#44: "Bad" - Michael Jackson Release Date: 1987 Director:Martin Scorsese Fun Fact: In the full version of the video, the main person opposite Michael Jackson is a relatively undiscovered Wesley Snipes!
You can find the usual four minute version of this music video everywhere but there's an epic 18 minute version of it... if you've never seen it before! Below is the second half of that video. I remember seeing the full version of this video when I was a kid, I've probably seen all of the full length Michael Jackson videos at some point or another. And I much prefer them to the shortened versions. There's a huge plot at the centre of the "Bad" video, where Michael Jackson plays a teenager named Daryl who is being challenged to see how "bad" he is. The main part of the music video is how Daryl proves how bad he is, hanging out with all of these gangsters and, erm, dancing really well with them. It's an underappreciated video really, because most people haven't seen the full version of the music video, which further explains why Michael Jackson is with all of these gangsters. Check it out!
Here's the (second part of the) video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #43 on the list or here for #45!
#45: "Tribute" - Tenacious D Release Date: 2002 Director:Liam Lynch Fun Fact: Ben Stiller has a discrete cameo in the video!
This is the greatest and best song in the world... tribute! You gotta love this video. The video that perfectly works with a tribute to the best song in the world has got to be in this list right? It's just hilarious throughout, what with The D rigging the song recording studio that only plays cover versions to record The Greatest Song in the World, to Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters playing "The Shiny Shiny Demon", to Ben Stiller's brief cameo, to the way Jack Black flaps about outside the studio before getting arrested... it's just an awesome video. It at one point was the most played music video in Kerrang! history, and for good reason!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #44 on the list or here for #46!
#46: "Enter Sandman" - Metallica Release Date: 1991 Director:Wayne Isham Fun Fact: This is the first of SIX videos by Metallica that have been directed by Wayne Isham!
Also, Wayne Isham directed the "Sweating Bullets" video by Megadeth, which got to #64 in the list. This is only Metallica's second music video, after "One" was made two years prior. The song and the video work together perfectly. Basically it's about this kid who is having nightmares about this old man, who is known as The Sandman. In his nightmares he can't escape from The Sandman, and is having horrible visions of near death experiences (or even, death experiences), such as falling from the top of a building, being covered in deadly snakes, falling down a hillside and being chased by a large truck. All the while The Sandman watches this boy throughout the video, and even watches while the boy recites a prayer. This video is almost overlooked nowadays. There's two reasons for this. The primary reason is because it's overplayed BIG time on music TV channels like Kerrang and Scuzz. And secondly, the flickering of the lighting throughout the video (which comes with an epileptic warning) sometimes means you're not quite watching the video closely to appreciate it. Seriously, watch the video again properly if you can, I'm sure you'll appreciate its greatness once more. Note: This is the second and last video from the year 1991 in this list.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #45 on the list or here for #47!
#47: "Smooth Criminal" - Alien Ant Farm Release Date: 2001 Director:Marc Klasfeld Fun Fact: This song, "Smooth Criminal", is the only song on the list to be featured twice in this list! Michael Jackson's original hit #86 in the countdown.
This is one of the best cover version ever made. Period. Even if you don't particularly like this version, the impact it had was pretty damn impressive. Alien Ant Farm weren't that amazing, or at least, in my opinion they weren't. The fact that this song, and "Movies" are the only two songs that really got anywhere is a decent fact to back that opinion up. But, what Alien Ant Farm did with the Michael Jackson classic was damn impressive. Simple but impressive. Speed it up, give it some punky riffs, modernise it, and it sounds so damn good. And the video is just hilarious. A true comedy tribute to the King of Pop, this song uses so many homages to Jackson's excellent music videos. From "Billy Jean" to "Thriller", and the hilarious scream that's a reference to the unedited "Black and White" video, it's just hella good.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #46 on the list or here for #48!
#48: "Tonight, Tonight" - Smashing Pumpkins Release Date: 1996 Director:Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Fun Fact: The video was inspired by a 1902 French silent film called A Trip to the Moon! They had difficult finding decent costumes for the video because of the making of the Titanic movie!
This song and video is critically acclaimed and is found on many "best videos of all time" lists and rightfully so. It's just a beautifully crafted music video in every sense of the word; the costumes (which, credit to them because of the fun fact above) look brilliant, the artistic direction is flawless and exceptionally executed, and the band, even though they're kind of separate from the plot of the video, don't look out of place at all. This is simply just one of those music videos you have to see before you die. Regardless of if you like the Smashing Pumpkins or the genre of music this band play, it's just one heck of a music video that you truly have to see.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #47 on the list or here for #49!
#49: "United States of Whatever" - Liam Lynch Release Date: 2002 Director: Liam Lynch Fun Fact: For five years, this song was the shortest song ever to get on the UK Top 40 Charts... until a song called "The Ladies Bras" took the title!
And it's certainly the shortest video on my list! What's not to love about this song and video? It's just fantastic. Seeing Liam Lynch who, back in the day I suppose, looked a bit like your stereotypical nerd with the glasses and the bad dancing and everything, telling people pretty much to "fuck off" but in a polite way? It was just hilarious and great at the same time! By the way, believe it or not, this song is the only song on my entire list that I can't 100% confirm the music director. I believe it was Liam Lynch that directed his own music video but I can't find evidence anywhere. I'm purely making this assumption alone on the idea that he's a heck of a lot more successful as a film and music director than he ever was as a musician! Not to mention the design of this video fits nicely in with the videos he has directed elsewhere. So don't take my word for it, but yes, I think the director was Liam Lynch - please correct me if I'm wrong!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #48 on the list or here for #50!
Hey everyone, we're half way there. Thanks for keeping upto date with this list. It's been 50 days... here's to the next 50! If you want to see a recap, or have missed the list so far, here's from #100 to #51...
#100: "House of Fun" - Madness
#99: "Cosmic Love" - Florence and the Machine
#98: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana
#97: "Keine Lust" - Rammstein
#96: "Bassline Junkie" - Dizzee Rascal
#95: "The Salmon Dance" - The Chemical Brothers
#94: "stevie" - Kasabian
#93: "The Hardest Button to Button " - The White Stripes
#92: "If I Had a Tail" - The Queens of the Stone Age
#91: "Lullaby" - The Cure
#90: "Dance" - Saul Williams
#89: "Pork and Beans" - Weezer
#88: "Pure Morning" - Placebo
#87: "Rockstar" - Nickelback
#86: "Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson
#85: "Life on Mars" - David Bowie
#84: "I'm on a Boat" - The Lonely Island
#83: "Virtual Insanity" - Jamiroquai
#82: "Just a Day" - Feeder
#81: "Poison" - Alice Cooper
#80: "There There" - Radiohead
#79: "Dancing in the Street" - David Bowie and Mick Jagger
#78: "Psychosis Safari" - The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
#77: "Common People" - Pulp
#76: "Forgot About Dre" - Dr Dre and Eminem
#75: "Fat" - Weird Al Yankovic
#74: "Links 2-3-4" - Rammstein
#73: "Cars" - Gary Numan
#72: "Dragula" - Rob Zombie
#71: "Here it Goes Again" - OK Go
#70: "Gangnam Style" - PSY
#69: "Wake Me Up When September Ends" - Green Day
#68: "Smack My Bitch Up" - The Prodigy
#67: "Leave Before the Lights Come On" - Arctic Monkeys
#66: "Scream" - Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
#65: "Clint Eastwood" - Gorillaz
#64: "Sweating Bullets" - Megadeth
#63: "Fell in Love With a Girl" - The White Stripes
#62: "Sledgehammer" - Peter Gabriel
#61: "I Want You So Hard (Boys Bad News)" - Eagles of Death Metal
#60: "In the Air Tonight" - Phil Collins
#59: "Twisted Transistor" - KoRn
#58: "I Just Had Sex" - The Lonely Island
#57: "Girls and Boys" - Good Charlotte
#56: "Lonely Boy" - The Black Keys
#55: "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes
#54: "Ashes to Ashes" - David Bowie
#53: "My Band" - D12
#52: "Coma White" - Marilyn Manson
#51: "Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades" - Brand New
Got it? Good. Well then, let's start off the Top 50! #50: "Firestarter" - The Prodigy Release Date: 1996 Director:Walter Stern Fun Fact: Even though it's not got any gore, violence, horror, swearing or drug use or anything visibly controversial, the video was banned before the watershed on certain channels because it was apparently too scary for children!
Ah yes. Firestarter. Such a great video. What's fascinating about this video is that they have done far more controversial videos than this... yet this one caused so much more controversy (probably "Smack My Bitch Up" being the only exception). Why? All it is, is Keith Flint, doing a promo video to the song with a mohican in an underground tunnel! But if you have seen the video, or if you watch it now, you will see why it caused some discomfort. Keith Flint is very intimidating in this video, bopping around like a lunatic, slapping his head constantly, getting in the "face" of the camera throughout. But it's just a brilliant video, despite very little actually happening. Keith Flint has incredible presence and a certain scary aura about him, and frankly, you can't keep your eyes on him. You barely notice that there are other people in the video other than him, that's how much you're fixated with the man!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #49 on the list or here for #51!
#51: "Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades" - Brand New Release Date: 2003 Director:Marc Webb Fun Fact: The phrase actually comes from the latin phrase "Sic transit gloria mundi" which translates to "Thus passes the glory of the world". It was referenced in a 1998 film called Rushmore!
What a video. This truly is a magnificent video. I'm not a big fan of Brand New, and in honesty, I'd probably not give this song any time of day if it wasn't for the fact that I've loved this video ever since I first saw it, and in turn have listened and watched the video enough times to end up really liking the song. Seriously, watch this video if you haven't before. You could make an arguement that this concept has been done before. But I can't really say I've seen it done in music video format. What would you do if you had the power to control people? This video explores that theme very well. What I love about this video is that the protagonist is running from someone... or something. We don't know what, we don't know why. The video leaves that open to interpretation. He finds himself in this bar and he starts to realise he can control people's actions. He takes full advantage of this... but is it such a good omen? I just love this video, and it definitely deserves your time of day.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #50 on the list or here for #52!
#52: "Coma White" - Marilyn Manson Release Date: 1999 Director:Samuel Bayer Fun Fact: The giant in the video is Matthew McGrory, who played the character Tiny in Rob Zombie's films "House of 1000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects"!
This is the first and last video by director Samuel Bayer in this list. He also did "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day. Considering this is one of the tamer Marilyn Manson videos, this video and song was released with quite some controversy. The obvious one now is the re-enactment of the assassination of John F Kennedy. But in truth, it's actually quite tame, there's no bullet shot, no blood, Manson, playing Kennedy simply dies in the car. Obviously the topic itself is difficult and can cause controversy but I think Manson didn't really "abuse" the topic as much as he most certainly could have. The other thing is, this was the first Marilyn Manson single released after the Columbine massacre, something that Manson and his music was pointed at as a reason for it happening, which of course is bullshit. But either way, the finger pointing and the controversial video didn't really help Manson at the time, and it actually was only a promo single rather than it seeing a CD release as a consequence. Either way, it's one heck of a great video, shot very cleanly by Mr Bayer, and Manson looks surprisingly good in the video. Not as good as his ex-girlfriend Rose McGowan mind!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #51 on the list or here for #53!
#53: "My Band" - D12 Release Date: 2004 Director:Philip Atwell Fun Fact: The song/video mocks and references a few different songs - "In Da Club" by 50 Cent, the songs "Superman" and "Lose Yourself" by Eminem himself and, most hilariously, "Milkshake" by Kelis - yes - this is the "My Salsa" segment at the end!
Oh god, THIS video. I just absolutely love this video, it's just so funny and it was during a period where Eminem's ability to produce great quality comedy in his hip hop was ever present. Of course, this is D12, and while they do mock the idea that Eminem is "the lead singer of the band dude" there's so much truth to the fact that all the attention is on Eminem and rightfully so - he was the reason why D12 did so well, whether they like it, don't like it, but definitely mock it, it's the truth. I didn't realise a few things about this video until checking out the research on it - as mentioned above, the hilarious "My Salsa" outro is actually based on the smash hit "Milkshake" by Kelis! I had no idea! Did you? The other thing is when Bizarre starts stripping, he is wearing a shiny outfit with his nipples covered only by nipple tassles, this is parodying the infamous wardrobe malfunction with Janet Jackson in the Superbowl only a month earlier. This is just one heck of a funny hip hop video, one of the funniest ever created, for sure. Note: This is the first and last video from the year 2004 in this list.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #52 on the list or here for #54!
#54: "Ashes to Ashes" - David Bowie Release Date: 1980 Director:David Mallet Fun Fact: At the time, this was the most expensive music video ever made; it cost £250,000 to make!
Another song that brings me back to my childhood yadda yadda. But in fairness, it's a pretty epic video, that even by today's standards, is as striking as it ever was back in 1980. Sure, it does look really dated now, but you can't help but feel that if David Bowie made this video 30 years later, it'd be one of the most amazing looking videos ever made. The scene in the middle and at the end of the video, where David Bowie is stuck to a load of tubes looking pale always brings me back to my childhood. It's funny how certain images stick in your head all your life - this is one of them. It's just one of the best videos ever made and I'll never forget it, if I like it or not!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #53 on the list or here for #55!
#55: "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes Release Date: 2003 Director:Alex and Martin Fun Fact: The song has since become a HUGE football chanting anthem across the world, but in particular in Italy!
Here is yet another simple concept that looks incredibly awesome when put into music video format. Who would have thought that a journey down a load of triangles with changing images would have been so cool? The video is simply, Jack White, Meg White, an elephant and some skeletons being used repeatedly in a mixture of white, black and red triangles. But it looks so so cool, and you can't help watching the video. I love simple ideas when they look great, and this is one of the simplest ideas in this entire list of music videos. It's just one heck of a good video, and also, of course, one hell of a fantastic song!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #54 on the list or here for #56!
#56: "Lonely Boy" - Black Keys Release Date: 2011 Director:Jesse Dylan Fun Fact: The dancing man, Derek Tuggle is an actor, musician, and a part time security guard!
Another awesome fact is that this wasn't the original video - the original video had a script and around 40 actors and everything, but the band weren't happy with the video edit at all. They sent it back and got a re-edit which too was crap. Then they got this dude to dance spontaneously for the video! Derek was an extra on the set at the time and did a completely improvised dance for the song. I just love this video, Derek's moves are great if not completely flawed, which gives the video and song so much character. I love how he looks a little nervous and you can tell just by looking at him that he doesn't know what moves are going to come out next. It's just a simple and lovable video that anyone can watch - it truly has to be seen if you've not seen it before!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #55 on the list or here for #57!
#57: "Girls and Boys" - Good Charlotte Release Date: 2003 Director:Smith N' Borin Fun Fact: There was an extended version of the video (which seems to be hard to find online nowadays) which had a skit where Good Charlotte take the piss out of Avril Lavigne's song "Complicated"!
This is just a great video because there's nothing better than seeing older people acting like they were teenagers again. It's a concept that's been done many times but I actually can't remember many music videos doing the idea. Good Charlotte did and they did it really well, not only because these are older people doing youthful things, but because the band are all tattooed punk goths that wear make up and band t-shirts. I do live the part of the video when they take the piss out of the boyband dancing, when Joel has a team of older female dancers like in the pop videos of old. It's just a great video, probably a little underrated due to Good Charlotte kinda losing their reputation as a decent little pop punk band at one time.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #56 on the list or here for #58!
#58: "I Just Had Sex" - The Lonely Island and Akon Release Date: 2011 Director: Akiva Schaffer Fun Fact:
The two girlfriends who had the disappointing sex are Jessica Alba and Blake Lively! Also legendary tennis player John McEnroe makes a cameo.
I love this video, well of course I would, it's in this list for a reason! It's just hilarious though, honestly, from start to finish the video is full of hilarious segments, all over the top about how amazing it is to have sex. I think the two girlfriends do a fantastic job of being embarassed by the whole thing, and I also love Jorm's parents when they've been told that he's had sex.
There's very little I need to say about this video, either you've seen it and, I hope, agree with me, that this video is just hilarious, or... why on earth haven't you seen this video before! Watch it now!!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #57 on the list or here for #59!
#59: "Twisted Transistor" - KoRn Release Date: 2005 Director: Dave Meyers Fun Fact:
The four hip hop artists are Lil Jon as Jonathan Davis, Xzibit as Fieldy, David Banner as David Silveria and Snoop Dogg as Munky!
I do feel like this video is incredibly underrated. I mean, I'm sure a lot of metal fans really like this video but truly, it deserves a lot more attention and a lot more respect. I honestly don't know if this idea has ever been done before, or since. Four major hip hop artists pretending to be a metal band? It's an awesome concept and it's hilarious. If you like these hip hop artists or not, you have to appreciate the great jobs they did in being fake versions of the members of KoRn. I'm not sure who I like most, it's a toss-up between Snoop Dogg being a very (very!) angry version of Munky, or Xzibit being a very (very!) pukey alter ego of Fieldy. I do also love the vein David Banner, modelling and worrying about a cut on his face. It's just a hilarious video, and to see the actual members of KoRn at the end being spoof music execs is just the icing on the cake. If you've not seen this video watch it! NOW!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #58 on the list or here for #60!
#60: "In the Air Tonight" - Phil Collins Release Date: 1981 Director: Stuart Orme Fun Fact: The myth that this song is about a drowning incident that Phil Collins witnessed is all a complete and utter fabrication - don't believe it!!
This song and video is incredibly iconic. Similar to my entry for "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel though, this entry is because of how good the video is, rather than my love of the song. And the video, actually isn't a technical genius of a video. But it's simple and absorbs you in. Sometimes the simplest of ideas are the best ones, and this video is an example of that. The majority of the video is Phil Collins' face in black and white, but you can't help but look at it. It's just a great video, and it matches the song to perfection.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #59 on the list or here for #61!
#61: "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)" - Eagles of Death Metal Release Date: 2006 Director: Akiva Schaffer Fun Fact: The song has been covered live by none other than Meat Loaf!
Oh god this video is just hilarious. I don't know if it's the silly concept that doing guitar solos takes all of your clothes off and makes you aroused or if it's the hilarious wigs worn by Josh Homme, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Jack Black of Tenacious D - I mean look at Jack Black in that picture above! He looks so bad in that wig it's good! I just love this video and I really think that anyone who hasn't seen this video before needs to see it quite frankly, if you have a sense of humour.
Two more facts are that the video was directed by Kiv from The Lonely Island (who will feature in this list again), and that the last guy at the end who loses his clothes in the business suit with the case plays as Richardson in the film Hot Rod, which was also directed by Kiv and features The Lonely Island, and Josh Homme actually. Also, Meat Loaf plays Jack Black's dad in the Tenacious D film The Pick of Destiny... what a connection game this music video is!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #60 on the list or here for #62!
#62: "Sledgehammer" - Peter Gabriel Release Date: 1986 Director: Stephen R. Johnson Fun Fact: The video has won a whopping NINE MTV Music video awards, which is still a record to this day!
This video is also the most played video in MTV music channel history too. That's of course part to how old the video is but also to how damned good the video is also. Now, I'm going to level with you here. I'm not a massive fan of this song. It's okay; I can listen to it when it comes on the radio but it's not on my personal media player or anything like that. But this video is just amazing. It draws you in, you can't stop looking at it. The director and the team who took part in the creation of this video have done an insane job. It's just simply one of the best videos of all time, and in an unbiased list, this would be a certain Top 10, if not Top 5 entry.
Another fun fact - Aardman Animations, the guys who made Wallace and Gromit, as well as Shaun the Sheep, took part in the making of this video!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #61 on the list or here for #63!
#63: "Fell in Love With a Girl" - The White Stripes Release Date: 2002 Director: Michel Gondry Fun Fact: Jack White actually asked Lego if they would like to put some lego pieces with each single that sold, but Lego refused. After the single became a massive hit, Lego contacted Jack White again to do the deal but then he refused!
This is the second song by the White Stripes (so far) on this list, and both videos have been directed by Michel Gondry. It's simply a fantastic video, using Lego to do a whole music video. Don't forget this was before Lego did all of these amazing video games and the movie and so on, so I suppose you've got to give great credit to the White Stripes and Michel Gondry for thinking outside of the box. The video just looks amazing and you can clearly see how much effort they put in to the video, brick by brick building each frame, it's just insane really.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #62 on the list or here for #64!
#64: "Sweating Bullets" - Megadeth Release Date: 1992 Director: Wayne Isham Fun Fact: The term to "sweat bullets" means that you're incredibly anxious or nervous. Dave Mustaine was thought of to be a schizophrenic, and while he denies it, he found the topic interesting so wrote this song!
I actually remember seeing this video when I was a young lad but completely and utterly forgotten about it until I was an adult. I remember all the camera panning from one asylum door to another, and it resonated with me.
Watching the video as an adult makes me love the video even more. Naturally when I was a kid I had no idea what dementia was, what's schizophrenia was. Now that I know, and know that I've been around people who have had one or the other, I completely and utterly sympathise with these people who have to deal with all of this mental trauma. This video is a fantastic symbol of dementia, and mental health in general, and the video stands stronger and stronger each day and each year as each passing moment, the world is starting to become more aware of mental health and how to help people who truly struggle to help themselves.
If you like Megadeth or not, please, watch this video, it's just a fantastic way of using imagery to describe what people really go through, who can't cope with their minds, thoughts and feelings.
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #63 on the list or here for #65!
#65: "Clint Eastwood" - Gorillaz Release Date: 2001 Director: Jamie Hewlett Fun Fact: There's lots of tributes to film and games in this video... see below for more details!
What a video. I fondly remember this video coming out and blowing everyone away, just because of how cool it was. Damon Albarn had left Blur and created this cartoon band out of nowhere, creating a lot of intrigue. Then this comes out and it's just amazing.
There's lots of tributes and homages to different things in this video, some you may have picked up on, others you may not have:
The obvious is the reference to the legendary actor and director, Clint Eastwood.
The "howling" at the beginning of the song is a reference to the howling in the beginning of his film, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly".
The Japanese text at the start is the same text at the beginning of the film "Dawn of the Dead".
The main singer 2-D is wearing what looks like a T-Virus shirt, which is a reference to the Resident Evil games.
The guitarist Murdoc gets grabbed at the crotch at one point - this is homage to the film Braindead when the scene happens in that film as well.
Another obvious one is the zombie apes dancing in the same style as Michael Jackson in "Thriller".
It's just an amazing video, and if you didn't pick up all of those references re-watch the video again to spot them!
Here's the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #64 on the list or here for #66!
