Must-see Music Videos

Along with short films, music videos are my favourite form of art. Many of my friends know this, as I have had several parties where I showed my latest collection of music videos carefully compiled from the TV onto VHS. There have been many nights where I have set my alarm clock for 3:00am just so that I could tape that extra special clip off Rage. So with this being one of my primary interests, I thought, who better than me to come up with a list of must-see music videos. So now, in no particular order, I analyse 10 music videos that should be part of general knowledge.

Werewolf Michael

Thriller - Michael Jackson

About 16 minutes in length, this is more of a short movie than a music video. Created back when Michael Jackson was still more or less black and not plagued by scandals and allegations, he co-directed this excellent tribute to the horror movie genre. The main part begins with Michael and his girlfriend walking out of a movie theatre and getting surrounded by zombies. The big dance scene that follows is very well choreographed, and you can tell that a lot of effort has been put into the costumes and makeup of all the ghoulish characters. Whether you like him or hate him, you've got to watch this video at least once.

no limit

Smack My Bitch Up - Prodigy

This clip was banned from MTV, but you can hardly blame them. It's filmed from first-person perspective of someone going on an all-night binge. There's violence, drug use, sex, nudity, the whole lot. All good, except for the ending. That was just wrong.

freaky lighting

Freak on a Leash - Korn

This is one of the best music videos I've ever seen. It starts out as a cartoon, with kids climbing a barbed wire fence to go play hopscotch on the edge of a cliff. The security guard tries to stop them, but accidentally trips and drops his gun, which fires. The camera then follows the bullet as it breaks through into the real world a smashes through things in slow motion. Meanwhile, the band is playing in a room riddled with bullet-holes with the light shining through in spectacular fashion. The visual effects and timing are just amazing. The song is pretty good too.

ancestral puffer fish

Right Here Right Now - Fatboy Slim

This clip has a very mystical feel as it follows the path of evolution from the first single-celled organism to modern man. As to how acurate it is, I can't be sure. I never knew that monkeys evolved from crocodiles...

the ultimate dance

Body Rock - Moby

This clip had a massive effect on me. As I stared at the guy's jerky, erratic dance moves (coupled with the "special effects"), I couldn't help thinking that this was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I still can't figure out why, but it had me obsessed to the point where I re-enacted it on a talent show at some camp. My performance received mixed responses, and it's all I can think about whenever I hear that song.

dragonflying

Californication - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

How cool would it be to star in a video game? In this clip, we see the entire band cast as players in the ultimate 3D virtual reality game. We see them running, swimming, driving, snowboarding, and much more in beautifully rendered landscapes. I can't imagine how long it would have taken to animate the whole thing.

evil Slim

Guilty Conscience - Dr Dre and Eminem

A very original concept, as Dr Dre and Eminem play the respective good and bad sides of a person's conscience in different situations. It's fun to watch them materialise at the critical moment and then start arguing as the frame freezes. And also, each story is introduced by that guy who's the host of Unsolved Mysteries.

just out for a jog

What's My Age Again? - Blink 182

The infamous Blink 182 music video, where the band runs around town completely naked, causing mischief and mayhem. What I really like about this clip is that it has absolutely no artistic value or deeper meaning. It's just pure hilarity.

beyond the full monty

Rock DJ - Robbie Williams

It starts off ordinarily enough. Set in some kind of women's club, Robbie Williams is the main attraction as a male stripper. However, none of the girls seem too impressed, even when he stands completely naked. That's when he decides to take it a step further. Oh yeah, that turns them on! Is it gross or macabre? Nah, it's just a bit of fun.

can I have your autograph?

Learn To Fly - Foo Fighters

Definitely one of the funniest clips I've seen. It's set on an airplane, where Tenacious D (the cleaners) smuggle some kind of drugs on board that eventually ends up in everyone's coffee. The band members are the only ones who don't drink the coffee and ultimately save the day when the plane starts to go down. Dave Grohl, the lead singer, takes on many roles in the clip, including a pilot, steward, an overweight lady and a teenage groupie. The other band members also play different roles, such as a baby and a disturbingly attractive stewardess.