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The 50 greatest music videos of all time, ranked (Or, remember music videos?)

entremet

entremet

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Oct 26, 2017
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The 50 greatest music videos of all time, ranked

The 50 greatest music videos of all time, ranked
www.avclub.com www.avclub.com

Ever since it launched back on August 1, 1981, MTV has been a constant reminder of the central role music videos play in pop culture. Of course, this art form existed well before the network started handing out "moon man" trophies during the first MTV Video Music Awards in September 1984. Music videos were available in some rudimentary form back in the 1960s—the Beatles made a short film for "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane" when the studio-bound band wanted to plug a new single—and they continue to exist long after MTV has largely abandoned music programming.

Nevertheless, it's impossible to deny that the glory days of the music video were the 1980s and 1990s, when the form dominated popular discourse. Even now the biggest videos of that era—"Thriller," "...Baby One More Time," "Vogue," "Sabotage"—are ever present in pop culture, as much for their visuals as for the songs they accompany. The occasion of the 39th MTV VMAs allows us to look back on the great videos that have been made over the years. Don't think of this list as comprehensive as much as a thorough sampler, one that illustrates the wide range of music videos and their lasting impact on the culture over the last four decades.
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It does use the annoying slideshow format, but there's a list view if you just want to quickly view the list. However, I do appreciate the writeup. They got number 1 right!

I grew up during MTV's heyday. I loved the music video format. I know they still make music videos, but they don't hit like they used to. Record companies would spend bank on Music Videos.

Some of my favorites in no order:
  • Thriller, Michael Jackson
  • Fantastic Voyage, Coolio
  • Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
  • Sabotage, Beastie Boys
  • Loser, Beck
  • Basketcase, Green Day
  • Don't Come Around Here No More, Tom Petty
  • November Rain, Guns N Roses
  • If, Janet Jackson
  • Hit Me Baby One More Time, Britney Spears
  • Take On Me, Aha
 
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Anth0ny

Anth0ny

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Oct 25, 2017
50,010
there can be only one GOAT:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
SwampBastard

SwampBastard

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Nov 1, 2017
12,050
entremet said:
It does use the annoying slideshow format, but there's a list view if you just want to quickly view the list.
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If you're viewing this kinds of slide deck lists on a computer browser, you can generally put the tab in its own window, make it really narrow, refresh the page, and it will have all of the slide content on one page.
 
Guppeth

Guppeth

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Oct 25, 2017
17,109
Sheffield, UK
Can't disagree with #1, and a strong list overall.

www.youtube.com

Pulp - This Is Hardcore (Adult Version)

Music video by Pulp performing This Is Hardcore (Adult Version). © 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.http://vevo.ly/8DVngV
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

808s & Villainy said:
Smooth Criminal > Thriller
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Correct.
 
Volimar

Volimar

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Oct 25, 2017
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I was going through the list and starting to wonder where Sledgehammer was.

No Herbie Hancock - Rockit is a crime.
 
alr1ght

alr1ght

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Oct 25, 2017
10,399
No "Come With Me" by Puff Daddy? 😄

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
m.youtube.com m.youtube.com
 
Android Sophia

Android Sophia

The Absolute Sword
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
6,480
Good list, but I confess I kinda dislike the Sledgehammer music video. It creeps me out.

Great to see Fatboy Slim, Eurythmics, and a-Ha on there.

And yes, Smooth Criminal > Thriller.
 
take_marsh

take_marsh

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Oct 27, 2017
7,798
Not to say that there aren't some fantastic music videos on there, but what a total boomer list.
 
Moogle

Moogle

Top Mog
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Oct 27, 2017
2,949
acheron_xl said:
Let Forever Be from the Chemical Brothers is a notable omission. Michel Gondry!
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Gondry could be a whole discussion by himself. So many cool videos, I like his stuff with The White Stripes a lot and this Kylie video is a stand out in her work


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63vqob-MljQ
www.youtube.com

Kylie Minogue - Come Into My World (Official Video) [Full HD Remastered]

Music video by Kylie Minogue performing Come Into My World, now in full HD.The new album Tension is out now: https://Kylie.lnk.to/TensionIDWatch Official Kyl...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com


808s & Villainy said:
Smooth Criminal > Thriller

I don't care if i'm in the minority, I'm sick of the underrating of it
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Scream aged very well considering how CG heavy it is. I'd rate that higher than Thriller, too.
 
louiedog

louiedog

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Oct 25, 2017
8,121
I somehow missed Talking Heads' Once In a Lifetime on my first look through the list. I'm glad it's there. That would have been criminal.
 
Jakten

Jakten

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Oct 25, 2017
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Devil World, Toronto
I'm glad Sledgehammer is number one but this list needs way more animated videos.

How is Do the Evolution not on here? Or any Tool music video? Or literally any of the Gorillaz music videos - they created a whole over arching world, and storyline entirely through music videos. Or One More Time by Daft Punk? Like, they got Leiji Matsumoto to design characters for it ffs.

But they put I'm Hot for Teacher and Girls on Film? Come on. I love Duran Duran but that's not even one of thier iconic videos lol. This Sonic Youth video sucks too, just a bog standard music video. I feel like even Three Little Pigs by Green Jelly is easily more important to the history of music videos than that is.

Volimar said:
No Herbie Hancock - Rockit is a crime.
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Way better legs than Legs by ZZ Top.

acheron_xl said:
Let Forever Be from the Chemical Brothers is a notable omission. Michel Gondry!
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This is what I'm saying, where's all the shit that made my jaw drop. I get some of it is just iconic in general, like that part in November Rain where Slash smacks the guitar around is incredibly iconic, but thats 1 minute of a 9 minute video where half the video is live footage, and the rest is just a standard rock video. I'm rotted.

Edit: Wait no Just by Radiohead either, yeesh.
 
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ahoyle

Member
Feb 16, 2018
596
Did I miss Jeremy on here? I thought that would be obvious for any list like this. Scream and Smooth Criminal should be on here as well.
 
Jesse_and_the_rippers

Jesse_and_the_rippers

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Dec 22, 2017
7,347
Am I blind or are none of the Aerosmith videos from Get a Grip listed? Alicia Silverstone is beyond iconic in those.

And no Jeremy from Pearl Jam?

Rhythm Nation is way too low, and I would swap Like a Prayer and Vogue, but otherwise a pretty non-controversial list.
 
Fossora

Fossora

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Jun 14, 2023
1,605
No All Is Full Of Love? No Tonight Tonight? Sad.

Plenty of great choices but still. I'm glad to see Fell In Love With A Girl get some love.
 
Soj

Soj

Member
Oct 27, 2017
11,332
No Rabbit in Your Headlights or Smack My Bitch Up…

I'm starting to think that any list not made by me is just bad.
 
JediMasterMatt

JediMasterMatt

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Oct 25, 2017
707
That's a really solid list. No complaints on what is there and anything swapped around would be personal preferences.

Brag thread - I sometimes go out into my dedicated arcade (pins and vids) just to turn everything on - which includes a sound system with a flat panel hooked up to a computer with a 2TB hard drive filled with 80's music videos that I've also put a ton of MTV "bumpers" that all shuffle randomly.

Music videos are awesome. I really wish MTV's self made programming would've never killed the format.

The irony is that I've got another TV on the opposite wall of the game room (currently plays old episodes of Starcade) that I'm going to have play Beavis and Butt-head shows (w/the vids). The irony of one of the things that killed the music video on MTV (original programming) isn't lost on me.
 
CountAntonio

CountAntonio

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Oct 25, 2017
22,993
This list is absolute bullshit. Tonight Tonight is easily top ten. All these videos are fucking amazing.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be
youtu.be

The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 (Official Music Video)

REMASTERED IN HD!Official video for Smashing Pumpkins song "1979" from the album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Buy It Here: http://smarturl.it/m91...
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be
 
Raskol

Raskol

Member
Sep 5, 2018
782
CountAntonio said:
This list is absolute bullshit. Tonight Tonight is easily top ten. All these videos are fucking amazing.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be
youtu.be

The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 (Official Music Video)

REMASTERED IN HD!Official video for Smashing Pumpkins song "1979" from the album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Buy It Here: http://smarturl.it/m91...
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be
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Yup. Scrolled down looking for the Pumpkins and ended up disappointed. Either Tonight, Tonight or 1979 deserve to be on there.
 
OP
OP
entremet

entremet

You wouldn't toast a NES cartridge
Member
Oct 26, 2017
65,917
CountAntonio said:
This list is absolute bullshit. Tonight Tonight is easily top ten. All these videos are fucking amazing.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be
youtu.be

The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 (Official Music Video)

REMASTERED IN HD!Official video for Smashing Pumpkins song "1979" from the album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Buy It Here: http://smarturl.it/m91...
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be youtu.be
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Yeah, they had some amazing videos. I was not a superfan but I enjoyed their 90s run.
 
ArgyleReptile

ArgyleReptile

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,092
Yeah, can't agree with a lot of this, despite liking most, if not all, of the videos. Like, November Rain? Love the song. Love the video. Doesn't really come to mind when I think of best music video.
 
Jakten

Jakten

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,910
Devil World, Toronto
Soj said:
No Rabbit in Your Headlights or Smack My Bitch Up…

I'm starting to think that any list not made by me is just bad.
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There should be way more Electronic videos in general, they literally reshaped what a music video could be. Da Funk by Daft Punk, Hey Boy, Hey Girl/Get Yourself High by Chemical Brothers, Rubber Johnny by Aphex Twin, Where's Your Head At by Basement Jaxx, Flat Beat by Mr.Oizo, The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist.

Also, I don't even like OK Go but not having a single one of their videos is wild. They basically pioneered the viral music video.
 
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OP
entremet

entremet

You wouldn't toast a NES cartridge
Member
Oct 26, 2017
65,917
Jakten said:
There should be way more Electronic videos in general, they were literally changing what music videos could be. Da Funk by Daft Punk, Hey Boy, Hey Girl by Chemical Brothers, Rubber Johnny by Aphex Twin, Where's Your Head At by Basement Jaxx, Flat Beat by Mr.Oizo, The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist.

Also, I don't even like OK Go but not having a single one of their videos is wild. They basically pioneered the viral music video.
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I feel that EDM always get the short end of the stick with American publications. That genre never popped as much here as it did in Europe.
 
Joshua

Joshua

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,181
entremet said:
I loved the music video format. I know they still make music videos, but they don't hit like they used to. Record companies would spend bank on Music Videos
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Thank you for sharing the AV Club link, very good list and this is definitely a list of the greatest.

I slightly disagree with you on the quoted part. Great and high budget music videos are still very much being put out, but I would guess our connection to the music wouldn't be as strong as many of the ones we connected with while still seeing ourselves be shaped into the people we are today.

Since this is a discussion about the top 50 list, I won't flood with modern examples, but there are some fun music videos still being produced.
 
Soapbox Killer

Soapbox Killer

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Oct 28, 2017
30,452
I respect the list trying to be more than a list of Michael Jackson songs but THRILLER is number 1 then we can have everything else including sledgehammer being in the top 5
 

CalmYeti

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,361
I understand why they're included, but November Rain and Sabotage feel too high on the list.

Jakten said:
Also, I don't even like OK Go but not having a single one of their videos is wild. They basically pioneered the viral music video.
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Same. It feels like leaving out a key part of the medium's history even if I'm not a huge fan of the music itself.
 
LazyLain

LazyLain

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Jan 17, 2019
7,010
This is the real #1:
www.youtube.com

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