“Sorry Taylor, Madonna made the best pop MV of 2019”- W Magazine

[Kimmo 80,944]

It's 2019, and a strong case could be made that Madonna has released the most compelling music video of any major American pure pop artist so far this year. On one hand, that shouldn't be too controversial a statement. 

On the other hand, her "Medellín" video, featuring Colombian star Maluma, isn't going to be mistaken by anyone for her career best. Nor is it likely you could point to any objective measure as proof of its superiority. The project certainly isn't going to be the most viewed music video of the week, and while the song is already at number one on Billboard's Latin Digital Song Sales chart, it may not reach her past heights. Madonna's fans are extremely loyal (her tour ticket sales are still notoriously strong, and we likely won't see her camp out in Vegas for some time), but they aren't the type to put a YouTube video on repeat for hours at a time to inflate views, nor try to get people to download the song on Twitter with fake Starbucks promotions. They're mostly adults. They have jobs. That's how they afford those concert tickets.

Compare that to this week's other major pop music video, Taylor Swift's Brendon Urie–assisted comeback "Me!"

The 29-year-old's candy-colored video looks like it takes place inside whatever goes on inside children's entertainer JoJo Siwa's ponytailed head.  It's been compared to an already warmed-over Instagram aesthetic, and perhaps the nicest way to describe the video is that it's the product of someone who heard La La Land was loosely inspired by the French musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, and then decided Jacques Demy's classic should be rebooted as a Disney Channel Original Movie. It probably leaves anyone who has ever filed a tax return feeling limp. Some have even theorized that Swift is intentionally targeting YouTube's powerful toddler demographic with the video. Hey, those view stats for "Baby Shark" are no joke.

If Lady Gaga, Rihanna, or Beyoncé had dropped music videos this year, perhaps we wouldn't be having this conversation. To be sure, there are still lots of artists working outside of the mainstream concept of pop super stardom who have made great visuals this year (Solange's PhotoBooth-shot "Binz" video is transfixing in its confidence and intimacy). And there's also a whole of 2019 left.

Still, if Madonna invented the career framework for the modern pop star, she serves as useful ruler to compare others. It just doesn't bode well for our general cultural evolution that she's still the one leading the pack.

https://www.wmagazine.com/story/madonna-medellin-taylor-swift-me-music-video?fbclid=IwAR1pyFgrFeU2gARUfWBCD7GSHNO3BxIdSVy2THdNct_Mop8w12qOfuqgpoQ

[Bling 31,456]

YAASSSSS DRAGG HAAAA!!!

[arrtpop 2,751]

I love madonna but

Spoiler

 

[ItWasntLaauv 6,392]

and FKA twigs reigned above all the pop girls combined so... 

[Regina George 59,387]

Better song maybe (big MAYBE) but the video.. Nah 

[Ryusei 61,110]

Gee what has she done to those magazines suddenly? Leave her f*cking be. I guess if she doesnt do anything to offend anyone people will start looking for it. Just say Madonna had the best video. Typical of the press to pit women against each other

 

[LilMonst3r 5,544]

Why are Madonna Stans being messy like this, Taylor's video and vocals easily outshine Madonna's auto-tuned wannabe spy video. How can you spy with one eye?

[Kimmo 80,944]

2 minutes ago, myluis617 said:

Why Madonna Stans being messy like Taylors video and vocals easily outshine Madonna's auto-tuned wannabe spy video. How can you spy with one eye?

The Shade!!! Because we all know that Taylor’s vocals can outshine any star 

[zakariah 11,722]

nobody has made an out of this world music video in 2019 yet anyways, like the bar is very low right now

[LilMonst3r 5,544]

6 minutes ago, Kimmo said:

The Shade!!! Because we all know that Taylor’s vocals can outshine any star 

Easily sis.

[ThatAsianGuy 2,365]

Still  Me!>>>>>>>>>One Two Cha Cha Song or what ever the title is

[Economy 50,118]

I mean.... It is a good music video

 

I still like 365 the most so far tho

 

[Dutch 91,416]

They both failed. Bye.

[DC 25,164]

7 minutes ago, Aquarius said:

nobody has made an out of this world music video in 2019 yet anyways, like the bar is very low right now

One was released last night, wth are you talking about? 

[LordEnigma 11,313]

12 minutes ago, Aquarius said:

nobody has made an out of this world music video in 2019 yet anyways, like the bar is very low right now

FKA Twigs says hi