{"id":27243,"date":"2026-09-18T02:28:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T06:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/?p=27243"},"modified":"2026-09-22T22:38:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T02:38:53","slug":"best-music-videos-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/best-music-videos-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"Best music videos ever"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>These songs are not necessarily my favourites to listen to, but ones where the song is at least catchy and the video is stunning. Warning: there are lots of music videos, possibly even famous ones, I haven&#8217;t seen.<\/p>\n<h2>Best of the best<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>a-ha&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=djV11Xbc914\">Take On Me<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>A nice little story told with a combination of live action and animated drawings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Cibo Matto&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EN9auBn6Jys\">Sugar Water<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Directed by <span class=\"ytAttributedStringHost ytAttributedStringWhiteSpacePreWrap\" dir=\"auto\" role=\"text\">Michel Gondry<\/span>. Astonishingly filmed backwards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Fatboy Slim&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wCDIYvFmgW8\">Weapon Of Choice<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Directed by <span class=\"ytAttributedStringHost ytAttributedStringWhiteSpacePreWrap\" dir=\"auto\"><span class=\"ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor\" dir=\"auto\">Spike Jonze. You didn&#8217;t think Christopher Walken could dance? He can do anything.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Praise You&#8221; is also worth a look, directed by Jonze and Roman Coppola. Jonze and others are dancing ridiculously.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>George Michael&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=diYAc7gB-0A\">Freedom! &#8217;90<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>He burns his old outfit from when he pretended to be a heterosexual man.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Lady Gaga&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wV1FrqwZyKw\">Born This Way<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>A fantastic message, along with her unique costumes and dance style.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Bad Romance&#8221; is also full of beautiful nonsense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Madonna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GsVcUzP_O_8\">Express Yourself<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Directed by David Fincher. Amazingly, an homage to <strong>Metropolis<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Vogue&#8221; is also directed by Fincher and has a great message.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Michael Jackson&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=F2AitTPI5U0\">Black or White<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>A beautiful message, delivered with people&#8217;s faces morphing into each other.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Smooth Criminal&#8221; has astonishing dance moves, including the moonwalk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ytAttributedStringHost ytAttributedStringWhiteSpacePreWrap\" dir=\"auto\"><span class=\"ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor\" dir=\"auto\">Taylor Swift&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM\">Shake it Off<\/a><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>A fantastic message delivered in an endlessly entertaining way.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Blank Space&#8221; also takes aim at her detractors in a more visceral way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor\" dir=\"auto\">Weezer&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4\">Buddy Holly<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Directed by <span class=\"ytAttributedStringHost ytAttributedStringWhiteSpacePreWrap\" dir=\"auto\"><span class=\"ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor\" dir=\"auto\">Spike Jonze. The way they insert themselves into the <strong>Happy Days<\/strong> universe is stunning.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Runner ups<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Best Coast&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cvgHjgNjfAg\">Our Deal<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Directed by <span class=\"ytAttributedStringHost ytAttributedStringWhiteSpacePreWrap\" dir=\"auto\" role=\"text\"><span class=\"ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor\" dir=\"auto\">Drew Barrymore, this <strong>Romeo and Juliet<\/strong>-type story features Chlo\u00eb Grace Moretz, Miranda Cosgrove, Donald Glover, Shailene Woodley, and Alia Shawkat.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Bruno Mars&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dULOjT9GYdQ\">The Lazy Song<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Leonard Nimoy stars as a grumpy old man who doesn&#8217;t want to talk to his neighbour or the mailman. The best part is when he keeps seeing William Shatner on TV.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Genesis&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Yq7FKO5DlV0\">Land of Confusion<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Both the band and political figures are portrayed by puppets. It helps if you know who Ronald Reagan is and what he looks like.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Janet Jackson&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OAwaNWGLM0c\">Rhythm Nation<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Impeccable synchronized dance moves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>John Batiste&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3YHVC1DcHmo\">Freedom<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Formerly Stephen Colbert&#8217;s band leader, he is a brilliant musician, hilarious, and kind. This video is pure fun.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Johnny Cash&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI\">Hurt<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>This video is amazing in a way that&#8217;s different from the others &#8212; near the end of his life, it was made in his own home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Peter Gabriel&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OJWJE0x7T4Q\">Sledgehammer<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>The use of stop-motion animation makes this stand out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Pharrell Williams&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZbZSe6N_BXs\">Happy<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>A bunch of happy people dancing in their own unique ways.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Prince&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H9tEvfIsDyo\">Kiss<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>This video is worth it for the moment the guitarist smiles at Prince.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Raspberry Beret&#8221; has a nice combination of live action and animation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Honourable mentions<\/h2>\n<p>These are videos I hadn&#8217;t seen before but are intriguing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Billy Joel&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g\">We Didn&#8217;t Start the Fire<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>He gives us a history lesson, showing us that things weren&#8217;t actually better in the &#8220;good old days.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Bj\u00f6rk&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p0mRIhK9seg\">Human Behaviour<\/a>&nbsp;\n<ul>\n<li>Directed by Michel Gondry. It&#8217;s weird, but I guess humans are weird.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Britney Spears&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LOZuxwVk7TU\">Toxic<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>The story might be a tiny bit nonsensical but it&#8217;s fun &#8212; she&#8217;s not a flight attendant, she&#8217;s a spy on a dangerous mission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Janet Jackson&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uznTHSEgx4U\">Got \u2018Til It\u2019s Gone<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>This video recreates a lounge in South Africa during the Apartheid era &#8212; when Black people were not allowed to go certain places.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Kylie Minogue&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=63vqob-MljQ\">Come Into My World<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Michel Gondry directed this one. It answers the question: How many Kylie Minogues can you fit in one video?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>OK Go&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA\">Here It Goes Again<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Startling choreography involving treadmills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Outkast&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PWgvGjAhvIw\">Hey Ya!<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Features Andre 3000 in multiple roles as the band is introduced like they&#8217;re the Beatles on <strong>Ed Sullivan<\/strong> in 1964.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Red Hot Chili Peppers&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Sb5aq5HcS1A\">Dani California<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>The band looks and plays as if they were Elvis, the Beatles, Prince, and more.<\/li>\n<li>The version of &#8220;Can&#8217;t Stop&#8221; that&#8217;s in <strong>Love, Death &amp; Robots<\/strong> season 4 is directed by David Fincher and reimagines the band as marionettes. It&#8217;s a great video, it just didn&#8217;t belong in that show.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Sia&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2vjPBrBU-TM\">Chandelier<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>Features 11-year-old Maddie Ziegler dancing in a way that is remarkable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These songs are not necessarily my favourites to listen to, but ones where the song is at least catchy and the video is stunning. Warning: there are lots of music videos, possibly even famous ones, I haven&#8217;t seen. Best of the best a-ha&#8217;s Take On Me A nice little story told with a combination of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,22],"tags":[13,90],"class_list":["post-27243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-from-the-web","category-my-thoughts","tag-music","tag-pop"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27243"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27322,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27243\/revisions\/27322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.davidmswitzer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}