The Top 10 Techno Clubbing Videos from the ’90s
Contents
- #10: The Chemical Brothers – ‘Setting Sun’ (1996)
- #9: Underworld – ‘Push Upstairs’ (1999)
- #8: The Prodigy – ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ (1997)
- #7: Fatboy Slim – ‘Praise You’ (1998)
- #6: The Crystal Method – ‘Keep Hope Alive’ (1997)
- #5: Leftfield – ‘Release the Pressure’ (1995)
- #4: Daft Punk – ‘Around the World’ (1997)
- #3: The Prodigy – ‘Breathe’ (1996)
- #2: Orbital – ‘Belfast’ (1991)
- #1: The Chemical Brothers – ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ (1997)
Looking for a blast from the past? Check out our top 10 list of the best techno clubbing videos from the ’90s. You’ll be sure to get your groove on!
#10: The Chemical Brothers – ‘Setting Sun’ (1996)
The Chemical Brothers were one of the first techno acts to really break through to the mainstream and this video for ‘Setting Sun’ is a perfect example of their appeal. The track is a mid-tempo stomper with a catchy hook, but it’s the visuals that really make this video stand out. Featuring a zombified version of Oasis’ Noel Gallagher stumbling around a post-apocalyptic London, it’s equal parts funny and creepy.
#9: Underworld – ‘Push Upstairs’ (1999)
Underworld’s “Push Upstairs” comes in at #9 on our list of the top 10 techno clubbing videos from the ’90s. The track was released in 1999 as part of the group’s album Be Contracted, and the video is a high-energy, fast-paced montage of clubbers dancing against a variety of colorful backgrounds. What really makes this video stand out, though, is its use of time-lapse photography, which gives it a unique visual style.
#8: The Prodigy – ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ (1997)
The Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up” was released in 1997 and quickly became one of the most controversial videos of all time. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the video features explicit footage of drug use, violence, and sex, intercut with shots of the band performing. It was banned from MTV and many other TV channels, but that only helped to make it more popular.
#7: Fatboy Slim – ‘Praise You’ (1998)
Fatboy Slim’s ‘Praise You’ is one of the most iconic clubbing videos of all time, and for good reason. The video was directed by Spike Jonze, and features a group of people dancing in a public space without any music. The result is both funny and impressive, and perfectly captures the energy and spirit of techno clubbing in the ’90s.
#6: The Crystal Method – ‘Keep Hope Alive’ (1997)
Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who would go on to make ‘Little Miss Sunshine’, ‘The Crystal Method – ‘Keep Hope Alive’ is a stunning piece of work. The video tells the story of a young woman who discovers a secret world of underground nightclubs where people dance all night to techno music.
As she gets deeper into this world, she discovers that the people who inhabit it are not what they seem. The film is a dark and stylish exploration of obsession, and the lengths people will go to in order to escape from their everyday lives.
#5: Leftfield – ‘Release the Pressure’ (1995)
This is an undeniable classic, and one of the best club tracks of the ‘90s. The video is directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, who also did the promo for Daft Punk’s ‘Around the World’. It’s all very trippy and psychedelic, with Sednaoui himself making a cameo appearance.
#4: Daft Punk – ‘Around the World’ (1997)
Daft Punk’s second album, Homework, included the hits “Da Funk” and “Around the World.” The latter track was accompanied by a simple but effective music video that finds the robotic duo constructing a human-like creature out of spare parts and then dancing with her in a club.
#3: The Prodigy – ‘Breathe’ (1996)
The Prodigy’s ‘Breathe’ was one of the biggest club hits of the ‘90s,sampling the infamous ‘Aphex Breath’ sample from the Aphex Twin track ‘Come to Daddy’. The video is a perfect snapshot of the period, with its rave culture iconography and accompanying footage of The Prodigy live at Brixton Academy.
#2: Orbital – ‘Belfast’ (1991)
Orbital’s ‘Belfast’ is one of the most iconic techno songs of the ‘90s, and the video is just as unforgettable. The clip, which was directed by Jeff Keen, features footage of the band performing live in clubs as well as shots of city life in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The editing is fast-paced and chaotic, giving the video an energetic and exciting feeling that perfectly matches the song’s high-octane sound.
#1: The Chemical Brothers – ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ (1997)
The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ is a prime example of ‘90s techno at its finest. The track was released in 1997 as part of the duo’s second album, Dig Your Own Hole, and quickly became a club anthem. The accompanying music video is just as iconic, and features footage of ravers dancing in front of a giant speakers at an outdoor party.
