5 Music Videos That Defined an Artist & 5 We Will Never Watch Again
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VOICE OVER: Kirsten Ria Squibb
WRITTEN BY: Andy Hammersmith
Do we love these videos? Yes and no... Welcome to MsMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the videos that were career highlights and the ones that we want to forget. Our countdown includes videos from artists Huey Lewis and the News, Beyoncé, Madonna and more!
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the videos that were career highlights and the ones that we want to forget. Did we forget another iconic or less than iconic music video? Let us know in the comments below.
In glorious black and white, Janet Jackson delivers one of the best videos of the late 1980s. This film leaves the decade on a high note, with the singer in one of her most iconic looks. The hat and costume have their own power, amplified by the atmospheric warehouse. In the introduction, the images build with all the tension of a thriller. Plus, Jackson and her backup dancers perform laser-precise moves. The choreography, lighting, and performances all come together for a hypnotic end result. While the vocalist has many highlights across her career, this video stands as a shining example of her talent and versatility.
Huey Lewis and the News
We’re not ones to judge, but we’re pretty sure you don’t want to spend your nights this way. Huey Lewis and the News spend part of this video singing to a sleeping woman. They crowd around her bed in a sight that’s nothing short of creepy. At one point, the entire group even appears lying next to the love interest. Lewis and the gang thankfully leave her alone at points, performing in a stage set while we try screaming at her to hopefully escape, or something. It’s also pretty plain in terms of style which makes the entire video harder to justify. Thankfully for everyone, she does wake up by the end.
Peter Gabriel
With its stop-motion wonders, “Sledgehammer” was an extraordinary hit on MTV. Peter Gabriel’s powerful single received an imaginative video that puts his head through many scenic backgrounds. The painstaking effort required to pull it all off doesn’t go unnoticed. In a video that’s entirely unique, filmmakers give Gabriel the dreamlike imagery his music deserves. He also wraps things up with a dance party for the ages. It’s fun, zany, and full of an endless stream of surprises. The singer takes us on a non-stop thrill ride, where we uncover new details upon every rewatch.
Kool & the Gang
It seems that in the early 1980s, Kool & the Gang needed a video for this catchy hit. So we got a piece that defies categorization. The band performs their tune, but they multiply in a dizzying special effect. We aren’t doctors, but we recommend you not watch this one if you’re prone to motion sickness. The visuals are basically a cross between pop-up ads and something you’d see when winning a Solitaire game on an old PC. While the song might be fun, the video is nothing short of an endurance test. It’s also not a good sign that the entire thing looks like a technical mistake.
Beyoncé
The magnetic video for this hit is simple, stylish, and ultimately perfect. It features Beyoncé and her dancers doing great choreography, while also dressed in iconic fashion. Queen Bey raises the bar for others with everything she does, and this is no exception. She shows that she can sing and dance in a video without anything else to distract us. Our eyes are focused on an artist in complete control of her art. With a minimalistic take, Beyoncé turns an anthem into a visually splendid experience. We simply can’t ask for much more than that.
What can we say about this video that hasn’t already been said? It’s a controversial piece of pop culture that ignited a firestorm of reactions, for good reason. Robin Thicke and company dance next to scantily clad women, with an unrated version including even less clothing. “Blurred Lines” already has some lyrics that are widely considered misogynistic, and the visuals only reinforce the harmful messaging. Actress Emily Ratajkowski even alleged that Thicke assaulted her during production. With all of the accusations and scandal surrounding it, the short feels like an overall negative experience. Even if it wasn’t intended to, it leaves us with a bad aftertaste.
After becoming one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Madonna arguably pushed her artistic career to the next level here. She entered the 1990s with this amazing piece of music history. “Vogue” combines fashion, art, and dance into a fantastic mashup. Saluting ballroom culture, the singer brings some electric choreography to the mix. Indeed, she helped introduce the concept of “voguing” to a mainstream pop audience. The video itself is nothing short of stylish, coming to life with a killer wardrobe and epic moves. Thus, Madonna and director David Fincher make an incredible statement, pushing the former’s career forward. It’s a prime example of a video that amplifies the original track, making you want to watch along every time you hear the song.
Billy Squier
Rocker Billy Squier is best known for his guitar riffs and hit singles like “The Stroke.” The video for “Rock Me Tonite,” however, puts the emphasis on metaphorical dancing shoes, with mixed results. It’s not exactly the greatest fit for someone outside of the pop arena. Along with some strange choreography, this concept relies too much on a man that doesn’t appear to be a natural dancer. The outfit also seems like a far cry from the leather jackets and other clothing that better represent the genre. Whether or not this hurt Squier’s career as badly as many claim, it still shocks us to this day.
Michael Jackson
Few videos are as cinematic or as game-changing as “Thriller.” This epic experience could easily have been its own standalone movie, combining genuine scares and awesome dances. Michael Jackson’s transformation into a zombie is impressive enough, but his classic moves are timeless. Director John Landis pulls out all the stops, crafting an iconic video that’s arguably never been topped. It became a nexus point for pop culture, and we can’t overstate its tremendous influence on music. Jackson’s classic album and title track would be incomplete without these exceptional visuals. Everytime we watch the video, we’re compelled to get up and dance along.
The song may be too catchy for its own good, but the video is a terrifying glimpse into 1990s technology. This sci-fi-themed plot follows blue aliens interacting with the band. It might be easy to criticize older visual effects, but this entire concept leaves a lot to be desired. When your clip makes Nintendo 64 graphics look good, you know you’ve done something wrong. Plus, there are some fight scenes and action sequences that have us scratching our heads. Even if the extraterrestrials don’t haunt our dreams, they’ve definitely scared us away from watching this again.
#5: Defined an Artist: “Rhythm Nation” (1989)
Janet JacksonIn glorious black and white, Janet Jackson delivers one of the best videos of the late 1980s. This film leaves the decade on a high note, with the singer in one of her most iconic looks. The hat and costume have their own power, amplified by the atmospheric warehouse. In the introduction, the images build with all the tension of a thriller. Plus, Jackson and her backup dancers perform laser-precise moves. The choreography, lighting, and performances all come together for a hypnotic end result. While the vocalist has many highlights across her career, this video stands as a shining example of her talent and versatility.
#5: Will Never Watch Again: “Do You Believe in Love” (1982)
Huey Lewis and the News
We’re not ones to judge, but we’re pretty sure you don’t want to spend your nights this way. Huey Lewis and the News spend part of this video singing to a sleeping woman. They crowd around her bed in a sight that’s nothing short of creepy. At one point, the entire group even appears lying next to the love interest. Lewis and the gang thankfully leave her alone at points, performing in a stage set while we try screaming at her to hopefully escape, or something. It’s also pretty plain in terms of style which makes the entire video harder to justify. Thankfully for everyone, she does wake up by the end.
#4: Defined an Artist: “Sledgehammer” (1986)
Peter Gabriel
With its stop-motion wonders, “Sledgehammer” was an extraordinary hit on MTV. Peter Gabriel’s powerful single received an imaginative video that puts his head through many scenic backgrounds. The painstaking effort required to pull it all off doesn’t go unnoticed. In a video that’s entirely unique, filmmakers give Gabriel the dreamlike imagery his music deserves. He also wraps things up with a dance party for the ages. It’s fun, zany, and full of an endless stream of surprises. The singer takes us on a non-stop thrill ride, where we uncover new details upon every rewatch.
#4: Will Never Watch Again: “Get Down on It” (1981)
Kool & the Gang
It seems that in the early 1980s, Kool & the Gang needed a video for this catchy hit. So we got a piece that defies categorization. The band performs their tune, but they multiply in a dizzying special effect. We aren’t doctors, but we recommend you not watch this one if you’re prone to motion sickness. The visuals are basically a cross between pop-up ads and something you’d see when winning a Solitaire game on an old PC. While the song might be fun, the video is nothing short of an endurance test. It’s also not a good sign that the entire thing looks like a technical mistake.
#3: Defined an Artist: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (2008)
Beyoncé
The magnetic video for this hit is simple, stylish, and ultimately perfect. It features Beyoncé and her dancers doing great choreography, while also dressed in iconic fashion. Queen Bey raises the bar for others with everything she does, and this is no exception. She shows that she can sing and dance in a video without anything else to distract us. Our eyes are focused on an artist in complete control of her art. With a minimalistic take, Beyoncé turns an anthem into a visually splendid experience. We simply can’t ask for much more than that.
#3: Will Never Watch Again: “Blurred Lines” (2013)
Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell & T.I.What can we say about this video that hasn’t already been said? It’s a controversial piece of pop culture that ignited a firestorm of reactions, for good reason. Robin Thicke and company dance next to scantily clad women, with an unrated version including even less clothing. “Blurred Lines” already has some lyrics that are widely considered misogynistic, and the visuals only reinforce the harmful messaging. Actress Emily Ratajkowski even alleged that Thicke assaulted her during production. With all of the accusations and scandal surrounding it, the short feels like an overall negative experience. Even if it wasn’t intended to, it leaves us with a bad aftertaste.
#2: Defined an Artist: “Vogue” (1990)
MadonnaAfter becoming one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Madonna arguably pushed her artistic career to the next level here. She entered the 1990s with this amazing piece of music history. “Vogue” combines fashion, art, and dance into a fantastic mashup. Saluting ballroom culture, the singer brings some electric choreography to the mix. Indeed, she helped introduce the concept of “voguing” to a mainstream pop audience. The video itself is nothing short of stylish, coming to life with a killer wardrobe and epic moves. Thus, Madonna and director David Fincher make an incredible statement, pushing the former’s career forward. It’s a prime example of a video that amplifies the original track, making you want to watch along every time you hear the song.
#2: Will Never Watch Again: “Rock Me Tonite” (1984)
Billy Squier
Rocker Billy Squier is best known for his guitar riffs and hit singles like “The Stroke.” The video for “Rock Me Tonite,” however, puts the emphasis on metaphorical dancing shoes, with mixed results. It’s not exactly the greatest fit for someone outside of the pop arena. Along with some strange choreography, this concept relies too much on a man that doesn’t appear to be a natural dancer. The outfit also seems like a far cry from the leather jackets and other clothing that better represent the genre. Whether or not this hurt Squier’s career as badly as many claim, it still shocks us to this day.
#1: Defined an Artist: “Thriller” (1982)
Michael Jackson
Few videos are as cinematic or as game-changing as “Thriller.” This epic experience could easily have been its own standalone movie, combining genuine scares and awesome dances. Michael Jackson’s transformation into a zombie is impressive enough, but his classic moves are timeless. Director John Landis pulls out all the stops, crafting an iconic video that’s arguably never been topped. It became a nexus point for pop culture, and we can’t overstate its tremendous influence on music. Jackson’s classic album and title track would be incomplete without these exceptional visuals. Everytime we watch the video, we’re compelled to get up and dance along.
#1: Will Never Watch Again: “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” (1999)
Eiffel 65The song may be too catchy for its own good, but the video is a terrifying glimpse into 1990s technology. This sci-fi-themed plot follows blue aliens interacting with the band. It might be easy to criticize older visual effects, but this entire concept leaves a lot to be desired. When your clip makes Nintendo 64 graphics look good, you know you’ve done something wrong. Plus, there are some fight scenes and action sequences that have us scratching our heads. Even if the extraterrestrials don’t haunt our dreams, they’ve definitely scared us away from watching this again.
