June's Top 10 Music Videos: Editor's Picks

Each month, I'm running down excellent music videos and valuing artists who are breaking new territory with their visuals or choreography.

Released Date: June 1, 2020

Title: More & More

Artist: TWICE

"More & More" is the lead single from the album of the same name released in May by the South Korean girl group TWICE.

The music video for "More & More" is a kaleidoscope of landscapes and a world that's a blast to watch. The artistic clip shows the nine members, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, in a luxuriant garden with rabbits and butterflies, in extremely colorful visuals, alongside elaborate choreographies. TWICE described the music video's visual concept as hippie and nature.

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Released Date: June 8, 2020

Title: Lose Somebody

Artist: Kygo, OneRepublic

Director: Christian Lamb

Conceding COVID-19 has made it hard for artists to work together in person; the acts used green screen technology to simulate being together. Here's the case in the music video of "Lose Somebody," "by Kygo with Ryan Tedder, from OneRepublic, directed by Christian Lamb. The two artists take a virtual, multidimensional trip to the mountains, beach, arcade, sunflower field, and more.

"Lose Somebody" is a single off Kygo's freshly released third studio album, "Golden Hour."

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Released Date: June 11, 2020

Title: Azul

Artist: J Balvin

Director: Colin Tilley

"Azul" is a sensual reggaeton about a woman he loves. The animated blue video describes how J Balvin tries to get away from his beloved. In the music video, the Colombian singer goes through heartbreak, remembering his relationship's good and bad moments. To try to forget his ex-girlfriend, he asks for a life-size inflatable doll to keep him company. Instead, he is contaminated by memories and tries to keep himself busy.

"Azul" is part of the album "Colores" and follows the music videos of "Blanco", "Morado", "Rojo", "Amarillo", "Gris", "Verde" and "Rosado", all directed by Colin Tilley.

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Released Date: June 12, 2020

Title: Forgive Me

Artist: Chloe x Halle

Director: Sarah C Prinz

In the "Forgive Me" music video, directed by Sarah C Prinz, the sisters Chloe x Halle offers stylish futuristic imagery, green laser lights, and charming male dancers. They hide an unlucky ex, and the focus is on the choreography.

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Released Date: June 16, 2020

Title: Dreams

Artist: Ella Eyre, Yxng Bane

Director: Sophia Ray

The music video for "Dreams" was filmed at home in lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. All the lighting, art, hair, and makeup were done by the artists themselves, under the direction of Sophia Ray.

The singer also made a video on her Instagram account, showing how she created and assembled the clip. The playful R&B track features a lively verse from rapper Yxng Bane.

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Released Date: June 17, 2020

Title: Cry

Artist: Ashnikko, Grimes

Director: Mike Anderson

Ashnikko, whose real name is Ashton Casey, has a new single called "Cry," She teams up with the Canadian musician Grimes. The collaborative cut comes with an anime-inspired official video, which Mike Anderson directed. According to a press release, the music video "depicts Ashnikko and Grimes mutating and metamorphosing into a demon alter ego of Ashnikko stalking her prey as the two sing "this could get gruesome" – the aftermath of a brutal betrayal."

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Released Date: June 26, 2020

Title: How You Like That

Artist: BlackPink

Director: Seo Hyun-Seung

BlackPink's music video for "How You Like That" is directed by Seo Hyun-Seung, who previously directed "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and "Kill This Love." Its music video currently holds the record of being the most-streamed music video premiere on YouTube with 1.66 million views.

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Released Date: June 27, 2020

Title: Be Kind

Artist: Marshmello, Halsey

Director: Hannah Lux Davis

Following the singer's aesthetics, the music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, brought colorful scenarios with beautiful natural elements resembling a small Japanese street/village. The video starts with Halsey on a dark balcony when everything takes on color afterward. Among the details, what caught the most attention was how the singer was dancing.

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Released Date: June 28, 2020

Title: Desahogo

Artist: Nicky Jam, Carla Morrison

Director: Marlon Villar

Nicky Jam dropped a surprise freestyle titled "Desahogo" featuring Carla Morrison. In the song, Jam opened up about his life fights, self-doubts, and challenging road to success. An animated music video directed by Marlon Villar shows a cartoon version of Jam telling his story on the streets.

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Released Date: June 30, 2020

Title: Soul Control

Artist: Jessie Ware

For those who haven't heard Jessie Ware's latest work, "What's Your Pleasure," then what I can say is that it is a collection of vibrant dances. One of the proofs is in the video for "Soul Control," starring Hajiba Fahmy under the direction of I COULD NEVER BE A DANCER. Don't you agree?