Top 10 Hidden Easter Eggs in Music Videos
#10: “Where Are Ü Now” (2015)
Jack Ü with Justin Bieber
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You know that graffiti artwork that appears both behind and on Justin Beiber in the music video? Well, EDM duo Jack Ü invited fans to create the colorful exhibition as a thanks for their dedication. Supposedly, it was recorded during a rocky time in Beiber’s life, making this statement choice around the 1:21 mark all the more poignant. Now, we can’t confirm for sure, but it seems likely that one frame in particular was the work of a fan who perhaps had strong feelings about Jelena’s breakup. Still, you’d think the video editors would have been on the lookout for anything obscene, inappropriate, or unabashedly personal before releasing it to the masses. So, was this deliberate? We’ll let you decide.
#9: “Radio Ga Ga” (2005)
Electric Six
Treyar Hurt - XT-Radio
This rock group found themselves in hot water due to the music video accompanying their cover of Queen’s “Radio Ga Ga.” It showcases lead singer Dick Valentine dancing on a grave and dressed as Freddie Mercury’s ghost. Many, apparently including drummer Roger Taylor, found the concept disrespectful. But one detail you might’ve missed while recoiling in horror is the name on the headstone. Queen superfans probably know that Farrokh Bulsara was Mercury’s birth name. He supposedly adopted the nickname Freddie while growing up in India and didn’t change his last name until forming the famous rock group. It’s a nice homage, but it’s still totally “Ga Ga” that this music video even exists.
#8: “Always” (2004)
Blink-182
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This narrative creatively depicted how discombobulating dealing with a broken relationship can feel. In it, the screen is split into three sections, with the three band members all playing the same scorned former love interest. Near the start of the video, we see the ex, played by Aussie singer, actress, and TV personality Sophie Monk open her front door to a very dapper Tom DeLonge. And would you believe it?! Did you see the number of her apartment? It’s a Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment! Or should we say, a Blink-182-and-you’ll-miss-it moment!
#7: “Killing Me Softly” (1996)
Fugees
We see the hip-hop trio settled in for an evening at the movies. But just who are the stars in their chosen film? Why yes, that is Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel, the three members who make up the Fugees. Apparently, this ‘film’ comprises some original but ultimately unused footage from Hill’s initial vision for the music video. If you pay close attention, you can even spot a cameo from Roberta Flack, who also found success with the song in 1973. So we’re watching the band, watch themselves…? How very meta!
#6: “Intuition” (2003)
Jewel
Celebrity endorsements and product placement in music videos are nothing new. But this one offers a witty commentary on commercialization by parodying some well-known brand advertisements. The singer goes about her day, followed by an old handheld cam. Then BAM! Instant glow up as she enjoys a refreshing soda. She isn't the only one who gets the airbrush treatment, either. And the likeness is so uncanny that you don't even need to see a brand name to know exactly which ones are being satirized – we’re looking at you, Sprite, Levis, Nike, and Corona.
#5: “Bloody Valentine [Acoustic]” (2020)
Machine Gun Kelly
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Megan Fox and MGK might be one of the most PDA celeb couples around. And their public displays of affection are usually very…. Well, let's just say we didn’t only see sparks fly, we saw a whole freakin’ lightning show! “Bloody Valentine” is thrillingly reminiscent of the 2000s pop punk scene, but the acoustic version strips things back with MGK sitting on a motorbike playing guitar at sunset. It’s a stunning, calming scene so you might not have noticed, but at the very start of the video, the words “for M.F.” are superimposed over the sky on the right side of the screen. Swoon!
#4: “Telephone” (2010)
Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé
How do you top a 9-and-a-half-minute-long video featuring two pop icons? You throw in a bunch of Easter eggs, of course! Addressing rumors about Gaga, a guest appearance from Natali, the younger Germanotta sister, and the diner from “NCIS,” there’s a lot to look and listen out for. Quentin Tarintino fans might notice some nods to his movies too. There’s Bey’s character Honey Bee, a play on “Pulp Fiction’s” Honey Bunny. Also, they drive the actual vehicle from “Kill Bill: Volume 1.” Apparently, Tarintino himself reached out and offered it for the video. Oh, and see the news ticker on the TV? Well, those are the lyrics to “Telephone” in Swedish.
#3: “Flowers” (2023)
Miley Cyrus
“Flowers” left many fans side-eyeing Cyrus’s ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth. We’ve all dissected the lyrics until there’s nothing left, but what about the music video? Some believe it features the house where her ex allegedly cheated on her. And that oversized suit she puts on – doesn’t it look a bit like the one Liam wore to the “Avengers: Endgame” premiere? Also, there’s a very brief moment in her dancing where some believe she was referencing this infamous interview. She certainly sowed plenty of seeds, and fans were all too willing to get plowing. Still, she remains tight-lipped over whether we were perhaps digging too deep.
#2: “This Is America” (2018)
Childish Gambino
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Lyrically, this song offers a powerful socio-political criticism of the United States. The music video is also layered with pointed symbolism that doubles down on this message. Pay close attention to the background. It’s filled with anti-racism, anti-gun and anti-violence imagery. Did you spot the allusions to Jim Crow or the Sunken Place from “Get Out”? There are also acknowledgments of the police brutality crisis that disproportionately impacts Black Americans. How did you miss all that? Well, that’s exactly the point. The dancing at the forefront is meant to distract us from the harsh realities depicted in the background. So if the dancing left you entertained yet unnerved, it’s done its job.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Chandelier” (2014), Sia
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“7 Rings” (2019), Ariana Grande
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“Leave (Get Out)” (2004), JoJo
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“Head Over Heels” (1982), ABBA
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“Hot for Teacher” (1984), Van Halen
Okay, Lesson Time: 1=A, 2=B, 3=C & So On – Now, Decipher the Message on the Blackboard from Right to Left
#1: So Many Taylor Swift Music Videos
Taylor Swift
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She is the queen of cryptic messaging! Like her career, her creativity in hiding details and clues has been through several eras. Fans of early Taylor will remember poring over her CD lyric booklets to decode her secret messages. Later we turned to her music videos which were always like one giant Easter egg hunt. Some notable examples include “Look What You Made Me Do,” “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version),” “Me!” and “Bejeweled.” We could go on, but we’re sure you want to go back and spot them all yourself. Taylor has apparently said this is her way of connecting with her fans, and we can’t get enough of it. Move over Sherlock Holmes; the Swifties will take it from here.
