So I know I very rarely talk about music on here these days, but when I do talk about it, it's just me sharing my thoughts as always. So during my teenage years, me and my sister would spend a lot of time watching music videos. Some are very simple and straight forward, others can tell a story and then you get plenty that are artistic, fun and can sometimes give feature films and TV shows a run for their money. These are personal preferences and its strictly music videos and not songs. So even if its not a song I like, its the video that will be picked over the song. So let's tune in and see what kind of videos these bands, groups and artists have given us:
25 - Gangnam Style (Psy)
Some of the best music videos have gone viral on YouTube and the like and often its the one hit wonders that have great music videos. Many of us will remember Gangnam Style as that one song that was probably the first one to have dance moves since Cha Cha Slide. The music video for it was very bonkers and over the top with explosions, horses, cars and lots of bizzare stuff that made this video set records on YouTube and will no doubt be one that no one is bound to forget anytime soon. A shame it was Psy's only well known song that people still remember today.
24 - Telephone (Lady Gaga Feat. Beyoncé)
Not too keen on this song personally, but I often like music videos that tell a story and I especially like ones that have a "To Be Continued..." card at the end. It usually means that there is another video that continues the story or theorists far and wide can just speculate on what was to come next. Now Telephone's music video is a continuation of Paparazzi's one and it's interesting because it takes into account on some lingering things like is Lady Gaga actually female and what sexuality she identifies as. It's a very bizarre video that may not be as artistic as say Alejandro or Bad Romance, but it tells a story, feels more like a short film than a music video and it gets people talking. Ain't nothing better than that.
23 - Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley)
Now this song is probably more well known these days as that April Fools meme that was a hit on YouTube years ago. But the video is pretty good, even if nothing is going on in it. Got some nice scenery of London, pretty colours and Rick Astley singing his heart out. Plus like with Gangnam Style, this music video also set records on YouTube largely due to its meme status if anything else. At least we know people will never give us up, let us down or turn around and dessert us. Never make us cry and you know the rest.
22 - Come Into My World (Kylie Minogue)
Kylie Minogue became more famous for her music than her acting, though anyone who knows Australian actors well, will know that many started off on
Neighbours and
Home and Away. Such was the case for her sister Dannii and also the Hemsworth brothers too. But of all her music videos, which all look fantastic, the one that is most striking to me is this one. Quite a simple video to follow until you realize that there is more than one Kylie on screen. It's kind of like seeing time repeated on screen in a way, and it's pretty darn clever.
21 - ...Baby One More Time (Britney Spears)
Britney Spears is basically the Justin Bieber of my upbringing. Not quite as annoying, but has got a few music videos and songs that aren't entirely perfect and all that. Not to mention that her dad kind of screwed her over. But thinking about her music videos, I like this one. It's set at an American high school and basically just makes what can usually be a pretty meh day at school, a lot more interesting with choreographed dancing and singing. Not student is ever going to forget a day quite like that at school.
20 - Hello (Adele)
Adele is one of those powerhouses when it comes to singing. No one would think she would be as successful as she is today and since her debut, she's come a long way. Now her music videos are often very simple and straight forward without too much wackiness and all that and while many can come across as pretty dull, this one is actually alright. It's the first ever music video to be shot in IMAX and one that uses some kind of time travel as a future Adele tries to call her younger self and all that. Pretty poetic and a nice accompaniment to the song "Hello".
19 - Here It Goes Again (OK Go)
Yeah, never thought a video like this would turn viral. But then again, anything is possible when you have a home camera and set up a few treadmills to do, well, that. Very risky, but looks like fun and probably has nothing to do with the song. But it's all good and would definitely have people wanting to do parodies and all sorts back in 2006.
18 - Material Girl (Madonna)
Shockingly, Madonna is still around. Not doing as much music as she used to, mind you, but she has done quite a lot. So it really comes as no surprise that I would end up liking one of her music videos, and well this is one of them. This came about as a result of Madonna's admiration of Marilyn Monroe, specifically her performance of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". So in a way it's kind of a tribute to the old gal with this video and yeah it's fun, quirky and very appropriate for the song that "Material Girl" is.
17 - California Love (2Pac Feat. Dr Dre)
Clearly, the inspiration for this song's video was Mad Max. I mean, why else would there be a dessert with cars that look like they were made in a scrapyard. Gotta admire the legends that are 2Pac and Dr Dre because well without them, rap would have probably never been as popular as it is today. Sure, one of them isn't around any more and rap has gone into a new direction in recent years, but they are who they are, and this video proves that not all rappers are just simply b**ching and moaning about things in front of unimaginative scenery.
16 - Weapon of Choice (Fatboy Slim)
There are a few videos out there where the bands and artists are hardly in it. But in their place is beloved celebrities doing their best to bring on the entertainment, and Christopher Walken (whether he wants to admit it or not) is a very entertaining actor. With his dance moves, how he talks and just how he somehow makes us laugh without even trying. He is dancing a lot in this video and doing all sorts of random things, which makes this quite fun and memorable if anything.
15 - Larger Than Life (Backstreet Boys)
I often find that the best boy bands are the ones that put effort into their performances. Whether it's donning a costume, playing around with green screen or whatever else, these guys know what they want and with the right budget, they will get just that. I find it a tad boring now that many boy bands are not putting some imagination into how they look and feel in music videos, and OK sure the dancing can make up for that. But I do miss videos like this because I will never say no to a sci-fi, superhero or horror looking music video. I like the genres, so yeah.
14 - Single Ladies (Beyoncé)
Kanye West as much of a prick as he is, may have had a point about this music video. I wouldn't exactly say its one of the greatest out there, but it does have a bit of fun to it. The song itself is one you should really dance to because of the beat and how Beyoncé sings it. But it's good to see how to dance to it in this very simple and not so packed music video that will really get all the single ladies dancing away.
13 - Guardians Inferno (The Sneepers Feat. David Hasslehoff)
One word comes to mind with this one, and that word is nostalgia. Not only is the camera set to have its quality look like something from the 80s or even further, but pretty much the whole cast of
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 are in it, playing something. Plus, even James Gunn himself is there as is David Hasslehoff doing a funny rap. All ending with Stan Lee (who was still alive at the time) making his famous cameo. Definitely one for the Marvel fans and those that really like the Hoff and dancing songs that sound like it came from the 80s or further along in the past.
12 - This Love (Maroon 5)
During my teenage years and at times today, I went through a phase where the only music videos I wanted to see were the steamy, hot and sexual ones. Basically one of my guilty pleasures is seeing flesh and during Maroon 5's prime, this video was the one that kinda started that phase for me. Just seeing a semi naked Adam Levine (who is a very good-looking man anyway) making love to a nearly naked Kelly McKee (whom he was going out with at the time) just made me glee and all sorts. Guess at the time I was still figuring out myself and what I identify as and knowing what I identify as now, this video is still very hot to watch. Kind of a shame that the band went from pop rock to just pop because this and some of their other early works were very good. Even had some more steamy things too. But this is definitely a steamy video for sure.
11 - In Da Club (50 Cent)
Speaking of steamy, 50 Cent here has had his fair share of that. But instead of one of those music videos, I went for this one. It features Dr Dre and Eminem as scientists in a facility which, as a boot camp, seems to be the perfect place for 50 Cent to rap and impress the rappers that came before him as a sort of "made it" kind of thing. It's a pretty interesting video with very little steamy moments and pays tribute to some trials and tribulations 50 Cent went through prior to becoming the rapper that he is. Awesome stuff I'd say.
10 - Fell in Love with a Girl (The White Stripes)
Yes! A music video that uses Lego. Now we are talking. Another thing I liked in my teenage years was seeing these stop motion Lego films. They were all very good and fun and there was like a huge leap in popularity for them thanks largely to the Lego Studios theme at the time. Which took inspiration from Jurassic Park, the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films, Indiana Jones and Universal Monsters (and possibly others too) with its main focus on having people create stop motion films and they succeeded. So really comes as no surprise that The White Stripes would try to implement Lego into their music video here and it does work surprisingly well. Obviously there are other music videos with Lego things in them, but this is perhaps the most well known and I really like it.
9 - Take on Me (A-ha)
Yep, we all know this one. A music video that combines live action with animated sketches that look like the ones you would see in those Channel 4 animated short films such as
The Snowman. Two characters trying to escape and things just get a bit bizzare and crazy with the sketches, the people trying to catch them and all that. Very clever and very well developed and written. Definitley a good style to have. Not sure if there is any relevence to the song, but hey ho. It is what it is.
8 - Around the World (Daft Punk)
Daft Punk have always been the sort of DJs that enjoy making bizzare and over the top music videos. There have been some anime ones, ones where they are just rocking out, ones with bizzare looking characters trying to find out their callings and then we have this. Where every beat of the music prompts movement from each group of characters and its quite interesting. Pretty cool and fun which further proves that the duo know how to entertain and please the world. Even now with them no longer working together.
7 - Move Your Feet (Junior Senior)
Fans of retro video games like me are bound to enjoy this piece of work. The song is pretty fun, catchy and one you should definitley dance to. Kind of like a summer beat and the whole music video is pixelated. Which right from the start would give people nostalgic vibes even if the whole video has original characters. Its another one that many will not be forgetting about anytime soon, that's for sure. Now move those feet!
6 - Where is the Love (Black Eyed Peas)
Although there has been a much newer version of this song with a video and everything, I will always say that their first big hit will be their greatest one. Black Eyed Peas when they first started, didn't do very well at first until Fergie joined and now they are one of the biggest groups on the planet. Some of their more recent stuff is a bit hit and miss, but back in their heyday, it was just hit after hit with Fergie around. Where is the Love is an important song that becomes more and more relevent years after it first came to our attention. Wars, racism and greater devides over various things, it just all begs that questiona and the music video that accompanies this song, plays out as a movement of sorts which is really what it should be. Always been a fan of the group whether its fun songs or songs about important things happening in the world. Good stuff.
5 - Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz Feat. De La Soul)
Gorillaz have always been that one group who are always animated in some shape or form. So even when they are touring, its usually their animated forms that you see with the real masterminds there in the background. The music video is interesting as it got influenced by the works of Hayao Miyazaki with a floating island, a tower that is the name of the song and is just a lovely little music video to watch. Especially with this song being one of their biggest hits. I mean all of the Gorillaz music videos are great to see with the animation always being top notch and yeah. It's just always a nice presentation to bear witness to.
4 - Without Me (Eminem)
Eminem is always one that likes to be vocal about controversy, people he doesn't like and all sorts of other things. So comes as no surprise that he would have a song all about him and the amount of controversy that he brings when he's making headlines. Accompanying it, is a very interesting music video that looks like its come out of a comic book with the story of saving a boy from listening to his explicit music being the main focus. There are a few other scenes of Eminem such as him riding Elvis's poop, him being a crackhead hillbilly and others too. Plus he has Dr. Dre appear yet again (though largely silent for the most part) so its really a great video to see and possibly one that while still silly like many of his videos, its probaly less explicit that one would usually hear from him. So all around good stuff.
3 - I Want To Break Free (Queen)
Freddie Mercury has always been one of those people that as front man, likes to show off. Many of Queen's music videos have had an artistic style and this one is the most striking as it starts with the band in drag. I guess at the time, there was a big thing on acceptance which still is big today. But that is what happens when you have a problem with those considered different. Too afraid to accept it so yeah. Anyway great video.
2 - Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson)
I know the late king of pop has had a number of grameat videos, but I had to choose "Smooth Criminal" just because its got a gangster vibe about it. I like gangster stuff and this also comes from that bizzare film Moonwalker. Probably the best thing about the film I have to say. Definitely one to dance to for sure which I'd expect nothing less from the late King of pop that is Michael Jackson.
1 - Hurt (Johnny Cash)
This may not be wacky, big budgeted or anything like that. But reason why I like it is because of how calming it is. Its very simply Johnny Cash doing his own version of a song that already exists and the way he does it is beautiful. Particularly because this was perhaps his last song before he passed away and he dedicated it to his wife. So yeah maybe it's not a big deal his music video, but it is a great one if anything which makes it my number one favourite.
Got your own list of favourite music videos? Agree or disagree with my list? Well share your thoughts in the comments below.
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