1. Nicolas Godin, “Widerstehe doch der Sünde” [Because Music]
This video from one half of the massively influential french electropop band Air is easily my favorite video of the year, mainly because of the gorgeous photography. It’s hard for me to think of a reason to be emotionally stimulated by the usage zombie surfers in any medium, but this video, soundtracked by Godin’s cover of a classic Bach piece, really fucking did it for me. There’s true beauty in nearly every shot, from the surfer surrounded by shark fins in the dark water, to the skeleton dances in front of the bonfire, to the rough surfaces of rotting skin contrasting against the smooth, beautiful waves. It may not be as high-up in the production values as acclaimed videos like “Bad Blood” or “Hotline Bling,” but this has stuck with me since its debut earlier this year, haunting me every step of the way.