Music At Its Finest: 45 Of The Greatest Music Videos Of The ’90S!

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Gen Z and young adults will never get to truly appreciate the magic of rock, pop, and hip hop music during the ’90s. We might be inundated with Netflix specials, sports events, films, and TV shows, and on-air programs today but before the turn of the 21st century, a music video from a major artist was a pretty big deal and somewhat of a full-blown TV event.

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After MTV launched in 1981 and VH1 after it, the two networks completely revolutionized the music industry for generations to come. In this article, we take a trip down memory lane to look at some of the most iconic music videos from the ’90s.

Lenny Kravitz – “Are You Gonna Go My Way” – 1993 – Mark Romanek – 2.2 million Copies Sold

The title song from his third studio album “Are You Gonna Go My Way” helped make Lenny Kravitz a ’90s rockstar. The video of the lead single might seem tame in comparison to the music of its time but that is also what sets it apart. Directed by Mark Romanek, the video sets the stage for the ultimate party around Kravitz and his band while other aspects like the wardrobe and lighting are also on point.

The song took the number two spot on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks while topping Billboard’s Album Rock Tracks chart in 1993. In 2021, Kravitz joined forces with CB2 to launch his second collection of furniture.

Eminem – “My Name Is” – 1999 – Philip G. Atwell & Dr. Dre – 3 Million+ Copies Sold

By the time Eminem dropped “My Name Is,” he had already collaborated with some of the hottest producers of his era like Dr. Dre and was quite a big deal. The lead single from his second album “The Slim Shady LP” sampled the bass and guitar riff from Labi Siffre’s classic 1975 single “I Got The…”

“My Name Is” became an instant hit and went on to be TRL’s #1 most requested song. The music video, true to the Slim Shady style, is a classic in itself wherein Eminem imitates many celebrities and T.V shows. In 2021, Eminem helped induct LL Cool J into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

En Vogue – “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” – 1992 – Matthew Rolston – 1 Million+ Copies Sold

According to David A. Jasen’s catalog/book “A Century of American Popular Music,” En Vogue’s album “Funky Divas,” containing their hit”My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” sold over a million copies worldwide and charted for 22 weeks. Sampling James Brown’s “The Payback,” the single is on the music group’s second album which starts with a short video showing the girl group getting ready for a show in a dressing room.

The female empowerment anthem’s video goes old school, showing the En Vogue group playing the role of the Supremes. In 2021, the R&B group announced their plans for a concert at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston in December.

Van Halen – “Right Now” – 1991 – Carolyn Mayer Beug & Mark Fenske – 3 Million Copies Sold

Released in 1993, “Live: Right Here, Right Now” was Van Halen’s first live album which featured their classic hit “Right Now.” The music video was hailed as a groundbreaking release at its time and is quite odd even by today’s standards, with its flashing images and big letters to ‘illuminate’ societal issues of its time.

Fun fact; the instrumental for “Right Now” was actually written in 1983 but it took eight years for its release since no studio or label wanted it. In 2021, one year after Eddie Van Halen’s tragic passing, a book in memory of the rock legend titled “Eruption: Conversations With Eddie Van Halen” became an international bestseller.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Californication” – 1999 – Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris – 16 Million Copies Sold

Red Hot Chili Peppers’s “Californication” needs absolutely no introduction. The rock anthem took the music scene by storm at the time of its release and aimed to pull back the curtain on Hollywood’s underbelly. Initially, the song almost ended up being scrapped from the band’s seventh album since they had had a hard time coming up with music suitable for the lyrics.

The music video is themed around a video game that shows the group on individual adventures across the world and concludes with all of them meeting at its center. In October 2022 RHCP released the dates of their 2022 tour and announced juicy details of their next album.

The Pharcyde – “Passin’ Me By” – 1992 – Sanji Senaka – 500K Copies Sold (Single Track)

Released through Delicious Vinyl Records in March 1993, “Passin’ Me By” by American hip-hop group The Pharcyde is the second single after their debut in 1992. Producer J-Swift used samples from songs like Quincy Jones’ “Summer in the City,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced?” and Weather Report’s “125th Street Congress” to come up with the masterpiece.

Like many other music videos from The Pharcyde, “Passin’ Me By” also came in two versions, showing the group rapping upside down in the backseat of a car. In 2019, Fatlip and Slimkid3 announced their Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde fall tour in locations like Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, D.C., and more.

Madonna – “Take a Bow” – 1994 – Michael Haussman – 8 Million Copies Sold

Madonna slammed Hollywood’s cancel culture in 2021 with a daring and outspoken interview while filming a Marilyn Monroe-themed cover story for V Magazine. The shoot caused controversy since it also included the “Material Girl” recreating the ’60s glamor icon’s tragic death scene in 1962.

This wasn’t the first time Madonna had caused controversy for her antics either—in 1995, she came under fire from animal rights activists for her “Take a Bow” music video that seemingly glorified practices like bullfighting. The video of the second single from her “Bedtime Stories” album shows the songstress as the abused lover of a matador.

Aerosmith – “Cryin” – 1993 – Marty Callner – 20 Million+ Copies Sold

It has been close to three decades since Alicia Silverstone inspired all of the ’90s teen girls to get their navels pierced in Aerosmith’s “Cryin.” Recorded for Geffen Records, “Cryin” was a power ballad from the rock group’s “Get A Grip” album. The music video showed a young woman who witnesses her partner cheating on her in a theater.

After kicking him out of a convertible during their drive back home, the video ends with Silverstone faking suicide to mock her lover. In mid-2021, Aerosmith signed a mammoth deal with Universal Music Group that would see the rock band part ways with Sony and bring their entire catalog to UMG.

Blink-182 – “What’s My Age Again?” – 1999 – Marcos Siega – 15 Million+ Copies Sold

Released in April 1999, “What’s My Age Again?” is the lead single from Blink-182’s third album “Enema of the State.” Written by bassist Mark Hoppus, the song is themed around an adult protagonist who still chooses to behave like a prepubescent child.

Directed by Marcos Siega, the music video shows members of the band running through the sets of TV programs, commercials, and the streets of Los Angeles before coming across a beautiful dame. In 2021, Mark Hoppus and his band-mate Travis Barker performed Blink-182 hits for their “House of Horrors” Halloween concert special.

Puff Daddy – “It’s All About the Benjamins” (Rock Remix) – 1997 – Spike Jonze – 7 Million+ Copies Sold

The second version of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs a.k.a Puff Daddy’s “It’s All About the Benjamins” shows the rapper arriving with his entourage at a high school party. Recorded for Bad Boy Records, the music video shows Puff Daddy joined by the Lox and Lil’ Kim as the trio takes the stage to sing a rock version of their song.

After his 2006 solo album “Press Play,” Combs was notably absent from the music scene, although he did collaborate with artists like Dawn Richard and Guy Gerber on their tracks. In 2021, after legally changing his middle name to ‘Love,’ Combs announced his album “Off the Grid Vol. 1.”

Radiohead – “Karma Police” – 2017 – Jonathan Glazer – 7.8 Million+ Copies Sold

Director Jonathan Glazer might have deemed Radiohead’s “Karma Police” a failure but we would beg to differ. While the music video doesn’t set new standards of creativity or art, it does match up to the song’s lyrics pretty nicely. In its opening sequence, the band’s frontman Thom Yorke slinks in a Chrysler as the car chases down a man who is on the run.

At the end of the video, however, the tables seemingly turn when the man turns around and lights a match to set the vehicle on the fire. In 2021 Radiohead unveiled a studio version of their fan-favorite “Follow Me Around” as a bonus track on “KID A MNESIA.”

Green Day – “Basket Case” – 1994 – Mark Kohr – 20 million+ Copies Sold

It might have seemed like a daunting task to come up with a music video to match the paranoid lyrics and manic energy of Green Day’s “Basket Case” but director Mark Kohr was clearly up for the challenge. The iconic video shows Trè, Mike, and Billie in a mental hospital as delusional patients who are given one last opportunity to become rockstars again.

With its audacious lyrics and rebellious music video, “Basket Case” got plenty of playtime on MTV and propelled the band’s album “Dookie” to mainstream success. In November 2021, Green Day dropped “Holy Toledo!,” their soundtrack for Hannah Marks’s romantic comedy “Mark, Mary & Some Other People.”

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Got Your Money” – 1999 – Nzingha Stewart – Unknown

American rapper Russell Tyrone Jones a.k.a Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s second studio album “Nigga Please” is remembered for his hit “Got Your Money.” Produced by the Neptunes and released by Elektra Records, the track’s music video was never filmed by ODB himself which meant that it featured footage from the 1975 film “Dolemite.”

ODB himself did appear on the video, however, the footage featuring the rapper was taken from the film cut of his 1995 track “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” In 2021, Northern Philadelphia-born artist TJ Atoms paid tribute to ODB by reprising his role as Ason Unique, a character inspired by ODB in the second season of “Wu-Tang: An American Saga.”

Marilyn Manson – “The Beautiful People” – 1996 – Floria Sigismondi – 1.9 Million+ Copies Sold

In 1996, Marilyn Manson recorded “The Beautiful People” for his album “Antichrist Superstar” for Interscope Records and Nothing Records. While many of the rock videos of the era featured shocking elements for the sake of invoking a reaction from viewers, Manson’s work was as real as it gets.

Filmed in Toronto at an abandoned distillery, the video portrays the band members in grotesque medical equipment as they perform in the old, rundown building. Manson sparked controversy in November 2021 as he joined the ranks of fellow artists Kanye West and Justin Beiber for Ye’s Halloween Sunday Service.

Blur – “Coffee & TV” – 1999 – Garth Jennings – Unknown

Written by the band’s guitarist Graham Coxon, “Coffee & TV” was the second track on Blur’s “13” album. Not only did Coxon write the iconic ballad, but he also sang the lead vocals rather than the band’s lead artist Damon Albarn. The lyrics portrayed the guitarist’s personal struggles with alcohol abuse, a key element that was cleverly explored in its music video.

The video won several awards for its creative portrayal of a milk carton searching for Coxon and peaked at the number two spot in countries like Iceland. In 2021, the band’s frontman Damon Albarn unveiled his solo LP “The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows.”

Busta Rhymes – “Break Ya Neck” – 2001 – Hype Williams – 1.34 Million Copies Sold

Featured on his fifth album “Genesis,” “Break Ya Neck” is somewhat of a lyrical masterpiece from Busta Rhymes. Produced by Scott Storch and Dr. Dre, the music video opens with Busta cruising the streets in a Cadillac Escalade SUV with his sidekick and quickly cuts to the rapper spitting bars while gorgeous women dance to the tunes in the background.

Fun fact; both Busta and Dr. Dre were so busy with their respective ventures, the rapper had to sleep in the studio to complete “Break Ya Neck” in just two days. Busta gave a special performance for the crowd in October 2021 during halftime for the Brooklyn Nets home opener at Barclays Center.

Beck – “Devils Haircut” – 1996 – Mark Romanek – 600K+ Copies Sold

Not unlike many of the songs of the “Odelay” era, “Devils Haircut” is also created using samples from older tracks like Pretty Purdie’s “Soul Drums” and Them’s “I Can Only Give You Everything.” The music video also garnered tremendous acclaim and won two awards at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.

The video features commendable editing as it shows Beck carrying a Boombox while several would-be spies follow him as he walks through the streets of New York City. In November 2021, Beck announced the reveal date of his fourteenth album “Hyperspace” which also included the much-awaited track “Uneventful Days.”

Foo Fighters – “Big Me” – 1995 – Jesse Peretz – 1.468 Million Copies Sold

Recorded at Robert Lang Studios and produced by Barrett Jones, “Big Me” created a big old ruckus at the time of its release. The music video instantly became a topic of discussion since it parodied a commercial of Mentos, with the band choosing to label the candy ‘Footos’ instead.

The premise of the video revolves around problem-solving using candy so whenever the musicians find themselves in a sticky situation, they eat ‘Footos’ candy for inspiration. The Foo Fighters marked a milestone year in 2021 as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before performing “Get Back” with Sir Paul McCartney in Cleveland in October.

Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time” – 1998 – Nigel Dick – 10.6 Million Copies Sold

In November 2021, fans heaved a sigh of relief while singer Britney Spears cried tears of joy as her father filed for an immediate end to his daughter’s conservatorship after an earlier court order. The McComb, Mississippi native single-handedly revived the teen pop genre during the late ’90s and early 2000s with hits like “…Baby One More Time.”

The music video of her breakout single also received critical acclaim and earned Spears her first three nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards. The 1998 music video features a 16-year-old Spears as she announces her entry into the pop genre, wreaking havoc in the locker room of a high school.

Missy Elliott – “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” – 1997 – Hype Williams – 1.2 Million Copies Sold

Fans and supporters of Missy Elliott rejoiced in late 2021 as she was announced as the latest recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The rapper is credited with breaking barriers and making her mark in a previously male-dominated hip hop scene.

True to her style, Elliot’s iconic ’90s music video of “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” has all the clichés you would expect from hip hop music of its time. From dancing in a garbage truck to director Hype Williams bringing out the fisheye lens and its signature ’90s choreography, the video truly lives up to the ’90s hype.

Alanis Morissette – “Ironic” – 1996 – Stéphane Sednaoui – 18.7 Million Copies Sold

Released as the third track on her third studio album, “Ironic” is a true masterpiece from Canadian singer Alanis Morissette. While many fans would ‘ironically’ criticize her for lacking irony in the lyrics of ‘Ironic,” she actually nearly ended up scrapping her biggest hit from the “Jagged Little Pill” album.

The music video for “Ironic” won three awards at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards and features Morissette driving several passengers through a winter landscape in a Lincoln Continental before the car breaks down. For the album’s 25th anniversary, Morissette performed for her Jagged Little Pill Anniversary Tour before wrapping up the concert at the Hollywood Bowl in October 2021.

2pac feat. Dr. Dre – “California Love” (Remix) – 1996 – Hype Williams – 10 million+ Copies Sold

2Pac Shakur’s life has been celebrated on several occasions in the past and in 2021, the 2Pac Estate announced the launch of an immersive museum experience commemorating the hip hop star the following year. In 1996, “California Love” was 2Pac’s comeback single following his earlier arrest and subsequent release, featuring Roger Troutman and Dr. Dre.

Ruling on the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, “California Love” is one of Pac’s most successful and widely known singles. Inspired by “Mad Max,” the futuristic music video is set in the desert in the year 2095 and features warrior clans and a tribal chief played by comic Chris Tucker.

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Sinead O’Connor – “Nothing Compares 2 U” – 1990 – John Maybury – 7 Million+ Copies Sold (Single)

Sinead O’Connor opened up about her fearless activism, success in music, and her fraught childhood in June 2021 as she released her intimate memoir “Rememberings” which was later nominated for a Dubray Biography of the Year award.

Its lyrics might fool you into thinking it’s been seven hours and 15 days but in reality, it has been more than three decades since the fiery singer-songwriter set the music scene ablaze with her hit track “Nothing Compares 2 U”. The music video for the popular song mainly focuses on close-up shots of the Irish songstress as she strolls around the streets of Paris with tears streaming down her face.

Chris Isaak – “Wicked Game” – 1989 – Herb Ritts – 1.8 Million Copies Sold

“Wicked Game” is one of the tracks showcased in Chris Isaak’s third studio album “Heart Shaped World.” Directed by Herb Ritts, the music video for the single was shot at a Hawaii location formerly known as Kamoamoa beach and included some especially steamy scenes wherein the American musician frolicked with supermodel Helena Christensen.

Although “Wicked Game” was not an immediate hit at the time of its release in 1989, it made serious headways in 1990 after it was included in David Lynch’s film “Wild at Heart.” Isaak held court at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay in the Summer of 2021 as he began proceedings with his fan-favorite “American Boy.”

Tool – “Sober” – 1993 – Fred Stuhr – 1.2 Million Copies Sold

If Tool were aiming to make the eeriest and most baffling videos of the ’90s, they pretty much accomplished that feat with “Sober.” If you find the prospect of four mysterious men, creepy animations, and an especially disturbing ghoulish creature appealing, then this music video is right up your alley.

Hate it or love it, the director might have done something right with “Sober,” seeing that it won a Billboard Award for Best Video By A New Artist in 1994. To promote their 2019 album “Fear Inoculum” in 2021, Tool announced the dates of their European and U.S. tour which featured opening acts from Brass Against.

TLC – “Waterfalls” – 1994 – F. Gary Gray – 14 Million+ Copies Sold

To commemorate the 27th anniversary of their diamond-certified album “CrazySexyCool,” TLC were back on the road in 2021 as they brought back the boogie vibe at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving. The performance was a part of their Celebration of CrazySexyCool national tour which kicked off in early September with the aim of touring 18 cities across the U.S.

With or without a music video, it was evident that TLC’s “Waterfalls” was going to be a huge hit. With a movie-themed music video that incorporated impressive special effects, artistic takes, and messages pertaining to social issues, “Waterfalls” became an instant classic.

The Verve – “Bitter Sweet Symphony” – 1997 – Walter A. Stern – 10 Million+ Copies Sold

The Verve’s frontman Richard Ashcroft revisited his iconic ’90s hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony” in 2021 as he included the classic track on “Acoustic Hymns Vol.1.” The album features 12 tracks that Ashcroft had reworked, incorporating some of his best material and leaning quite heavily on the band’s third album “Urban Hymns.”

While some critics might label The Verve as something of a one-hit-wonder, in reality, it would have been quite difficult to top, or indeed equal their smash hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony.” The song’s music video shows the band’s lead singer walking in a nonchalant manner across a busy London sidewalk before his band-mates join him towards the end.

Lauryn Hill – “Doo Wop (That Thing)” – 1999 – Robert Jemeckis – 20 Million+ Copies Sold

Lauryn Hill held nothing back as she put her haters and critics on full blast in 2021 as she spit her truth during a collaboration with Nas on his track “Nobody” from the “King’s Disease II” album. The performance was a far cry from L-boogie’s debut solo single from the late ’90s “Doo Wop (That Thing).”

If you’re looking for a music video that showcases the evolution of soul music and culture, few can top “Doo Wop (That Thing).” The video shows a split-screen of Hill as she leads a block party in 1967 and 1998-at the same time.

Soundgarden – “Black Hole Sun” – 1994 – Howard Greenhalgh – 2.5 Million Copies Sold

In 2021, some four years after the passing of Soundgarden’s late lead singer and guitarist, Chris Cornell’s family settled their lawsuit against his doctor in a confidential agreement. The legendary vocalist had been the frontman of rock bands like Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Mad Season, among others.

Back in the ’90s, Cornell helped write “Black Hole Sun” for Soundgarden for the band’s best-selling “Superunknown” album. The promotional video begins with several shots of the sun as the band rocks out to the tunes under the blue sky that slowly and eerily turns dark. The video ends with the sun morphing into a black hole and sucking everything in its surroundings.

Smashing Pumpkins – “Tonight Tonight” – 1996 – Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris – 10 Million+ Copies Sold

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan broke out his classic ’90s rarities as he rolled through some of his earliest work during an acoustic performance in September 2021 at Riot Fest 2021 at Douglass Park in Chicago, Illinois. Years ago, Corgan put ink to paper as he wrote the lyrics for “Tonight Tonight,” the band’s second track on their third album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.”

“Tonight Tonight” was a modest success at the time of its release, charting on the 36th spot on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. The promo video for the song began with the launch of an airship while the band members perform their hit on clouds.

Korn – “Freak on a Leash” – 1999 – Todd McFarlane – 14 Million Copies Sold

Shot in Los Angeles, the video for “Freak on a Leash” features a mix of live performances and animation. Directed by Todd McFarlane, the hit single and its video won Korn a Grammy and two MTV Video Music Awards. In 2021, Korn’s lead singer Jonathan Davis took on the villainous role of The Pet in “The Devil’s Tree.”

Featuring cutting-edge animations and graphical technology that was ahead of its time, the video for “Freak on a Leash” shows several kids making a daring escape from a guarded facility. The video is especially famous for depicting a bullet hurtling in slow motion through the suburbs, smashing through walls and furniture in the process.

Janet Jackson – “Got ’til It’s Gone” – 1997 – Mark Romanek – 8 Million Copies Sold

The year was 1997 when Janet Jackson released the visual promo for her chart-topping track “Got ’Til It’s Gone.” Set in a pre-Apartheid South Africa, the music video showcased a group of partygoers who are entertained by a lounge singer.

Director Mark Romanek later commented that the inspiration for the video came from pre-Apartheid South African photography and was heavily influenced by Drum magazine. In 2021, Hulu released its controversial FX documentary “Malfunction,” which aimed to investigate Jackson’s infamous 2004 Super Bowl halftime performance with Justin Timberlake in an episode of “New York Times Presents.”

Bjork – “It’s Oh So Quiet” – 1995 – Spike Jonze – 4 Million+ Copies Sold

True to her signature ’90s videos which showcased stunning visuals, Bjork impressed audiences again in 1995 with “It’s Oh So Quiet.” Directed by Spike Jonze, the music video helped fuel the Reykjavík native’s rise to fame as she became the newest breakout star in Australia.

Recorded for One Little Indian Records and shot in San Fernando Valley, California, the music video for “It’s Oh So Quiet” showcases everything in slow-motion opens with Bjork at a washroom of a rest stop gas station. After her 2017 release “Utopia,” the Icelandic singer-songwriter announced the dates of her 2022 U.S. tour Cornucopia in Los Angeles in October 2021.

R.E.M. – “Losing My Religion” – 1991 – Tarsem Singh – 4 Million Copies Sold

“Losing My Religion” is R.E.M.’s iconic opening track from their 1991 album “Out of Time.” Before its music video made headwinds on VH1, the audio track had already enjoyed extensive airplay on the radio. This was the first time someone other than the band’s frontman Michael Stipe or his artistic compatriots had directed their videos as Tarsem Singh stepped in to work his magic behind the camera.

The video opens with a brief recreation of Andrei Tarkovsky’s “The Sacrifice” and ererily features the band members in a small dark room. R.E.M marked 25 years of “New Adventures” in 2021 with a Hi-Fi anniversary edition of their ’90s album.

Aphex Twin – “Come to Daddy” – 1997 – Chris Cunningham – Undisclosed

Aphex Twin became the latest celebrity to jump on the NFT bandwagon in March 2021 as he sold a graphic artwork for roughly $128k in the form of non-fungible tokens at the time. Richard D. James, who is better known by his pseudonym Aphex Twin, is best known for his idiosyncratic work in genres like techno, jungle, and electronic music.

His 1997 music video for “Come to Daddy” was named the best video of the ’90s by Pitchfork. Directed by Chris Cunningham, the video opens in a grimy industrial setting and shows an elderly woman walking her dog while James lip-syncs his hit on a broken television set on the pavement.

Fiona Apple – “Criminal” – 1997 – Mark Romanek – 2.9 Million Copies Sold

Fiona Apple pledged in 2020 to give away the royalties from “Shameika” to charity should the song be featured in a movie. One year later, her song from “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” was featured in Nia DaCosta’s 2021 horror-thriller “Candyman.” The “Shadowboxer” singer also once held the record for producing Apple music’s highest-charted single during the ’90s with the release of “Criminal.”

With “Criminal,” Apple really wanted you to know that she has been a very, very bad girl. The dirty, yet somewhat sensual video for “Criminal” was directed by Mark Romanek and shows Apple slowly undressing on-screen while mouthing her lyrics in an apartment building.

Fatboy Slim – “Praise You” – 1999 – Spike Jonze – Undisclosed

“Praise You” is Fatboy Slim’s third track on “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby,” his second studio album that was released in 1998. When it came to directing the video promo for the hit, it was only Spike Jonze who was capable of even attempting it.

Jonze himself starred in the video under the pseudonym of Richard Koufey and was accompanied by a fictional dance group as they shot the sequences in front of the Fox Bruin Theater in Westwood, Los Angeles. In October 2021, Skint Records launched its collection of remixes ” Everybody Loves a Remix” which included some of Slim’s best work.

Guns N’ Roses – “November Rain” – 1992 – Andrew Morahan – 5.5 Million+ Copies Sold

Written by the Guns N’ Roses’ lead vocalist Axl Rose, “November Rain” is one of rock’s greatest ballads. With regards to the song’s music video, odds are we’ll never witness another video like it—after all, who would be audacious enough to even consider something similar?

Thrilling and completely over-the-top, “November Rain” features a full orchestra, a grand piano, and everything from a wedding to a funeral. This also made it one of the most expensive music videos ever made. Guns N’ Roses hysteria was back in full swing in 2021 as Slash and his band finished the last leg of their tour before planning for their upcoming 2022 North American tour.

Pearl Jam – “Jeremy” – 1992 – Mark Pellington – 13 Million+ Copies Sold

Pearl Jam’s basisst Jeff Ament and lead vocalist Eddie Vedder got together in 1992 as the former wrote the music for “Jeremy” while the latter came up with the lyrics for the third track on their debut album “Ten.” The single was inspired by and dedicated to a newspaper article Vedder came across which featured the story of high school student Jeremy Wade Delle’s suicide.

The song’s fame skyrocketed after the release of its video which contained a controversial suicide scene that was later censored and taken out from the edit. In September 2021, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder gave his first live performance of solo “Long Way” at the Ohana Festival.

Jamiroquai – “Virtual Insanity” – 1996 – Jonathan Glazer – 8 Million+ Copies Sold

Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay came under fire in mid-2021 when fans mistook one particular MAGA supporter for the British funkster during the attack on the Capitol building. The real Jamiroquai have been pretty quiet behind the scenes, although they did make a comeback in 2017 with their first album in seven years “Automaton.”

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, the promo video for the band’s “Virtual Insanity” was an instant success and went on to win four awards at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. The video shows Jay Kay wearing all-black clothes as he dances and sings in a room whose floor is constantly moving.

Beastie Boys – “Sabotage” – 1994 – Spike Jonze – Undisclosed

The opening track on the Beastie Boys’ fourth studio album “Ill Communication” is their hit single “Sabotage.” The music video for the single, directed by Spike Jonze, is one of the greatest music clips of all time and is basically one joke delightfully dragged on for three whole minutes.

The video shows Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA having a blast on the streets of Los Angeles as they create their own make-believe version of a would-be detective investigation. In April 2020, Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond came together to tell intimate stories and tales of their 40-year relationship in Apple TV’s “Beastie Boys Story.”

Weezer – “Buddy Holly” – 1994 – Spike Jonze – 3.3 Million+ Copies Sold

Written by Rivers Cuomo, “Buddy Holly” is the second track from Weezer’s debut 1994 album “Weezer (The Blue Album).” According to VH1 in 2007, it was one of the 100 greatest songs of the ’90s and in 2006, the digital version of the song was finally certified gold by the RIAA.

The video of “Buddy Holly,” directed by Spike Jonze, contained many easter eggs from the sitcom “Happy Days,” borrowing background voices, sounds, and most of its video footage from the ’70s sitcom. In June 2021, Weezer collaborated with Green Day and Fall Out Boy to kickstart their Hella Mega Tour in Austria.

Nine Inch Nails – “Closer” – 1994 – Mark Romanek – 3.7 Million Copies Sold

Nine Inch Nails chose to include “Closer” into their second album “The Downward Spiral” as its second track. To this day, the song is considered by most to be one of the rock band’s most popular songs and accurately depicts the signature Nine Inch Nails sound.

When it comes to promo videos for music singles, there are few that can actually top the song that inspired them. “Closer” is an exception to this rule—directed by Mark Romanek, the complex and controversial, yet artfully designed masterpiece is pretty explicit and definitely NSFW. In October 2021, Epic Games partnered up with Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck’s studio to jointly produce a horror-themed video game.

Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – “Scream” – 1995 – Mark Romanek – 20 Million+ Copies Sold

Two giants of the pop industry crossed paths in the studio and on our screens once again in 1994 as Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson collaborated on “Scream.” The lead single was to be inducted in Michael’s ninth studio album ” HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I.”

The $7 million music video for “Scream” made headlines in 1995 when it became the most expensive music clip in history but Michael and Janet did not shy away of spending big money to guarantee its commercial success. In late 2021, distribution company Banijay Rights joined forces with Lifetime and A&E to produce “Janet,” a documentary on the pop icon’s life and achievements.

Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – 1991 – Samuel Bayer – 30 Million Copies Sold

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There’s no question “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the opening track on Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album is their most popular single to date. September 2021 marked the 30th anniversary of the iconic band’s most famous music video which catapulted them into international stardom.

The music video of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, much like the track itself, is hailed by many as the greatest video ever made, featuring the band playing at a school concert while cheerleaders and janitors cheer them on in the background. In 2021, Nirvana drummer Dave Gohl opened up about his time with the rock band and its frontman Kurt Cobain in his memoir “The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music.”

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