Home | Entertainment | The Best Music Videos That Changed the Industry
Music videos have evolved from simple promotional tools to full-fledged art forms, often pushing boundaries and influencing trends in music, fashion, and culture. Some videos have become so iconic that they've redefined the music video format and left lasting impressions on the industry. From groundbreaking visuals to revolutionary storytelling techniques, here are some of the best music videos that changed the industry.
1. Michael Jackson – "Thriller" (1983)
Director: John Landis
No list of transformative music videos is complete without Thriller. Directed by John Landis and starring Michael Jackson, the video for "Thriller" was a game-changer in every sense. It blended music with cinematic elements, featuring elaborate choreography, a short film structure, and a groundbreaking mix of horror and music. With its iconic zombie dance and Michael Jackson's near-mythical performance, the video elevated the music video to an art form. Thriller was not only a commercial success but also set the bar for what a music video could achieve in terms of storytelling, spectacle, and influence. It even paved the way for music videos to be viewed as major entertainment events, inspiring artists to invest more in their visual aesthetics.
2. Madonna – "Like a Prayer" (1989)
Director: Mary Lambert
Madonna's "Like a Prayer" is a perfect example of how a music video can push cultural and religious boundaries while still being a catchy pop anthem. Directed by Mary Lambert, the video features themes of race, religion, and sexual liberation, with Madonna dancing in front of burning crosses, receiving divine visions, and invoking Christian iconography. The controversial imagery sparked outrage among religious groups, but it also sparked a global conversation about artistic freedom, the power of music as a cultural tool, and the role of controversy in pop music. The video was a major turning point in how pop stars used music videos not just for promotion but as an essential part of their artistic and cultural message.
3. Beyoncé – "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008)
Director: Jake Nava
Beyoncé’s "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" is often credited with not only reshaping the way we view modern pop music videos but also bringing a new focus on dance and choreography. The video is a minimalist masterpiece, featuring just Beyoncé and two backup dancers in a stark, black-and-white set, showing off one of the most iconic dances of the 21st century. The video quickly became a viral phenomenon, with the choreography inspiring countless imitations and even an entire cultural moment around "Single Ladies" as a song and as a symbol of female empowerment. Beyoncé’s dedication to high-concept visuals and her ability to mix commercial appeal with artistic integrity helped solidify her status as a visionary artist who shaped the music video format for a new generation.
4. OK Go – "Here It Goes Again" (2006)
Director: Trish Sie
OK Go’s "Here It Goes Again" set a new standard for creativity in music videos. Known for their wildly inventive and low-budget videos, OK Go broke through with this roller-skate dance routine set to a single continuous shot. Shot on treadmills in an empty gym, the video was meticulously choreographed, showcasing the band's playful, inventive spirit. What made the video especially groundbreaking was its viral success — it was one of the first to truly harness the power of YouTube, with millions of people watching, sharing, and imitating the routine. The video also sparked a trend of "viral" music videos that rely on creative, DIY approaches rather than expensive production budgets.
5. Nirvana – "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1991)
Director: Samuel Bayer
Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is often cited as the anthem of Generation X, and its video played a crucial role in shaping the grunge movement and 90s youth culture. Directed by Samuel Bayer, the video features a chaotic, energetic performance by the band at a high school pep rally, surrounded by an anarchy of kids moshing and jumping around. The raw, unpolished aesthetic mirrored the rebellious spirit of the song itself and captured the disillusionment of the youth at the time. The video helped bring grunge music into the mainstream and set a precedent for music videos that showcased a less polished, more authentic and DIY approach.
6. Lady Gaga – "Bad Romance" (2009)
Director: Francis Lawrence
Lady Gaga’s "Bad Romance" is one of the most visually innovative and provocative music videos of the 21st century. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the video features surreal and avant-garde imagery, from Gaga’s haunting eyes to her robotic, ethereal movements. With its references to pop culture, sexual liberation, and futurism, the video encapsulated Gaga’s entire artistic persona. The over-the-top costumes, lavish set designs, and dark themes helped to establish her as a boundary-pushing artist who used music videos as a canvas for her eccentricity and unique vision. Bad Romance is a high watermark in the fusion of fashion, art, and pop music, and it significantly influenced the visual aesthetics of mainstream pop music in the years to follow.
7. A-ha – "Take On Me" (1985)
Director: Steve Barron
A-ha’s "Take On Me" is a landmark music video that revolutionized animation techniques and visual storytelling in the 1980s. Directed by Steve Barron, the video is famous for its combination of pencil-sketch animation and live-action footage. The innovative technique, called rotoscoping, allowed the video to tell the story of a love affair between a woman and a man who is drawn into the world of animation. The video’s cutting-edge visuals and seamless blend of live-action and animation made it one of the most memorable of the 80s and a defining moment in the evolution of music videos. Take On Me demonstrated that music videos could be a vehicle for pushing the boundaries of filmmaking and animation.
8. Missy Elliott – "Work It" (2002)
Director: Missy Elliott and Dave Meyers
Missy Elliott has always been a trendsetter, and her "Work It" video, directed by herself and Dave Meyers, is one of her most iconic. Known for its futuristic, genre-defying visuals, the video features Elliott performing surreal, digitally altered scenes that highlight her creative control over her image. From the distorted close-ups of her body to the inventive use of special effects, "Work It" is a visual masterclass in how to combine music with bold imagery. Elliott’s work has continuously influenced the visual language of hip-hop and pop, and this video proved that music videos can be just as much about pushing technology and visuals as they are about music.
9. The White Stripes – "Fell in Love with a Girl" (2002)
Director: Michel Gondry
Directed by Michel Gondry, "Fell in Love with a Girl" is a whirlwind of stop-motion animation made entirely from LEGO bricks. With its rapid-fire pace and colorful visuals, the video captures the raw energy of The White Stripes’ song while introducing a playful, visually stunning technique that would influence indie and alternative bands for years to come. The simplicity of the concept, paired with Gondry’s signature surrealism, demonstrated that even low-budget productions could make a significant cultural impact. Fell in Love with a Girl remains a seminal moment in how music videos can creatively reinvent visual storytelling.
10. Kanye West – "Stronger" (2007)
Director: Hype Williams
Kanye West’s "Stronger" music video, directed by Hype Williams, was a pivotal moment in the use of high-tech visual effects. Drawing inspiration from the futuristic aesthetics of anime, the video employs advanced CGI to present Kanye in a world that blends technology with hip-hop. The video was a landmark in how music videos could incorporate elements of cyberpunk and technology-driven design. It pushed the boundaries of what was possible in music video production, introducing cutting-edge techniques that would later become commonplace in both music videos and mainstream media.
Conclusion
The music video is a unique form of artistic expression, and the above videos represent some of the most significant turning points in its history. From pushing technological boundaries and redefining artistic expression to creating viral moments that resonated globally, these music videos not only changed the way we view the intersection of music and visual art but also left an indelible mark on the culture. They proved that music videos could be powerful cultural tools—shaping trends, influencing fashion, and even igniting social change.