Most people associate this with the best music videos ever or the best music ever turned into music videos. I, however, chose these because they are actually fun to watch or otherwise worth seeing, based more on their visual presentation and entertainment value, and less on their music (otherwise this would be the top 10 best songs ever). It’s also important to note how most of these videos stand the test of time or incorporate the new features of their time.
10. Queen Bohemian Rhapsody
This one seems to be the second most popular one out there. It incorporates visual styles uniquely belonging to Queen, while honestly showcasing the group and their abilities. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see Freddie Mercury in tight pants? Even if this video eschews a visual story in the music video, it will always be a crowd pleaser.
9. Ok Go! Here it goes again
Even if the sole gimmick of this video is the choreography, that in itself deserves an award. This video is genuinely fun to watch, even if it is a little silly.
8. Gnarls Barkley Crazy
I hope the irony of Crazy is not lost on people. This digital wonder uses Rorschach (inkblot) tests as the sole means of showing off the group. With excellent pacing, this video kept me watching and thinking: am I crazy?
7. The White Stripes Fell in Love with a Girl
Who ever thought of using Legos to make a music video? Jack and Meg’s able performance goes a step further with this unique presentation of a music video.
6. Emilie Simon Fleur de Saison
What’s that you say? A good music video made outside of America? Nonsense! Believe it or not, this catchy French pop song proves that not all good music comes from the US or Britain. With excellent computer graphics, this music video shows what the imagination is capable of thinking. I’ll also admit, she is kinda cute, even if I can’t understand a word she says.
5. A-ha Take on me
This quintessential piece of the 80′s is continually ranked among people’s favorite music videos. While some of their contemporaries were putting out cheap music videos for the record companies, A-ha’s unique animation set’s it apart from the pack and fuses it with live action and a story to boot. Even if we get to listen to the lead singer’s awesome, if not ear-piercing, falsetto, this one is a testament of time to the fickle world of music videos.
4. Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer
Another crowd pleaser, Peter in his solo career continued to put out some impressive works. Sledgehammer is one of those works. This quirky video merges scenes of life with stop motion film and claymation into something devilishly fun to watch. Along with A-ha, the uniqueness of this music video puts in on many favorite music video lists so much that it also withstands the test of time.
3. R Kelly Trapped in the Closet (All 22 episodes)
This narrative of epic proportions elevates the simple music video into a near full-length movie. With a complex storyline nearly an hour long, there are so many “Did that just happen?” and “No way!” moments, viewers are left wanting to see what will happen next. Even if it is heavy handed with the gun play, this is true modern musical entertainment. The clip above includes the first 5 chapters.
2. Johnny Cash Hurt
Be careful, this one is a tear-jerker. However, the late Mr. Cash is still at his peak even in his later years. With powerful imagery, Mr. Cash takes us along for the ride that was his life and evokes a deep respect and appreciation for him and life in general. Even the most hardened heart should be misty-eyed by the end.
1. Michael Jackson Thriller
You guessed it. This little gem was revolutionizing for its time and still is today. With amazing choreography, setting, and costumes, Thriller cements itself in music video history, so much so that many spoofs have since been made (including Indian Thriller and Philippine Prison Thriller). With Vincent Price narrating, Michael Jackson showed us why he was called “The King of Pop”.
Contributor: Elliot Rowe
jfrater: I'd put in Queens of the Stone Age "No-one knows" http://youtube.com/watch?v=YnyRUzgqj7k
Surely ‘Paranoid Android’ by Radiohead. There’s very little else that can match it for insanity ever. The writer of it allegedly locked himself in a room for a day whilst trying to think of a video, and Lord knows what he must have smoked to produce that bad-boy…
This website lost all credibility by including R Kelly in this list.
pufonthis: wow – that was a pretty huge mistake we made then! All credibility lost over one video. Who would you suggest we put in place of the R Kelly video?
Kull – I have never heard of them – the video is interesting but I am not sure I would consider it greater than the ones on the list so far
Thanks for mentioning it though.
Yet again, lovely list.
Maybe you’d like to research on some Japanese music videos. They usually have excellent CG in the videos and great emotion in the song.
Naomi: I will have a hunt around youtube and see what I can come up with – thanks for the suggestion
You’re always going to have rabid dissent when you start talking about music. I’m a little upset you didn’t include that one with Shakira dancing, covered in oil? Woooo!
Doesn’t that describe every video Shakira ever made?
A great list!
Have you seen the Family Guy episode where Chris gets pulled into the Ah-Ha video? Pretty funny.
But…
Guns N Roses did the R Kelly thing way back in the 90′s with their November Rain trilogy…
R-Kelly wants to pee on you!!!
Because you included Hurt by Johnny Cash, I was reminded of two music videos that I find very moving. In fact, every time I watch these I am reduced to tears. The first is World on Fire by Sarah McLachlan (keep your mouse over the pause button, there’s a lot of information very fast. http://youtube.com/watch?v=6SkdyRcK9KM) and the second is If Everyone Cared by Nickelback (http://youtube.com/watch?v=-IUSZyjiYuY). Though I am not a fan of Nickelback or that particular song on its own, I really find this music video stirring.
Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity is the most fun video I’ve ever seen. Even once you figure out how it’s done, you’re still in awe.
The best video ever though is Michel Gondry’s video for Star Guitar by the Chemical Brothers. It’s an amazing feat in filming an editing.
QUEEEEEEEEEN!!! Sorry, I lost my composure for a second
I’m so glad you included them on the list! Have you ever seen their last video where Freddie is really sick? It’s very moving, I can’t watch it because I get so emotional, kind of like I do when I watch Johnny Cash’s “Hurt.” I love Johnny Cash too. Awesome list!
A few other suggestions.
Anything by Tool, I know, already on another list
Prodigy, Smack my ***** Up, again on another list
The Korn and Pearle Jam videos that animator did, sorry his name escapes me.
And a personal favorite of mine, Pat Benetar “Shadows of the Night”. The most expensive video ever made up until Thriller.
Interesting list, but I definately would have included Californiacation by the Red Hot Chili peppers.
Great suggestions for extras everyone – I am going to be busy on youtube tonight I can see
Just because it’s downright terrible doesn’t mean Trapped in the Closet isn’t astronomically entertaining.
It’s everything you’d want from a bad music video and so much more.
What about any music videos that Chris Cunningham did? As for the cover of “Hurt,” ugh. You might want to mention it is in fact a cover of Nine Inch Nails.
Replace R. Kelly with this, nuff said
But, really. The original version of Hurt by NIN is way better. And more depressing
I love how ridiculously fake the driving scene in trapped in the closet looks
Heiho,
mind about Lego music videos?
See this one from Bohemian Rhapsody
Try searches with ‘Lego’ as keyword, there’s some quite good stuff there.
Oh, and ‘Rockstar’ from Nickelback is a nice one, just because of all the cameo appearances
(uncensored version, don’t listen to rock’n roll if you don’t wanna hear about ***** and drugs)
OH MY GOD the freakiest thing just happened. I’m listening to the radio as I’m looking at this list. The EXACT second I scroll down and see “Gnarles Barkley’s Crazy” the song starts on the radio. It couldn’t have been timed more perfect.
Anyway I haven’t even finished looking at the list! hahaha that was really weird.
Ok now that I’m done freaking out…haha
That Ok Go video is one of my favorites, I’m glad that one and the Queen one were included.
To Yarr: I did see that Family Guy episode and died laughing at that part, it was so genius and was an awesome reference!!
Tool’s video for “Schism” is awesome too, very entertaining, creative and creepy, I’d probably include it on my top 10.
Also the My Chemical Romance videos for “I’m Not OK” and “Helena” are great as well.
I’d never seen that Queen video, that was awesome. I just wish I could have seen Freddie live.
I think it’s an oversight to not have Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice” on this list. The song itself never made a big splash, but who can forget the video of Christopher Walken dancing around in an empty hotel?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sMZwZiU0kKs
My personal favorite is “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters. In the video, Dave Grohl slips in and out of his dreams trying to rescue the woman he loves from her own nightmares. It’s what Evil Dead 2 would look like if it were a romantic comedy. It doesn’t hurt that the song is great, too.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OHdwZCVZmg8
mostly great stuff. could have used some nirvana. theyve got some really trippy videos. here are some other videos that stand out.
Pink Floyd – another brick in the wall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw
Guns n Roses – November Rain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siBoLc9vxac
chili peppers – by the way (am I the only one that thinks the cab driver looks like will ferrell in this video?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdagH15ZEwQ
Earth Wind and Fire – Let’s groove (classic) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XOY7lsBVpo
Borg: yes! fatboy slim makes the funniest videos
I like 1234 by Feist and Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
@ Court C and Implosive Fire
While it is indeed a cover of Trent’s song, after hearing Cash’s haunting version Trent himself has been quoted as saying: “it’s not my song anymore”.
This is amusing:
I would put in a word for “set the controls for the heart of the sun” from Pink Floyd’s Live at Pompeii or in fact the whole damn Pompeii session. The whole setting was one big high…
But i guess jfrater seeks quick compilations rather than carefully put out quality stuff..
Oh, and this is funny too.
Men Without Hats – The Safety Dance
heavybison: you are welcome to submit your own list. Just because your favorite isn’t included doesn’t mean the list is bad or thrown together. While I didn’t write this one, I do put in hours before writing my lists doing research to try to put the best information here. But as the old adage goes, you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.
Hey…chill dude…ure getting touchy with age..
heaveybison: I am always chilled
But being chilled doesn’t mean I can’t defend myself when someone complains about something I do.
Cibo Matto’s “Sugar Water”, Yo La Tengo’s “Sugarcube”, and UNKLE’s “Rabbit In Your Headlights” are all pretty entertaining.
Loved Emilie Simon, #6. Beautiful song and great imagination in the video. Thanks for sharing!
Bonnie: me too – I bought the album on iTunes after seeing the video.
AnotherEngine: I will check them out – I am always on the lookout for new music
This can replace R Kelly’s spawn of satan… It’s all backwards! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b13rc6DY74A
I can think of quite a few that deserve a place on the list:
The Dresden Dolls:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-Zm1EZ2D2Pw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YAnyYTjjhJ0
Bjork:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=g8Z1MpcyqQU
Versailles: that clip you mention of Bjork is interesting for another reason – it is considered to be a very great piece of steadicam work by people in the cinematography field. Bjork is great!
That R Kelly video is the single funniest thing in the history of the world. I found one of the chapters one day and had to watch the whole story. And the lyrics are hilarious.
And I love the OK Go video, I introduced all my friends to that when it came out, and we almost got thrown out of the gym for trying to imitate it. (It didn’t go well.)
Borg, you are on the money. Weapon of Choice was great and Everlong has to be my all time favorite song and video. Those dudes were creepy.
Dire Straits “I Want My MTV”, anything by Weird Al Yankovic
Katy: haha – I would have liked to have seen that.
chunkylover77: definitely a yes with Weird Al – he is great.
I fkn hate R kelly but the clip does compel(?) you to continue, but i think the main problem is that there are sooo many clips that should be included (I.E. Marilyn Manson’s “Dope Hat” springs to mind) that the list is never going to be long enough haha, either way good job good choice…P.S. Writing credits need to be given to Nine Inch Nails for Johnny Cash’s “Hurt”
ignore this
I’m afraid that the original version of “hurt” by Nine Inch Nails is far more moving. I felt like ***** after listening to it and it made me think.
‘Virtual Insanity’ has the usual problem with Jamiroquai, in that Jay Kay is there. If only there was a way to separate the man from the voice.
‘Let Forever Be’ and ‘Weapon of Choice’ – good calls.
Also:
Peter Wolf ‘Come as You Are’
Talking Heads ‘Wild Wild Life’
Kylie Minogue ‘Come into my World’
Freddie is the *****iest genius.
Nine Inch Nails – The Perfect Drug
Kate Bush – Cloudbusting
‘Weapon of Choice’ – good call, very entertaining video.
The Bloodhound Gang “The Bad Touch” “Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo”
Any old Busta Rhymes video or Missy Elliot video.
yea kull at the top no one knows is the best/funniest music video
Okay, call me *****, but it’s Jo”h”nny Cash, not Jonny (in the header). The video is awesome!!!
bootlicker: you are right – I hadn’t noticed so thanks for pointing the error out. I have now corrected it.
Thasnks! I just discovered this site last week and I’m addicted! Kudis for a great idea.
i love ok go… lol the thriller song we had to make up another song to it and with the dance to go with our dinner at a feild trip… we thought of
we had some dinner!
had some dinner tonight!
we had some pizza,
and we had zero ort!
[[the whole "ort" thing was an inside joke]]
i can’t believe Bjork’s videos are not here
Weird Al’s “Smells Like Nirvana” video should replace the R Kelly vid. I’m dead serious, it’s a REALLY good vid.
Though I prefer the full version of the song, my favorite music video has to be “Clubbed to Death” by Rob Dougan. Or perhaps I should say “favourite”?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PMq4akUZr8c
Beautiful cinematography (not sure if that term is the appropriate one), and really compelling. I also love the subtle ending . . .
Here are a few vids that definitely should be considered..
mute math – typical http://youtube.com/watch?v=b13rc6DY74A
Justice – D.A.N.C.E
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fo_QVq2lGMs
fiest – 12334
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p8Z-DIAthbM
kings of leon – four kicks
I think what people don’t understand is that when Johnny Cash does “Hurt” the song takes on a whole different meaning than the NIN version. Cash’s version is seems to focus on his age and looking back upon his life where Reznor’s version seems to be about a relationship. Given the context, Cash’s version is way more moving. Espescially since in the video its like there is no attempt to hide an aging Cash. I literally bawled the first time I saw it
NIN never gave me such a strong emotion.
I liked this list a lot… it’s really concise!!
there most definatly needs to be another music video list. i really like queens of the stone age go with the flow and anything directed by spike jonze, like praise you by fatboy slim, while its filmed with a handheld camera, its really funny to watch.