Music Videos that Rock: Animated, Indie, Black and White
Get your fill of the best animated, indie, and black and white music videos that will make you want to rock out.
Animated Music Videos
In the past, music videos were mostly just performances by the artists with maybe a little bit of story thrown in. These days, music videos are much more complex, often with a detailed story, high production values, and sometimes even animation. Animated music videos are a great way to bring a song to life and make it even more memorable.
“Robot Rock” by Daft Punk
“Robot Rock” is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk. The song is produced by the duo, and appears as the opening track on their second studio album, Discovery (2001). It peaked at number 86 on the UK Singles Chart in February 2002.
The song’s music video was directed by Alex J. Canoli and produced by Daft Arts. It features the duo performing in a dark, futuristic setting with laser lights and pyrotechnics. It won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards in 2002.
“Come Alive” by Justice
Since the release of their 2007 album †, Justice has become one of the most popular electronic groups in the world. The album produced several well-known singles, including “Genesis”, “Stress”, and “D.A.N.C.E.”, but it was the music video for “Come Alive” that really made Justice a household name.
The video, which is entirely animated and in black and white, tells the story of a group of friends who go on a wild adventure after escaping from their dull everyday lives. It features Justice’s trademark mix of heavy bass and catchy melodies, and is widely considered to be one of the best animated music videos ever made.
“Fell in Love with a Girl” by The White Stripes
The White Stripes’ “Fell in Love with a Girl” was directed by Floria Sigismondi, who also did videos for David Bowie, Marilyn Manson and The Cure. The stop-motion clip features Lego characters and took two weeks to make.
Indie Music Videos
Indie music videos are a great way to get your music out there and seen by a larger audience. You can submit them to music video festivals, post them on social media, and even use them to promote your live shows. If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out these five awesome indie music videos.
“Do You Realize??” by The Flaming Lips
“Do You Realize??” is a song by American rock band The Flaming Lips, released as the third single from their 2002 album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. The song climbing to number 32 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart and reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart.
In October 2011, NME placed it at number 152 on its list “150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years”. In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked it 483 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. In 2013, Pitchfork Media ranked it 59th on its list of “The 200 Best Songs of the 2000s”.
In his review of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Jason Ankeny of AllMusic described “Do You Realize???” as “the most beautiful love song ever written about death.” He also praised lead singer Wayne Coyne for his vocals, saying that he “delivers his most soaring and impassioned vocal yet.”
“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant
“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” is a song by American rock band Cage the Elephant. It was released as the lead single from their debut album in 2008. The song entered the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2009. It has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The music video for “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” was animated by time-lapse photography and directed by Isaac Klaviez. It features a man (played by frontman Matt Shultz) who is pursued by a woman (played by actress Scarlett Johansson) through a desert landscape. The video received positive reviews from critics, who praised its visuals and humor.
“Float On” by Modest Mouse
“Float On” is a song by the American alternative rock band Modest Mouse. It was released in March 2004 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004). The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, becoming the band’s first and only number-one single on that chart.
The song’s music video, directed by Australian filmmaker Christopher Haven, was nominated for five MTV Video Music Awards, winning three, including Best Group Video. The video features an animated black-and-white world in which the characters are monkeys. The video was also nominated for Best Editing at the 47th Grammy Awards.
Black and White Music Videos
Black and white music videos can be beautiful, evocative, and mysterious. They can also be stylish, cool, and retro. When it comes to music videos, black and white is a classic look that can set the tone for the song. In this roundup, we’ve gathered some of our favorite black and white music videos.
“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley
“Crazy” is a 2006 single by Gnarls Barkley, a musical collaboration between Danger Mouse and CeeLo Green, and is the first single from their album St. Elsewhere. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Spain. It won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2007.
The song’s music video was directed by Robert Hales and features Cat Power. It consists of a single continuous shot of Cat Power walking down a New York City street while Gnarls Barkley’s music plays in the background. The video has an overall black-and-white color scheme with occasional color accents.
“Black and Gold” by Sam Sparro
“Black and Gold” is a song by Australian singer Sam Sparro. It was released in Australia on 27 February 2008 as the lead single from his self-titled debut album. The song was co-written by Sparro and producer Jesse Rogg. In the United States, the song peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The music video for “Black and Gold” was directed by Kinga Burza and filmed in Los Angeles. It features Sparro dancing against a white background, with animation consisting of gold motifs added in post-production.
“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
This song was released in 2003 by The White Stripes and quickly shot to the top of the charts. The music video is a simple, yet effective, concept. It features the band performing in a completely black and white setting. The stark contrast between the two colors creates a visual impact that is impossible to ignore.
The video was directed by Alex Rigopulos and was nominated for nine MTV Video Music Awards, winning three. It has become one of the most iconic music videos of all time and is a must-watch for any fan of rock music.
