75 Best Music Videos of All Time – Greatest Music Videos Ever – Parade Magazine

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The very first music video ever played on MTV was The Buggles‘ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” but that statement isn’t entirely accurate: Before MTV even existed, music videos have helped launch the careers of countless musical artists. This weekend’s 2021 MTV Video Music Awards will further drive home the fact that even in an age of YouTube (when music videos are rarely on TV anymore), the medium is absolutely integral to help artists break through to the mainstream.
In fact, once YouTube became the go-to source for music videos, many feared the medium would die—but instead, the platform has launched even more independent and breaking artists to create visual masterpieces and meme-able content (we’re looking at you, Lil Nas X!).
A great music video can send an otherwise “meh” song into the stratosphere or propel an unknown artist to new heights. Whether it’s cinematic or simple, the makings of the best music videos of all time are pretty consistent: Creativity, be it in the form of storytelling or styling; artistry in direction, choreography and/or aesthetics; legacy and ongoing influence long after its left the charts: Did they make you dance, laugh, cry, think? Was it a memorable meme? Have other artists referenced (or, let’s be real, in some cases, ripped off) this piece of art? Here are our picks for the 75 best music videos of all time (minus some of the ones that may give you nightmares or that were once iconic but now are questionable).
Beyoncé didn’t stop at one music video. She made an entire visual album and completely changed the game with Lemonade, which chronicled her marital struggles with husband Jay-Z as well as other traumas in her life, including her father’s infidelity and her own miscarriages. While her self-titled record was incredibly influential, Lemonade shows Beyoncé in a way we rarely saw her: Vulnerable, raw and not her usual flawless public self.
The religiously and racially provocative “Like a Prayer” was so controversial at the time of its 1989 release that it was condemned by The Vatican and cost Madonna a Pepsi sponsorship.
The classic animation-live action hybrid of this infectious tune, which costars a Princess Diana look-alike (perhaps inadvertently!) is forever etched–and sketched–in our minds.
Another animation breakthrough, “Sledgehammer” made Peter Gabriel an MTV staple. The stop-motion graphics (including trains, faces made of fruit and dancing headless chickens) are the stuff dreams, and sometimes nightmares, are made of.
Prince emerges from a bathtub. Other things also happen, but this is the most memorable image, which was relatively groundbreaking at the time of its release.
George Michael burns his iconic “Faith”-era leather jacket in iconic imagery from “Freedom ’90,” an epic eff-you to his label at the time…but chances are what most people remember are the supermodels: Cindy Crawford in a bathtub, Linda Evangelista in a turtleneck, Naomi Campbell strutting in lingerie and headphones, Christy Turlington in a giant sheet and Tatjana Patitz smoking a cigarette.
Pearl Jam classic “Jeremy” was iconic for its depiction of violence at the time, and the band released an uncensored version in 2020.
The Nokias! The bees! The Kangol hats! Alyson Stoner! Since “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and its legendary trash bag ensemble, Missy Elliott has been ahead of her time musically and aesthetically, making serious visual statements (see her slavery vignette here) in party anthems.
TLC‘s “Waterfalls” was one of the first songs ever to reference the AIDS crisis, and at the time of its release, the $1 million music video budget was one of the biggest ever.
It is a fact: You can never have enough Andre 3000.
Before Andre 3000 wore all the hats in “Hey Ya,” Alanis Morissette showed all of her sides in “Ironic.” She told Vogue that the driver in the hat is the “responsible one,” the yellow sweater Alanis is the “quirkster,” the Alanis in red who flails out of the window is a “romantic” and “risk-taker,” and the green-clad Morissette is her whole, fun self.
Another fun fact? Morissette calls back to the driver’s look in her 2020 video for “Reasons I Drink.”
Beyoncé solidified her throne as King and Queen Bey with this iconic black and white clip.
The red vinyl catsuit, the white eyeshadow, the astronaut, the provocative lyrics: Britney Spears proved she was neither “that innocent” nor a flash in the pan in the first single from her sophomore effort.
The “Black Hole Sun” video ends in a simultaneously literal and surrealist way with its superficial and shady characters getting swallowed by a black hole.
Sia found her spirit animal in Maddie Ziegler, who rocks a wig and represents the eccentric crooner in this clip.
The eternal comeback queen made a major moment with “If I Could Turn Back Time.” The thing is, Cher would never have to because she clearly does. not. age.
D’Angelo wore nothing but a chain and did nothing but sing in front of a black background and became instantly iconic.
For many, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” was their introduction to Whitney Houston, who combined an irresistible beat with unmatched powerhouse pipes. The colors, hair and outfits are all very of their time—but have also withstood the test of time.
Jay-Z uses racist imagery in the style of “classic” cartoons to reflect on growing up as a Black man in the United States and the struggles that come along with it—even for the rich and otherwise privileged.
It was tough to narrow down which of Taylor Swift‘s videos was her most iconic, but “Look What You Made Me Do,” her first visual from Reputation, features all of her prior video and many of her red carpet looks up to that point—and skewers them. It was also where her obsession with Easter eggs became really obvious, sending her beloved Swifties to write thinkpieces for days.
The famous good girl from Grease got seriously cheeky in this aerobics-inspired clip.
The video is as dramatic as the rock-opera track that inspired it.
Related: We Ranked Madonna’s 20 Greatest Music Videos to Celebrate the Queen of Pop
While “Free Fallin’” is considered one of Tom Petty‘s most signature songs, in terms of visuals, “Don’t Come Around Here No More” is a darker Alice In Wonderland that won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects. Another honorable mention from Petty? The haunting visual for “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” which stars Kim Basinger in her creepiest role to date.
Christina Aguilera included empowering LGBTQ+ imagery in “Beautiful” before it was mainstream.
As if the beat weren’t already iconic enough, 2Pac and Dr. Dre went ahead and channeled Mad Max—an idea from Jada Pinkett Smith—and nabbed Chris Tucker for an appearance to boot.
Kurt Cobain surrounded by cheerleaders defined an entire era.
Is there any image more ’90s than this?
Donald Glover paints a vivid, horrifying and harrowing picture of gun violence and racism in America.
Sinead O’Connor‘s emoting face and buzzcut are all you see in her signature song’s video, and it’s all you need to see for the message of unadulterated heartbreak only thinly veiled by pointed defiance.
Pro wrestler Lou Albano starred as Cyndi Lauper‘s dad in this classic, and her real-life mom played herself.
Alicia Silverstone starred alongside Liv Tyler—daughter of Aerosmith frontman Steven—in this girls’ trip gone wild.
Even if you thought you were too cool for boy bands, you can’t deny that N*SYNC delivered as puppets.
REM examined the universal heartbreak in the human experience.
Teenage angst and fashion struggles take center stage in this hip-hop classic starring, of course, Will Smith.
En Vogue was true to their name in this catwalk-storming video confronting racism, close-mindedness and women’s rights to dress however they damn well please.
The video that officially launched Rihanna into the stratosphere—and inspired one of the best lip sync battles of all time with Tom Holland mastering some serious choreography.
Kanye West made a short film for several songs on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to explore themes of racism, materialism, fame and heartbreak.
Spike Jonze directed the Beastie Boys‘ “Sabotage,” a sendup of 1970s cop shows including Starsky and Hutch, S.W.A.T. and Hawaii Five-O.
Run DMC and Aerosmith recently recreated this iconic rap-rock crossover video at the 2020 Grammys.
Lauryn Hill embraced the “Doo Wop” era in her styling for one side of the screen and embraced modern hip hop on the other—and looked stunning in both, a testament to the neo-soul movement.
While the band’s nudity in “What’s My Age Again” was a pre-viral hit, their spoof of boy band tropes in “All the Small Things” cemented Blink-182 in rock video history.
Lauren Holly and Jane Krakowski starred as besties MaryAnn and Wanda, who murder Wanda’s abusive husband Earl—played by Dennis Franz.
“Fantasy” was Mariah Carey‘s directorial debut. Carey filmed the video at Rye Playland. “I can actually sing the song and perform it on the rollercoaster because I’m not scared being on the rollercoaster,” she told Entertainment Tonight while making the iconic clip. That’s like kids’ stuff for me. I’m a big rollercoaster queen!”
The steampunk aesthetic has rarely looked better.
Filmed after Notorious B.I.G.‘s murder, Mase and Diddy honored their late friend with a silly golf-themed sketch before making fluorescent light tubes look posh.
Two words: Bumblebee girl. Heather DeLoach was etched forever into the world’s minds after her adorable appearance in Blind Melon‘s video for the Grammy-winning “No Rain.”
MTV actually banned “Straight Outta Compton” from its network. At the time, NWA saw the move as a major roadblock for their success, but it ended up being part of their legacy.
Janelle Monae costars with Tessa Thompson in this ode to the female form in all of its parts.
The last supper imagery makes for a seriously powerful visual from Kendrick Lamar.
Fun fact: The “Tin roof, rust” line was an ad lib.
Supermodel Helena Christensen is immortalized in this black and white beach romp with Chris Isaak.
Salt ‘N’ Pepa celebrated being sexual beings without catering to the male gaze—a rare feat that should be celebrated and repeated more often.
“Here It Goes Again,” famous for its use of treadmills, was credited with launching the age of YouTube in 2006. OK Go stayed in singer Damian Kulash‘s ballroom dancer sister Trish Sie‘s home for 10 days to record the video without telling their label. “I remember when we put up the tarp behind us, we were like, ‘It’s okay that it looks s**tty. We don’t want anyone to mistake this for a real, high-budget music video,” Kulash recalled. It first went viral on StupidVideos.com, much to the band’s chagrin, with 300,000 views. They had their label take the video down and reupload it to a fledgling video sharing site called YouTube—and it garnered 900,000 views in a single day. “We honestly thought there was a decimal place wrong,” Kulash said. “It was like, holy s**t. Obviously it blew up, and it was a big deal, and all of the sudden our label remembered our name and turned on the promotion machine and all that.
This Moulin Rouge soundtrack cover had a video that Pink described as a “circus on acid.”
Paula Abdul combined her killer choreography with a cute cartoon cat. Honorable mention: “Rush, Rush,” which costarred Keanu Reeves.
Related: 13 Best Music Streaming Services to Get You Through the Coronavirus Crisis and Beyond
The “Wannabe” video, made to appear as if it were filmed in one continuous shot, actually had two minor edits. The clip introduced the world to the Spice Girls in all of their girl-power glory, though Geri Horner has specific memories from the shoot.
“I remember the chaos and the cold,” she recalled in Girl Power. “It wasn’t very controlled – we didn’t want it to be. We wanted the camera to capture the madness of Spice. I had very big shoes on and fell over many times. I watched it again recently and thought it was like a comedy, really. All the other girls gave me the award for being the biggest prat in it! It’s the most spontaneous of our videos.”
Justin Timberlake deliberately used a Britney Spears doppelganger in this video about their split to capitalize on the buzz, and it paid off in spades.
Devon Sawa plays an obsessed fan alongside a long-suffering Dido in this visual for Eminem‘s legendary song which spawned the term “stan.”
Korn won the Best Music Video Grammy for “Freak on a Leash,” which combines animation and direction from comic book mogul Todd McFarlane with special visual effects to show the eerie journey of a bullet. The video also had help from then-future Little Miss Sunshine directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.
Aaliyah looked stunning as she cavorted with serpents before Britney Spears did with her iconic “Slave 4 U” performance.
Before there was a Lego Movie, there was this breakout hit from the White Stripes.
Antoine Fuqua directed the “Gangsta’s Paradise” video, which featured Michelle Pfeiffer reprising her Dangerous Minds role—and Coolio wasn’t too keen on it at first. “I wanted some low-riders and some s**t in it,” he admitted to Rolling Stone. “I was trying to take it ‘hood.’” He came around once he saw the final result, winning two MTV Video Music Awards for the clip.
“Amish Paradise” was one of Weird Al Yankovic‘s biggest hits, but it actually caused some temporary beef with Coolio: Yankovic got permission from Coolio’s label, but not the rapper himself, to parody the song. Coolio was unhappy at first, but eventually admitted he regretted making a stink about it and that he actually liked the video.
The lasers, Jennifer Lopez‘s sheer, sparkly body suit—it’s all very Y2K, but in the best way.
Shania Twain stunned in this fun visual, which was so iconic that Halsey paid tribute to it in her own video for “You Should Be Sad.”
Workouts and ’80s looks were never more fun than in this Lizzo video.
K-Pop stars BTS put blood, sweat and tears into their video of the same name, which has been described as “a haunting [one] that explores ideas of fate, reality, life and death, and falling from grace.”
Though not Snoop Dogg‘s most popular song, “Sensual Seduction” is his most striking and hilarious visual.
Lil Nas X combines explicitly queer and homosexual themes with historical and Biblical references for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name).” He wrote an open letter to his 14-year-old self ahead of the video’s release explaining the song itself.
“Dear 14-year-old Montero, I wrote a song with our name in it. It’s about a guy I met last summer,” he wrote. “I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised to never be ‘that’ type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist. You see this is very scary for me, people will be angry, they will say I’m pushing an agenda. But the truth is, I am. The agenda to make people stay the fuck out of other people’s lives and stop dictating who they should be. Sending you love from the future. — LNX.”
Nietzsche, Kelly Clarkson and flash mobs. What more does anyone need?
The video is simply a celebration of women. And we love it. Gal Gadot, Ellen DeGeneres, Aly Raisman, Camila Cabello, Phoebe Robinson, Sarah Silverman, Lilly Singh, Tiffany Haddish, Millie Bobby Brown, Jennifer Lopez and Mary J. Blige are among the famous faces appearing alongside Adam Levine in the video for this Maroon 5 hit with Cardi B.
Can you play this video in front of your boss or your parents? Probably not. But who cares? Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion killed it with one of the yes, raunchiest, but also most influential and impactful videos ever.
Few images are as indelible markers of the 1980s as the dancing women in Robert Palmer‘s music videos. They’ve been referenced and parodied countless times (including by Ingrid Michaelson), and if memes existed three decades ago, you can bet that these beauties would go viral.
In what may be one of the simplest videos ever, David Bowie sings in front of a white backdrop — and the juxtaposition of his fiery mullet, ocean blue eyeshadow and baby blue suit (plus those iconic eyes) make this a riveting visual nonetheless.
The Foo Fighters deliver their signature silliness with a giant hand, Inception-style dream storylines and a wonderfully ’90s vibe that feels so nostalgic today.
Next, want to get pumped for the hot weather? Check out our list of the best summer songs of all time.

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