- 7 weeks ago
Lights, camera, moonwalk! Join us as we look back at the most influential, creative, and game-changing music videos that have left their mark on pop culture. From iconic dance moves to stunning visual effects and unforgettable storytelling, these videos redefined how we experience music. Which groundbreaking visual moment stands out in your memory? Tell us your favorites down below!
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00:00Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic, groundbreaking, and unforgettable music videos of all time.
00:2130. Don't Come Around Here No More – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
00:26Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland serves as inspiration for this music video.
00:31You don't come around here no more. You don't come around here no more.
00:40In fact, you could fall through a rabbit hole just trying to pinpoint each and every reference.
00:45Directed by Jeff Stein, the man behind You Might Think by The Cars and Hearts These Dreams,
00:51this psychedelic video is remembered for both its merits and flaws.
00:55I'm giving up. Stop. I'm giving up. Stop. You're tangled in my emotions.
01:06On one hand, it's a trippy masterpiece. But on the other, we don't remember the part where Alice becomes the Tea Party.
01:14Needless to say, that part was met with plenty of backlash.
01:18Even so, the video became an MTV fan favorite and even scored a few noms at the 1985 VMAs, winning for Best Special Effects.
01:2729. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai
01:31When Jamiroquai released this video in the mid to late 90s, the illusion of the moving set blew people's minds.
01:38Front man JK had an idea of how he wanted the video to look, but it was director Jonathan Glazer who took the concept to the next level.
01:53Amazingly, it wasn't as high-tech as you might think. It mostly involved putting set elements on wheels and having people carefully coordinate what moved and when.
02:02I got to the set, and there's about, I don't know, 50 people there, and I can hear,
02:08North! North, fast! West, slow! South, quickly!
02:17Those are the wheels, you know, this great big room moving around.
02:20In some cases, K had to think on his feet to prevent collisions, and only looking back
02:25did he spot some close calls.
02:28It set new ground for what a music video could be and won several awards, including Video
02:33of the Year.
02:3828.
02:40Ashes to Ashes, David Bowie Co-directed by Bowie and David Mallet,
02:45they spared no expense, and they had the receipts to prove it.
02:49At the time, this was the most expensive music video ever made.
02:53And it's still one of the priciest.
03:01The concept is surreal and dreamlike, full of unsettling imagery that paints a vivid story.
03:07Paintbox, a then-cutting-edge graphics program, was used to give the colors an almost otherworldly
03:12feel.
03:13And unlike most videos that put the artist's stage presence front and center, Bowie used
03:26this one to share a message through all kinds of weird, uncomfortable yet gripping symbolism.
03:31No wonder it's still remembered as a groundbreaking moment in music video history.
03:4327.
03:45Shake It Off – Taylor Swift For one of her most successful tracks, Taylor Swift
03:50serves up an equally popular music video.
03:57The visuals utilize a variety of film and cultural references to entice viewers.
04:04There's also tons of dancing from Swift, gleefully self-aware and having loads of fun throughout.
04:09Willing to laugh at herself, she knows that she isn't a professional dancer, but this brings
04:21a more authentic energy to the choreography that's bound to get people moving.
04:25Swift shakes off the haters in one entertaining sequence after the other.
04:30By the end, she and a large group of people seem on top of the world, finding their inner
04:35happiness together.
04:40way to shake it off.
04:4426.
04:45Buddy Holly – Weezer
04:47Sending a boost of nostalgia to Happy Days fans, the music video for Buddy Holly transports
04:53viewers to Arnold's drive-in.
04:57Weezer dons some vintage clothing and plays for a group of characters from the TV series.
05:07Archived footage and a real performance seamlessly blend in a stroke of genius, and smart editing
05:12even has the audience reacting to the bandmates' actions.
05:15Weezer
05:16Sending a boost of nostalgia to the bandmates.
05:23The final sequence with Fonzie dancing feels like the perfect ending for a tribute to the
05:28classic sitcom.
05:29To top it all off, El Molinaro makes a cameo as the lovable restaurant owner.
05:3425.
05:35Chandelier – Sia
05:37Sia famously preferred to maintain a level of anonymity.
05:41So while she decided to stay out of the spotlight here, she served from the helm behind the scenes
05:47instead.
05:48I'm gonna swim from the chandelier.
05:55She put then-11-year-old Maddie Ziegler of Dance Moms fame front and center wearing her
06:00signature blonde bob.
06:02Instead of high-budget flash, the visuals are relatively simple, forcing the viewer to focus
06:07on the dance and the story it tells.
06:17Indeed, Ryan Heffington's choreography and Ziegler's performance were widely applauded
06:22by critics and fans alike.
06:24The video blew up, taking 7th place in the top 10 most watched of the year, and it's
06:30kept its hold on fans ever since.
06:3924.
06:40On – BTS
06:42Believe us, it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to single out just one BTS music video.
06:49But we're pretty sure you'd agree that On is a cinematic masterpiece.
06:53The 10 million people who watched in its first hour certainly would.
06:56The visuals nod to everything from The Lion King in Game of Thrones to The Handmaid's Tale, The Chronicles of Narnia, and more.
07:10It plays like an easter egg hunt of clever details.
07:13And apparently, BTS was right there with fans, trying to decipher what much of it meant.
07:26No BTS performance is complete without an epic dance break.
07:29Oh, and this wasn't even the first music video the ARMY got for this song.
07:4223.
07:43Waterfalls
07:44TLC
07:45An MTV classic in its day, Waterfalls is both a memorable and important video for the 1990s.
08:00It accompanies one of TLC's biggest songs with intense stories about the reality of HIV, AIDS, and substance use.
08:07Plus, weaving around dramatic scenes, director F. Gary Gray stages the group in iconic fashion, with the trio appearing atop the water, dancing in unforgettable looks.
08:18The surrounding narratives serve as warnings of sorts, with the video achieving a real gut punch in its final moments.
08:33Mixing together epic views and great choreography, this VMA winner brings together human stories through amazing R&B.
08:4122.
08:42Hungry Like the Wolf
08:47Duran Duran
08:48When the MTV era exploded into the music world, Duran Duran saw the potential to go big on a global stage.
08:55They used their Rio album to take full advantage, and Hungry Like the Wolf is a prime example.
09:07The group had this Indiana Jones-esque idea for the video, which they filmed during a layover in Sri Lanka on their way to Australia.
09:24Directed by the visionary Russell Mulcahy, it's a full-blown cinematic adventure, but one that intersects an action movie with a grim fairy tale.
09:33The video quickly became an MTV fixture, ranking as the network's 15th most played.
09:39It also made history as the first to win a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video.
09:442.
09:45Number 21.
09:46Gangnam Style
09:47Sigh
09:48With firecracker intensity, Sigh immediately lights up this classic K-pop music video, creating more than a few indelible images.
10:03There's no denying this helped bring the musical genre to the West in a major way.
10:16It's easy to see why, considering the wonderfully chaotic scenes on display.
10:26The singer appears in various locations sporting his signature shades and a galloping dance that's unforgettable.
10:33As more people join him, he turns the video into a non-stop party.
10:37You'll likely be grooving along with him by the end of this masterpiece.
10:4420.
10:46Baby One More Time
10:48Britney Spears
10:49The music video for Baby One More Time helped show the world what Britney Spears could do.
10:54Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know?
11:00Depicted in a school setting, she notably dons a uniform and dances down the hallway with nothing short of complete confidence.
11:08The indelible images practically changed the performer's career overnight, setting the stage for other great videos like Oops I Did It Again.
11:15As a teenager, she already showed absolute star power in her every move.
11:26She later changes locations a few times with even more choreography you won't soon forget.
11:33The foundational work that was put into this project exemplifies the reason Spears has since become a pop icon.
11:3819.
11:47Cold Hearted
11:48Paula Abdul
11:49Straight up, Paula Abdul has made some of the most iconic music videos.
11:53Straight up, now tell me, do you really wanna love me forever?
11:58Oh, oh, oh.
11:59When I caught in a hit and run.
12:02She's taken inspiration from movies like Anchors Away and All That Jazz.
12:06Her video for Cold Hearted is actually based on the Take Off With Us number from the latter and shows Abdul and her dancers giving a dynamic, high-charged performance for a group of executives who clearly weren't ready.
12:25Before she was a pop star, she was already a big-name choreographer and this video showcases her talent through a tight, complex routine.
12:33It's strong, sensual, and confident, mixing jazz, commercial, and even some floor work that might have been risque for its time.
12:41Still, she owns every second of it.
12:44He's a cold-hearted snake.
12:45Look into his eyes.
12:46Uh-oh.
12:47He's been down the night.
12:4818.
12:49Hurt
12:54Johnny Cash
12:55Covering Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash brings all of his baggage to this iconic version of Hurt.
13:01This music video captures an older Cash sitting before a banquet as he contemplates existence.
13:14Including archive footage of his life, the story takes viewers on an emotional journey through his past.
13:20He also receives a visit from his wife June, who's seen lovingly looking at him.
13:25What have I become?
13:30These moments combine creating a stirring portrait of a man and his complex legacy.
13:35As the final edits come together, the series of quick shots feel deeply personal.
13:40It's ultimately a moving eulogy for an artist that persevered and changed music.
13:4517.
13:46Freedom 90
13:55George Michael
13:56As we saw with Sia earlier, George Michael decided that he didn't want to be in the spotlight
14:01for this one.
14:02He had tired of it.
14:04At first, he wasn't even going to make a video for Freedom 90, but changed his mind after
14:14seeing Peter Lindbergh's famous Vogue cover and ended up asking the same supermodels to
14:19star in it.
14:20He didn't want to keep playing the polished pop star like he had in Faith, and apparently
14:24was battling his label for ownership of his image.
14:27This was his way of demanding freedom.
14:37Between the models, The Message, and David Fincher directing, it turned into something huge.
14:42A battle cry for artistic liberation.
14:4516.
14:46Here it goes again, OKGO
14:56During the dawn of the YouTube era, OKGO utilized the platform by putting their imagination on
15:03full blast.
15:04Their inventive video trades traditional choreography for an impressive ride on some well-placed
15:16treadmills.
15:17Everything takes place in one camera shot, making the execution all the more impressive.
15:23They even throw in some cool maneuvers, upping the stakes.
15:31Swapping treadmills and jumping around, the band members work really hard to turn the exercise
15:35equipment into a dance floor.
15:37It's ultimately a timeless video that still works long after its original run as a viral
15:42sensation.
15:4415.
15:45Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
15:51Gathering for a pep rally, Nirvana gives this atmospheric video a timeless edge.
16:01The trio revs up the crowd with their iconic track, and by the end, the students in the
16:06gym have turned the sequence into a riot.
16:09Kurt Cobain's vocals call the audience to a revolution of sorts that feel like a metaphor
16:14for the greater grunge movement.
16:24As the assorted cast of young people trash the school, they bring a different flavor to
16:29their school function.
16:30As if that wasn't enough, the concluding close-up delivers a cathartic climax.
16:35It's no wonder this video is wildly regarded as one of the best of the 90s and beyond.
16:4414.
16:45Money for Nothing, Dire Straits.
16:49These days, it takes a lot to wow us with special effects.
16:57But back then, Dire Straits easily grabbed attention as one of the first to use CGI characters
17:03in a music video.
17:04What makes the video's success even more remarkable is that the band used this new groundbreaking
17:16tech to essentially poke fun at the artists created by the MTV era.
17:21That's partly why it's a little rough around the edges, even for the time.
17:32Guitarist David Knoppler wasn't a fan of music videos, worrying they'd ruin the art of performing.
17:38It was his then-girlfriend who convinced him to see it as a chance to make something interesting.
17:44MTV fans ate it up.
17:4613.
17:47Beastie Boys.
17:48With the energy of 20 Red Bulls, Sabotage launches out of a cannon in its first couple seconds.
18:03The music video features the Beastie Boys out and about, committing to distinct characters
18:15in full costume, completely embodying the campy vibe that defines the clip.
18:20In an ode to vintage cop shows, the crew engages and chases and speeds down roads and throwback
18:26cars.
18:27Whether they're doing their own stunts or using a dummy, we're unable to look away.
18:37It's Spike Jonze bringing out the irreverent side of three band members, and the result is
18:42a classic 1990s video.
18:4512.
18:51Scream.
18:52Michael and Janet Jackson.
18:54This video still holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive music video ever
18:59made at $7 million.
19:02That's about $14 million today.
19:04But when you look at the scale of the set design, the effects, and the camerawork, you can tell
19:18it was made for pop royalty.
19:20The concept was a direct reaction to the intense tabloid pressure MJ was under at the time.
19:25The spaceship was his way of expressing the urge to leave it all behind.
19:37It was also the first time Michael and Janet Jackson officially collaborated in this way.
19:42Their choreography combined his smooth, precise style with her sharp, powerful movement.
19:47together, they created a landmark moment in music video history.
19:5911.
20:00November Rain.
20:01Guns N' Roses.
20:02Among the more famous videos of its kind, November Rain showcases the last days of rock
20:08excess before the alternative takeover.
20:10The video spares no expense in crafting a melodramatic tale of love.
20:23Taking us everywhere from a wedding to a huge concert venue, the moving story delves into a doomed
20:29relationship with plenty of absorbing scenery.
20:32We also get to watch the band rock out in between the plot.
20:44In perhaps the most epic moment, Slash plays a wicked guitar solo in a series of sweeping
20:50shots.
20:51The ending funeral, for its part, intercuts with the group's performance in a slickly edited
20:56sequence.
20:57It all comes together to create something unforgettable.
21:0010.
21:01Bad Romance.
21:02Lady Gaga.
21:03After being taken, Lady Gaga ends up in a seedy underworld.
21:04This sets the stage for the dark and sexy atmosphere that permeates the Bad Romance music
21:22video.
21:27Of course, you can't have a Gaga video without great outfits.
21:31Along with incredible costumes and set design, the artist and multiple dancers move their
21:36way through a series of memorable sequences.
21:39Gaga also takes down her captor in a startling moment near the end, capping off a gripping plot
21:45where the singer regains control of her life.
21:54She's able to sell elements of horror and performance art with total conviction throughout,
21:59and it's nothing short of magnetic.
22:02Gaga.
22:03Gaga.
22:04Ooh la la.
22:05What's your favorite romance?
22:069.
22:07Weapon of Choice.
22:08Fatboy Slim featuring Bootsy Collins.
22:11Christopher Walken's mere presence makes everything much more entertaining.
22:16With that in mind, the video for Weapon of Choice is already a winner.
22:21His participation alone makes the viewing experience fun, but director Spike Jonze takes everything
22:31to the next level by letting him dance.
22:33Walken struts around an empty hotel in a one-man show full of wild moves.
22:39He even takes flight in a dramatic finale, sending the entire concept into lovably fantastical
22:51territory.
22:52The star seems to be having a blast through it all in a wonderful showcase of his talents.
23:038.
23:04Madonna.
23:05The queen of pop doesn't mess around when it comes to music videos.
23:10She's especially stylish in the one for Vogue, practically starting the 1990s off with another
23:15anthem.
23:25This time, she pays tribute to the ballroom scene in New York City.
23:29Complete with memorable dance moves, this fashionable concept helped show people everything
23:34the movement has to offer.
23:35She does it all with a self-assured performance and hugely memorable outfits.
23:39All these years later, these designs and the central dance are still referenced.
23:47This video might just rank at the top of her catalogue, beating out other contenders like the striking like a prayer.
24:05Number 7.
24:07Sledgehammer.
24:08Peter Gabriel.
24:10Singer Peter Gabriel needed an entirely unique idea to capture the joy of Sledgehammer.
24:20The resulting music video meticulously uses a series of techniques, crafting a work of genius.
24:26Gabriel sings along as the scenery around him changes beautifully.
24:29From riding a rollercoaster to his head morphing, he endures all kinds of changes during this exciting ride.
24:42Through filming, Gabriel had to spend hours underneath glass while the video was pieced together.
24:48Some of the final moments even have the performer grooving to the beat with backup dancers.
24:53If you ask us, the intense work was all worth it.
25:03Number 6.
25:04This is America.
25:05Childish Gambino.
25:07The multi-talented Donald Glover became a renaissance man in the 2010s.
25:11His childish Gambino persona explores R&B and hip-hop in inventive ways, as seen in This Is America.
25:23In the music video, he appears in a gigantic warehouse before firing weapons at several victims as the scenes progress.
25:35These startling images bring up important subjects such as violence and racism in the United States.
25:41Dark and filled with layers of meaning, the plot takes a number of unexpected turns through a rollercoaster of striking vignettes.
25:49This wake-up call comes with a bold attitude that crucially reveals unfortunate truths about modern society.
26:00Number 5.
26:01Formation.
26:02Beyonce.
26:04Formation might be the peak of Beyonce's creative vision.
26:06Even trumping the greatest of single ladies put a ring on it.
26:09Blending everything from extraordinary visuals to mesmerizing music, this video and the larger Lemonade project functions as a trip through the artist's life.
26:19Y'all haters corny with that Illuminati mess.
26:24Paparazzi catch my fly in my cocky fresh.
26:28Many details about Southern living in Black America play into a rich tapestry of creative images.
26:33Cause I slay.
26:34I slay.
26:35I slay.
26:36I slay.
26:37I slay.
26:38I slay.
26:39I slay.
26:40Including references to Hurricane Katrina and police brutality, the various sequences tackle topical issues that have a universal feel.
26:46Beyonce has already pushed the limits of multimedia with other videos, but this lavishly directed piece will forever stand out.
26:54Okay ladies now let's get information.
26:58Number 4.
26:59Rhythm Nation.
27:00Janet Jackson.
27:02In black and white, Rhythm Nation brings together the best elements of Janet Jackson's artistry.
27:07When you think about your sign to break the color line.
27:12She wears an iconic outfit along with a group of dancers.
27:16Coming together in a lockstep, the performers fill an empty warehouse with their slick moves.
27:21Jackson marches along the beat in a presentation that's full of style and movement.
27:26It's time to give a dance let's work together.
27:29Knowing exactly what her audience wants, she delivers extended sequences full of dancing that can only be described as thrilling.
27:39There's also a much deeper meaning beneath the surface about equality.
27:43Dedicated to her craft, Jackson delivers a defining statement in this video that's simply staged and perfectly executed.
27:51We are a part of the Rhythm Nation.
27:55Number 3.
27:58Bohemian Rhapsody.
27:59Queen.
28:00Considered an important piece of music video history, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody contains some of the band's most artistic flourishes.
28:16The beginning features a callback to their second album's cover with an impressive formation.
28:21With sharp lighting and staging, the scene transitions into Freddie Mercury's famous piano performance.
28:34Throughout the video, the band members each get time to shine.
28:37From Brian May's guitar solo to the group's harmonies, the talent on display is second to none.
28:43The hard rock section and outro for their parts reveal the star power of Mercury in particular.
28:48By the time the video ends, we know we've witnessed something historic.
28:53Just gotta get right out of here.
28:59Number 2.
29:00Take On Me.
29:01Ah Ha.
29:02Even though outside of Europe, Ah Ha are something of a one-hit wonder, Take On Me has a catchy production and an even better music video.
29:10The fairytale adventure captures a woman as she enters a magical world.
29:21Take On Me.
29:25Take On Me.
29:27Including some impressive animation, the fantasy really takes off when some villains go after her and singer Morton Harkett.
29:33The entire story mixes live-action scenes with experimental visuals through an imaginative concept.
29:41While it's been many years since its release, the rotoscoping work still wows today.
29:46After all, it was among the groundbreaking videos of the 1980s, never failing to inspire audiences.
29:52Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
30:03Nothing compares to you, Sinead O'Connor.
30:06That single tear rolled down her cheek and into history, making her the first woman to win Video of the Year at the VMAs.
30:13Nothing compares, nothing compares to you.
30:22Running Up That Hill, Kate Bush.
30:25Bush set out to revolutionize how dance was expressed in music videos.
30:29Be running up that road, be running up that hill, be running up that building.
30:36Sweet dreams are made of this, Eurythmics.
30:38The music video Rolling Stone claimed made Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart MTV superstars.
30:45Sweet dreams are made of this, Who am I to disagree?
30:53Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper
30:56Lauper leveled the playing fields for female lead music videos, and it looks like she had lots of fun doing so.
31:02Kiss, Prince and the Revolution. Bow down, we have a prince among men in our presence.
31:22Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
31:29You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
31:34If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
31:40Number 1. Thriller, Michael Jackson
31:44In what feels like its own film, Thriller is much greater than your average music video, with the scale and production value of a cinematic experience.
31:53Michael Jackson and his love interest go to the movies, later encountering zombies in the real world.
32:07Jackson's dramatic transformation into the undead ends up being surprisingly terrifying.
32:11After he joins his walker comrades, they dance out some of the most famous choreography ever.
32:23The exciting plot plays out with gravitas, and a number of the video's elements, including the iconic moves, help define the artist's success and ultimately his legacy.
32:34What music video do you think changed the game? Let us know in the comments!
32:44I might sound crazy, but it ain't no lie!
32:51Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye!
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