best music videos of all time

Best Music Videos of all Best Music Videos of all timetime

By Bobby SaltBy Bobby Salt

SourceSource

• The following music videos and rankings are sourced from NME, a music based The following music videos and rankings are sourced from NME, a music based

company that has a website and magazine. They listed the top 10 greatest music company that has a website and magazine. They listed the top 10 greatest music

videos of all time. I’ve taken that top 10 and used 5 of the videos I believe to be the videos of all time. I’ve taken that top 10 and used 5 of the videos I believe to be the

most iconic/great. I’m going to interpret my personal opinion and viewpoint on the most iconic/great. I’m going to interpret my personal opinion and viewpoint on the

music video and its rankings and explain why it’s positioned where it is. I’m then music video and its rankings and explain why it’s positioned where it is. I’m then

going to interlink my group and I’s upcoming music video task and see if there’s going to interlink my group and I’s upcoming music video task and see if there’s

any features such as camera shots/angles, props or locational factors that can be any features such as camera shots/angles, props or locational factors that can be

related to what we expect our final product to look like. related to what we expect our final product to look like.

5. The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up5. The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up

5. The Prodigy - Smack my bitch up5. The Prodigy - Smack my bitch up

• Released: 1998Released: 1998

• Director: Jonas AkerlundDirector: Jonas Akerlund

• When The Prodigy released Smack My Bitch Up back in 1998, any platform that aired the When The Prodigy released Smack My Bitch Up back in 1998, any platform that aired the video was immediately warned by their headquarters to add pre-warning notifications video was immediately warned by their headquarters to add pre-warning notifications at the beginning of the video as there is “high octane depictions of sex, drug, and at the beginning of the video as there is “high octane depictions of sex, drug, and violence-fuelled nights out” as NME put it. I think this music video is seen more as violence-fuelled nights out” as NME put it. I think this music video is seen more as “iconic” rather than “great” as The Prodigy tested the boundaries as to how far and “iconic” rather than “great” as The Prodigy tested the boundaries as to how far and dirty a music video can be, because at the time no one had released a music video dirty a music video can be, because at the time no one had released a music video quite like it. Even to this day I can’t think of a music video as “restricted” as this one. The quite like it. Even to this day I can’t think of a music video as “restricted” as this one. The first person perspective doesn’t allow the audience to realise it’s actually a girl that’s first person perspective doesn’t allow the audience to realise it’s actually a girl that’s causing the chaos. A camera angle very unique compared to common music video. Plus, causing the chaos. A camera angle very unique compared to common music video. Plus, the gender reveal at the end acts as a plot twist as its stereotypically seen as being men the gender reveal at the end acts as a plot twist as its stereotypically seen as being men causing problems when drunk.causing problems when drunk.

4. Weezer – Buddy Holly4. Weezer – Buddy Holly

4. Weezer – Buddy Holly4. Weezer – Buddy Holly


• Director: Spike JonzeDirector: Spike Jonze

• At the time, Weezer had created a music video with revolutionary editing techniques, At the time, Weezer had created a music video with revolutionary editing techniques,

now seen as being basic. But this new way of editing a video to look “retro” acted now seen as being basic. But this new way of editing a video to look “retro” acted

as a trigger for many bands/solo artists to follow in their foot steps and make as a trigger for many bands/solo artists to follow in their foot steps and make

“parody like” videos as a form of being unique. NME labelled it as a “cameo in “parody like” videos as a form of being unique. NME labelled it as a “cameo in

Happy Days Happy Days for a retro video that seemed made for a song”. Personally I think for a retro video that seemed made for a song”. Personally I think

Spike Jonze’s influence will have been key to the greatness of the video as his Spike Jonze’s influence will have been key to the greatness of the video as his

previous work with music videos has been seen as unique and iconic.previous work with music videos has been seen as unique and iconic.

3. Bjork – All is Full of Love3. Bjork – All is Full of Love

3. Bjork – All is Full of love3. Bjork – All is Full of love


• Director: Chris CunninghamDirector: Chris Cunningham

• As robotics was and still is seen as a very futuristic concept, it’s introduction into music As robotics was and still is seen as a very futuristic concept, it’s introduction into music videos took the industry by storm and although the video itself is simplistic in terms of videos took the industry by storm and although the video itself is simplistic in terms of what happens, many see it as being a very beautiful video. NME stated that it’s “one of what happens, many see it as being a very beautiful video. NME stated that it’s “one of the most strangely beautiful promos with this clip of two robots mating”. Personally, I the most strangely beautiful promos with this clip of two robots mating”. Personally, I think “strangely beautiful” explains it perfectly as the entire videos unique structure think “strangely beautiful” explains it perfectly as the entire videos unique structure and visual effects can be seen as both strange and beautiful. The fact that the videos on and visual effects can be seen as both strange and beautiful. The fact that the videos on constant display at New York’s Museum Of Modern Art reflects how iconic a video it constant display at New York’s Museum Of Modern Art reflects how iconic a video it really is. In addition it’s won countless awards so there’s no surprise NME have ranked really is. In addition it’s won countless awards so there’s no surprise NME have ranked it 5it 5thth and I’ve ranked it as the 3 and I’ve ranked it as the 3rdrd greatest music video of all time. greatest music video of all time.

2. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun2. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun

2. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun2. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun


• Director: Howard GreenhalghDirector: Howard Greenhalgh

• NME labelled the video as a “classic WTF? Vid” and I can’t really disagree. The NME labelled the video as a “classic WTF? Vid” and I can’t really disagree. The

effects, facial distortion and freak camera angles leave the audience sat there effects, facial distortion and freak camera angles leave the audience sat there

wondering what they just witnessed. In my opinion, the lyrics don’t really link with wondering what they just witnessed. In my opinion, the lyrics don’t really link with

the video either, creating a further sense of “wtf”. The mise-en-scene could be the video either, creating a further sense of “wtf”. The mise-en-scene could be

seen as being the most crazy aspect of the video as nothing really relates or links seen as being the most crazy aspect of the video as nothing really relates or links

to anything. There’s just different types of clothing, props, facial expressions and to anything. There’s just different types of clothing, props, facial expressions and

reactions occurring the entire time.reactions occurring the entire time.

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1. Johnny Cash - Hurt1. Johnny Cash - Hurt

1. Johnny Cash - Hurt1. Johnny Cash - Hurt


• Director: Mark RomanekDirector: Mark Romanek

• As bad as it sounds, I think without the death of Johnny a few months after the video As bad as it sounds, I think without the death of Johnny a few months after the video

and songs release, it wouldn’t be considered as great/iconic as it is now. The and songs release, it wouldn’t be considered as great/iconic as it is now. The

montage of clips made up of his personal past as well as links to religion especially montage of clips made up of his personal past as well as links to religion especially

towards the end resulted in the video being seen as a type of goodbye by many of towards the end resulted in the video being seen as a type of goodbye by many of

his fans and viewers. There’s nothing to unique, technical or even difficult about the his fans and viewers. There’s nothing to unique, technical or even difficult about the

video itself, it’s just the way in which it interlinked with Johnny’s death, resulted in video itself, it’s just the way in which it interlinked with Johnny’s death, resulted in

many people from that point onwards looking more in depth at music videos and many people from that point onwards looking more in depth at music videos and

seeking hidden meanings. A feature many videos have in todays age.seeking hidden meanings. A feature many videos have in todays age.

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best music videos of all time

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