10 Best Music Videos Of 2016
4. Francis And The Lights Ft. Bon Iver And Kanye West - Friends
Francis And The Lights is an American musical project led by Francis Farewell Starlite, the "lights" in question a reference to the lights on stage and pixels on a computer screen. Friends comes from Francis' debut studio album Farewell, Starlite!, and the video is incredibly charming.
Friends is cosy. It's simple, intimate and endearing. There's really not that much to it. It opens with a shot of Kanye West (who features on the track) dancing rather awkwardly, bobbing from side to side to the music. After that it, it pans over to a white walled and white floored set, against which Francis - dressed totally in black - continues to dance awkwardly.
But "awkward" isn't really the right term. It's more genuine than awkward, embracing its sheer goofiness. Later, Francis is joined by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver fame, who also contributes vocals. The two stand side by side and dance an incredibly basic choreographed routine, spinning round, brushing off their sleeves and patting their shoulders. It is, as the song title suggests, the essence of friendship.