Despite its usual ups and downs, we gotta say: 2022 was pretty beautiful. And of course, the sentiment extends to the many pleasant visuals on YouTube we saw this year. We're talking about music videos.

Back in June, we marvelled over how directors, set designers and choreographers are banding together and collaborating with artists to come up with a visual feast. But we acknowledge that these videos are not just eye candy. Instead, they bring another layer of depth to a song, letting us understand its message through our sense of sight.

We've talked about the best songs and the best collaborations we've listened to these past twelve months.. On the third instalment of our Best Of 2022 series, we at Bandwagon take a look at some of the most stunning music videos this year has to offer:

MORE - j-hope

Directed by: Leesuho

There's nothing like the anticipation of opening up a package, but j-hope's 'MORE' takes that to a whole new level. The Leesuho-directed visual follows what we assume to be j-hope's alter-ego as he explores the varied rooms that live inside a mysterious box. From watching a Donnie Darko-esque hat-wielding version of j-hope on a hospital bed, hooked up to an x-ray machine to disrupting an entire office floor in mayhem and chaos to joining his band of distorted-faced members to erupt into the powerful chorus of the Jack In The Box pre-release single, the music video—which many fans suspect take inspiration from the cult classic, Fight Club—is, to put simply, mesmerising. It’s the kind you have to keep replaying, trying to catch every single detail (including a cameo from j-hope’s fellow BTS member, V).

The team-up of Balming Tiger member and Boring Studios creative director Leesuho and j-hope is like a match made in heaven. If there was anyone who could bring j-hope well-known creativity and meticulousness to life, it’s the wonderful mind of Leesuho—who in the past has worked with the likes of CL, Woo, B.I, and more.

To say that 'MORE' was a great start for j-hope’s Jack In The Box promotions would be a major understatement. It's unlike anything we've seen from the multihyphenate, who before was synonymous with bright colours and whimsical rap but was now dark-eyed and mysterious, exploring darker soundscapes and unveiling his inner shadows. It's refreshing and speaks magnitudes about j-hope versatility and capabilities. - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer

Ditto - NewJeans

Directed by: Shin Wooseok

To say NewJeans' comeback was one everyone was looking forward to would be an understatement. We've all been waiting and anticipating, and the intriguing case of 'Ditto' definitely lived up to the hype. The mind of Min HeeJin is truly a wonder. A two-sided music video is unheard of but then again, it's nothing compared to everything the ADOR girl group has done so far, from a surprise debut in the meticulously planned out world of K-pop to the worldwide phenomenon that is 'Hype Boy'.

Directed by Wooseok Shin, the 'Ditto' music videos, told primarily through old video footage, follow NewJeans in school and a mysterious character, Heesoo who films them, watches them dance and go on about their day, and eventually, becomes their friend. As I write this, it’s only been a couple of hours after its release and already, so many theories have sparked online about its whimsically haunting story. Some say Heesoo is the girls' long-lost friend remembering their younger years together while others think she represents the relationship between fans and idols. I personally think Heesoo imagined NewJeans cause she was struggling to make friends at school but then her imagination got the best of her, everything’s getting muddled up and now she can’t tell what’s real and what isn’t… that’s just me though and my love for creepy thrillers. But who’s to say what the actual story is? - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer

MING LING - RAMENGVRL feat. Yung Raja

Directed by: Andrea Wijaya

Frenetic, over-the-top, and offbeat, the music video for 'MING LING' is everything you would expect from a project that unites Indonesia's RAMENGVRL and Singapore's Yung Raja. Dressed in suits and in possession of a mysterious glowing briefcase, the hip-hop stars will instantly remind any film enthusiast of John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson's characters from Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. But unlike that film, this music video sees its protagonists go head to head with the noodle mafia (yes, you read that correctly).

Directed and edited by Andrea Wijaya, the music video—which also pays homage to the gangster films of Hong Kong—doesn’t give you any time to catch your breath, thanks to the many dynamic shots and wacky transitions it throws at you in rapid succession, and that's by no means a bad thing. By fully committing to this particular style, Wijaya has infused the visual accompaniment to 'MING LING' with a unique personality, one befitting a collaboration between RAMENGVRL and Yung Raja. Speaking of the two artists, they are an absolute joy to watch in this video, a platform where they are able to show off their comedy chops. In the video’s most memorable and hilarious scene, Yung Raja, after being shot multiple times by a mobster, opens up his shirt to reveal a bulletproof vest made up of—wait for it—packets of ramen-flavoured noodles. - Brandon Raeburn, Staff Writer

Subtitle - Official Hige Dandism

Directed by: Takuto Shimpo

Official Hige Dandism’s songs and music videos never really miss, and 'Subtitle', which had captivated listeners through the Japanese drama Silent, is no different. The drama tells the story of a man who had isolated himself from his loved ones, including the person he cherishes the most, after being diagnosed with progressive hearing loss, and how the characters all eventually manage to close the bridge between the hearing and the deaf to mend their broken relationships.

Meanwhile, in its official music video, miscommunication happens between a father and daughter against the backdrop of a figure skating competition. The way the story of their lives is painted is through the girl's routine, which she dances to the tune of Satoshi Fujihara singing about waiting for one's feelings to reach the other where words can't express. It’s a reminder of how love and understanding come in many forms and that the absence of one common language is no hindrance to letting your message be heard. - Ginny Palma, Contributing Editor

Brother Beat - Snow Man

Directed by: ARAIKUMA

This music video made it to our midyear list and deserves a spot in the year-ender because of its timeless charm – there’s really nothing quite like the nostalgia this Mr Osomatsu The Movie theme brings with its comic book stylings and old-school TV set feel. Furthermore, it holds true the very charm of well-loved Japanese boyband Snow Man, by showcasing their colourful, larger-than-life but extremely relatable personalities and their impressive dance skills which leverage a penchant for quirkiness that’s sure to keep you eager for more. - Ginny Palma, Contributing Editor

INVU - Taeyeon

Directed by: SAMSON 

When it comes to aesthetic music videos, Girls' Generation's leader Taeyeon has definitely proven to have some of the most aesthetically pleasing solo videos to date. Set pretty much like a movie, the accompanying music video for 'INVU' from her third album of the same name is directed by SAMSON and sees the talented vocalist taking on the role of a Greek goddess and an ethereal-looking archer. If Taeyeon’s powerful vocals do not already enthral you, you will definitely be taken by the breathtaking cinematography presented in this video. The confidence that Taeyeon exudes as she stares down the volley of arrows heading her way seems like a fitting metaphor for her strength and holding her ground even in the face of adversity. The synchronicity presented between Taeyeon and her background dancers will leave you awestruck as they complement each other so perfectly and yet somehow, her delicate moves and smooth performance throughout the song make her stand out.

There are so many aspects of the video to unpack. From the sophisticated choreography to the immaculate styling, it is impossible to grasp the full brilliance of the concept after only watching it once. In March, 'INVU' became Taeyeon's 13th music video to hit 20 million views, just a month after its release, reiterating how her music videos are always well-received and beloved by many. - Glenda Lim, Staff Writer

Oceans & Engines - NIKI

Directed by: Isaac Ravishankara

Nothing hurts me more than this song but even then, I love it with my entire heart. I’ve been fortunate enough to have never had my heart broken as deeply as NIKI details in this song, but from the moment thE strum of that guitar starts, I’m brought into a world of pain I’ve never actually experienced. I’ve always raved about NIKI’s songwriting skills, specifically about how they’re so vivid as if she takes you to the exact site of pain and loss with every song she writes. So, when the concept of the music video for 'Oceans & Engines' was just that, I was a wreck.

The video—which comes as one part of the Indonesian star’s short film for her sophomore album, Nicole—begins with the very scene she details in the song. It’s a Saturday, with the sun about to set as NIKI tries to get her then-boyfriend to the airport for his flight. We’re peering into their final moments together before it ends, it’s so intimate and personal like it’s found footage we’re not meant to be seeing. The rest of the visual sees NIKI revisit the sites of her greatest love story and now, her greatest heartache as the ghost of what was haunts her. It hurts, everything is awful, and there are so many tears for a breakup that wasn’t even mine.

NIKI’s creativity, across her entire Nicole album, is insane. The amount of thought and care that went to revive the stories of her teenage heartache is impeccable, and if this music video is any indication at all, NIKI is one hell of a storyteller. - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer

Wind Song - TU LALA

Directed by: Tamia Reodica 

New Filipino artist TU LALA just recently released their first offering to the world in the form of 'Wind Song'—and what an offering it is. A mish-mash of different video and photo clips, cousins Tamia Reodica (a.k.a Grrl Cloud) and Jason Stinnett (a.k.a. Pacific Bells) show us how they synergize as a duo despite being miles apart.

The video for 'Wind Song' is almost a scrapbook of people and places and other random things that reveal their love for shoegaze and experimental pop music, a beautiful introduction that would compel one to listen to their new EP, Cut & Paste. - Maddie Castillo, Staff Writer

Postman - Toro y Moi

Let’s be clear: 'Postman' didn’t make the list just because Chaz Bear, more popularly known as Toro y Moi, is embracing his Filipino roots in the video for the Mahal track – a Sweet Corn, Boy Bawang and balikbayan box-strewn fantasy. As Mr. Postman himself, Toro takes the wheel of a jeep, barreling through San Francisco streets, California highways, and clay-like oddball dioramas of the motherland.

The visuals Toro y Moi have rolled out for Mahal, after signing on to Phoebe Bridgers' Dead Oceans label, are nothing he has ever done before. Chaz tells PAPER, "I haven't really done a shiny music video. A lot of my music videos are pretty DIY." Here, Glenn Michael and Christo of collective Kid. Studio lends the world-building some needed cheek to accompany the tune’s slinky basslines and bright funk.

Maybe Pinoy pride was the reason, but it genuinely feels like a love letter from across the Pacific… with a dash of Maggi Savor. - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer

Seryoso - SOS

Directed by: Simon Te and Summer Puertollano

The stakes are high as SOS – looking square in their designer barongs and straw hats – play mahjong. They all place their bets, with each round getting more bizarre than the last: a land title, car keys, a guitar, then a Betta fish. Just as things are about to get past the point of no return, the ageless Jericho Rosales bursts into the scene and tries to de-escalate the situation, just before they all break into a nonchalant Napoleon Dynamite-ish dance.

‘Seryoso’ is the first single from the quartet formerly known as She’s Only Sixteen to be sung in full Tagalog. The single and its accompanying video by Simon Te and Summer Puertollano, however, doesn’t quite represent a break from their past – just as they’re about to celebrate 15 years of music-making next year. "It’s about looking back to the times when things were simple and comparing it to the present where things have changed," said frontman Roberto Seña in a previous statement. - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer

ZOOM - Jessi

Directed by: 하이퀄리티피쉬 (HIGHQUALITYFISH)

The song itself took Tiktok by storm but for me, the music video for 'ZOOM' is the real gem. After all, it is here that we see the steps of the infamous dance challenge for the first time. It's quite interesting that the choreography the dance group LACHICA came up with was easy enough to emulate, and also cute but sexy at the same time—something that embodies the Korean-American rapper pretty well indeed.

Another thing to note, though: we see Jessi feasting on quite the spread with her girl-friends—as if celebrating all the different sides she got to show in this video, something that she mentioned in her BTS footage. - Maddie Castillo, Staff Writer

Animal Farm - BIBI

Directed by: Ojun Kwon

For the last couple of months before its release, BIBI went on and on about the cinematic universe of her now-released album Lowlife Princess: Noir so the anticipation was incredibly high. But if there’s anything you should know about the rising star, it’s that she always serves.

'Animal Farm' was the first chapter from the highly anticipated conceptual album and what an introduction it was. Set in a dystopian underworld of 2044 where pollution and scarcity run rampant in Seoul, BIBI takes on the role of Oh Geum-ji—a character inspired by Park Chan-wook's Lee Geum-ja in Lady Vengeance—who rises from a male-ran underground society run to take over the land. The Ojun Kwon-directed music video for 'Animal Farm' sees the beginnings of her rise in power, taking a stand against the mask-donned and pig-nosed men who run things. The takeover ends with the blood-drenched singer standing in the middle of the limb-covered ballroom playing a wicked guitar solo.

It’s epic and grandeur as far as music video fight scenes go. And while I think it’s dishonourable to bring a gun to a sword fight, BIBI is in charge now and she can do whatever she wants. - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer

Watch the music video here.

Superstrobe - Shelhiel

Directed by: Nelson Chong

Artists creating their own fictional world for an album is nothing new, but rarely do they ever build an entire universe. Shelhiel, however, is not like other artists. For his SUPERSTROBE, he put together a parallel dimension set on Earth-527 in the year 4000 where he takes on the role of Angel-527 who descend upon this intergalactic land to find himself as he goes through the cyclic process of love and loss. The music video for 'Superstrobe' is our first sighting of this futuristic land.

The visual takes us through the birth of Angel-527 and his psychedelic journey through a city mirroring today’s Kuala Lumpur. It’s intriguing and captivating, with each scene offering so much to look at. In an interview with Bandwagon, Shelhiel shared how the visual was the product of a year’s worth of work and an artistic band of creatives. You can tell the project was packed with love, from the very origins of its story to the hard work that went in behind the scenes, and the result is absolutely incredible. - Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer

Hideous - Oliver Sim

Directed by: Yann Gonzalez

Taking inspiration from B-movies, British talk shows, and gay films from different decades, Yann Gonzalez's 22-minute short film Hideous is "a 3-part queer horror" set to 'Confident Man', 'Run the Credits’, 'Hideous' and 'Fruit' from Oliver Sim's solo debut album Hideous Bastard. The likes of his bandmate Jamie xx, RuPaul's Drag Race UK alum Bimini (Bon Boulash), Fehinti Balogun, Kate Moran, "chico [Pedro] Almodóvar" César Vicente, and Jimmy Somerville make cameos while Oliver himself stars as the main guest of an imaginary talk show where he confronts and triumphs over his personal demons. "I knew I was making music that was confessional, but I knew I didn’t want to deliver it in a package that was overly earnest," The xx singer said in a MUBI featurette. The result is an abundance of nostalgia, and wry and zany melodrama.

Since going public about living with HIV, Oliver wanted to tackle and deal with the entrenched stigma that comes after a diagnosis – even in the era of effective antiretroviral therapy and "U=U." Instead of woe-is-me platitudes, Oliver’s way of unpacking his own fear and shame turns out as a joyous and liberating exercise in camp. He even puts on prosthetics to transform into this grotesque beast in this Carrie and Suspiria-esque extravaganza. "I felt in him a transgressive, adolescent urge which I immediately related to," said director Yann Gonzalez. "Tackling face on the very intimate topics and intense emotions of his songs, and smearing them with gore, eccentricities, queer wit as much silliness and naïveté we could." - Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer

Watch the full music video here.

As It Was - Harry Styles

Directed by:Tanu Muino

While the single is very popular, it is the music video for Harry Styles' 'As It Was' that's quite remarkable. Tanu Muino (who is also responsible for the music video of 'Hold Me Closer') and Molly Hawkins was able to flawlessly combine the message of the song and its fun, bop-y music in choreography. The nods to contemporary art and dance are also not difficult to miss: Styles in red dancing with a woman in blue on a moving platform is reminiscent of Yoann Bourgeois' 2014 performance art, Celui qui tomb, while his almost-nude and "pinned-down" body on a mural with the same woman reminds us of the 1948 photo of Charles and Ray Eames being pinned by chair bases.

The more I watch the music video for 'As It Was', the more it had me thinking about where Styles was coming from when he wrote this single. He (quite literally) stripped down to bare his soul, letting us see loneliness (and a tad bit of delusion) in a way that's so artistic, I'm hesitant to break it down and peel the layers back in fear of what I might find. - Maddie Castillo, Staff Writer

Check out Top Collaborations of 2022: Bandwagon's Picks here.