Most Memorable Music Videos

What does that have to do with books, right?

Well, I like to listen to music when I read books, sometimes. Especially adventure stories. I like it when the events I'm reading are reflected by the tempo or theme of a song, and I often find some soothing classical music calming, as well.

So today I was watching an online reviewer of some notoriety talking about her favorite songs from a certain era, and she played some music videos to highlight what she was talking about. However, I didn't think any of the videos were very memorable, unlike some of the songs.

SO I decided to make this list, which are my top 6 most memorable music videos. It would have been more, but I wanted to leave myself room to expand later, if I felt like it. Also, I didn't want to include Thriller, because I think it's over-referenced for things like this. Too bad, it has my favorite horror actor Vincent Price reading lines :(

So without further ado, here are the top six most memorable music videos I've ever seen (and one honorable mention).


6) Bad Reputation by Joan Jett.

First of all, I love this song and it actually is killing me to put it so far down the list. Joan Jett is one of my favorite singers ever.

What I really love about this video is the intentionally low-price production that makes it so wonderful. With the silent-movie-style conversations.

However, for me, the most memorable part of the song is her iconic leather top/scarf look and the scene with the blackheart van.


5) Wookie Wookie, in the Kitchen by Machoman.

I honestly only recently heard of this song, but that sneer... dear lord, I will never forget it.

Every time I see Machoman do that sideways sneer I can't help but try to emulate it. I swear if I could do that, I could have any woman I wanted.

However, what I really love about this song (other than the random use of the word Wookie), is the rediculous lyrics and dancing working together to make this one of the most FUN music videos I've ever seen.

All of the girls are over the top, but look at Machoman when he dances, or the girl with the pigtails. They're having a blast just goofing around with kitchen tools and food. So much of this video could have been too inuendo-intensive, but they add a playfulness that makes this song PG even to the most perverted mind.


4) Here it Goes Again by Ok Go.

The Treadmill Guys. Say that, and everyone knows who you are talking about.

That's what this video started for the YouTube generation. "It starts out easy, something simple..." is absolutely true. Four guys, eight treadmills and one continuous reel of footage.

It's insanely hard for a music video to be made in even a few days of shooting, and these guys made it all in one go.

I'm sure there were screwups, but they didn't have jump-cuts to help them. Everything was done in one go. Moving and singing along the whole way. Amazing


3) I Want to Break Free by Queen.

Probably the most memorable of Queen's music videos. Who can forget seeing Freddie Mercury walk out with the vaccuum and miniskirt for the first time?

The imagery, or course, is the usual top-notch Queen, but something about this one sits the most strongly in my memory.

Maybe it's that the band-mates in drag are so expressive. It's definitely a must-watch at least once.


2) Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson.

From the moment micheal throws his coat back and tosses the quarter from his hip, you can tell this will be one of his best.

I first saw this music video in a Michael Jackson movie retrospective, but I've been addicted to it ever since. Michael, of course, is in top form. But the coreography and acting is so amazing in this video it surpasses anything else I've ever seen Michael in.

Not only does this make Michael Jackson, Human Punchline, look bad-ass, but it sends your mind flying, making up some wonderful Casablanca-style story for all the assorted characters around him. Who is the woman with the fan, and why does everyone follow her direction so quickly? Why does everyone give Micheal his cut as he walks by them? And was it a 7 or 11 that the craps-player just pulled off?

The whole thing is memorable, but I could have done without the blue-fogged moment where the song just stopped. With it, it's still amazing, without it, it would have made this song nuber one.


1) Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles.

The strange and surreal scifi look of the whole thing, the strangly touching sound, and the british-invasiony appearance of the whole thing really sticks in your head.

Now every time I hear piano notes sounding even a little like this song's core, I picture the silver-clad woman in her tube.

For me, the real eye-catcher is still the techno twins dancing on tv, and staring at nothing, and the little girl watching her radio self-destruct. I'll always love this music video.

But why the top spot, right? Well, to be honest, it's because this music video began the whole thing, in a way. It brought music videos to the fore of entertainment as the debut music video on MTV, back when they still relied on music as their cash cow.



And for an Honorable Mention? It has to be Princes of the Universe, another song by Queen. I can't make Princes of the Universe a part of the list, though because even though the transitions are seamless, they're still using movie footage, and not just music video footage to create the effects (And please leave Smooth Criminal out of this. That was barely a movie to begin with).


So there you go. Please flame me below because I left out someone I've never heard of but you love. I'm always happy to see a good music video. Just include a youtube link or something.