A top 5 ranking of music videos of all time

1. Best Music Videos of allBest Music Videos of all
timetime
By Bobby SaltBy Bobby Salt

2. SourceSource
• The following music videos and rankings are sourced from NME, a music basedThe following music videos and rankings are sourced from NME, a music based
company that has a website and magazine.They listed the top 10 greatest musiccompany that has a website and magazine.They listed the top 10 greatest music
videos of all time. I’ve taken that top 10 and used 5 of the videos I believe to be thevideos of all time. I’ve taken that top 10 and used 5 of the videos I believe to be the
most iconic/great. I’m going to interpret my personal opinion and viewpoint on themost iconic/great. I’m going to interpret my personal opinion and viewpoint on the
music video and its rankings and explain why it’s positioned where it is. I’m thenmusic video and its rankings and explain why it’s positioned where it is. I’m then
going to interlink my group and I’s upcoming music video task and see if there’sgoing to interlink my group and I’s upcoming music video task and see if there’s
any features such as camera shots/angles, props or locational factors that can beany features such as camera shots/angles, props or locational factors that can be
related to what we expect our final product to look like.related to what we expect our final product to look like.

3. 5. The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up5. The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up

4. 5. The Prodigy - Smack my bitch up5. The Prodigy - Smack my bitch up
• Released: 1998Released: 1998
• Director: Jonas AkerlundDirector: Jonas Akerlund
• When The Prodigy released Smack My Bitch Up back in 1998, any platform that aired theWhen The Prodigy released Smack My Bitch Up back in 1998, any platform that aired the
video was immediately warned by their headquarters to add pre-warning notificationsvideo was immediately warned by their headquarters to add pre-warning notifications
at the beginning of the video as there is “high octane depictions of sex, drug, andat the beginning of the video as there is “high octane depictions of sex, drug, and
violence-fuelled nights out” as NME put it. I think this music video is seen more asviolence-fuelled nights out” as NME put it. I think this music video is seen more as
“iconic” rather than “great” as The Prodigy tested the boundaries as to how far and“iconic” rather than “great” as The Prodigy tested the boundaries as to how far and
dirty a music video can be, because at the time no one had released a music videodirty a music video can be, because at the time no one had released a music video
quite like it. Even to this day I can’t think of a music video as “restricted” as this one.Thequite like it. Even to this day I can’t think of a music video as “restricted” as this one.The
first person perspective doesn’t allow the audience to realise it’s actually a girl that’sfirst person perspective doesn’t allow the audience to realise it’s actually a girl that’s
causing the chaos. A camera angle very unique compared to common music video. Plus,causing the chaos. A camera angle very unique compared to common music video. Plus,
the gender reveal at the end acts as a plot twist as its stereotypically seen as being menthe gender reveal at the end acts as a plot twist as its stereotypically seen as being men
causing problems when drunk.causing problems when drunk.

5. 4. Weezer – Buddy Holly4. Weezer – Buddy Holly

6. 4. Weezer – Buddy Holly4. Weezer – Buddy Holly
• Released: 1994Released: 1994
• Director: Spike JonzeDirector: Spike Jonze
• At the time,Weezer had created a music video with revolutionary editing techniques,At the time,Weezer had created a music video with revolutionary editing techniques,
now seen as being basic. But this new way of editing a video to look “retro” actednow seen as being basic. But this new way of editing a video to look “retro” acted
as a trigger for many bands/solo artists to follow in their foot steps and makeas a trigger for many bands/solo artists to follow in their foot steps and make
“parody like” videos as a form of being unique. NME labelled it as a “cameo in“parody like” videos as a form of being unique. NME labelled it as a “cameo in
Happy DaysHappy Days for a retro video that seemed made for a song”. Personally I thinkfor a retro video that seemed made for a song”. Personally I think
Spike Jonze’s influence will have been key to the greatness of the video as hisSpike Jonze’s influence will have been key to the greatness of the video as his
previous work with music videos has been seen as unique and iconic.previous work with music videos has been seen as unique and iconic.

7. 3. Bjork – All is Full of Love3. Bjork – All is Full of Love

8. 3. Bjork – All is Full of love3. Bjork – All is Full of love
• Released: 1998Released: 1998
• Director: Chris CunninghamDirector: Chris Cunningham
• As robotics was and still is seen as a very futuristic concept, it’s introduction into musicAs robotics was and still is seen as a very futuristic concept, it’s introduction into music
videos took the industry by storm and although the video itself is simplistic in terms ofvideos took the industry by storm and although the video itself is simplistic in terms of
what happens, many see it as being a very beautiful video. NME stated that it’s “one ofwhat happens, many see it as being a very beautiful video. NME stated that it’s “one of
the most strangely beautiful promos with this clip of two robots mating”. Personally, Ithe most strangely beautiful promos with this clip of two robots mating”. Personally, I
think “strangely beautiful” explains it perfectly as the entire videos unique structurethink “strangely beautiful” explains it perfectly as the entire videos unique structure
and visual effects can be seen as both strange and beautiful.The fact that the videos onand visual effects can be seen as both strange and beautiful.The fact that the videos on
constant display at NewYork’s Museum Of Modern Art reflects how iconic a video itconstant display at NewYork’s Museum Of Modern Art reflects how iconic a video it
really is. In addition it’s won countless awards so there’s no surprise NME have rankedreally is. In addition it’s won countless awards so there’s no surprise NME have ranked
it 5it 5thth
and I’ve ranked it as the 3and I’ve ranked it as the 3rdrd
greatest music video of all time.greatest music video of all time.

9. 2. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun2. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun

10. 2. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun2. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun
• Released: 1994Released: 1994
• Director: Howard GreenhalghDirector: Howard Greenhalgh
• NME labelled the video as a “classic WTF? Vid” and I can’t really disagree.TheNME labelled the video as a “classic WTF? Vid” and I can’t really disagree.The
effects, facial distortion and freak camera angles leave the audience sat thereeffects, facial distortion and freak camera angles leave the audience sat there
wondering what they just witnessed. In my opinion, the lyrics don’t really link withwondering what they just witnessed. In my opinion, the lyrics don’t really link with
the video either, creating a further sense of “wtf”.The mise-en-scene could bethe video either, creating a further sense of “wtf”.The mise-en-scene could be
seen as being the most crazy aspect of the video as nothing really relates or linksseen as being the most crazy aspect of the video as nothing really relates or links
to anything.There’s just different types of clothing, props, facial expressions andto anything.There’s just different types of clothing, props, facial expressions and
reactions occurring the entire time.reactions occurring the entire time.
•

11. 1. Johnny Cash - Hurt1. Johnny Cash - Hurt

12. 1. Johnny Cash - Hurt1. Johnny Cash - Hurt
• Released: 2002Released: 2002
• Director: Mark RomanekDirector: Mark Romanek
• As bad as it sounds, I think without the death of Johnny a few months after the videoAs bad as it sounds, I think without the death of Johnny a few months after the video
and songs release, it wouldn’t be considered as great/iconic as it is now.Theand songs release, it wouldn’t be considered as great/iconic as it is now.The
montage of clips made up of his personal past as well as links to religion especiallymontage of clips made up of his personal past as well as links to religion especially
towards the end resulted in the video being seen as a type of goodbye by many oftowards the end resulted in the video being seen as a type of goodbye by many of
his fans and viewers.There’s nothing to unique, technical or even difficult about thehis fans and viewers.There’s nothing to unique, technical or even difficult about the
video itself, it’s just the way in which it interlinked with Johnny’s death, resulted invideo itself, it’s just the way in which it interlinked with Johnny’s death, resulted in
many people from that point onwards looking more in depth at music videos andmany people from that point onwards looking more in depth at music videos and
seeking hidden meanings. A feature many videos have in todays age.seeking hidden meanings. A feature many videos have in todays age.
•