The Best Music Videos of 2022 So Far (Part 1)
The Best Music Videos of 2022 So Far (Part 1)
A ranking of the best K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and T-pop videos released this year so far!
#50: PINK FUN, “可以呀 Kya”: Sitcom-level hijinks ensue as the “IRL” adventures of two competing teams blur with their virtual ones.
#49: WOOZI, “Ruby”: A memorable solo debut featuring an eye-catching fashion show
#48: BTS, “Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)”: A very emotional trip down memory lane; a slow walk through all the memories associated with key symbols from BTS’s music video universe over the years
#47: ASTRO, “Candy Sugar Pop”: A whimsical, gravity-defying journey through a candy shop, an island, and outer space, encompassing the album’s core theme of summer fun!
#46: Whee In, “Make Me Happy”: A beyond-beautiful video, featuring Whee In twirling through flower and butterfly-filled rooms and floating through the galaxy
#45: Kep1er, “WA DA DA”: A zany, cosmic, teleportation-fueled adventure that solidifies the group’s status as “Super Rookies”
#44: BIGBANG, “Still Life”: A video with many hidden charms; a video that seems relatively bland upon first glance but is full of hidden messages, through everything from the signs behind the members to their hair colors
#43: Nissy, “Trippin”: Another curiosity-provoking addition to an ongoing story, this time featuring a climactic game-changer for Nissy’s music video characters (yes, plural!)
#42: Cherry Bullet, “Love In Space”: A continuation of the cutesy, pink-heavy aesthetic of “Love So Sweet,” only this time with a magical cat and an elevator that takes the group up to a magical garden!
#41: YERIN, “ARIA”: A swirl of vivid colors and flowers that represent the newfound freedom to express herself about which she sings
#40: STAYC, “RUN2U”: A candy-colored visual feast, from the party decor to the sparkly dresses to the pink subway car
#39: Rocking doll, “Heart Rider”: A pick-me-up that is bright both visually and thematically, adding an installment to the group’s multiplanetary storyline that couldn’t get any sweeter
#38: WONHO, “EYE ON YOU”: A smart usage of color to draw stark contrasts between WONHO and his location (for example, when he wears all white in a dark room) and between him and symbolic details (such as the pop of color provided by red chains)
#37: MIRAE, “Marvelous”: A cross between a preppy “Hi-Teen” concept and something brand new, as the group has literally out-of-this-world fun!
#36: NiziU, “ASOBO”: A cute reminder to take a break from work to go play, a lesson taught with examples! The members bring the party wherever they go and dance away their troubles with CGI animal friends!
#35: JAMIE, “Pity Party”: A devilishly good time, as JAMIE makes a metaphorical concept a literal one, throwing herself a dinner party and letting the unsuspecting guest who did her wrong in the past learn a lesson he won’t soon forget!
#34: Stray Kids, “MANIAC”: A video that feels interactive by the members’ reaching towards the camera and appearing to direct it themselves, and an unexpected toying with the concept of parallel worlds laid out in previous videos
#33: IVE, “LOVE DIVE”: A magical ride through the sky, dance scenes in preppy, chic looks, and poses by a heart-shaped pool make for a video both entertaining and aesthetically pleasing.
#32: Apink, “Dilemma”: An elegant and enviable wardrobe is combined with artsy settings for a viewing experience from which it is hard to look away.
#31: BamBam, “Slow Mo”: A pleasant extension of the pastel wonderland BamBam introduced viewers to in “riBBon,” and a video that hints at not everything being what it seems with every camera tilt, clone appearance, and moment of gravity shifting
#30: JEONG SEWOON, “Roller Coaster”: An optimistic journey of his own making; he refuses to let his fun plans be canceled and finds ways to throw a party right there and then!
#29: Lee Soo Young, “Uranus”: Scenes where she performs a solo dance below a lone spotlight and in an elaborate outfit are matched in their intrigue by scenes where she stands amid starry skies and pretty flower displays.
#28: woo!ah!, “Catch the Stars”: A back-and-forth between adorable, intergalactic adventures and dance-along-ready scenes where the members sport cute, preppy outfits
#27: Vivian Hsu, “VIVILAND”: A virtual museum walk-through, with everything from the architecture to the placement of background dancers becoming a work of art in itself
#26: TVXQ!, “Epitaph -for the future-”: A prime example of how TVXQ! manage to have an outsized stage presence for just two performers. The duo balance each other out, with one embodying a character destined for Hell and another destined for Heaven.
To learn more about my reasons for these picks, and to find out which videos received honorable mentions, listen to the corresponding episode of 17 Carat K-Pop, out here and wherever else you get your podcasts!
Find out numbers 25-1 below!
