OK, just my completely biased, but not without good argument for each, the top 10 music videos of all time IMHO:
1. The Kinks "Come Dancing". This is simply a joy to watch. I never tire of it.
The editing, acting, and art direction all come together to tell an entertaining, if not beautiful story of the dance that is life itself. Directed by the prolific Julien Temple.
2. Level 42 "Something About You". Another treat, this video, directed by Stuart Orme, puts the catchy tune to the story of a sinister mime/magician acting as a Puck-like aggitator between three sets of lovers. (No embed because all the youtube uploads are reversed and/or have the wrong/unsynced sound track, so here is a vimeo link of the original which is unfortunately of marginal quality. Below is a video still...
3. Billy Idol "Dancing With Myself". I love this because of the sort of film-noire/sci-fi imagery, and.... it's got ZOMBIES!
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(Sidebar: Note the similarity in look and feel to this later video by Sisters of Mercy This Corrosion ). |
4. Speaking of zombies, we come to Michael Jackson's "Thriller". I'd be really remiss to not include this because a: it had a huge budget- $600,000 which was 10x the typical cost of a music video at the time, b: was written and directed by John Landis, and treated as something of a film in itself, complete with a "world premiere" on MTV, and c) it was hugely successful as a promotional tool, sending the album Thriller back to the top of the charts. And of course, it's GOOD!
5. Men At Work "It's a Mistake". IMO one of the best anti-war short films ever. Even the slapstick ending ala Dr. Strangelove works as absurdity in the extreme.
6. David Bowie "Ashes to Ashes". A disturbing song, with disturbing imagery to go with it. It is from the earlier days of music videos (1980), and Bowie sat down and storyboarded it himself- the story being the sequel to his character from Space Oddity ten years earlier- Major Tom. Its success lies in the haunting atmosphere when the music and imagery combine.
7. Thematically this brings us to Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)", which seems to be his interpretation of the Bowie character's ultimate fate, although, apparently he denied this when asked. I will confess to being completely taken by the music here, and the ending chorus "I'm coming home" (but not in the corporeal way). What I absolutely love is the appropriateness of the imagery to the lyrics- capturing the boundless sense of space flight, and contrasting it with the sordid realities of earthbound mortals, which is after all (for better or worse) "home".
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Note: Most of the remaining embeds will not play, but you may still watch the video by clicking on the Youtube link which opens a new window |
8. Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer", became an MTV icon (it is its most played video of all time), and was a platform for the fledgling Aardman Studios to showcase the talent of Nick Park long before there was a Wallace and Grommit.
9. A-Ha "Take on me". OK, who can resist the real human falling into the animation world? Another incredibly popular video from the early days of MTV, a great use of an early animation device: rotoscoping.
10. Finally, (saving the best for last) the Chemical Brothers "Let Forever Be" an intense depiction of when the border between dreams and reality breaks down. This is a brilliant film from Michel Gondry and he exploits the idea here fully.
11. Oops! Like Spinal Tap's amp, I needed to go to 11. Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime". This David Byrne creation is so iconic, and so early (1980) that it has to be on any list. Byrne is a brilliant and unique artist, creating a lot to look at on a minimal budget.
Special Mentions:
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Don't Come Around Here No More". More memorable imagery, from 1985:
Howard Jones' "Pearl in the Shell" This captures perfectly the common dilemma faced when our fears prevent us from realizing our dreams.
2006 OK Go choreographed a joyous romp atop eight treadmills. Try and watch this and not smile.