TOP 10 WTF WEIRD MUSIC VIDEOS FROM EUROPE

Weird music videos - especially ones from Europe are epic. Some tell complex stories, some utilize intriguing colors and graphics, and some are just straight up absurd. So much music is released every day, internationally. It can be hard to keep up with what’s happening, so we’ve created this list to help you to immerse yourself in the world of Euro pop. Set to driving beats and swirling synths, these videos are easy to get lost in.

1. YOUNG SIGNORINO - MMH HA HA HA (ITALY)

20 year old Young Signorino has sparked some pretty heavy online debates- He’s either described as a creative genius, or a contributor to the death of good music. He is, however, undeniably interesting. His song, "Mmh ha ha ha," and accompanying video have been described as “the most psychedelic trip you'll ever have.”  The lyrics, or lack of lyrics, continue this puzzling spiral into his world (see the translation here). With bright colors, face tattoos, dizzying camera angles, and some funny faces, this is one of those weird music videos that can be hard to look away from.

2. LITTLE BIG - FARADENZA (RUSSIA)

A little bit before their viral dance hit "Skibidi," Little Big released "Faradenza." Existing somewhere between fake English and Spanish, there are some identifiable words in "Faradenza." While it’s not really supposed to translate to anything, the energy and momentum carries the song. With cartoon-like vocal effects and a non-stop, driving beat, "Faradenza" is infectious. The video gives us some context, showing us that Faradenza is a perfume. In the beginning, the lead singer sprays himself with this perfume. He then struts into a building with his hair slicked back and the old women go crazy. Known for their strange music videos, Little Big does not disappoint with "Faradenza."
 

3. QUEST PISTOLS SHOW - На байке (UKRAINE)

Hailing from the Ukraine, Quest Pistols Show has been making waves since 2007. In 2008 and 2009, the band won MTV Europe Music Awards. They also had a song featured in Grand Theft Auto. Translating to “nah bro,” "На байке" has this amazing adrenaline that builds in intensity with the video’s choreography. The video features a cast of brightly dressed dancers who dance around the band’s car and flip hypnotically. Centered on the line “don’t stop,” "На байке" is the perfect dance or work out song.

4. Ти́на Кузнецова (ZVENTA SVENTANA) - HUSBAND IS NOT HOME FT. IVAN DORN (RUSSIA)

"Husband Is Not Home" by Ти́на Кузнецова (Zventa Sventana) ft. Ivan Dorn is a spin on a Russian folk song. It’s video takes place in a wooded landscape, showing the stark changes between day and night. Juxtaposing bright colored clothing and danceable rhythms with a frenzy of darker imagery, the video evokes emotions similar to Ari Aster’s "Midsommar." Ти́на Кузнецова, is able to create a unique sound that stands out in the Euro Pop scene by combining traditional folk elements coupled with synth and modern sensibilities.

5. Луна- Золотые Лепестки (UKRAINE)

Translating to "Love In Every Golden Leaf," this track by Луна (Luna) is filled with ethereal and natural imagery. From some kind of ceremonial fire in the woods to synchronized swimming, the video perfectly matches the lyrics, which translate to describe “Golden petals of bright madness” and “poisonous sprouts.”

6. CREAM SODA - NO MORE PARTIES (RUSSIA)

Hailing from Russia, Cream Soda’s video for "Никаких больше вечеринок (No More Parties)," tells the story of a fisherman’s disappearance. With lush synths and danceable drum machine grooves, the song evokes some 80s synth-pop vibes. The video starts with a narrator setting the scene before the beat kicks in. The band is then seen dressed in brightly colored clothing, foreshadowing what is to come. Without spoiling it, here’s what I can say: there is some kind of disco ritual, a mermaid, and at one point it rains fish. The video ends with a little explanation of the process. Truly an entertaining watch.

7. ZODA- PARANOIA (ITALY)

Opening with a line that translates to “the bigger I get, the smaller I feel,” Zoda takes us on a dark journey on "PARANOIA." Even without understanding the lyrics, its minor, autotuned melodies and powerful beat make it easy to figure out the theme of the song. With imagery depicting the feeling of falling, ambulances, and syringes, the accompanying video only enhances this feeling of unease. One part that really stood out to me was towards the middle, where the song pauses and instead we hear sirens, screams, and crickets. ZODA’s ability to harness the darker side of things has helped him to gain millions of listeners on Spotify and views on his videos.

8. WEVAL - SOMEDAY (NETHERLANDS)

Performing at Copenhagen’s Roskilde festival this coming summer, Weval has been enchanting listeners with their spacey, electronic sound. Weval consists of producers Harm Coolen and Merijin Scholte Albers. The video for their song, "Someday," features thousands of photographs that zoom in and out hypnotically. From tires, to sewers, to tiles, to doors, and so on, the editing here is really impressive.

9. DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA - INTO THE NIGHT (NORWAY)

Surfer rock meets an early 2000s aesthetic is how I would describe Death By Unga Bunga’s video for their song "Into the Night". Consisting of high school friends, this Norwegian garage rock band has gained a reputation for their energetic live shows. Heavily influenced by classic rock music, Death By Unga Bunga writes their songs in English. In the video for "Into the Night," the band appears performing in front of a green screen of wild images.

10. LITTLE BIG - SKIBIDI

A little over a year ago, "Skibidi" took the world by storm with its viral dance. #SkibidiChallenge can be found across platforms with videos of people shooting their shot at the choreography from Little Big’s music video. With a cast of characters including a shop clerk, a dog, a biker gang, 80s fitness instructors, children, and a puppet, this strange music video is rather hard to explain. You should probably just watch it and see if you catch any of the moves.

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There you have it: our top 10 WTF weird music videos -  the European edition! Did your brain melt or are you good to check out more WTF content?!

Photo by Oleg Krasavin, CC0

Arielle Tindel is a Berklee College of Music student from Cleveland, OH. She will graduate in December with degrees in Music Business Marketing and Songwriting. In her free time, Arielle can be found gardening or playing bass.