7 Must-See Music Videos of All Time

#1 This Is America - Childish Gambino (2018)

This never ending journey of horrific surprises won a Grammy for Best Music Video in 2018. Directed by Hiro Murai, this genius body of work is filled with symbols and metaphors about race and gun violence in the US. The four-minute long one-shot video will sure hit you hard - be aware that there is graphic violence.

#2 Nothing Compares 2U - Sinéad O'Connor (1990)

Originally written by Prince, Sinéad O'Connor made this song a huge hit with this cutting, exceptional video. The focus on just her face, exposed while going through the stages of anger and sadness that comes with losing someone loved. It feels so real, so raw and so, so beautiful - probably because all the emotions in the video are real. Sinéad O'Connor thought about the death of her mother while recording it - and wow - it sure worked. In 1990, the video won three VMA’s - amongst others ‘Video of the Year’.

#3 It’s Oh So Quiet - Björk (1995)

This iconic video for Björks remake of Betty Hutton’s It’s Oh So Quiet, made in collaboration with the Hollywood director Spike Jonze, has become one of her most famous releases. The playful choreography, each shot looking like a real-life Disney movie, sure is something special. The delicate slo-mo during the verses makes the chorus feel like a trip on sugar. The video received six nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996.

#4 Humble - Kendrick Lamar (2017)

This gorgeously-shot music video, directed by Dave Meyers, took Kendrick Lamar’s track Humble to a whole new level. Bursting with symbolism - the video brings an edge to the song since it fearless shows the opposite of humbleness. The way Lamar looks into the camera, with such power in his eyes, makes it impossible to look away. Nominated for eight VMAs in 2018, it took home six - of course including Video of the Year.

#5 Cranes in the sky - Solange (2016)

This magical piece of art is something truly unique. Solange way of acting in front of the camera is somehow meditative. Art directed by Carlota Guerrero and co-directed by herself and her then husband Alan Ferguson, it was shot in 42 (!) different setups, all between New Orleans and New Mexico’s mountains through the deserts of Texas. It took them two, completely dedicated, weeks to film everything - impressive!

#6 Yellow Submarine - The Beatles (1968)

This classic, groundbreaking film was revolutionary when it came out in 1969. This video is a short part of the full movie - 87 minute long - that changed the animation industry. John Lassester (Toy Story etc) and Josh Weinstein (The Simpsons) have both claimed that the film gave birth to modern animation and that without it, we probably wouldn’t have either Family Guy, Frozen or Shrek.

#7 Bad Girls - M.I.A (2012)

M.I.A has always been controversial - it’s her thing. This video was no exception. Bad Girls is a middle finger to Saudi Arabia’s ban on women driving, which is now legal since 2018 - this badass video took the world by storm when it was released in 2012. Women armed with machine guns, racing in the beautiful deserts of Morocco, dragging their feet alongside the car at 60 miles/hour - this video is as much of a political stand as it is visually mind blowing.