10 Underrated Music Videos Of 2020
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You may not have paid much attention to music videos, or even music, in 2020. This is pretty understandable when considering that there’s a good chance that you were figuring out how to deal with a global pandemic or worrying about the fact that we had a neo-fascist for a president.
Alas, this post has nothing to do with public health or politics — we will be examining some of the most underrated music videos of 2020.
What is “underrated”? One of my favorite videos of last year was “Hit Different” a video for a SZA song that features Ty Dolla Sign. How underrated could it be, as it has amassed over 50 million views?
I loved the message of “The Bigger Picture” by Lil’ Baby, but it has over 111 million views. Roddy Ricch created an incredible music video for “The Box”, but it was one of last year’s biggest songs (arguably the biggest). That video is now closing in on a staggering 300 million views. Can a video with one million views be underrated?
I believe so. For this list, no video has over 10 million views. Even if these artists have received some recognition or praise for these videos: they still deserve more credit. Some artists are underrated in general, while others might have collaborated with some of the industry’s most notable names.
SiR — John Redcorn
Views: 5.9M, uploaded April 2020
Let me go ahead and get this out of the way: you will probably like this music video a lot more if you are a fan of King Of The Hill (I’ve recently gone back to watch some episodes, and I must say — it has aged well). You certainly don’t have to be a massive fan to appreciate this video, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. The song title itself references a character from the TV show.
The song is about a relationship that never truly works out, and the backstory of the John Redcorn character offers a remarkable parallel here. For context, Redcorn has an affair with another character on the show who never leaves her husband.
The song explores the idea of never truly getting what you want in a relationship: This feels like a game of survival / Why am I begging for a title? The video drives the song home beautifully while also paying homage to a classic cartoon.
Rina Sawayama “Bad Friend”
Views: 851K, uploaded May 2020
It seems like if there is one person to bet on in terms of the future of pop music, it’s Rina Sawayama. Even if you don’t follow music that closely, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen her name around. However, the Japanese-British singer and songwriter has been around for a while. She may have released Rina in 2017, but it is Sawayama that has propelled her into stardom.
It is the song “XS” that she is most known for, and that might be the song that she performed on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. The anti-capitalist vibe of “XS” is the kind of thing that critics lap up, but the “Bad Friend” video is the real gem from her in 2020.
“Bad Friend” is a song that would probably be characterized as dream pop or something close to it. While it’s not the kind of music that I might personally listen to, it’s hard to deny how cool this video is.
Also, for a pop artist, I will admit that Rina Sawayama seems to switch up the song’s tempo at the right moment to catch you off guard. When you might expect a pop singer to transition into some catchy bridge, Sawayama slows things down, and the video obediently changes pace.
The song is apparently about Rima admitting that she hasn’t always been the best friend and dancing naked in a karaoke booth to Carly Rae Jepsen. Sawayama could’ve done a lot of traditional things for a video…but to give you an idea of how far left she went — she plays a man hanging out at a Japanese bar in a black-and-white music video…and it’s excellent.
Kelly Lee Owens — Corner Of My Sky
Views: 107K, uploaded September 2020
Some trippy videos miss the mark, but this is one of those gems that legitimately feels like a short film. I had never heard of Kelly Lee Owens before watching this video, but she is a critically acclaimed Welsh electronic musician and producer.
Incredibly, she was a nurse whose patients urged her to pursue her music career. This particular song also features none other than John Cale, a founding member of The Velvet Underground.
This music video only boasts 107,000 views, but it stars Michael Sheen, who you may recognize from the TV series Good Omens. The music video does an incredible job of drawing the viewer in.
Still, the music is also intriguing for anyone who might appreciate trip-hop music or anything close to it. Without ruining anything, the music video is simultaneously fascinating, strange, and hilarious. It also involves…bread. Watch here:
GASHI — Running Away (feat Devault and Seb Torgus)
Views: 339K, uploaded September 2020
There is no question that the sound of the 1980s still influences many artists today, but few songs SOUND like the 1980s. Few artists are as talented as GASHI, though, who easily put out one of the most underappreciated projects of the year with 1984.
Devault murders the production, and the Seb Torgus portion of the song fits incredibly well. GASHI has proven himself as a talented songwriter, but this song is particularly addictive.
The song does an incredible job of saluting 1980s aesthetics without being too annoying about it. The featured artists peek out from trees, nod their heads in unison, dance weirdly, and drive down Los Angeles streets in a maroon Rolls Royce.
The video isn’t deep or complex, and it never takes itself too seriously — but it works perfectly.
TV Priest — Decoration
Views: 21K, uploaded October 2020
I don’t know how else to start off describing this video except to say that it is bizarre and hilarious. Why is this man spaghetti out of a bag? Is this a version of spoken word, just less pretentious? What is the onion ring wedding supposed to represent? I don’t have answers for you.
Who is TV Priest? I have no idea. They don’t have a Wikipedia, and their Facebook page has 1018 likes. It isn’t surprising to see this video uploaded on the Sub Pop channel, though, considering how enjoyable the lyrics are and the fact that the music behind the lyrics is pretty captivating, as well.
TV Priest is concentrating on getting through to the next round, whether he/they are talking about unloving avocado, TV adaptations, or staring “up at a sky of useless stars.” Whoever they are, I imagine they have more to say.
Enny — Peng Black Girls (featuring Amia Brave)
Views: 1.5M, uploaded November 2020
Many publications might claim to celebrate the beauty of black women, but it’s refreshing to hear an artist begin a song with “There’s peng black girls in my area code / Dark skin, light skin, medium tone.” In terms of songs from new artists — this belongs on more than one 2020 list.
The video features black women of all kinds, ages, personalities, and clothes, and Enny raps her ass off over some chill production. Amia Brave delivers on the chorus, and it’s the kind of groovy anthem that means that Enny will probably be a LOT more famous by this time next year.
The story here is about more than just the video, as well… it’s an example of the power of investing in yourself. Specifically, the song was a Youtube ad (something that you can verify in the comments). When you consider that Jorja Smith hopped on the remix, it’s safe to say that the marketing strategy worked out quite well for Enny.
To drive home how special this song is, check out some of the Youtube comments that give you an idea of where she’s headed. I wrote about this video for this post not too long ago, and the video had 258,000 views at the time. Unsurprisingly, it now has 1.5 million views. This probably has to something to do with the fact that the remix is now getting a lot of love:
How did I first see this video? A tweet from @Yimmz on December 4th went viral:
Ashley Ray — Dirty Work
Views: 3.1K, uploaded May 2020
I don’t remember the first time I heard “Dirty Work,” but I immediately wanted to know more about Ashley Ray. I’ve heard many sultry vocals over a guitar, but it was clear that this song went a bit deeper. The song is about a mother that feeds babies in a miniskirt, needs a break, and needs some whiskey.
The video captures the song perfectly: Ray stares suggestively at the camera from a trailer park, smokes cigarettes, and strum her guitar in a field of grass. The song is catchy without being poppy, sexy without being obvious, and powerful without being pretentious.
It plays with female stereotypes — Ray is in a bridal dress, drying clothes, and then leaning up against a wall and smiling.
He wants a sweet lil’ angel / He wants a devil in bed / He wants me to rub my tummy while I pat my head.
Let me say this: I never listen to country music. What makes this song resonate? Is it the fact that it salutes single mothers? Is it Ray’s songwriting? Why is this song so satisfying, and how does the video capture it so well? The fact that this music video only has about 3000 views is insane, but something tells me that Ashley Ray will be fine regardless.
I don’t have all the answers, but I wasn’t surprised to see Ashley Ray on NPR’s Tiny Desk only a few days after discovering the video:
Ari Lennox — BUSSIT
Views: 3.7M, uploaded April 2020
Ari Lennox remains one of the most exciting R&B musicians in the world, and it will probably be that way for a while. How is “BUSSIT” underrated when it has over 3 million views? Frankly, I feel like it should have 30 million.
There are all sorts of interesting and incredible choices here. The color choice alone is exquisite, and why does Ari Lennox look so incredible in a sea of purple? This song is pretty straightforward — Ari starts off with: Have off my clothes when you arrive / you could seduce me with my eyes.
While some singers might be more subtle with their seduction, this song has Lennox at her…well…horniest: Work out my spine I need you near / you scared of love, but fuck your fear/ Ain’t no getting away from this if you wanted to.”
Black women are twerking, strutting, dancing, and fanning themselves. There’s a part of the video where only one of the black women around Ari is dancing, while the rest are standing or sitting still.
There are bright colors, mimosas, and feather boas. I might not be Ari’s target audience, but I continue to be impressed by Lennox’s talent.
The video has an incredibly “light” feel to it. The chorus is arguably one of her best, and the song seems to have a bit of a Badu influence. Regardless, I do think this is her best music video to date.
reggie — I DON’T WANNA FEEL NO MORE
Views: 275K, uploaded December 2020
There are some songs and videos that make you want to get out of bed immediately or start pregaming before a night out. This song isn’t one of them.
The pandemic may have taken a toll on your mental health, and it would appear that reggie is going through some things of his own. That may be why he “doesn’t want to feel no more.”
No, this might not be the right song to uplift you — but it does an incredible job of exploring depression. It’s a gentle ode to the desire to numb yourself from life just a bit, and just when it is necessary.
The Houston native starts off the song making this clear:
The streets say you don’t need meds, my mama say “You just need prayer”/
I need what they give you at the dentist — I don’t want to feel no more…”
I don’t know how else to put this: this is one of the most beautiful songs to come out of the pandemic. It’s clear that the melancholy song is more than about the sorrows of a “bad day”, with lines like:
No more mirrors, that’ll be my demise
’Cause I still can’t look my abuser in his eyes
And I tend to dream about things you wake up from…”
The video explores this. A woman is standing in front of graffiti calling for the arrest of Breonna Taylor’s murderers. Two black teens lean against each other at a dangerous angle. Windshields are broken, cigarettes are smoked, seats are taken. I’m not sure what it all means, but it works.
The song seems to be about searching for fulfillment, and it’s the kind of breakout song that I imagine will lead to a very successful career.
Baby Keem- Hooligan
Views: 4.8M, uploaded September 2020
I’ve been following rap music for over 20 years, so I’m used to rappers looking at the camera and reciting their lyrics. That doesn’t happen in “Hooligan” at all, but that isn’t too surprising for Baby Keem. Baby Keem may not be that well-known, but it’s harder to find stronger co-signs.
Drake, the biggest artist in the world, said that Baby Keem might have the best album of 2020. Kendrick Lamar, the most critically-acclaimed rapper in the world, considers him a protege.
It’s only right: he is actual cousins with the legendary lyricist. Baby Keem is clearly headed for super-stardom, but it doesn’t make “Hooligan” less of an achievement. It might have a melodic chorus, but the video is truly something else:
Baby Keem switches things up here: five women rap the lyrics to the song, which is a stream-of-consciousness gem that flourishes over an incredible and mysterious beat. He speaks on entitled groupies, how well he eats pussy, and his newfound stardom.
It doesn’t take much exploring to realize that this is a song about the loneliness that comes with fame and success. While the Kendrick influence is evident, Baby Keem is starting off strong in his own right.
