Dave Meyers’ Finest Music Movies
Dave Meyers has constantly pushed the boundaries of music video artistry all through his profession, collaborating with a various vary of musicians and bringing his visionary, audacious method to every link-up. His intensive portfolio spans a number of genres, showcasing his skill to adapt and innovate whereas sustaining a signature fashion and finesse.
Although he started his profession working with main movie corporations, his true ardour is in music. His work displays his deep understanding of its influence, combining cutting-edge concepts with a eager sense of appreciation for the artwork kind. Whether or not crafting futuristic environments, implementing intricate choreography, or crafting surreal visuals, Meyers’ work stays a testomony to his pioneering spirit, permitting the visible expertise of music to face as an artwork in itself.
Check out our record of probably the most lauded Meyers masterpieces to see in case your favorites made the lower. (Spoiler: The video he directed for Little Simz’s “Gorilla,” which was picked up a Sound + Imaginative and prescient award for Finest Brief Type Video, is included.) And likewise word, Meyers has directed a whole lot of movies and we may simply record dozens extra, from Billie Eilish and Harry Types to Sabrina Carpenter and Coldplay.
Missy Elliott – “Get Ur Freak On”
Within the first of what can be many collabs with the one and solely Missy Elliott, the 2001 cultural staple options precisely what you’d count on from each creatives — visually beautiful, boundary-pushing work. “Get Ur Freak On” contains a darkish, dank setting with porcelain, gargoyle-like figures that eerily watch as Missy and her army-clad dancers groove to Timbaland’s legendary, bhangra-influenced beat. The video’s out-of-this-world distinctiveness would finally turn out to be a core attribute of future Meyers-Missy joints, equivalent to “One Minute Man,” “Work It,” and “Lose Management,” to call just a few.
Outkast – “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)”
Famend for its eye-popping results and technicolor chaos, Meyers’ work with Outkast on their Stankonia hit “B.O.B” is a precise reflection of the frenetic, futuristic vitality the tune purveys. The video’s high-octane choreography and experimental enhancing strategies immerse viewers in a twister of vivid imagery and rapid-fire sequences. These hallmarks don’t solely improve the tune’s depth — they spotlight each the director and the ATLiens’ daring, inventive approaches to their artwork.
Aaliyah – “Extra Than A Girl”
Aaliyah’s fashion effortlessly bridged then-current developments with forward-thinking aptitude, making every of her initiatives each timeless and forward of their time. Meyers’ presentation of her edgy but elegant aesthetic via his directorial work in “Extra Than A Girl” underscored simply how far more the ingenue needed to supply. Stylized set design and superior visible angles — coupled with Aaliyah’s charming and funky supply — display her immense potential. The video was launched shortly after the celebrity’s tragic loss of life in August 2001, and it left a long-lasting impression of what may have been.
Usher – “U Remind Me”
Boundaries between actuality and fantasy blur seamlessly inside Usher’s “U Remind Me.” The 2001 video introduces a bevy of ladies who echo the faces of Mr. Raymond’s previous flings. A standout look by his then-longtime love, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas of TLC fame, creates a poignant hyperlink between his private historical past and the narrative. The colourful orange and pink backdrop units a dramatic stage for Usher’s now-iconic solo sequence, the place his athleticism and easy swagger are on full show. This mix of intimate reflection and daring visible fashion highlights Meyers’ distinctive skill to intertwine private reference to inventive creativeness, making “U Remind Me” a memorable testomony each to Usher’s allure and the facility of visionary route.
Travis Scott – “Sicko Mode”
All through Meyers’ work in “Sicko Mode” alongside co-director Travis Scott, viewers are instantly greeted by a vibrant and surreal world that harbors a subtly apocalyptic undertone beneath its colourful veneer — which is completely reflective of Scott’s signature branding. Shot in La Flame’s hometown of Houston, the visible swiftly transitions via a whirlwind of scenes, permitting Meyers’ trademark speedy enhancing fashion to actually take middle stage. The “rager” vitality is palpable as Travis Scott and the tune’s featured artist Drake oscillate between weird situations. Every second bursts with offbeat creativity that bolsters the monitor’s dynamic depth — in addition to what each artists typically carry to the desk.
Kendrick Lamar – “Humble”
Okay. Dot’s “Humble” visible — very like the artist himself — implements a uncooked, bombastic fashion that marked a brand new chapter in his inventive evolution. Meyers injects quirky, throwback angles and fisheye lenses into the video, combining old-school strategies with a contemporary twist. Set design, costumes, and motifs (equivalent to a masterfully figurative callback to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Final Supper) amplify the video’s themes, making a distinction between opulence and humility. True to Lamar’s no-nonsense fashion, Meyers delivers a powerfully direct visible expertise that completely enhances the tune’s uncompromising message.
N.E.R.D. – “She Needs To Transfer”
Meyers units a strikingly daring tone that immediately captures your consideration with “She Needs To Transfer,” due to N.E.R.D.’s floating, bopping heads. Outdoors of a magnetic dance efficiency from multi-hyphenate Alesha Dixon, the video’s literal interpretation of the lyrics (such because the imaginative depiction of “her ass is a spaceship I wish to trip”) amplifies its creativity. The narrative unfolds with a lady fervently speeding to the dance flooring, embodying an uninhibited refusal to be restrained in her self-expression via motion. Meyers’ route expertly blends avant-garde visuals with energetic dance sequences, including one more compelling instance of his genius.
Normani – “Motivation”
With Meyers on the helm, Normani’s breakout hit “Motivation” allowed her to step into the solo highlight exterior of Fifth Concord. The video pays homage to the revolutionary music movies that influenced Normani’s personal efficiency fashion, from Britney Spears’ “…Child One Extra Time” to Beyoncé’s “Loopy In Love.” Not solely does “Motivation” rejoice the classics that formed the dance world, it additionally marks a second of cultural revival, as Normani’s envious strikes and Meyers’ compelling visuals invite viewers to re-discover the enjoyment of music movies as a second. Because of its nostalgic references and electrifying vitality, it superbly bridges the previous with the current, establishing Normani as a promising pressure on the pop scene, and including one other milestone to Meyers’ directorial resume.
Victoria Monét – “Alright”
Celebrated as a vibrant tribute to the previous, current, and way forward for pop legacies, “Alright” captures the essence of the Jacksons’ recognizable fashion, whereas setting the scene for Victoria Monét‘s personal star to rise. The video showcases her extraordinary dance skills with standout choreography that has rapidly impressed TikTok challenges, additional cementing her as an exemplary expertise. Meyers’ progressive digital camera work accentuates the intricate particulars of her efficiency, highlighting the distinctive qualities that put her above her contemporaries. By means of a seamless mix of homage and up to date edge, “Alright” successfully spotlights Monét’s burgeoning artistry and establishes her as a powerhouse.
Little Simz – “Gorilla”
The visible for Little Simz’s 2023 monitor “Gorilla” showcases a blinding array of alternate variations of Simbi, every adorned in various outfits starting from cowboy couture to baseball caps and fits. A secondary music video options an interactive, AI-powered catch powered by Microsoft, which highlights the evolution of know-how, whereas permitting Simz and Meyers’ progressive visions to soar. (“Having the ability to translate my feelings into my artwork is a talent I’ve realized to develop through the years,” Simz says of her work with the tech big.) Regardless of the cutting-edge technological backdrop, the main focus stays firmly on the music, underscoring Simz’s inventive prowess.
