100. “Bad Romance” (Lady Gaga, 2010)
Sometimes, a song and it’s video becomes a runaway cultural avalanche. Say what you will about Lady Gaga, she’s made enough of an impact to catch my attention ( and a lot of my money…). This video is my favorite, because nothing says ” I hate you” more than torching the bed one shared with a man.
99. “Close To Me” ( The Cure, 1985)
A bunch of men in a closet. That eventually falls down the white cliffs of Dover. It’s one of the Cure’s cheeriest songs, so I guess the drama has to come from somewhere.
98. “November Rain” ( Guns N’ Roses, 1992)
GNR at its height was the most overblown, melodramatic, cheesiest bands in history. This video exemplifies that excess. It’s made bearable by a kickass Slash guitar solo.
97. “My Favorite Game” ( the Cardigans, 1998)
I have a soft spot for the Swedish band, and this darkly humorous video, where Nina crashed the car into the band’s van. All the while, she sings about losing a very dark love game.
96. “Laid” (James, 1993)
First off, the editing of “comes” to “sings” cracks me up. Second off, James lead singer Tim Booth is wearing a dress. Third, the song is just hilarious. A song that begins with wildly passionate sex leads to obsession and eventually stalking. With falsetto goodness.
95. “In Repair” ( Our Lady Peace, 2000)
The dark subject of humans as machines in day-to-day life gives us a video created out of collages by Oli Goldsmith. While pleading for spiritual understanding, we never see the band, but shapeless figure traipsing through what appears to be a hospital.
94. “West End Girls” ( Pet Shop Boys, 1985)
A synthpop song with a hiphop beat, influenced by T.S. Eliot and talking about class in Thatcher’s England. The song and video made them stars, and it remains one of my favorite songs.
93. ” Do You Want To” ( Franz Ferdinand, 2005)
The Scottish art school fops attend a very fun looking party while hanging off of art installations, and generally creating havoc. Few videos are so much fun.
92. ” Loser” (Beck, 1994)
The song itself remains the high point of 90s music, but the video, with its low budget restraints and DIY ethic, remains the template on indie video filmmaking. It’s an acid trip with a good soundtrack. And cheerleaders.
91. “If You Tolerate This, Then Your Children Will Be Next” ( Manic Street Preachers, 1998)
The Marxist Welsh lads with high aspirations wrote this song about the Spanish Civil War. They teamed it with a video so dark in its dystopian view that I find it unsettling to view all the way through. There is a sheer brilliance in its simplicity.
90. “New York, New York” (Ryan Adams, 2001)
The video was filmed on location on September 7, 2001.
It kinda says it all. One of the greatest songs of all time about the love one has for the city displaying some of the last filmed shots of its visual iconic towers.
89. “Log Driver’s Waltz” ( Kate and Anna McGarrigle, 1979)
Okay, it’s not a music video per se, but a short film produced by the National Film Board of Canada set to the song recorded by Canada’s famed McGarrigle sisters, Anna and Kate. There isn’t a Canadian under forty and over twenty that doesn’t remember watching this during the CBC children’s TV block, between Mr Dressup and Sesame Street. An entire generation of Canucks raised on the McGarrigles. Some countries are just blessed.
88. “I’m Not Okay ( I Promise)” ( My Chemical Romance, 2004)
A pitch perfect spoof of Teen comedies, told in trailer form, while the band rocks out all emo style. Who said emo bands lacked a sense of humor?
87. “Clint Eastwood” ( Gorillaz, 2001)
I know it’s Damon Albarn’s voice. I know what Damon Albarn looks like. It’s a testament to the band’s conceit that I know all this but fully believe that cartoon is singing those vocals. Brilliantly dark and funny.
86. “Once In A Lifetime” (Talking Heads, 1981)
Early music videos notoriously had bad production values. MTV didn’t exist yet ( some might argue it doesn’t exist now, either). It’s lame, but cool. If only for David Byrne’s bewilderment alone.
85. “Pumping On Your Stereo” ( Supergrass, 1999)
Jim Henson’s Creature Shop created the arms and legs and the funky ass foamy guitars for this video, the apex of Britpop goofiness from the clown princes of the scene.
ETA: Someone said they couldn’t get the video to work, so I”m throwing in a YouTube link. Hopefully you’ll see the genius now.
84. “Wonderwall” (Mike Flowers Pop, 1995)
Another spoof, another pitch perfect result. I just keep waiting for Lawrence Welk to appear with bubbles.
83. “Gay Bar” ( Electric Six, 2003)
Treasonous? I don’t think so. But oh, so funny.
82. “Brimful of Asha” ( Cornershop, 1997)
The joy of the 45 is celebrated with this candy colored video where a preteen girl and her little record player play Cornershop all the time. I don’t blame her, this song kicks ass.
81. “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” (Kylie Minogue, 2001)
How to do sexy right. First, hire a woman to direct., so there are no lingering T&A shots. Second, look like Kylie. Third, give it a futuristic bent so Kylie can wear really ridiculous costumes. Never have I found this video exploitative. It’s all about controlling the image, and Kylie always has.
