresh face and emotionless expression sums up the minimality yet message-heavy video for her chart-topping hit.
justin timberlake tko the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Justin Timberlake Song: "TKO" Who knew that getting dragged on a rugged road looked so painless.
kevin hart frost without you the best music video moments of 2013
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Comedian Kevin Hart Song: "Frost Without You" The actor/comedian showcased his singing talents in this spoof of Robin Thicke’s “Lost Without You.”
lana del rey tropico the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Lana Del Rey Song: "Tropico" The 30-minute short film was full of imagery and controversy at its finest. With Anthony Mandler behind the lens, the shots lured in viewers, but none quite like Lana Del Rey playing Eve and her love interest assuming the role of Adam in the Garden of Eden.
solange lovers in the parking lot the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Solange Song: "Lovers In The Parking Lot" Bun B’s two-step in sync with Solange’s moves was one of the many highlights in this video, not to mention Mannie Fresh’s guest appearance as well.
rihanna pour it up the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist: Rihanna Song: "Pour It Up" The Bajan singer was taught a few moves around the pole while on set for her “Pour It Up” video, but nothing quite like this one.
mike will made it 23 the best music video moments of 2013
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Artist(s): Mike WiLL Made It Feat. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J Song:"23" This crew of artists compiled another “banger" while all adorning their Air Jordans.
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