Directed by Steve Barron in 1984. Barron was very busy in the 1980s directing more than 75 music videos. He appears on our site already as the directer of another 80s classic from A-Ha.
The first of several Busta Rhymes videos directed by Harold “Hype” Williams, this style inspired many to follow. Williams introduces his now-trademark fisheye lens for this video. Williams has directed dozens of mostly hip-hop videos since his debut in 1992. Everyone from Ja Rule to Jay-Z to Jessica Simpson, Kobe Bryant.
Directed in 2007 by W.I.Z., a video director from Great Britain. W.I.Z. has directed a number of high-concept videos for major music artists from the United Kingdom and the United States, including Massive Attack, Kasabian, Oasis, and Arctic Monkeys. Many of these videos, in addition to featuring the song and the performers, also follow a running narratives that often contain a political or social message.
How can you not love Diamond Dave? As if his California Girls video was not enough to win over impressionable teen boys, his goofy self-deprecating video and catchy tune (a remake of a classic Louis Prima medley) was irresistable. Just don’t expect to see Yankee Rose make the list - any video with ass-less chaps is strictly forbidden. I bet Dave wishes every year could be 1985.
Directed by Pete Angelus and David Lee Roth in 1985 the video pokes fun at all the trends and video styles of the time. Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Roth’s Eat ‘em and Smile Tour was one of the most successful concert tours of 1986.
This had a David Lynch sort of bizarreness to it - like it was filmed backwards or something - very eerie. The party scene with the beatbox or whatever you want to call it is fantastic!
They could have ditched the whole storyline and just had the creepy monkey version of the band it would still make this list.
Directed in 2001 by Traktor, a Swedish production team of five directors and two producers. They have produced more than 300 television commercials. Other music videos to their credit include Song for Shelter / Ya Mama by Fatboy Slim and Die Another Day by Madonna.
One of the great mysteries in video music history - “What does the guy say at the end?” I guess we will never know why he did it.
Jamie Thraves directed this video in 1995 as one of his very first music videos. He directed a dozen videos from 200-2006 including two videos for Coldplay and one for Death Cab for Cutie.
I was already a Johnny Cash fan long before this, but some of my friends began to take notice of him after he covered this Nine Inch Nails song.
Directed by Mark Romanek in 2002 and Wikipedia says the video “has been hailed by many critics and fans alike as the most personal and moving music video ever made.”
Romanek was given his first Grammy Award for Best Short Form Video in 1996 for “Scream,” a collaboration between the pop superstar siblings Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. The video, which cost $7 million to make, is cited as the most expensive ever made.
This site is intended to showcase the Best Music Videos from across the decades and spans all musical genres of the video age from rock to alternative to rap to reggae to R & B to Pop. Its part appreciation of the music and part appreciation of the cinematic qualities of the music video artform.