Rolling Stones' 100 Greatest Music Videos
Rolling Stones magazine's ranked list of the best music videos of all time (2021)
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- DirectorMelina MatsoukasStarsBeyoncéJames Ken BlackmonChina TaylorA promotional video for Beyonce's 2016 single "Formation."
- DirectorMark RomanekStarsJune Carter CashJohnny CashA promotional video for Johnny Cash's 2003 single "Hurt."
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsMadonnaLuis CamachoOliver Crumes Jr.Madonna pays homage to Hollywood's Golden Age via Harlem's "House Ball" Vogueing.
- DirectorHiro MuraiStarsDonald GloverCalvin C. WinbushKenneth BeckOfficial music video for "This Is America" by Childish Gambino.
- DirectorJonathan DemmeStarsGillian GilbertPeter HookStephen MorrisMore than just a video clip, this is an experience to be seen and felt. This epic music video directed by the great Jonathan Demme consists of massive close-ups of New Order band members each performing with their musical instrument or sometimes changing them from time to time while providing the spectacular song "The Perfect Kiss" , single from their second album.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsBeastie BoysAdam YauchAdam HorovitzSet to the song, Sabotage, the Beastie Boys appear in a condensed parody of a 1970s cop show.
- DirectorPaul HunterDominique TrenierStarsD'AngeloOfficial music video for D'Angelo's song "Untitled, How Does It Feel" featuring a shirtless D'Angelo.
- DirectorStephen R. JohnsonStarsPeter GabrielAnna-Marie GabrielMelanie GabrielPeter Gabriel's video for his 1986 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, a collaboration with Aardman Animations which set new standards for the industry and became one of the most awarded videos in history.
- DirectorAndrew MorahanStarsMichael AscoleseNicole BrandonJorga CayeA music video for Guns N' Roses's song "November Rain".
- DirectorSteve BarronStarsMichael JacksonSimon FieldsRaquel PeñaA music video for Michael Jackson's song 'Billie Jean'.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsRafael EdholmGeorge MichaelScott BenoitFor George Michael's song Freedom '90, he does not appear in the music video. Instead, five female models and five male models lip sync the lyrics to the song.
- DirectorJake NavaStarsBeyoncéAshley EverettEbony WilliamsA promotional dance video for Beyoncé's 2008 hit single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)."
- DirectorSamuel BayerStarsNirvanaBurton C. BellAndy BialkA music video for Nirvana's song 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.
- DirectorSteve BarronStarsa-haBunty BaileyAlfie CurtisOfficial music video for "Take on Me" by A-Ha.
- DirectorMichel GondryStarsThe White StripesThe music video is a Lego animation directed by Michel Gondry. Gondry's son was featured at the beginning of the video, building Lego blocks. It was shot frame by frame with each frame having the Lego bricks rebuilt, sometimes in a complex manner to seem as if it were an actual shot, and then formed together to give the illusion of motion. The video mostly consists of red, white, and black color. The White Stripes couldn't strike a deal with Lego, so they had to buy a large amount of Lego boxes for the video.
- DirectorHype WilliamsStarsMissy ElliottTimbalandAnn PeeblesMissy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott performs in the music video "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" from the album "Supa Dupa Fly" recorded for Elektra Records. Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott dances and sings on stage with a group of dancers. The video also features her singing into a fish-eye lens camera and dancing in a variety of unusual outfits including an inflated garbage bag.
- DirectorRussell MulcahyStarsDuran DuranSimon Le BonSheila MingDuran Duran's clip for their massive classic "Hungry Like the Wolf" presents the band traveling to Sri Lanka in some curious and strange adventures, with Simon Le Bon meeting an exotic girl and having a wild time with her while the other four band mates go through many different places trying to find him.
- DirectorRebecca BlakeStarsMonique MannenWendy MelvoinPrinceMusic video for "Kiss" by Prince.
- DirectorMagnus CarlssonStarsRadioheadAnimated video by Magnus Carlsson to support Radiohead's song "Paranoid Android." Robin and his friend Benjamin wander around a European city, running into all types of bizarre individuals and strange situations.
- DirectorSam PillingStarsIan BaileyHanna BezmenovaIhor CiszkewyczIn this music video, a meeting of political leaders descends into chaos.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsChristopher WalkenA businessman, overhearing the song on the maid's radio, takes to dancing in the hotel lobby.
- DirectorRyan StaakeYoung ThugStarsRoman Dean GeorgeYoung ThugOfficial music video for "Wyclef Jean" by Young Thug.
- DirectorMark RomanekStarsVincent GalloJay-ZRick RubinA promotional video for Jay-Z's 2004 single "99 Problems."
- DirectorPatrick DaughtersStarsYeah Yeah YeahsKaren OYeah Yeah Yeahs performs in the music video "Maps" from the album "Fever to Tell" recorded for Interscope Records. The music video begins in a high school gymnasium. The band performs is auditioning in front of a group of people. As they play the song, light filters illuminate them in different colors.
- DirectorAnton CorbijnStarsBonoAdam ClaytonThe EdgeThe first version was filmed in Berlin and features the band members performing at Hansa Studios interspersed with footage of Trabants (an East German automobile they became fond of as a symbol for a changing Europe) and shots of them dressed in drag.
- DirectorWalter A. SternStarsElizabeth Fraser
- DirectorHype WilliamsStarsTupac ShakurDr. DreRoger TroutmanThe music video for "California Love", taking place in a desert in the year 2095.
- DirectorJonathan GlazerStarsRichard FileCraig KellyDenis LavantA man wearing a heavy parka is walking along the middle of the road in a busy car tunnel. He appears to be disoriented, mumbling and shouting incoherences, only occasionally including intelligible words such as "Cristo", "Allahu Akbar", and "sinner!" Some of the cars honk at him and swerve out of his way. All of a sudden a car hits him from the side, and he is left on the ground. The car continues its course without stopping or slowing down. After a while, the man stands up and starts walking again as if nothing had happened. Then another car hits him; this time the hit occurs straight on and sends him flying a couple of feet. A passing motorist watches with contempt as the man rolls in the street. The man gets up again. A car swerves by and slows down alongside the man, occupied by three young men. The driver repeatedly inquires as to the man's destination, who for his part seems oblivious to their presence and continues along his way blurting, "Saint Christopher"; the driver soon tires of this and speeds off whilst calling out, "Nice coat, man!" Another car hits the man, and he gets up almost instantly. More accidents occur, some cars honk, some cars swerve out of the way -- but none stop. The man removes his parka and throws it on the ground. He is shirtless underneath, and we see his chest covered with bruises and cuts. He smiles and opens his arms in a crucifix-like position. A Vauxhall Cavalier MK2 is coming his way and has no intention of stopping. The car hits the man, but this time he stands unmoved, and the car is destroyed upon impact.
- DirectorRicky SaizStarsBeyoncéThe CartersJay-ZOfficial music video for "Apes**t" by The Carters.
- DirectorNigel DickStarsBritney SpearsFelicia CulottaChad SpearsA music video for Britney Spears's song '...Baby One More Time'.
- DirectorJonas ÅkerlundStarsMadonnaLeif 'Loket' OlssonA day in the life of the earth to show that we are rushing forward to the end of the 20th century at full speed. The music video for the second single from the album of the same name.
- DirectorDirector XStarsDrakeDamaris LopezMusic video for "Hotline Bling" by Drake.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsLady GagaDamon AlbarnYuri BradacGermanesque techno hit for Lady Gaga, utilizing her name as a Teutonic chant, in which she is abducted from a surreal bath-house by costumed otherworldly supermodels, and auctioned off into slavery, before getting a fiery revenge.
- DirectorNick KnightStarsYeKim KardashianThe music video for "Bound 2" by Kanye West.
- DirectorTim NewmanStarsZZ TopDusty HillBilly GibbonsDirected by Tim Newman, the video features ZZ Top playing at a gas station, along with actor/model Peter Tramm playing a young gas station mechanic, and introduces classic ZZ elements such as the red "ZZ Eliminator Car," the "ZZ Keychain" and the "Three ZZ Girls" as heroines. It is the first of a ZZ Top music video series.
- DirectorJonathan DaytonValerie FarisStarsThe Smashing PumpkinsJimmy ChamberlinBilly CorganMusic video for the Smashing Pumpkins song "Tonight, Tonight".
- DirectorCharles Stone IIIStarsThe RootsQuestloveTariq Trotter
- DirectorDamian KulashOK GoTrish SieStarsOK GoDan KonopkaDamian KulashThe music video of the song is an elaborate performance of the band dancing on treadmills in a single continuous take. Choreographed by Trish Sie and directed by Sie and the band, it took a total of seventeen attempts to complete the video. As in the band's video for "A Million Ways", Tim Nordwind lip-syncs the lead vocals instead of Damian Kulash, following the format from the dance choreographed for the song "C-C-C-Cinnamon Lips", which Tim sings. The video debuted on YouTube on July 31, 2006. As of March 2010, it had been viewed over 50 million times, but the video was taken down and reposted and now currently has over 41 million views.
- DirectorThibaut DuverneixMathieu LegerStarsTierra WhackA visual and auditory project by Tierra Whack.
- DirectorJonas ÅkerlundStarsThe ProdigyTeresa MayThe video shows some rampant adventures on the night London from the first person view. In the full version of the clip, called the Most Controversial Version, there are all kinds of antisocial behaviors, such as drinking hard liquor and drunk driving, taking cocaine, attacking people, violence, vandalism, heroin use, a scene in which Car shoot down a man, a female striptease without censorship, and at the end of the clip the main character is engaged in sex with the same stripper.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsBjörkBryan AnthonyAnthony MarcionaBjörk sings "It's Oh So Quiet" in a musical number set in and around a tire store.
- DirectorBill PopeMichael SalomonStarsMetallicaKirk HammettJames HetfieldThe music video for Metallica's 1989 song "One" from their album "...And Justice for All". It was their first ever official music video and shows haunting excerpts from the 1971 film "Johnny Got His Gun".
- DirectorMark RomanekStarsFiona AppleA promotional video for Fiona Apple's 1997 single "Criminal."
- DirectorDavid MalletStarsDavid BowieSteve StrangeElise BrazierA promotional video for David Bowie 's 1980 hit single "Ashes to Ashes."
- DirectorXavier DolanStarsAdeleTristan Mack WildsWith a new song and a brand new music video Adele shows betrayal, regret and sorrow.
- DirectorAlan YangStarsLil Rel HoweryLaKeith StanfieldJerrod CarmichaelAn all-black cast parody one of the most memorable episodes of Friends.
- DirectorChris CunninghamStarsKaren AndersonAphex TwinNikki BondThe video opens with an old woman walking a dog in a grimy, industrial setting. The dog urinates on an abandoned television lying on the pavement, causing it to sputter unexpectedly into life, and a distorted and warping headshot of Richard D. James chants the lyrics. This unleashes a spirit, accompanied by a gang of small children, all of whom bear James' grinning face and who appear to inhabit the abandoned buildings. The children go around wreaking havoc, trashing an alley and chasing a man into his car. The thin man emerges from the television, screams in the woman's face, then gathers the children around him.
- StarsBob CasaleGerald CasaleDevoDevo performs in the music video "Beautiful World" from the album "New Traditionalists" recorded for Warner Brothers Records and Virgin Records. The music video features a doll-like figure watching old black and white television clips of men and women and war. Clips of the band feature throughout.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsAerosmithKristin DattiloNicholas GuestA young girl murders her abusive father.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsAshley BarnettFatboy SlimMichael GierThe fictional "Torrance Community Dance Group" does improvisational dance in a mall to Fatboy Slim's "Praise You."
- DirectorAG Rojas
- DirectorLol CremeGodley & CremeKevin GodleyStarsHerbie HancockRobots and sculptures move in time to the music as Herbie Hancock is seen on a television set playing a keyboard. Features bird sculptures, mannequins, dancing pants, robot legs and more.
- DirectorDominic SenaStarsJanet JacksonTyrin TurnerA promotional dance video for Janet Jackson's 1989 hit single "Rhythm Nation."
- DirectorMary LambertStarsMadonnaDeke AndersonKaris K. ChristensenMadonna pays homage to Marilyn Monroe in the music video for the second single from her icon album 'Like A Virgin'.
- DirectorRic MenelloStarsLL Cool JAlly DownsEle Keats
- DirectorWayne IshamStarsBackstreet BoysNick CarterHowie DoroughOfficial music video for "I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys.
- DirectorMark RomanekStarsNine Inch NailsTrent ReznorThe controversial promotional video for Nine Inch Nails' 1994 single "Closer."
- DirectorPete AngelusDavid Lee RothStarsVan HalenMichael AnthonyDavid Lee RothThe music video for "Jump" was directed by David Lee Roth. It is a straightforward performance clip, much like many of the hard rock videos of the time. It was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards, and won "Best Stage Performance" for the video. The video was groundbreaking and set the standard for performance videos that directors still try to emulate. To produce such a video, the band is recorded performing the song several times from beginning to end. Then, the band members are shot doing random stage moves without the pretense of actually playing the song (note that Eddie is seen playing the guitar at times when no guitar can be heard). Some candid footage is shot with the band goofing around, and then the footage is edited into a video.
- DirectorMichel GondryStarsSacha BourdoKylie MinogueMusic video for Kylie Minogue's Come Into My World. As Kylie walks through the streets with life going on around her she duplicates, along with everyone else, like a visual loop pedal.
- DirectorMark RomanekStarsJanet JacksonJoni MitchellQ-TipA lounge singer entertains an audience during the time of apartheid in South Africa.
- DirectorDerek BurbidgeStarsThe Go-Go'sCharlotte CaffeyBelinda CarlisleThe Go-Go's perform in the music video for the song "Our Lips Are Sealed" from their album "Beauty and the Beat" recorded for I.R.S. Records. Belinda Carlisle and the band play at a club inter-cut with footage of them driving in a convertible, visiting a store, and playing in a fountain.
- DirectorJamie ThravesStarsRadioheadColin GreenwoodJonny GreenwoodThe single's video was directed by Jamie Thraves, who was hand-picked by the band after they saw several of his experimental short films. It was shot near Liverpool Street Station in London, and intersperses footage of Radiohead playing the song inside an apartment with scenes of a middle-aged man (played by Dorian Lough) who lies down in the middle of the pavement just outside the apartment building. People start to gather, thinking that something must be wrong with the man, and the band are shown looking out the window at the events below. A heated (subtitled) conversation between the man and the crowd develops, as the people start demanding to know what the man is doing and why he is lying there. In subtitles, the man finally gives in and says, "Yes I'll tell you, I'll tell why I'm lying here - but God forgive me - and God help us all - because you don't know what you ask of me." The camera zooms in on his mouth as the man finally gives the answer, but the subtitles have now stopped, leaving what he said open to the viewer's interpretation. As the camera zooms back out, it shows the pavement covered with the crowd of people, all lying down just like the man.
- DirectorTarsem SinghStarsBill BerryPeter BuckWade DominguezMusic video for "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M..
- DirectorBruce GowersStarsQueenJohn DeaconBrian May"Bohemian Rhapsody" is widely considered to be one of the best songs of all time and defined Queen's career. In this groundbreaking music video, the band perform their hit with a bunch of lights and colors.
- DirectorWalter A. SternStarsThe VerveRichard AshcroftSimon JonesA resolute young man makes his way down a busy London street.
- DirectorJonas ÅkerlundStarsLady GagaBeyoncéTyrese GibsonMusic video for Lady Gaga and Beyoncé's single "Telephone".
- DirectorJoseph KahnStarsTaylor SwiftSean O'PryAndrea DenverA woman starts dating a man who betrays her. After that she turns his life into a living hell.
- DirectorTamra DavisStarsKim GordonSonic Youth
- A man listens to "Bastards of Young" in his house, before he destroys the speaker in frustration.
- DirectorMark SeligerFred WoodwardStarsHoleMelissa Auf der MaurEric ErlandsonHole performs in the music video "Violet" from the album "Live Through This" recorded for DGC Records. The music video features Courtney Love singing as she stands in front of a painting of trees as fake snow falls around her and ballerinas dance. Young girls stand on a stage as the band performs on a set.
- DirectorLil Nas XTanu MuinoStarsLil Nas XLil Nas X rides to hell to conquer the devil.
- DirectorWayne IshamStarsMichael BerrymanTommy LeeMick MarsMötley Crüe performs in the music video "Home Sweet Home" from the album "Theatre of Pain" recorded for Elektra Records. The video opens with each band member receiving a phone call. Footage of the band plays as they perform the song at concerts at The Summit in Houston, Texas, and Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.
- DirectorThe Little HomiesDave MeyersStarsCory Dushone BellCarter KimKendrick LamarMusic video for "HUMBLE." by Kendrick Lamar.
- DirectorSteve HanftStarsBeckJesco WhiteBeck performs in the music video "Loser" from the album "Mellow Gold" recorded for Bong Load Custom Records and DGC Records. The video opens with Beck walking through a parking lot in a mask that is fogged out with visual effects. Beck sings as variety of images play including a moving coffin, teenagers exercising in a cemetery, and a grim reaper cleaning a car.
- DirectorSpike JonzeStarsWeezerTom BosleyTony MaxwellMusic video for the song "Buddy Holly" by the American rock band Weezer, written by Rivers Cuomo. It was released as the second single from the band's debut album Weezer (The Blue Album) in 1994.
- DirectorMarty CallnerStarsTwisted SisterDee SniderJay Jay FrenchA music video for the song 'We're Not Gonna Take It' by Twisted Sister.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsHaimAlana HaimDanielle HaimMusic video by HAIM performing 'Something To Tell You,' 'Nothing's Wrong' and 'Right Now'
- DirectorChris CunninghamStarsBjörkThe accompanying music video for the single was directed by Chris Cunningham and depicts the assembling of a robot with Björk's features, and her passionately kissing another robot in front of an ethereal and sterile backdrop.
- DirectorSimon WestStarsRick AstleyKristin Seifert-DeCarloClive ClarkeMusic video for "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley.
- DirectorToni BasilDavid ByrneStarsDavid ByrneTalking HeadsDavid Byrne of the band Talking Heads lip-syncs and sporadically dances to the 1980 single "Once In a Lifetime".
- DirectorColin TilleyStarsNicki MinajDrakeJanelle GinestraThe music video for "Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj.
- DirectorSamuel BayerStarsBlind MelonHeather DeLoachShannon HoonThe music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, stars Heather DeLoach as the "Bee Girl", a young tap dancer wearing a homemade bee costume and large glasses, modeled after the Blind Melon album's cover: a family picture of Georgia Graham, younger sister of drummer Glen Graham. The Bee Girl's story is inter-cut with footage of Blind Melon performing in a field against a clear blue sky. It opens on the girl's tap routine; the audience responds with laughter, and the girl runs off stage in tears. As the song plays, she wanders through a city, stopping to perform her dance for whoever will watch. Ultimately at the point in the song where the word "escape" is repeated - she peeks through a gate, astonished, then runs through it to join a group of "bee people" of all shapes and sizes dancing joyfully in a green field.
- DirectorVincent TsangStarsAzealia BanksJacques GreeneJef MartensMusic video for "212" by Azealia Banks.
- DirectorJay LeveyStars'Weird Al' YankovicBarry HansenVincent PatersonThe music video for 'Weird Al' Yankovic's "Eat It", which is a parody of "Beat It" by Michael Jackson.
- DirectorJulien TempleStarsNeil YoungNeil Young's music video bashes pop stars who do commercials and satirizes other commercials.
- DirectorGerald CasaleStarsSoundgardenMatt CameronChris CornellA promotional video for Soundgarden's 1996 single "Blow Up the Outside World."
- DirectorPaul HunterStarsThe Notorious B.I.G.Sean 'Diddy' CombsThe Notorious B.I.G. performs in the music video "Hypnotize" from the album "Life After Death" recorded for Bad Boy Records. The video opens on the ocean outside the Florida Keys. Helicopters pursue Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy who play cards on a motorboat. As the helicopters approach, Biggie Smalls begins to rap and flees.
- DirectorCho Soo-HyunStarsPsyBrianni WalkerHyunaThe music video for "Gangnam Style" by Psy.
- DirectorJean-Baptiste MondinoStarsMadonnaAmanda CazaletWallis FrankenA distressed, tired woman becomes seduced into a sexual encounter with a mysterious man and woman.
- DirectorGarth JenningsStarsDamon AlbarnBlurPeter BurroughsA sentient milk carton searches for a missing person whose face appears on its side.
- DirectorAdam AntMike MansfieldStarsAdam and the AntsAdam AntAmanda DonohoeAdam Ant is a Dick Turpin-style highwayman in a surreal and comedic music video.
- DirectorColin TilleyStarsCardi BMegan Thee StallionKylie JennerCardi B and Megan Thee Stallion rap about sexual topics throughout this music video.
- DirectorJohn MayburyStarsSinéad O'ConnorSinéad O'Connor performs in the music video "Nothing Compares 2 U" from the album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" recorded for Chrysalis Records. The music video features a closeup of Sinéad O'Connor's face as she sings and goes through different stages of emotions in tune with the lyrics.
- DirectorEvan BernardStarsEvan BernardThe ChicksMichael DeLuiseChildhood friends Mary Ann & Wanda murder Wanda's abusive husband, dispose of the body & live happily ever after
- DirectorJim SwaffieldStarsA Tribe Called QuestLeaders of the New SchoolTodd 1A music video for the 1992 song "Scenario" by the American Hip-Hop recording group A Tribe Called Quest featuring the Leaders of the New School, a single released from the album "The Low End Theory".
- DirectorAndrew MorahanStarsThe Blow MonkeysMick AnkerNeville HenryThe Blow Monkeys performs in the music video "Digging Your Scene" from the album "Animal Magic" recorded for RCA Records. The music video begins with the Blow Monkey performing on the stage of a club in front of a shiny tinsel curtain. Dr. Robert sings as people in the crowd flirt with one another.
- DirectorBradley BellPablo Jones-SolerStarsHarry StylesKyla BlackmanKimberly MillanOfficial music video for "Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles.
- DirectorTom ScharplingStarsHoratio SanzMichael LiskWyatt Cenac
- DirectorRussell MulcahyStarsThe BugglesDebi DossGeoff DownesThe video for the Buggles' classic one-shot, about how the rise of television (and, by extension, music videos) hurt the careers of those performers whose looks would not translate well to the new medium.