The Best Rock and Pop Music Videos of All Time

A countdown of what we believe to be the best rock and pop music videos of all time. These are the videos that changed the game.

Introduction

There’s no doubt that music videos have come a long way since they were first introduced to the world in the late 1970s. From the early days of MTV to the YouTube era, we’ve seen some truly iconic videos that have changed the course of pop culture.

To celebrate the best of the best, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be the 100 greatest rock and pop music videos of all time. This comprehensive list features a mix of classic and modern videos, spanning multiple genres and decades. We’ve included iconic videos like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, as well as more recent hits like Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”, Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble.”, and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk”.

So without further ado, here are the 100 greatest rock and pop music videos of all time:

“Thriller” by Michael Jackson

The best rock and pop music videos of all time include Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and a-ha’s “Take On Me.” These are the best musical videos because they are creative, iconic, and genre-defining.

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is the best rock music video of all time because it redefined the genre. It was the first music video to tell a story, and it did so with style and flair. The budget for the video was unprecedented at the time, and the special effects were groundbreaking. It introduced the world to zombies, and it is still the standard by which all other rock music videos are judged.

Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” is the best pop music video of all time because it broke boundaries and challenged norms. It was controversial when it was released, and it is still controversial today. It dealt with race, religion, and sexuality in a way that had never been done before, and it did so with stylish grace.

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the best song of all time, period. It is an epic work of art that cannot be matched. The video for the song is also genius, as it uses footage from their legendary Live Aid performance to create a visual masterpiece.

A-ha’s “Take On Me” is the best new wave music video of all time because it changed the way we think about music videos. It introduced rotoscoping to the world, and it used this new technique to create a stunning visual experience that perfectly complemented the song.

“Boys” by Britney Spears

The year was 2000. The place: a high school gymnasium. The occasion: a pep rally. And the soundtrack: Britney Spears’ “Boys.” Dressed in skin-tight, low-rise jeans and a midriff-baring crop top, Britney strutted her stuff on stage as a bevy of half-naked male dancers gyrated around her. It was a bold, unapologetic performance that cemented Britney’s place as the reigning queen of pop.

More than fifteen years later, “Boys” is still one of the best music videos of all time. It’s an erotic dance fantasy that perfectly captures Britney’s sex appeal, while also subverting traditional gender roles. With its playfully feminist message and throbbing dance beats, “Boys” is a timeless pop classic.

“Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel

“Sledgehammer” was released in 1986 by British singer Peter Gabriel. The song was a huge hit, reaching number one in several countries, and the accompanying music video was equally successful. The video won nine MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Male Video and Best Overall Video, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.

Directed by Stephen R. Johnson, the “Sledgehammer” video is a mix of live action and stop-motion animation, featuring Gabriel interacting with a variety of colorful characters and objects. The stop-motion animation was created by British animator Johnny Clayton, who also worked on the popular television series “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

“Take on Me” by a-ha

“Take on Me” is a song by Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha, first released in 1984. It was written by the band’s lead singer Morten Harket, guitarist Pål Waaktaar and producer Alan Tarney. The song combines elements of pop, synth-pop and new wave, with acoustic guitars providing the song’s signature riff.

The song was used as the opening theme for the 1985 anime series Kimagure Orange Road and was later adapted into a live-action film in 1988. “Take on Me” became a global hit after being re-released in 1985, reaching number one in several countries including Australia, Canada, West Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the US, it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1986. The music video won six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards and is considered one of the most influential music videos of all time.

“Here It Goes Again” by OK Go

“Here It Goes Again” is a song by the American rock band OK Go. It was released in July 2006 as the lead single from the band’s second studio album, Oh No (2005). The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 38 of August 5, 2006, making it the band’s first top 40 hit in the United States.

The song’s accompanying music video was shot in one take by Todd Radunsky and features the band performing an intricate choreographed routine on treadmills. The video became a viral sensation and won several awards, including three MTV Video Music Awards (for Best Direction, Best Editing and Best Choreography) and a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

“The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World

Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” was one of the most important and influential rock songs of the early 2000s. The music video, directed by the band’s drummer Zach Lind, reflects the song’s theme of not fitting in and feeling like an outsider. The video features a cast of misfits who are all trying to find their place in the world. The video is quirky and fun, and it perfectly captures the spirit of the song.

“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness

The Darkness’s “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” is one of the most fun and over-the-top music videos of all time. The video features the band members dressed as medieval knights, riding around on horses, and battling a dragon. The whole video is shot in epic slow motion, and it’s just a blast to watch.

“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley

“Crazy” is a song by Gnarls Barkley, a musical collaboration between Danger Mouse and CeeLo Green, from their 2006 debut album St. Elsewhere. The song peaked at number two on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. It won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2007. The music video for “Crazy” was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards, winning three including Breakthrough Video of the Year.

The video features CeeLo Green wandering through a number of surreal environments, carrying with him a white cook pot with a oddly deformed baby’s head protruding from it. The scenes alternate between color and black-and-white, sometimes within the same scene. In one scene, Green is seen playing chopsticks on the baby’s head like a xylophone; in another, he is feeding it milk from a bottle.

The video was directed by Robert Hales and was shot in Los Angeles over two days in March 2006.

“Feel Good Inc.” by Gorillaz

The animated rock band Gorillaz released “Feel Good Inc.” in 2005, and the accompanying music video is a stunning work of stop-motion animation. Directed by Pete Candeland and Jamie Hewlett, the video features the band’s virtual members 2D, Russel Hobbs, and Murdoc Niccals performing on a floating island alongside a host of other bizarre creatures. The video won multiple awards, including Best Pop Video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are countless rock and pop music videos that have been produced over the years. These are just a few of the best that have stood the test of time and continue to entertain and inspire audiences today. What makes a great rock or pop music video is often subjective, but these classics are definitely worth watching again and again.