- 5/18/2025
From awkward dancing to bizarre concepts, some great tunes got paired with questionable visuals. Join us as we explore memorable songs that deserved better music videos! From rock legends to pop stars, these artists created unforgettable music... but maybe not for the right reasons.
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MusicTranscript
00:00I came in like a wrecking ball.
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo.
00:06And today we're counting down our picks for the most mismatched,
00:09lackluster, and or strange videos to accompany much better tracks.
00:16Every now and then I get a little bit terrified,
00:19but then I see the look in your eyes.
00:23Number 20, Out of Touch, Daryl Hall and John Oates.
00:30One of their big hits from the 1980s,
00:35Daryl Hall and John Oates perform with some oversized production design.
00:39Out of time, out of time, out of time, out of time, out of time, girl.
00:46The cheesy video finds them posing in face cutouts
00:49and making exaggerated expressions.
00:52There's huge instruments, but there's not much point to what's happening.
00:56Broken ice still melts in the sun
01:00And ties have a broken key
01:02Off and then one again
01:04Hall and Oates almost look like they're on a twisted children's show,
01:08turning this into a much more goofy experience.
01:11It's a ridiculous concept that feels more at home
01:14with a more traditional pop act.
01:17In between our projects, the duo seems out of place throughout.
01:21They're ultimately much better musicians than they are dancers.
01:24Number 19, Get Down On It, Cool and the Gang.
01:40This band is best known for their funky and danceable hits.
01:45Get Down On It is a classic,
01:47but the video is something of an eyesore.
01:49You want me to get down on it? Tell me.
01:52Get down on it.
01:54Get down on it.
01:56We mean that literally
01:57because you might have to look away
01:59at several points during the experience
02:01in what appears to be a glitch in the early PC era.
02:06The video has bandmates multiplying at an alarming rate.
02:09You might even think that there's a genuine error while watching.
02:13I say people
02:14We assure you that you don't need to adjust your screen,
02:21but the visuals make you wonder what's going wrong.
02:25At a certain point,
02:26you could be inspired to get up, dance, and shut off your screen.
02:31Get down on it.
02:32Come on it.
02:33Get down on it.
02:34If you really want it.
02:35Number 18
02:372099
02:39Charli XCX featuring Troye Sivan
02:42Do you like jet skis?
02:50If you do,
02:51you'll enjoy elements of this sunny travelon.
02:54Charli XCX drives one alongside Troye Sivan.
02:58The only problem is
02:59there isn't much else to do from there.
03:01The singer sings and poses on the vehicle,
03:04but she's primarily stuck on the water.
03:07Once you start a video on a jet ski,
03:09you can only do so much
03:10before the audience checks their phones.
03:13Some people try to save me.
03:17But I'm in it so good.
03:20By the time you see one watercraft doing flips,
03:23it feels like the only highlight.
03:25The performers try to be cool,
03:27even though they look like they're just on vacation.
03:29It might feature the artist that coined the term brats,
03:32but this video doesn't live up to the label.
03:35I'm put on a tune,
03:37pull up,
03:38we'll help you chop,
03:39you chop.
03:40Number 17
03:42Hotline Bling
03:43Drake
03:44You used to call me on my cell phone
03:47Late night when you need my love
03:52It's a video that has been the source of memes,
03:55discourse,
03:56and plenty of references online.
03:57Drake's Hotline Bling is full of images
04:00that may never leave your head.
04:03You get to watch a man dance,
04:05but it's hard to say whether or not he should be dancing.
04:09Glasses of champagne out on the dance floor
04:11Hanging with some girls I've never seen before
04:15There are some blank sets to observe
04:18with some interesting lighting,
04:19but they're mostly desolate aside from a staircase.
04:23The Canadian rapper looks like he wandered
04:25onto the wrong sci-fi movie.
04:27He does get to try on different jackets and sweaters,
04:30but you wouldn't call this a dynamic idea.
04:33And I know when that hotline bling
04:35That can only mean one thing
04:39Number 16
04:40Valoria
04:41Pixies
04:43The Pixies are better known for their music,
04:51but some of their earlier videos feel like elaborate pranks.
04:55Valoria involves the band climbing
04:57and jumping around some rock formations.
05:00It's not the most exciting concept,
05:02with room for a few basic shots and setups.
05:14There's even some slow motion in there as well.
05:16Despite the limited premise,
05:19the four-piece look like they're having fun.
05:21Anybody expecting a high concept might be disappointed,
05:25but you probably didn't come to the group for their visuals.
05:29Anyway, the only big change comes when they get closer to the camera.
05:33With the contrarian spirits,
05:35the quartet presses on,
05:36without worrying about entertaining you.
05:39I know she's here
05:45Number 15
05:47Another Way to Die
05:49Jack White and Alicia Keys
05:52In the theme song for Quantum of Salus,
06:05Jack White and Alicia Keys join forces for a rock concoction.
06:09The video, much like the match-up,
06:12seems a bit strange.
06:13While the track has an exciting energy,
06:15the visuals don't serve the tune.
06:18There are desert landscapes and white voids,
06:21but nothing screams James Bond.
06:24It looks much cheaper and emptier
06:35than the high-flying budgets of a 007 adventure.
06:39White and Keys perform together,
06:41but they're placed in boring sets
06:43and given CGI backgrounds.
06:45You'll be longing for the traditional Bond credit sequences
06:48before this is over.
06:49Number 14
06:57Time Stand Still
06:58Rush featuring Amy Mann
07:00Bringing Amy Mann along with them,
07:08Rush appears in a trippy video for Time Stand Still.
07:12The central trio flies around the screen
07:14in some misplaced special effects.
07:17Mann operates a camera
07:19and tries to capture the action,
07:21but you can't help but wonder why.
07:24Experience slips away
07:27Time Stand Still
07:30The choreography seems somewhat forced,
07:34with loads of awkward maneuvers
07:36and janky movements.
07:38Even Geddy Lee said he doesn't like his hair here,
07:41with the clothes and styles looking painfully 1980s.
07:45It's all full of wild choices that may cause motion sickness.
07:55If you can stand to watch the entire thing,
07:57you've got stronger stomachs than most.
07:59Go West.
08:00Go West.
08:00Go West.
08:05Number 13
08:06King of Wishful Thinking
08:08Go West
08:09In the video for Go West's hits,
08:16the director seems to try everything.
08:19There's no stone left unturned in a chaotic premise.
08:22The two bandmates arrive on a soundstage, where anything and everything happens.
08:36A tall set of legs almost trample them.
08:39A dance group appears, and then hockey players roll around.
08:43Many strange details pop out in this video, with each one being more random than the next.
08:49The singer uses a wrench like a microphone, and then more people crowd the studio.
09:00You'll be more than confused once an elephant appears, but by that point, so much has already happened.
09:07This production might have been a case of too much money and nobody being able to say no.
09:12Or who cares?
09:19Number 12.
09:24We don't talk anymore.
09:26Cliff Richard.
09:27Used to think that life was sweet.
09:32Used to think we were so complete.
09:35Cliff Richard was successful in multiple decades with notable work in the 1970s.
09:41This disco hit is one of his most memorable singles, but the video feels lost in the shuffle.
09:48It's so funny how we don't talk anymore.
09:55Richard appears on a smoky dance floor that could have been in Saturday Night Fever or even Xanadu.
10:01Copies of his head float in the background, with the special effects department working overtime.
10:07How we don't talk.
10:11It's emotionally confusing to hear the lyrics and then see the glitz of a nightclub.
10:16This song might have a melancholic feel to it, but that's almost ruined by the images on screen.
10:22No, no, no, no.
10:24It's so funny how we don't talk.
10:30Number 11. Hello. Lionel Richie.
10:35Listen up, everybody. Tony Billy Boy has been in prison for 25 years. He's only been out for three days.
10:42The last time you were a free man, the Brooklyn Dodgers were still the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Eisenhower was your president.
10:48Lionel Richie's song Hello might be one of his best ballads, but it features a creepy music video.
10:54He's an acting instructor that focuses his attention on a student.
10:58That could be controversial on its own, but then Richie's character starts following the woman.
11:04Cause you know just what to say, and you know just what to do.
11:11The stalking claims are hard to shake after you see him watching her.
11:15If things aren't confusing enough, viewers get to see a bust of the singer's head.
11:20This one might be best enjoyed as an ironic viewing, but it's also nothing short of dated.
11:27Tell me how to win your heart, for I haven't got a clue.
11:34We like to think that the moving track tells a better story than any video could.
11:39Hello? Is it me you're looking for?
11:46You're so hypnotizing. Could you be the devil? Could you be an angel?
11:58It's no secret that sexuality has been a key ingredient to Katy Perry's success.
12:03But this time around, she silenced all raging hormones with a slightly insane music video featuring Yeezy himself.
12:12Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me, infect me with your love and fill me with your poison.
12:18With the film Avatar playing as the video's inspiration, director Floria Sigismondi capitalized on the otherworldly trend with a combination of visuals that lacked cohesiveness and innovation, but did include Kanye West floating around aimlessly.
12:34I know a bar out in Mars where they driving spaceships instead of cars.
12:40Maybe Kanye was just trying to live up to Beyonce's best music video of all time.
12:45If you want another lackluster party, you could also try Birthday.
12:49I'm making like a birthday every day.
12:52Number 9. Dancing in the streets. David Bowie and Mick Jagger.
12:57When two legends get together, history is made for better or worse.
13:07This version of the Motown song inspired these artists to throw caution to the wind.
13:12With big moves and reactions, David Bowie and Mick Jagger delivers something between campy and unwatchable.
13:19Neither man is afraid of looking silly, but they both look like they're making up the choreography as they go.
13:32Bowie and Jagger bounce and spin around like cartoon characters.
13:36Over the years, this video drew the ire of viewers that considered it almost beyond the pale.
13:42It's impressive to see them collaborate, but the end result makes you wonder what they were thinking.
13:48We got another day. Every day. Dancing in the street.
13:55Number 8. Wrecking Ball. Miley Cyrus.
13:59We clawed, we chained our hearts in vain. We jumped, never asking why.
14:07During one of her most controversial eras, Miley Cyrus put out a video that could be considered famous or infamous.
14:15She seemed to be going all in on style with debatable substance.
14:20In the end, it all feels over the top.
14:22Don't you ever say I just walked away. I will always want you.
14:30The imagery is also literal and basic considering the message.
14:35Drawing even more attention, Cyrus appears to be naked during a portion of the proceedings.
14:41Some might call it sensational, while others link this to her larger bad girl phase.
14:47Yeah, I just closed my eyes as well. Let me crash it in a blazing fall.
14:54Her emotional performance doesn't mesh well with the absurd visuals.
14:59It's a piece of pop culture history, but Wrecking Ball doesn't quite stick the landing.
15:05Yeah, you, you wrecked me.
15:09Number 7. Eye of the Tiger, Survivor.
15:12It's one of the most famous songs to help people build confidence and exercise.
15:26The tune feels at home with the Rocky series, but the video doesn't feel anywhere near as successful.
15:33Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past. You must fight just to keep them alive.
15:41Walking down the street, the band members march to the beat.
15:44The musicians can't hold a candle to the toughness of Sylvester Stallone.
15:49Shifting to a makeshift venue, the video focuses on a bland performance.
15:53With a flowing sheet behind them, the group starts to lose momentum.
15:58Is this the best they could come up with?
16:01It's the deep eye of the tiger. It's the thrill of the fight.
16:05You're bouncing up to the challenge of our rival.
16:09We love the vibe of this track, but this one features a build up to nothing.
16:14Survivor could have at least tried to do some kind of training montage to pump people up.
16:19I am the tiger.
16:23Number 6. Rainbow in the Dark, Dio.
16:27When there's lightning, you know it always brings me down.
16:34While Ronnie James Dio scans the London rooftops, he performs one of his best songs.
16:40The only discernible plot we can find is a creep following a woman around.
16:45Thanks to band members like Vivian Campbell, the man reconsiders his ways after witnessing a killer solo.
16:51Unfortunately, Dio looks disconnected from the action.
17:02The video feels too segmented, failing to create any kind of compelling drama.
17:07This is a cautionary tale or an odd excuse to go sightseeing?
17:12Look out!
17:13We're not sure if this story means anything, but it's almost saying that heavy metal can save lives.
17:20They probably could have done that in a much cooler and less dopey way.
17:25Number 5. Lick It Up, KISS.
17:38Don't wanna wait till you know me better.
17:46When they took off the makeup, KISS planned to go in a new direction.
17:50A band known for its pyrotechnics and wardrobe seems boring in this context.
17:55Their video for Lick It Up features them stomping around some kind of post-apocalypse.
18:00It's a rough and tumble setting for a song that's not exactly Shakespeare.
18:11A number of women huddle around fires with limited clothing.
18:14You could argue over the symbolism, but then you have to endure the musicians eating a messy meal.
18:20Lick It Up, Lick It Up.
18:25Gene Simmons' death glare provides enough terror for any viewer, rivaling the disturbing images on Psycho Circus.
18:32Even if this doesn't haunt your dreams, you'll probably want to stick with the music next time.
18:38Lick It Up, Lick It Up.
18:43Number 4. Separate Ways, Worlds Apart, Journey.
18:52With the arrival of MTV in the early 80s, rock bands could typically earn a larger following through dynamic music videos.
19:00But in this case, a beloved 80s band took an ill-advised journey in the form of a visual train wreck.
19:07If we can't go on to survive the time.
19:13Pick your poison. It might be the fashion or perhaps the outlandish posturing of Steve Perry.
19:19But while these errors can be forgiven over time, nobody can forgive the devastating display of air instruments.
19:26Ultimately, the synchronized headshot sums it all up.
19:30As the faces of Journey convey their inner turmoil and realization of the lasting effects.
19:36Number 3. Gooey, Glass Animals.
19:49All right, go close. Let me show you everything I know.
19:59You know how some people don't like the word moist?
20:02Well, the Oxford band Glass Animals expanded on this concept with their video for Gooey.
20:08My, my simple song. This ain't gonna work. My, my weak in words.
20:16In which a sexed-up group of individuals exchanged fluids, seemingly for the sake of art.
20:22The song alone could put one into a beautiful trance.
20:31However, the Caravaggio-like music video could put one into a deep state of shock thanks to a saliva torture scene.
20:38Featuring two men grappling around with ill-fitting leotards, a grown-up Velma from Scooby-Doo, and a Rubenesque redhead.
20:45The message seems to be, taste the goo.
20:58We'll pass.
20:59Number 2. Total Eclipse of the Hearts.
21:02Bonnie Tyler.
21:05Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming around.
21:11Directed by Russell Mulcahy, the man responsible for Elton John's I'm Still Standing.
21:16This music video featured Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler in a room full of candles and doves, among other things.
21:23You know, like a creepy kid and male swimmers for some reason.
21:27Turn around.
21:29Every now and then I get a little bit terrified.
21:32But then I see the look in your eyes.
21:35Turn around.
21:36Right on.
21:38It's probably best if we all agree to forget this video, as the five minutes of imagery will surely ruin anyone's day and certainly their memories of the song.
21:48Next please.
21:49And I need you now tonight.
21:52And I need you more than ever.
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22:11Number one, Rock Me Tonight, Billy Squire.
22:16I want you tonight.
22:18I want you with me.
22:20You made me guilty of love.
22:22You're the first degree.
22:24Back in the early 80s, Billy Squire conceived the premise of his infamous hit while swimming the waters of Greece.
22:31Which makes us wonder if there was something in the water at the time given the unfortunate sequence of events that followed.
22:39It's not necessarily the pole dancing or the plethora of pink of Rock Me Tonight.
22:44It's the fact that Billy Squire seems at odds with the concept of dancing itself.
22:49Take me in your arms.
22:51Roll me through the night.
22:55Which is made abundantly clear through the five brutal minutes.
22:59Just as the sun rises with each morning, this experience will always sit atop the mountain of miserable music videos.
23:08Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
23:12I mean, come on.
23:13It tanked his career.
23:14Yeah, put your mind.
23:16Did we forget any videos that couldn't live up to their song?
23:26Let us know in the comments below.
23:28I'm giving you everything.
23:32All that joy and great.
23:34This I swear.
23:35I'll give you everything.
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