The Best Grunge Music Videos of All Time
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A countdown of the best grunge music videos of all time, including Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and more.
Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was one of the most defining songs of the grunge era. The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, is just as iconic. It features the band performing in a high school gymnasium, with students moshing and crowd surfing. The video is grainy and lo-fi, giving it a raw and grungy feel.
Pearl Jam- Jeremy
Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” was directed by Mark Pellington and released in 1992. The video features shots of the band performing in front of a live audience, intercut with footage of a young boy who is bullied at school and eventually brings a gun to class and shoots himself.
The video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards, winning two, including Best Group Video. It was also nominated for Best Pop Video at the MTV Europe Music Awards. The “Jeremy” video was ranked at number three on VH1’s Greatest Videos of All Time list and number seven on MTV’s 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made list. In 2010, the video was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Alice in Chains- Would?
Alice in Chains- Would?
would? is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains, appearing on their second studio album, Dirt (1992). The song was released as a single in May 1993 and is included on the compilation albums Nothing Safe: Best of the Box (1999), Music Bank (1999), and Greatest Hits (2001). A remixed version of the song was included on the box set Music Bank (1999). would? peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The music video for “Would?” was directed by Kevin Kerslake.
Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun
Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” is one of the most iconic grunge songs of all time. The music video is just as iconic, and is considered one of the best grunge music videos of all time. The video was directed by Kevin Kerslake, and features footage of the band performing in a dark room with eerie lighting. The video was nominated for several MTV Video Music Awards, and won Best Metal/Hard Rock Video.
Stone Temple Pilots- Interstate Love Song
Stone Temple Pilots’ “Interstate Love Song” is not only one of the best Grunge music videos of all time, but one of the best music videos of all time, period. The video was directed by Nigel Dick, who also directed videos for Oasis, Guns N’ Roses, and Britney Spears, and it features the band driving around in a Cadillac convertable while singing the song. It’s a simple concept, but it’s executed perfectly, and it perfectly captures the spirit of Grunge.
