10 Mesmerizing Music Videos to Watch with Your Best Friends
The numbers don’t lie—these vids are *fire*.
The most-watched YouTube uploads are almost always music videos, and there’s a good reason why.
A well-made music video is an experience that makes you feel like you’re in a movie with your favorite song playing in the background. When Ariana Grande dropped “thank u, next,” it reached a million views on YouTube within hours and almost all of the comments rejoiced over the copious references made to Mean Girls, Bring It On, Legally Blonde, and 13 Going on 30. Ariana Grande herself even went so far as to bring in some of the original actors from those movies.
Everyone loves a healthy dose of nostalgia, but the best way to gauge a music video’s impact is to see how deeply it becomes embedded in the cultural zeitgeist. This can mean receiving positive critical acclaim, becoming a meme, or inspiring Halloween costumes all over the world. Or perhaps most importantly, appealing to a skeptical, internet- and media-savvy generation of people used to tweeting exactly how they feel.
Watching with your friends makes it easier and more exciting to discuss your impressions, thoughts, and opinions. Below are ten music videos selected from Airtime’s archive of popular content. Their cinematic qualities, catchy songs, and hashtag-generating potential make them perfect to watch with friends and bring your party alive.
“Old Town Road (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus)” by Lil Nas X
The undefeated song of 2019 with countless remixes. Have you seen them all?
“Senorita” by Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello
Grab your Shawmila-shipping friends because this video is their dream come true.
“Truth Hurts” by Lizzo
Is your best friend having a bad day? Watch self-love queen Lizzo together to get them back on their feet.
“ME! (feat. Brendon Urie)” by Taylor Swift
Get your P!ATD friends and Swiftie besties in the same room because this crossover is going to blow their minds.
“Kill This Love” by BLACKPINK
Can we all agree that K-Pop is taking over the world? And that BLACKPINK is their leader?
“Mooo!” by Doja Cat
Doja meant this one as a joke but it’s actually a bop.
“Don’t Call Me Angel” by Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey
Who in your friend group are the Ari, Miley, and Lana? Get them all in a room and watch this iconic–no, historic–music video together.
“Goodbyes (feat. Young Thug)” by Post Malone
Post Malone is what happens when punk and R&B have a baby and you need to see him in action right now.
“Lights Up” by Harry Styles
The 1D band members may have gone their separate ways but they haven’t stopped making music you love. Once a Directioner, always a Directioner.
“Gangnam Style” — PSY
The King of K-Pop, ladies and men and non-binary friends. PSY might not be the first person who comes to mind when you think of K-Pop. Sure, he’s no Taemin. But he did father the American mainstream’s reception of the now-international genre. And for that, we’re thankful.
Want to watch these videos with your friends, no matter where they’re at? Download Airtime here.
