Top 100 Music Videos
In class we watched a Channel 4 documentary about the top 100 music videos, we watched from number 96-78 and here are some of my findings.
96) So Solid Crew- '21 Seconds'
Tornado, broken glass, storm, clouds, beautiful girls, aggressive image. This video is all about producing and drawing as much attention to the various artist as possible this is done by giving them their own individual entrances. Directed by Jonas Akerland.
94) Bonnie Tyler- 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'
Here, there are ideas borrowed from thriller, dark colours, people looking like ghosts.
In 60's MTV reluctant to play videos with black people.
92) Herbie Hancock- 'Rock It'
Robotic body parts, unrealistic and creepy. (first black artist on MTV- shows him but doesn't at the same time)
91) The Specials- 'Ghost Town'
Reflects the civil unrest of the time.
90)The Pet Shop Boys- 'Go West'
90)The Pet Shop Boys- 'Go West'
Directed by Howard Greenlaigh who did 11 videos for the Pet Shop Boys. This song was originally a hit from the Village People and was a gay anthem which symbolized going west for a liberated life in the American West, in this version, going west is Russia looking west after the Cold War.
88) Elton John- 'I want love'
Features: Robert Downey Jr.
Directed by Same Taylor-Wood. Elton John after 30 years decided not to be in his videos and features other stars such as Justin Timberlake and Liz Taylor.
84) The Boomtown Rats- 'I don''t like Mondays'
84) The Boomtown Rats- 'I don''t like Mondays'
Directed by David Mallet
The first video to have a narrative to it.
83) Shakespeare's Sister- 'Stay' (1992)
It's a love story, with a reference to death.
82) 50 Cent- 'In Da Club'
81) Ultra Vox- 'Viena' (1981)
80)Radiohead -'Just'
The narrative in this video left people intrigued and wondering why he was lying down, something which we, the audience,will never know.
78)Godley and Creme -'Cry'
This uses interesting editing techniques such as cross dissovles to change the faces, an idea which inspired Michael Jackson's Black or White video.
According to the NME website the 100 Greatest Music Videos include:
After watching the Channel 4 documentary I decided to expand my research to see what other videos are considered to be the greatest music videos ever made, below are a secelction between number 100 and the number 1 video. As yu can see some of the videos overlap and are considered to be great in both lists!
After watching the Channel 4 documentary I decided to expand my research to see what other videos are considered to be the greatest music videos ever made, below are a secelction between number 100 and the number 1 video. As yu can see some of the videos overlap and are considered to be great in both lists!
100) Michael Jackson- Billie Jean
Best bit: The little dance he does on the steps which light up.
Released: 1982
Director: Steve Barron
Director: Steve Barron
91) Madonna- Borderline
Best bit: That crazy, slow-mo street dancing at the very beginning.
Released: 1984
Director: Mary Lambert
89) Human League- Don't You Want Me
Best bit: Susan Sulley's finest moment; pacing towards the camera in a mac.
Released: 1981
Director: Steve Barron
81) Ratatat- Drugs
Best bit: The older lady with the leather jacket, she's the scariest of them all.
Released: 2010
Director: Carl Burgess
74) Bonnie Tyler- Total Eclipse of the Heart
Best bit: When we see the choir with no eyes.
Released: 1983
Directed: Russel Mulchany
71) Eminem- My Name Is
Best bit: That uncanny Marilyn Manson impression.
Released: 1999
Director: Phillip Atwell, Dr Dre
70) Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody
Best bit: Multiple Freddie's going off during the 'Scaramoosh! Scaramoosh!' bit.
Released: 1975
Director: Bruce Gowers
66) Coldplay- The Scientist
Best bit: When the full horror of what Mr Martin has walked away from becomes...
Released: 2002
Director: Jamie Thraves
53) Mark Ronson- Somebody To Love Me
Best bit: The scene in the greasy spoon café; we can all appreciate a good hungover fry up.
Released: 2010
Director: Saam Farahmand
43) Outkast- Hey Ya
Best bit: Who honestly doesn’t “shake it like a Polaroid” when Andre 3000 tells them to?
Released: 2003
Director: Bryan Barber
38) The Prodigy- Firestarter
Best bit: Keef's mental dancing, of course.
Released: 1996
Director: Walter Stern
34) Madonna- Like a Prayer
Best bit: Oh wait, it was all a play?
Released: 1989
Director: Mary Lambert
32) The Verve- Bittersweet Symphony
Best bit: Be honest – even though there’s no Reese or Ryan in sight, you see their faces the entire time.
Released: 1997
Director: Walter A. Stern
17) Lady Gaga- Telephone
Best bit: When one of the guards says “I told you she didn’t have a dick”.
Released: 2010
Director: Jonas Åkerlund
16) Fatboy Slim- Praise You
Best bit: When the geek in the jumper tries to pull an MC Hammer and ends up ass over tit.
Released: 1999
Director: Spike Jonze
5) Bjork- All is Full of Love
Best bit: The wide angle shot of the first full-on cyborg kiss as the chorus kicks in.
Released: 1998
Director: Chris Cunningham
1) Johnny Cash- Hurt
Best bit: Those opening chords and that opening line ”I hurt myself today / to see if I still feel” – near perfection.
Released: 2002
Director: Mark Romanek
Read more at http://www.nme.com/list/100-greatest-music-videos/217342/page/10#jx2hqr7OzbI8MFSe.99
After compiling my results for the best videos of all time I decided to create my own lists of what I believe to be the best videos EVER!
10. Happy-Pharrell Williams
This video was a relatively new video when I made this list but nevertheless I think its just so good. Pharrell Williams wrote this song for the film 'Despicable Me 2' and the video reflects it with the random minions throughout the video. Along with title of the song the video genuinely makes you feel happy and all the people in the video dancing having a good time instantly makes you want to have a good time and I really love that idea.
9. Afterglow- Wilkinson
This video is more concept than performance and narrative but nevertheless it is still memorable. The way they use the numbers and different scenarios to convey the story is really clever and the white background gives it a clean and neat feel whilst allowing the images to stand out showing the message further.
8. California Gurls- Katy Perry
For me, this video is like a female take on the classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In the video Katy Perry looks like shes having so much fun which is transferred onto the audience whilst watching it and you follow it like a story and the classic costumes and dance routines are all a part of what makes the video memorable and it the whimsical feel has become somewhat a convention of Katy Perry's. The way Snoop Dogg ( who is also featured on the track) plays the story line like a board game gives the video a childlike feel and really girly sticking to the pop genre which I personally am a fan of.
7. Thrift Shop- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft Wanz
This video is a personal favorite of mine, I just love how ridiculous it is at times. Macklemore doesn't take this video too seriously in a way some artists do, he makes fun of himself dressing up in crazy costumes and the use of the children in this video just add to the humour. This song was really popular at the time of its release and I think it actually conveys quite a serious message about societies priorities however the humour in this video presents it in a lighthearted way which doesn't cause offence and just has fun which ultimately is what audiences want to see.
6. Blurred Lines- Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell
This song was a massive summer hit for 2013 and quickly became 'THE' song of the summer. The video has been a source of much controversy and a popular topic for conversation. Whilst the video is more performance based and the narrative of the song is rather ambiguous and arguably non assistant it still remains a popular video. This popularity has been highlighted in other artists videos, notably Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' in which she parodies certain elements seen in the video.
5. Shut Up- Black Eyed Peas
This video by the Black Eyed Peas, is a slightly older video when compared to the other videos listed so far but it still remains entertaining to watch. Similarly to Macklemore this video features quite a lot humour but in a different way. Initially presented as a show, the audience view it in the same way as the audience in the video watch it, the use of stage props and split screens make it more entertaining and we see each member of the band featured, which fans of the band would appreciate.
4. Love On Top- Beyonce
This video is quite simple as it shows Beyonce in a rehearsals studio, performing the song with male background dancers acting as her backup singers. I like this video because its quite simple but with the dance routine and the costumes it makes it so interesting to watch and its visually interesting to watch the studio transform along with the performance. At the end as we watch her pass the camera it gives the video a more intimate feel like we are actually there.
3. The Lazy Song- Bruno Mars
This video is really entertaining for the audience, the lyrics are funny alone but by performing along side dancing monkey's just add to the humour. The dance has become just as famous as the song as when you hear it you can't help but nod your head like the monkey's in the video.The costumes of the background artists and Bruno Mars is uniformed and adds to the humour, we get the sense that its filmed via webcam and it makes the video informal and therefore we enjoy it more.
2. Best Song Ever- One Direction
In this video we see the members of One Direction doubling up as the actors in their video. This video worked as an extended promotion for their new film and new song. This video is especially entertaining with the humour, the shots of them with their character doubles, and clips of their new film. The dance routine is easy for audience to learn and has become somewhat of a convention for them. The way the different characters are revealed at the end of the video make it more interesting and it's almost a revelation to the audience, this adds to the repeatablity factor of the video as you want to re-watch it again to see the characters now that you know its actually the boys from One Direction.
1. Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson
My Top 10 Music Videos:
After compiling my results for the best videos of all time I decided to create my own lists of what I believe to be the best videos EVER!
10. Happy-Pharrell Williams
This video was a relatively new video when I made this list but nevertheless I think its just so good. Pharrell Williams wrote this song for the film 'Despicable Me 2' and the video reflects it with the random minions throughout the video. Along with title of the song the video genuinely makes you feel happy and all the people in the video dancing having a good time instantly makes you want to have a good time and I really love that idea.
9. Afterglow- Wilkinson
This video is more concept than performance and narrative but nevertheless it is still memorable. The way they use the numbers and different scenarios to convey the story is really clever and the white background gives it a clean and neat feel whilst allowing the images to stand out showing the message further.
8. California Gurls- Katy Perry
For me, this video is like a female take on the classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In the video Katy Perry looks like shes having so much fun which is transferred onto the audience whilst watching it and you follow it like a story and the classic costumes and dance routines are all a part of what makes the video memorable and it the whimsical feel has become somewhat a convention of Katy Perry's. The way Snoop Dogg ( who is also featured on the track) plays the story line like a board game gives the video a childlike feel and really girly sticking to the pop genre which I personally am a fan of.
7. Thrift Shop- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft Wanz
This video is a personal favorite of mine, I just love how ridiculous it is at times. Macklemore doesn't take this video too seriously in a way some artists do, he makes fun of himself dressing up in crazy costumes and the use of the children in this video just add to the humour. This song was really popular at the time of its release and I think it actually conveys quite a serious message about societies priorities however the humour in this video presents it in a lighthearted way which doesn't cause offence and just has fun which ultimately is what audiences want to see.
6. Blurred Lines- Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell
This song was a massive summer hit for 2013 and quickly became 'THE' song of the summer. The video has been a source of much controversy and a popular topic for conversation. Whilst the video is more performance based and the narrative of the song is rather ambiguous and arguably non assistant it still remains a popular video. This popularity has been highlighted in other artists videos, notably Lily Allen's 'Hard Out Here' in which she parodies certain elements seen in the video.
5. Shut Up- Black Eyed Peas
This video by the Black Eyed Peas, is a slightly older video when compared to the other videos listed so far but it still remains entertaining to watch. Similarly to Macklemore this video features quite a lot humour but in a different way. Initially presented as a show, the audience view it in the same way as the audience in the video watch it, the use of stage props and split screens make it more entertaining and we see each member of the band featured, which fans of the band would appreciate.
4. Love On Top- Beyonce
This video is quite simple as it shows Beyonce in a rehearsals studio, performing the song with male background dancers acting as her backup singers. I like this video because its quite simple but with the dance routine and the costumes it makes it so interesting to watch and its visually interesting to watch the studio transform along with the performance. At the end as we watch her pass the camera it gives the video a more intimate feel like we are actually there.
3. The Lazy Song- Bruno Mars
This video is really entertaining for the audience, the lyrics are funny alone but by performing along side dancing monkey's just add to the humour. The dance has become just as famous as the song as when you hear it you can't help but nod your head like the monkey's in the video.The costumes of the background artists and Bruno Mars is uniformed and adds to the humour, we get the sense that its filmed via webcam and it makes the video informal and therefore we enjoy it more.
2. Best Song Ever- One Direction
In this video we see the members of One Direction doubling up as the actors in their video. This video worked as an extended promotion for their new film and new song. This video is especially entertaining with the humour, the shots of them with their character doubles, and clips of their new film. The dance routine is easy for audience to learn and has become somewhat of a convention for them. The way the different characters are revealed at the end of the video make it more interesting and it's almost a revelation to the audience, this adds to the repeatablity factor of the video as you want to re-watch it again to see the characters now that you know its actually the boys from One Direction.
1. Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson
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