- Max Kuehn
These videos combine stunning visuals with timeless music to make our list of the best music videos of all time.
Having a favorite music video is like having a favorite food: you cannot pick just one. Bands and individual artists spend years perfecting their sound, crafting the right album for it, and of course, creating the accompanying video. However, no matter which Video you choose, chances are it will be the best music video of all time.
Music has been a constant in people’s lives since there was music to listen to. In this blog post, Fidlar will feature some of our favorite music videos and talk about what makes them so special. We hope you enjoy it!
Best Song Ever Music Video
Michael Jackson, Thriller
The “Thriller” video became one of the best music videos of all time from the moment it was first released in December 1983. It remains incredibly influential and bold, even today.
13-minute musical chiller opus of Michael Jackson blends creepy authenticity and campy fun to a great degree while enhancing its heritage with loving allusions of seminal horror films such as Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, Hitchcock’s Vertigo, and John Landis’s then-recent London hit An American Werewolf.
It was amazing! It was a home-video release that sold more than 9 million copies. This is the only music video currently preserved in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. It would have been impossible for a pop star with MJ’s talent and cunning to pull it off.
“Thriller” set the stage for music videos to be an art form.
Nine Inch Nails, Closer
This 1994 video by Mark Romanek, who has been responsible for some of the most memorable greatest music videos of all time in the past 25 years (Fiona Apple’s “Criminal” as well as Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” among others), sets a new standard for haunting imagery.
Romanek created indelible creations by putting Trent Reznor in a David Lynch steampunk S& M prison and letting things go a little crazy from there. The censors did not receive this well. Multiple frames were replaced with title cards that said: “scene missing.” To soften the Video for broadcast, Bryan Kerwin
Beyonce, Lemonade
Beyonce did not stop with one music video. Lemonade was her first visual album. It changed the game. Lemonade chronicled her marital problems with Jay-Z and other traumas in her personal life, such as her father’s infidelity and her miscarriages.
Lemonade, while her self-titled album was influential, shows Beyonce in an unorthodox way. She is vulnerable, raw, and not her usual polished public persona.
Come Daddy by Aphex Twin
Madonna, “Like a Prayer”
The controversial and racially offensive “Like a Prayer,” released in 1989, was so outlandish that The Vatican condemned it, and Madonna was denied a Pepsi sponsorship.
A-Ha, “Take On Me!”
This A-ha classic animation-live-action hybrid is the infectious tune that costars a Princess Diana-like look (perhaps accidentally! is forever etched-and sketched-in our minds.)
Radiohead, Karma Police
Radiohead reunited with Jonathan Glazer, who also directed their video for “Street Spirit” (Fade Out), a moody abstract from 1997’s OK Computer. The dark backroad setting recalls scenes from Blood Simple and Fargo by the Coen brothers.
Striking violence is just around the corner. Thom Yorke’s humorous lyrics and the diplomatic piano chords that lead to the fiery finale make it seem like tension is all around. This is what you get if you mess with us.
Kanye West, Runaway
This short-film music video, which adds a grandiose visual narrative to Ye’s nearly universally-acclaimed masterpiece, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, is maybe the most ambitious demonstration of the artist’s cosmic vision.
The film features Kanye West and a strange romance that ends in an actual flaming meteorite. It also includes circus fireworks, a large bust of Michael Jackson, and interpretive ballet dancers supporting an extravagant ballroom dinner party.
It is breathtaking, it is dramatic, it is beautiful, and it shows off Kanye’s captivating charisma.
Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
Bob Dylan’s song “Subterranean Homesick Blues” is one of the most iconic music videos of all time. Dylan is seen simply flipping through cue cards while he films the clip in London’s Savoy Hotel. (Yes, that is Allen Ginsberg, Bob Neuwirth, and they are rummaging about in the background).
The cue cards are synced with Dylan’s fast-fire lyrics. They mainly touch on the end rhymes of each verse. Dylan is having trouble keeping up with the many lines in one song. D.A. shot Dylan’s simple concept while The Beatles combined the film and music worlds to create their multimedia empire.
Pennebaker’s “Do not Look Back” documentary was a classic that summarized everything we needed to know about the future of music videos of all time: it made us look at music in a new way.
Michael Jackson, Billie Jean
The clip for Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” a classic single, is longer and more bizarre than you might remember. Jackson, a hot press item, is trying to meet Billie Jean in a city street.
A paparazzo also tries to take a compromising picture of him. MJ manages to outsmart him by his unique ability to illuminate everything he touches, including lampposts and bedsheets.
Michael Jackson’s walk across the light-up squares makes for a lasting, memorable image. Amazingly, MTV did not want to show it. MTV’s first few years of existence were filled with great moments. However, MTV was dominated by white artists.
The CBS Records president, when he discovered MTV refused to play it, threatened to remove their entire roster from the channel and make public such a blatant, racist bias.
MTV finally relented, and you would be surprised at Billie Jean’s impact on Jackson’s rise to stardom. One of the best music video directors in history, Steve Barron, is “Billie Jean,” a clip that has made a name for itself.
Peter Gabriel, Sledgehammer
“Sledgehammer” of Peter Gabriel, often compared to “Thriller,” is a visually stunning tour de force. This stop motion animation adventure features various animators, including Nick Park of Aardman Animations and the Brothers Quay.
Stephen R. Johnson-directed it. Gabriel was forced to lie under a sheet of glass for 16 hours while teams of designers tried to get every frame perfect. The visual element of “Sledgehammer,” which exploded with color and style, completely changed the public’s perception of Gabriel.
In Genesis, he was often seen as an art-rock weirdo, but he took that weirdness with his solo. His weird faces and animated poses have made him a pop star. “Sledgehammer,” his U.S. #1 chart-topper, soon became his only one.
“Sledgehammer” is the nine of the ten best video won MTV Video Music Awards including Video of the Year, as well as Best British Video at the 1987 Brit Awards for which it was nominated. It still smashes like its namesake with complete creative power.
Prince, “When Doves Cry”
Prince emerges from the bathtub. Many other things can happen, but this image is the most memorable, and it was pretty groundbreaking at the time.
George Michael, “Freedom ’90”
George Michael burns his “Faith-era” leather jacket in “Freedom ’90” iconic imagery. This was an incredible eff-you on his label. However, what do most people remember?
The supermodels: Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Christy Turlington all giant wearing sheets.
Pearl Jam, “Jeremy”
The Pearl Jam song “Jeremy,” a classic of Pearl Jam, was renowned for its portrayal of violence. The band released an uncensored version in 2020.
Smash Mouth,”All-Star”
The best Video for Smash Mouth’s song “Mystery Men” is just as wild as the song. The song appears in “Mystery Men,” a superhero comedy that stars actors William H. Macy and Hank Azaria. Janeane Garofalo and Doug Jones also make cameos. The frontman of the band lifts a bus off a girl and saves a dog in a fire. There is a lot to consider.
TLC, “Waterfalls”
TLC’s “Waterfalls”, a song that references the AIDS crisis was released by TLC in 2001. At the time, it was the largest music video budget at $1 million.
Janet Jackson, “Rhythm Nation”
Some artists tried to make mini-movies out of music videos of all time as the art form evolved. Some artists tended to prioritize wild visuals and creative concepts over quality music.
However, musicians were able to succeed even before MTV. They had to be able to perform well. Janet Jackson was able to perform well despite the expectations from pop music families.
Clips like “The Pleasure Principle,” “Miss You Much,” and “The Pleasure Principle” showed her versatility in choreography. However, the military precision that graces “Rhythm Nation” is a remarkable feat.
Dominic Sena directed the clip and shot it in black and white video. Janet and her team of talented dancers control what appears to be an industrial steam plant to produce legendary moves with remarkable uniformity.
Jackson demonstrated that a clear idea and some of the most memorable dance moves ever recorded can make an impact on viewers.
Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U”
MTV’s first decade was marked by the evolution of the music video form. Labels began to budget for videos of all time, and new acts were called “MTV Bands” because they put their visuals above their sonics.
The colorful excess of “Nothing Compares 2 U” made Sinead O’Connor an instant star with her voice and face. John Maybury shot O’Connor’s cover to Prince’s best B-sides.
Shots of O’Connor walking through Paris parks are juxtaposed with her face, looking directly at the camera against a black background. She conveys every emotion in Prince’s emotional ballad, even the tears. Music television was closing in on its 10th decade.
This clip had no camera tricks, no caveats, and no other activities. “Nothing” stood out because it did not have any other options. This simple yet effective delivery made the song worldwide #1 and earned the Video Music Award for Video of the year.
Although this concept has been copied many times, it has never been replicated.
Madonna “Vogue”
Madonna and Michael Jackson were often regarded as the MTV artists of the MTV era. They both knew how to present their songs visually. Madonna, on the other hand, was all about big sets and elaborate productions.
Jackson was a prodigious performer who often pushed the boundaries of acceptable and commercial. Madonna made much money selling the VHS single for her sexy clip “Justify My Love,” too risky for many video networks.
Although many of her clips are well-known, “Vogue,” her most recognizable visual achievement, is undoubtedly her greatest music video. Filmed in black and white by David Fincher and given the classic film sheen of the 20s & 30s, “Vogue” works because she portrays herself as a famous blonde bombshell.
This implies that her beauty is timeless and timeless, and she also nails every dance move and poses. Vogue started a dance craze, letting the world experience ballroom dancing. There have been many copycats of her work that cannot live up to Madonna’s original.
Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Samuel Bayer’s Video for Nirvana’s first major-label hit single was shot for just under $50,000. It is a simple clip that shows what appears to be high school assemblies turning into a hellhole, complete with glad-happy janitors dancing to the chaos.
The best way to capture the spirit of a generation is through “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which uses much slow-mo and has a washed-out color palette. For a disaffected generation, the spandex-clad hair metal stars were nothing to them.
So seeing Kurt Cobain wearing a striped sweatshirt and untied hair and Krist Novoselic in blue jeans and barefoot made it seem like they were being recognized for once.
The band looked genuine, and when paired with “Teen Spirit,” it was a powerful song that instantly made the hair metal industry seem like a joke. The best Video, much like the song, became instantly famous.
Both the band and the extras’ clothes were the go-to for the rising grunge movement. The Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle, Washington, has the Cobain guitar in the Video.
Although no one anticipated “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” it was a huge hit that would define a generation. However, the music video makes it easy to see why Nirvana is different from all other bands.
Alanis Morissette, “Ironic”
Andre 3000 was the only person who wore all the hats from “Hey Ya,” but Alanis Morissette displayed all her sides in “Ironic.”
Another fun fact: Morissette evokes the look of the driver in her 2020 video for “Reasons I Drink.”
Beyoncé, “Single Ladies”
This iconic black-and-white clip by Beyonce has solidified her position as Queen and King Bey.
Britney Spears, “Oops! … I Did It Again”
This is a second single album of Britney Spears, “That Innocent,” featured a red vinyl catsuit, white eyeshadow, an astronaut, and provocative lyrics.
White Stripes, Hardest Button to Button
The Video features Jack and Meg White performing their third single, Elephant, as their instruments multiply. It was Michel Gondry’s original idea.
However, Mr. White initially resisted the idea. It was an unusual instance when the adaptable Gondry did not hesitate to compromise, and this stunning masterpiece was born.
It contains 32 identical Ludwig drum sets, 32 amplifiers, and 16 microphone stands. There is also a Beck cameo. -Kristen Zwicker
Missy Elliott, The Rain (Supa Dua Dupa Fly).
There are certain images that we will always remember. For some, Missy Elliott’s trash-bag jumpsuit is one such image. This is one of the best music videos, directed by Hype Williams, a hip-hop music video king, featured cameos from SWV and Total, Da Brat, Puff Daddy and was a declaration that Missy Elliott was a rising star in Virginia.
OK GO, Here It Goes Again
The Chicago indie band achieved “viral YouTube fame” in just a few days. This was back when the status and platform were still relatively new cultural phenomena.
The hit single video features six stunning takes of the group performing perfectly choreographed moves on six treadmills. This top-rated music video demonstrated that amateur internet content could be more than fancy footwork.
It also showed the enormous audience that even a poorly-recorded DIY project could reach in this age of Web 2.0.
Beastie Boys, Sabotage
In the Beastie Boys’ slapstick parody of Hawaii5-0-style cop dramas, nineteen-ninety-four turns into 1974. This music video was Spike Jonze’s first feature-length film.
He would later direct acclaimed feature-length films like Adaptation and Her. It features MCA, Ad-Rock, and Mike D eating donuts, corralling evil men, and wearing primo stashes.
The song’s grunge-rap beat is paired harmoniously with the quirky visuals. This combination helped to propel Ill Communication to triple platinum status.
Beck, “Loser”
After the revival of blockbuster movies with big budgets in the 1980s, American cinema was revived in the 1990s with an independent spirit. With the advent of cheaper cameras, many people started to experiment with filmmaking in their spare time.
Beck Hansen’s debut album featured a cut-n-paste style, which combined genres in new ways. This would be the basis of most alternative music in the ’90s. The perfect example was Beck’s debut single, “Loser,” which combines hip-hop beats with country guitars and whiteboy rapping to make a unique sound that no one has ever heard before.
Steve Hanft directed the Video. It was just as bizarre and striking. According to reports, the video was made with a budget of just $15,000, and Hanft used bizarre ideas to create an unforgettable visual.
These included negative footage of two girls performing aerobics in a graveyard, the grim reaper applying a blood squeegee to a car windshield, Beck playing an electric guitar, and a coffin moving across the city.
This Video is DIY-yet, completely absurd, yet it opened the doors to a new generation of filmmakers. It almost seems like MTV allowed for blurred-helmet fever dreams of visuals such as this to occur.
It turned out that combining wild visuals helped to create a memorable moment for a generation. To make an impact, you do not need much money or big ideas.
Tool “Prıson Sex”
Tool’s “Prison Sex,” a music video featuring Tool, uses stop motion puppetry and haunting stop motion animation from exploring the disturbing subject of child abuse.
After a shadowy figure approaches the doll, a porcelain doll that has been severed begins to faint. The doll then repeats the same actions, just as if it is continuing the cycle of abuse.
The Video was banned and scrutinized after it was released. It was also helmed, as was most of the visual output from the band, by Adam Jones, a star guitar with a background in Hollywood visual effects.
Jones is an excellent musician, but he is also an artist who understands the meaning of Maynard James Keenan’s lyrics. “Prison Sex,” the band’s visual zenith, uses horrific imagery to depict a terrifying situation. The Video was designed with great care and emphasized the band’s metal power.
It also elevated the art of music video making, pushing the boundaries of video production while also creating a horror-film-like narrative. Unquestionably groundbreaking, few videos have ever matched “Prison Sex’s” unnerving power (except for Tool’s videos).
REM, Losing My Religion
Tarsem Sing directed this video (yes, that is the same guy who did The Cell & The Fall) and won Video of the year at the 1991 VMAs. Singh convinced REM to make a simple performance video. The fusion of both styles creates an iconic video.
The White Stripes, Fell In Love With a Girl
While there were many visually stunning videos of all time by The White Stripes, this video beautifully combines the song and video concept.
This stop motion animation, which is undoubtedly the Stripes’ most famous song, is a must-have for Lego-lovers. Michel Gondry is the father of the boy who builds numbers using the blocks at the end of the track.
This Video, which was created using Lego animation, was meticulously shot by Michael Gondry, reconstructing each brick to create the movement. It was well worth the effort, as the Video enhances the song and is the whole point.
Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”
Swift was a synth-pop artist at the time. Her life was both meticulously documented and unjustly criticized by the media. Swift stated that Swift was a perpetually jilted lover who “goes into her evil lair” and “writes songs about it for vengeance.”
On “Blank Space,” she was accompanied by Joseph Kahn, a frequent collaborator. She had some fun playing the perfect girlfriend in a romantic relationship who becomes a Swimfan in her mansion. She stabs a bloody cake, sheds mascara, drops her iPhone in a fountain, and disfigures the decor with a wink to both her detractors and fans.
Weezer, Buddy Holly
“Buddy Holly,” a technical marvel that is a true technological wonder, was released over 25 years ago. This Spike Jonze clip, which featured Weezer on a replica of Arnold’s Drive-Inn (the main location in “Happy Days”), incorporated the era-specific namedrops into the chorus.
The clip combines new cameos with archival footage and blends shots of the band and the original TV actors. “Buddy Holly” was a water cooler moment in pop culture that is hard to miss.
This and Jonze’s slow-mo comedy clip for “Undone” (The Sweater Song) quickly made Weezer music video stylists. They quickly rose to prominence, making a policy not to allow visually stimulating clips to distract from their music—a policy they quickly abandoned.
This video pushes music videos to new technical limits, feels like it’s never aged.
The Pharcyde, Drop
Music videos with creative concepts often do a lot to make a regular recording artist a true superstar. Sometimes, however, the band’s legacy may be outlived by a music video’s genius.
The Pharcyde’s 1993 hit “Passin’ Me By” will forever be remembered, but the Spike Jonze-directed clip for 1995’s “Drop” is a fantastic example of their genius.
The four MCs of the Pharcyde managed to convince spit their verses backward in this joyful backward-motion promo. They jumped great heights and rolled up flight stairs.
Although the shot-in–the reverse concept is a well-known one, it is not the only thing that makes this promo stand out. A linguist taught the band to pronounce all of their complicated lines backward, so it looked like they were rapping in real-time.
The Pharcyde’s “Drop,” an endlessly rewatchable video, was a great example of how rap groups don’t need to stick to one style to communicate their message.
The Pharcyde’s original clip allowed them to stand out in gangster Rap, which boomed in 1993 and continued in the following years.
Björk, It’s Oh So Quiet
After the success of her college band, The Sugarcubes was a considerable success, Bjork began her solo career.
She produced a series of visually stunning music videos even though she did not reach commercial heights like Madonna or Michael Jackson. Her videography rivals (and some might argue bests) theirs in terms of iconic imagery.
Bjork was a collaborator with almost every major video director of the 1990s, and Spike Jonze could not have been more well-suited to bring an oddball number such as “It’s Oh So Quiet” to life.
The song is a brassy cover from a 1950’s jazz tune that transitions between a quiet, romantic orchestral melody and a loud, horn-driven chorus. The Video features a slow-mo Bjork walking through a city with her dreamy eyes.
However, when the music picks up, her surroundings change: mailboxes start to do soft shoes, tire shop workers break out into dance, and business people begin doing backflips.
Inspired by the 1962 French musical “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” Bjork and Jonze understood the assignment. They gave a defiantly out-of-trend single a can’t-take-your-eyes-away treatment, rebranding Bjork as an alt-pop oddball who never made the same song twice and one of the best music videos makers of her generation.
Jamiroquai, “Virtual Insanity”
“Virtual Insanity” is a rare music video that has become one of the iconic music videos in pop culture that it became the band’s signature song.
The video is set in a futuristic white room and stands out because of the illusions it creates. The floors appear to move while the walls remain stationary, the furniture appears to glide and the title camera makes it seem a little sideways.
The “Virtual Insanity,” Jamiroquai’s music video, was a must-see. It also helped define the band. Kay was seen bouncing on moving runways placed on the stage as if reenacting the Video live.
The band’s identity is so deeply entwined in this Video that, despite numerous attempts (and many similar funky hats by Kay), they have not been able to overcome the iconography of Glazer. Nevertheless, that is the risk when you create one of the most striking clips of its type. The music video won video of the year at the VMAs.
Spice Girls, “Wannabe”
When you market a pop band, the listener must become familiar with the individual personalities of each member. In less than four minutes, you can learn everything you need to know about Scary and Baby, Sporty, Ginger.
The girls, dressed in the outfits that would define their careers, walk into a highfalutin hotel party. They make many mischiefs, including stealing glasses and hats and doing backflips at dinner tables.
The show was presented as one take but cleverly cut from two different ones. It featured the choreographed chaos and the pounding chorus of “Wannabe.” It was our first ever seeing the Spice Girls, and it felt like they had been friends for many years.
They were infectiously enthusiastic and quickly became the most popular girl group in the world. Although the song was great on its own, the simple yet effective video made it so much more memorable than any other group.
Sia, “Chandelier”
Sia met Maddie Ziegler as her spirit animal. She wears a wig and is the eccentric crooner.
Cher, “If I Could Turn Back Time”
The eternal comeback queen, Cher made a big moment with “If You Could Turn Back Time.” It is not age
D’Angelo, “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”
D’Angelo was a minimalist singer who wore only a necklace and sang in front of a black backdrop. He became instantly famous.
The Buggles, “Video Killed the Radio Star”
Trevor Horn did not know MTV was coming when “Video Killed the Radio Star” was written for his synth duo the Buggles. However, he knew that the music industry was about to undergo major changes.
“I had read J.G. Ballard had a vision of the future in which record companies would have computers in basements and artists to make them,” Ballard told The Guardian in 2018. I had heard Kraftwerk’s The Man-Machine and knew that video was on the horizon.
It was easy to feel the changes taking place. MTV launched at 12:01 AM on August 1, 1981.
The network’s first video was “Video Killed the Radio Star,” a strangely moving sci-fi fever dream written by Russel Mulcahy, Highlander director. It portrayed the changing of the pop culture guard.
It was a bold declaration of its importance by the cable network before anyone knew it existed. MTV was correct. In just a few years, unglamorous bands like Toto and Kansas would be gone, and fashion-forward acts such as Duran Duran or Culture Club would take over.
In this transition, Horn was a crucial player, producing hits for ABC, Spandau Ballet, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and ABC. Although the Buggles disbanded in 1981 after only two albums were released, their place in pop music history will never be lost. They were prophets.
The New Pornographers, “Moves”
Who does not like a star-studded story about a star-studded family that involves drugs, guns, and knives, lousy behavior, moving up, and selling out?
WFMU’s Best show host Tom Scharpling leads this trailer for Canada’s ultimate biopic, featuring Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster, as A.C. Newman (red-haired), who forms a band and has a hit. Success turns them into money-grubbing, coke-sniffing monsters.
From Donald Glover to John Oliver to Horatio Sanz to Ted Leo to Wyatt Cenac to the great Julie Klausner, everyone stops by to tell “the rise of a cult-power-pop band.” This is a hilarious clip and a perfect piss-take of rock movie clichés.
P.S: We hope that the comedy Expectant Dads by Paul Rudd and Bill Hader will be coming to a theater near you soon.
Harry Styles, Watermelon Sugar
“This Video is Dedicated to Touching,” reads the title card at Harry Styles’ ultimate fruit-orgy music video. It was shot at Malibu Beach just before the pandemic and starred a few friends and some melons that are erotically charged.
It was a world under lockdown at the time, and there was something very poignant about watching sensual party people enjoy fruit in the sun, grinding the rinds. He’s okay with whatever the melons do.
The sexy-beach trope has been a staple of music videos. Harry makes it seem brand new and crowns himself the consent king for the fructosexual future.
Smashing Pumpkins, “Tonight Tonight”
Steampunk has never looked so good.
Notorious B.I.G. Feat. Diddy and Mase, “Mo Money Mo Problems”
After Notorious B.I.G.’s death, Mase and Diddy filmed a funny golf-themed sketch before making fluorescent lights tubes look posher.
NWA, “Straight Outta Compton”
MTV removed “Straight Outta Compton” from its network. Although NWA initially saw the move as a significant roadblock to their success, it was eventually part of their legacy.
Missy Elliott, “Work It!”
The “Work It” video features some fantastic CGI work, special moves, and wild cameos, including Eve and Timbaland. Alyson Stoner, Disney’s star child dancer, was seen in the Video.
It features Missy covered with bees, tributes to Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Missy spray-painted on cars’ hoods — it is one of the stunning music videos. At the MTV VMAs, the Video was awarded Video of the Year.
Avril Lavigne,”Complicated”
In the early 2000s, every teenager’s nightmare was Avril’s embarrassing romp through a shopping mall. She ran around the mall with her friends, causing havoc for patrons and employees.
You can also see her and her band performing in a skatepark. Her image with her in white and black is the most memorable.
OutKast, “Hey Ya!”
The reaction to the Beatles’ performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” inspired “Hey Ya!” The Love Below performs on a London stage as a group of women shouts in excitement. Andre 3000 plays each of the eight characters in the band.
The White Stripes, “Seven Nation Army”
The Video for “Seven Nation Army,” a trippy, kaleidoscopic series of shots, is amazing. It shifts between images of Jack White and Meg as they play instruments, shifting through a series of triangles. It is a satisfying video because the speed changes with the music.
OK, Go, “Here It Goes Again!”
The birth of YouTube was made possible by the famous “Here It Goes Again” song, known for using treadmills. OK Go spent 10 days at Trish Sie, a sister of Damian Kulash and a ballroom dancer, to record the Video.
They did not tell their label. We were all like, “It’s OK, it looks s**ty,” I recall when we put the tarp behind. Kulash said that we do not want anyone to mistake this for a high-budget, real music video. The Video was first virtualized on StupidVideos.com with 300,000 Views.
Their label had the Video taken down and uploaded it again to YouTube, a fledgling video-sharing site. It received 900,000.00 views in one day. Kulash stated that they thought the decimal place was wrong.
Kulash said, “It was like, Holy s**t. It blew up. Moreover, suddenly, our label remembered us and turned on the promotion machines and all.
Coolio, “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Antoine Fuqua directed “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which featured Michelle Pfeiffer reprising Dangerous Minds’ role. Coolio was not too keen on it at first.
Rolling Stone revealed that he wanted “some low-riders” and “some s**t in the video.” “I was trying it ‘hood. “He came around when he saw the final result and won two MTV Video Music Awards.
Weird Al Yankovic, “Amish Paradise”
“Amish Paradise,” a hit by Weird Al Yankovic, caused some tension with Coolio. Yankovic was granted permission from Coolio’s record label but not the rapper to parody the song. Coolio initially was upset, but he eventually admitted that he did not like the Video and regretted making such a fuss.
Lil Nas X, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Lil Nas X combines explicit queer and gay themes with historical or Biblical references for “MONTERO” (Call Me By Your Name). This letter was written by him to his 14-year old self before the Video’s release and explained the song.
Dear Montero, 14 years old, I wrote a song that had our names in it. He wrote that it was about a man he had met in the summer. “It is clear that we had promised not to come out, and I also know that we said we would never be gay. I am sure we both promised we would never die.
However, this will allow many more queer people to exist. This is extremely scary for me. People will be upset and say that I am pushing an agenda. The truth is that I am. This is my agenda: To make people stop controlling other people’s lives. We send you our love for the future.
Robert Palmer, “Addicted to Love”
Robert Palmer’s 1980s music videos are a powerful reminder of the decade. These beauties have been parodied many times, including by Ingrid Michaelson. If memes were invented three decades ago, it is possible to bet that they would become viral.
David Bowie, “Life On Mars?”
David Bowie sings against a white background in one of the most simple music videos of all time. The juxtaposition of his fiery mullet and ocean blue eyeshadow, plus those iconic eyes, makes this a unique visual.
Fatboy Slim, “Weapon of Choice”
This memorable Video features Christopher Walken moving around a Mariott in Los Angeles, directed by Spike Jonze (also on the list for Buddy Holly). He moves on an escalator and flies high in the air. It was shot guerrilla-style with Jonze leading the Torrance Community Dance Group. This video is a precursor of the Jackass music video form.
The Fatboy slim is a surprising video, but it works in the best way. It was nominated for a Grammy as the best music video.
Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mýa, and Pink, “Lady Marmalade”
The Video was recorded as a cover for “Moulin Rouge,” and the four women appear in it. The four women are dressed in lingerie and perform in a cabaret that resembles the Moulin Rouge. They were awarded the MTV Video of Year Award. The Video and song also feature Missy Elliot.
Gorillaz,”Clint Eastwood”
Although the Gorillaz are well-known for their animations and debut single, “Clint Eastwood,” their first single was their debut. The Video features a ghost and tombstone rising from the ground, zombie gorillas, and references to pop culture, including “Resident Evil” and “Braindead.”
64. The Chicks, “Goodbye Earl”
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock’s Jane Krakowski, is Wanda, a battered housewife who teams with Mary Ann (Dumb and Dumber’s Lauren Holly) in order to kill Earl (Dennis Franz). They poison him with black-eyed peas and wrap his body in a tarp before tossing him into the lake.
The party includes a zombie Earl. As Natalie Maines, a singer, belts out the song in a red bandana that is undoubtedly the most 2000s-inspired look, she lends a hand to these women with her bandmates. The song was written by Dennis Linde.
The radio station was reluctant to play the song because of its controversial domestic violence and murder themes. Although the video might make the concept look cartoonish, it still retains its sting.
The band stated in the liner notes that “The Chicks don’t advocate premeditated killing.” “But, do love getting even.”
“I Write Sins Not Tragedies” by Panic! at the Disco
Panic! Panic! The wedding is interrupted by the groom’s circus family. Brendon Urie, the lead singer, is the ringmaster during all the chaos. When the bride leaves the altar, the groom sees her having an affair with one of the outside guests.
The groom is the actual ringmaster. This video was nominated for the Video of the Year Award.
Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Kanye West said it at the VMAs. He calmly told Taylor Swift that “Beyonce had one the greatest music videos of all time” with this black and white clip featuring Queen Bey dancing.
(Fun fact: Although ‘Ye objected to Swift’s “You Belong with Me”, video won Best Female Video at the 2009 VMAs in 2009, “Single Ladies” won the top prize for Video of the Year.
Katy Perry – Firework
You can say what you like about Katy Perry but she knows how to create pop songs. It’s easy to see why this music video won the VMA for Video of the year 2011. Although it’s not my type of music, this video has over a billion views on YouTube. This song is catchy and accompanied by a video that shares a social message.
Aerosmith – Janie’s Got a Gun
David Fincher, a multi-time Oscar-nominated film director was before he became the most sought-after music director in the entire world. Fincher was a master. Three of the four nominees in Video of the Year at the 1990 VMAs were directed by Fincher. One of those was “Janie’s Got A Gun”. The video is great and elevates the song to a new level.
NSYNC – “It’s Gonna Be Me” (2000)
It’s gonna happen May: Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez join Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone as dancing dolls at a toy shop – a play on their album title “No Strings Attached”. This is a tribute to the “Total Request Live”, audience.
Cry Me a River – Justin Timberlake
This video, despite what Justin Timberlake might say, was clearly directed at Britney Spears after their publicized split in 2002. Timberlake follows a Britney-looking blonde and then enters her home to film him having sex.
His ex will find the recording. This video is amazing and complements one of the most memorable breakup songs. This is one of Timberlake’s best music videos, and Francis Lawrence is the director.
Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé, “Telephone”
Lady Gaga teamed up again with Jonas Akerlund, a Swedish filmmaker, to create a unique piece of pop propaganda. This video picks up from where their “Paparazzi” clip ended.
The music video is almost 10 minutes long and shows Gaga heading to prison for murder. Gaga is (slightly) confused. Beyonce breaks up with her friend and they take a joyride on the Pussy Wagon of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.
Then, the pair get revenge in a desert diner when Tyrese Gibson is killed for taking her honey. Variety celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the clip by revealing that he shot it in just two days. “Beyonce & Gaga were literally practicing on the spot, creating the choreography as we waited. It was insane.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Don’t Come Around Here No More” (1985)
Tom Petty channeled Mad Max with “You Got Lucky” and was a necrophiliac in Mary Jane’s Last Dance. But he was at his best visual as the Mad Hatter in this trippy tribute to “Alice in Wonderland.”
Foo Fighters – “Learn to Fly” (1999)
Tenacious D’s Jack Black, Kyle Gass, and Dave Grohl play multiple passengers, flight attendants, and pilots in this hilarious take on air travel.
Conclusion
We hope you find this article helpful in determining the best music video of all time. It was challenging to create a list with so many great videos of all time, but we think these are some of the most influential and important ones.
The result is our favorite music videos ever made, which will hopefully provide you with hours of entertainment!
