Does anybody remember when MTV played music videos? Even VH1 had more videos and rockumentaries than their reality TV. But all that changed once reality shows were the rage. For old times’ sake, we compiled a list of the 10 best music videos and creative ones ever to grace our ears and eyes.
10 Best Music Videos Of All Time
10. Material Girl by Madonna
Madonna channels Marilyn Monroe from her “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” number. Copying it nearly step-by-step, Madonna nails the dance moves and captures the interest of a movie director, played by Keith Carradine.
9. Eat It by Weird Al
Weird Al Yankovic is known for his parodies, and this is the one that propelled his career. Copying Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” video, Weird Al is hilarious in this food-inspired video. Thus, we have included it in the 10 Best Music Videos list.
8. Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim
We absolutely had to include this video in here – it features Christopher Walken dancing all around! Director Spike Jonze was able to make a funny and entertaining video with Fatboy and Bootsy Collins’ special mix of electrofunk.
7. Bulletproof by Godsmack
The Massachusetts hard rockers make a parody of themselves at a recording session. Lead singer Sully Erna enlists his “cousin” from Italy (also played by Erna) to help film. Lots of antics and problems ensue, and let’s just say the demo tape was submerged.
6. Janie’s Got a Gun by Aerosmith
Pivoting from their usual glam and hard-rockin’ videos, Aerosmith puts it on the line, telling the story of a sexually abused daughter shooting her father. Inspired by the hotel room scene in Pink Floyd – The Wall, the video shows the girl asking for help while seeking some peace. Definitely deserves a place in the 10 Best Music Videos list.
5. One by Metallica
This is an absolutely heartbreaking and bleak look into the effects of war. One of the darkest songs by Metallica, the video was inspired by the Dalton Trumbo movie Johnny Got His Gun.
4. Losing My Religion by REM
This song was a huge song for the Georgia alternative rocker, and the video hit the airwaves with a huge splash. Directed by Tarsem Singh, this video solidified REM as a band that was here to impress and stay.
3. Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel
It’s weird not to think of Sledgehammer without remembering this breakthrough video. Rife with claymation and stop-motion effects, this video was the most played on MTV. It went on to win nine Video Music Awards!
2. Thriller by Michael Jackson
An amazing piece of work – about 13 minutes in length – and still relevant today. The zombie video pays homage to Romero’s Night of the Living Dead and samples Vincent Price’s voice. And coordinated dancing – what more could you want?
1. Take On Me by A-ha
The Norwegian group only had a couple of hits in the US, but were well known for this amazing video with ingenious effects. It tells the story of a girl engrossed in her comic book, and then the unthinkable occurs – the handsome hero winks at her, and she is pulled in. The rotoscope effects put this video by A-ha on the map. Therefore, it deserved a place in the
A Few Final Thoughts
There are a multitude of videos that could be on the list, as it’s hard to name just 10 Best Music Videos. Honorable mentions include Humble by Kendrick Lamar, Alejandro by Lady Gaga, Sabotage by The Beastie Boys, Closer by Nine Inch Nails, and the age-restricted video of The Death of Me by Asking Alexandria. Whatever your tastes are, you don’t have to look very far for a video that will resonate with you for a long time.
