Our Thoughts on the 2020 Grammy-Nominated Music Videos

Image Courtesy of Recording Academy. All rights reserved © 2020

By Kala Herh

The Grammys have always been the music industry’s “biggest night,” and this year was no different. Billie Eilish swept the four major categories, Lizzo made a heartwarming tribute to Kobe Bryant, and the Roots joined Gary Clark Jr. for an epic guitar set. This year, in addition to the regularly scheduled stardom, there was a burgeoning shadow that loomed over the 62nd awards ceremony. Ten days before the event, Deborah Dugan was removed as Recording Academy chief, and what came out was a deluge of voting rigging and sexual misconduct allegations. Despite these difficulties that confirm the longstanding critiques of the awards show, last Sunday proved one thing for sure: the future of music is bright, even if those of The Academy fail to keep up with evolving times. The fact that the nominations this year: Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Lil Nas X lead the way in the major categories show a nod towards progress. Below is our breakdown of the nominations (rightfully so) for the best music video. 

© Content Courtesy of UMG (on behalf of Virgin EMI). DIrected by Ninian Doff. © Music by The Chemical Brothers

“We’ve Got to Try,” The Chemical Brothers

The Chemical Brothers have done it again. When the band added a music video for “We’ve Got to Try” to tease fans for their new album, No Geography, they went wild, and the Recording Academy Voting Members seemed to agree. Directed by Ninian Doff, the video follows a stray dog who gets taken in by a science lab to train robotic arms that will power the future — everything from driving a race car to piloting a rocket ship. The visuals pair incredibly well to the track’s dark techno undertones, rapid-fire synths, and soothing vocals. Despite the sardonic depiction of science, there is a glimmer of hope that shines through the relationship between the stray and female trainer. 

© Content Courtesy of WMG (on behalf of Warner Records Label). DIrected by Savanah Leaf. © Music by Gary Clark Jr.

“This Land,” Gary Clark Jr.

Blues-soul musician Gary Clark Jr. challenges racist America in his Grammy-nominated music video, “This Land.” “This Land” is a brutally honest account of the racism the guitarist endured growing up in the American South. Amid the election of Donald Trump, police shootings, and the deadly 2017 Charlottesville rally, his previous history with hate was brought to the surface. While every element of the song feels carefully crafted, Clark says it didn’t start this way. Instead, the now-bop was a simple, freestanding beat. The video emphasizes how little times have changed; the symbol of the Confederate flag makes its way into the visual a few times reminding us of a time we’re not so far removed from.

© Content Courtesy of Beggars (on behalf of Young Turks Recordings). Directed by Andrew Thomas Huang. © Music by FKA twigs

“Cellophane,” FKA Twigs

FKA Twigs’s video for “Cellophane” articulates this desire to defy gravity with Twigs’s unique style. Opening with a pole dancing routine, it follows her ascent and subsequent descent as a CGI sphinx. Director Andrew Thomas Huang reflects that the symbolism was their desire to convey an honest, vulnerable confession. It is hard to ignore the difficult athletic rigor that was commanded from the shots. Throughout the video, Twigs performs highly sexual connotations that are built into the emotional performance — highly rehearsed movements that command such athletic rigor that Twigs was bruised and exhausted from doing the pole dance all day. “Cellophane” came out after Twigs struggled with fibroid tumors and public separation from Robert Pattinson, and perhaps the song and visual embody her ability to soar above it all. 

© Content Courtesy of SME (on behalf of Columbia). Directed by Calmatic. © Music by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus

*Winner* “Old Town Road (Official Movie),” Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus and Christ Rock join up-and-comer Lil Nas X for a Western mini-movie that sinks the Best Music Video Award. Directed by Candice Dragonas, the video serves as a satire from country music traditionalists’ trolling of the song after it found fame as a TikTok meme. The video beings on the “old town road,” where Lil Was X plays a cowboy hero on the run with a big bag of money. At first, people don’t seem to know what to make of the traveler, but they quickly change their ways. This nominated video is surely well earned as it is silly, mood- boosting, with a side of social commentary. This win marks one of his first two Grammys, the other being in the category of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Yeehaw, indeed.

© Content Courtesy of UMG (on behalf of Universal Music AB). Directed by Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia. © Music by Tove Lo

“Glad He’s Gone,” Tove Lo

Directed by Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia, the song’s music video was shot in Kiev over the course of four days. In this dream-like trance of a music video, the viewer is welcomed to Tove Lo’s world as she takes a call from a friend who just dumped their boyfriend. As a response, Lo dangerously wanders the ends of the Earth to comfort her pal. The visuals are a stark contrast to the upbeat track, which are strange at first, but ultimately conceal a more profound symbolism. The track represents the lynx (cartoon cat featured on the artwork) — it is a play on women’s rights in a happy, positive way. Indeed, Tove Lo understands that there’s a certain feeling of happiness when you’ve got your partner in crime’s back.

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