With the introduction of MTV, the music world was launched into a new era of promotion.
The music video became an advertising vehicle for an artist’s next single. Some musicians opted to stand in front of the camera and lip-synch while others expanded their artistry or in some cases shared their sociopolitical views.
Some big name directors have also gotten their starts via the medium. And other artists, namely photographers like Herb Ritts, painted their creativity on a new-found canvas.
I’m a big fan of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”, which was directed by Ritts. Even though it features a half-naked Helena Christensen dancing across a Hawaiian beach, it doesn’t make this list.
What does is a video that combines great rhythms, creativity, and storytelling. And a couple of supermodels don’t hurt either. So, without further ado my top 25 music videos:
| 25. | Song: “Tighten Up” (2010) Artist: The Black Keys Director: Chris Marrs Piliero Why: Laissez-faire dads try to split up a fight between their sons, only to find themselves fighting over a woman. |
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| 24. | Song: “Da Funk” (1995) Artist: Daft Punk Director: Spike Jonze Why: Dog-faced boy tries to fit in to the urban scene but doesn’t have much luck — not with that ghetto blaster blaring. |
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| 23. | Song: “Hungry Like The Wolf” (1982) Artist: Duran Duran Director: Russell Mulcahy Why: Indiana Jones-inspired montage that gave guitarist Andy Taylor a bad case of the trots. |
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| 22. | Song: “Everything is Everything” (1998) Artist: Lauryn Hill Director: Sanji Why: New York City transformed into a giant turntable. |
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| 21. | Song: “Island In The Sun” (2001) Artist: Weezer Director: Spike Jonze Why: A bunch of critters — humans included — enjoying a day in the sun. |
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| 20. | Song: “Knights of Cydonia” (2006) Artist: Muse Director: Joseph Kahn Why: Post-apocalyptic spaghetti western with a smattering of science fiction. |
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| 19. | Song: “Here It Goes Again” (2006) Artist: OK Go Director: Trish Sie Why: The dudes were choreographed dancing on treadmills. |
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| 18. | Song: “So Pure” (1999) Artist: Alanis Morissette Director: Alanis Morissette Why: Alanis Morissette explores different eras of dancing. |
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| 17. | Song: “Steve McQueen” (2002) Artist: Sheryl Crow Director: Wayne Isham Why: a homage to an American acting legend with references to Le Mans, The Great Escape and Bullitt. |
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| 16. | Song: “Take On Me” (1985) Artist: a-Ha Director: Steve Barron Why: The comic book world crosses over into the real world. Almost like Last Action Hero, only without Arnold Schwarzenegger. |
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| 15. | Song: “You Might Think” (1984) Artist: The Cars Directors: Jeff Stein, Alex Weil and Charlie Levi Why: Bizarre and quirky – just like the Cars lead singer Ric Ocasek. |
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| 14. | Song: “Experiment IV” (1986) Artist: Kate Bush Director: Kate Bush Why: Creepy as hell. Plus Dawn French and Hugh Laurie (Dr. House) are in it. |
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| 13. | Song: “Thriller” (1983) Artist: Michael Jackson Director: John Landis Why: The most creative video I have ever seen. This will be one of the best for a very long time. |
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| 12. | Song: “Fell In Love With A Girl” (2002) Artist: The White Stripes Director: Michel Gondry Why: Jack and Meg White perform in Lego. |
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| 11. | Song: “Days Go By” (2001) Artist: Dirty Vegas Directors: Rob Leggatt and Leigh Marling Why: The man’s dance tells a story — one of heartbreak. |
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| 10. | Song: “Only” (2005) Artist: Nine Inch Nails Director: David Fincher Why: The objects on the desk meet the beats, while Trent Reznor possesses the pin art. |
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| 9. | Song: “Cobrastyle” (2004) Artist: The Teddybears feat. Mad Cobra Director: Milton Hays Why: The references to the crazy world of being a rock star — the Beatles, the Police and Led Zeppelin included — make this video one of the top. |
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| 8. | Song: “Howlin’ For You” (2011) Artist: The Black Keys Director: Chris Marrs Piliero Why: Piliero channels the old sexploitation genre with Tricia Helfer and Diora Baird as his femme fatales. |
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| 7. | Song: “Money For Nothing” (1985) Artist: Dire Straits Director: Steve Barron Why: One of the first music videos to go completely CGI. Warning: ironic lyrics might offend. |
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| 6. | Song: “Weapon of Choice” (2001) Artist: Fatboy Slim Director: Spike Jonze Why: Christopher Walken dancing. Enough said. |
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| 5. | Song: “Come Into My World” (2002) Artist: Kylie Minogue Director: Michel Gondry Why: A French intersection on infinite loop, adding more chaos and Kylies to the mix. |
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| 4. | Song: “Dashboard” (2007) Artist: Modest Mouse Directors: Mathew Cullen and Grady Hall Why: The Lovecraftian references and allusions to Jules Verne, Herman Melville and Joseph Conrad make this video a leviathan of delight. |
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| 3. | Song: “Around The World” (1997) Artist: Daft Punk Director: Michel Gondry Why: All the dancers are in sync with an instrument, while their motion is exemplary of the rotation of a CD player. |
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| 2. | Song: “Freedom ’90” (1990) Artist: George Michael Director: David Fincher Why: George Michael was tired of being over-exposed, so he refused to be in the video for “Freedom ’90”. Plus you can’t go wrong with Cindy Crawford. |
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| 1. | Song: “Do The Evolution” (1998) Artist: Pearl Jam Directors: Kevin Altieri and Todd McFarlane Why: A visceral, animated commentary on the current state of civilization, and how we got here, by the creators of Spawn and Batman: The Animated Series. |