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“Thriller” – Michael Jackson (1983)
When “Thriller” premiered in December 1983, it stopped the world in its tracks. What began as a catchy dance track was transformed by director John Landis and Michael Jackson into a 14-minute horror movie, complete with werewolves, zombies, and a narrative twist that nobody saw coming. The video’s budget was an unprecedented $500,000 at the time—a staggering number for a music video, and a sign that something monumental was happening. It aired so frequently on MTV that it reportedly doubled the network’s ratings and helped mainstream music videos as essential to an artist’s career. “Thriller” didn’t just promote the song—it elevated the entire album, keeping it atop the Billboard charts for 37 weeks. The iconic choreography, red leather jackets, and cinematic suspense set a new gold standard, proving that music videos could be art, theater, and mass entertainment all at once. According to the Guinness World Records, “Thriller” remains the most successful music video of all time, with over 9 million VHS copies sold. It’s no wonder Rolling Stone later called it “the most influential pop video ever made.”
“Hurt” – Johnny Cash (2002)
Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” is a gut punch in video form. What was once a raw, industrial rock song about self-destruction became, in Cash’s hands and voice, a haunting reflection on mortality, regret, and legacy. The video, directed by Mark Romanek, uses powerful imagery: faded home movies, footage of Cash’s long career, and shots of the aging star in his crumbling museum. The effect is almost unbearably intimate, as if Cash is inviting viewers to witness the twilight of his life. Trent Reznor, the original songwriter, admitted that he was “flattered” and “honored” by Cash’s version, even saying, “It isn’t my song anymore.” The video racked up countless accolades, including a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video and a spot in Time’s list of the 30 All-Time Best Music Videos. It’s a rare example of a cover and its video not only reinterpreting a song, but completely redefining it for a new generation.
“Take On Me” – A-ha (1985)
“Take On Me” by A-ha was a catchy synth-pop song, but its music video rocketed it into the stratosphere. The video, directed by Steve Barron, debuted a groundbreaking technique called rotoscoping, which blended live-action footage with hand-drawn animation. This whimsical, comic-book romance narrative—where a girl is pulled into a black-and-white world—brought out the song’s fairytale qualities. The technical feat took 16 weeks and over 2,000 frames to animate, yet the result was pure magic. MTV couldn’t get enough, and neither could viewers: the video helped the song top the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It won six MTV Video Music Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Concept Video. Today, its unique style is instantly recognizable, and the video is often cited as one of the greatest and most innovative ever made. The combination of fantasy, romance, and art has made “Take On Me” a permanent pop culture fixture.
“This Is America” – Childish Gambino (2018)
Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” didn’t just accompany a song—it exploded into a full-blown cultural event. When the video dropped in May 2018, its mix of joyful choreography and sudden, graphic violence was shocking. Director Hiro Murai’s camera follows Donald Glover’s every move through a warehouse where chaos reigns, dancing and gunshots colliding in a relentless critique of race, gun violence, and spectacle in America. Each frame is loaded with symbolism: from Jim Crow imagery to viral dance crazes and police brutality. Within its first 24 hours, the video had 12.9 million views on YouTube, and by the end of 2018, it had over 440 million. Critics and academics wrote think pieces and analyses; classrooms and newsrooms dissected each second. The video won the Grammy for Best Music Video, and it’s credited with pushing the boundaries of what music videos can say—and how loudly they can say it. Its impact was felt far beyond music, fueling a new wave of conversation about social justice.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana (1991)
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video is chaos bottled and uncorked. The band’s first hit single was already an anthem for disaffected youth, but the video, directed by Samuel Bayer, captured it in all its grimy glory. Set in a high school gym, it features bored cheerleaders, anarchic teenagers, and a general air of rebellion that perfectly matched the grunge movement’s ethos. The video aired heavily on MTV and is widely credited for igniting the early ‘90s alternative rock explosion. Its raw, lo-fi aesthetic made polished pop videos look out of touch, and soon, everybody wanted to look and sound like Nirvana. According to Billboard, “Teen Spirit” helped the album “Nevermind” sell over 30 million copies worldwide, and the video remains one of YouTube’s most-watched from that era. It’s more than a time capsule—it’s the sound and look of a generation’s revolution.
“Closer” – Nine Inch Nails (1994)
When “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails hit MTV, it was like nothing else on the air. Director Mark Romanek’s vision was dark, disturbing, and surreal, matching the song’s explicit lyrics with images of fetish, decay, and obsession. The video’s industrial, sepia-toned world was inspired by the work of Francis Bacon and other avant-garde artists, and it was so controversial that MTV demanded heavy edits before airing. Despite—or perhaps because of—its controversy, “Closer” became a defining moment for alternative music videos, challenging what could be shown on television and how music could be visualized. Rolling Stone listed it among the “100 Greatest Music Videos,” and it helped solidify Nine Inch Nails’ reputation as boundary-pushers. The song and video’s legacy is still felt in pop culture, with references popping up everywhere from TV dramas to art installations.
“All Is Full of Love” – Björk (1999)
Björk’s “All Is Full of Love” is a vision of the future wrapped in romance. Directed by Chris Cunningham, the video features two robot versions of Björk coming to life and falling in love in a pristine, white laboratory. The visuals are stunning, blending sensuality with technology in a way that feels both intimate and alien. The video was nominated for two Grammys and won several MTV Europe Music Awards, as well as being displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Its influence can be seen in everything from sci-fi movies to advertising, and it’s widely hailed as a masterpiece of visual storytelling. By turning a gentle love song into a meditation on artificial intelligence and connection, Björk and Cunningham invited viewers to rethink what it means to love—and to be loved—across boundaries.
“Formation” – Beyoncé (2016)
Beyoncé’s “Formation” was a thunderclap in pop culture. With its bold imagery of Black Southern culture, police protests, and Hurricane Katrina, the video anchored the song in a specific time, place, and political moment. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, each frame is loaded with symbolism—from Beyoncé sitting atop a sinking police car, to references to Creole culture and Black Lives Matter. The song debuted the day before Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance, reaching more than 10 million views on YouTube within 24 hours. Critics praised its unapologetic message of empowerment, and it quickly became an anthem for the movement. The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year and inspired a new wave of artists to use their platforms for activism. “Formation” forever changed Beyoncé’s image, marking her as not just a pop star, but a leader in social and political conversation.
“Weapon of Choice” – Fatboy Slim (2001)
If you saw Christopher Walken flying through a deserted hotel to the funky beat of Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice,” you never forgot it. This Spike Jonze-directed video was as unexpected as it was delightful. Walken’s dance—fluid, strange, and strangely joyful—added a narrative and a sense of humor to a song that was previously just a club favorite. The video won six MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Choreography, and became one of the first truly viral music videos of the internet age. Its success is a testament to the power of surprise and creativity: people who had never heard of Fatboy Slim suddenly knew the song, simply because of Walken’s iconic performance. Even years later, it’s still ranked among the best music videos ever made by outlets such as NME and Rolling Stone.
“Stan” – Eminem ft. Dido (2000)
Eminem’s “Stan” is storytelling at its rawest. The video dramatizes the obsessive fan narrative of the lyrics, with actor Devon Sawa playing the troubled Stan who spirals into tragedy. The visuals are gritty and realistic, echoing the song’s themes of fame, mental health, and dangerous idolization. Director Dr. Dre and Philip G. Atwell crafted a mini-movie that pulls viewers into Stan’s unraveling world, making the emotional gut-punch of the song even more powerful. The video was nominated for Video of the Year at the MTV VMAs and is credited with helping shift hip-hop videos toward more complex and cinematic storytelling. Eminem’s blend of reality and fiction, paired with Dido’s mournful chorus, gave the song a haunting afterlife that still resonates with fans and artists alike.
Christian Wiedeck, all the way from Germany, loves music festivals, especially in the USA. His articles bring the excitement of these events to readers worldwide.
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