100 Greatest Music Videos

We looked at a few of the top 100 greatest music videos and made some notes on how they were made, what they featured, who the director was etc. Here are some of the notes I made, starting from number 77 in the list:

77. Mc Hammer - Can't touch this
Features: dancing, haream pants (made his dance moves better), colours.
76. Beatles - Strawberry Field
Features: many close-up shots of aspects of their faces e.g. eyes, lips etc.
75. Duran Duran - Rio
Often filmed their music videos on beaches, portraying holiday scenes. Focused on the lifestyle - bright coloured suits, mean on yachts, women in bikini's. Very 80's music video.
74. Wu-tan Clag - Gravel Pit
Features: Dinosaurs, women in bikini's in the desert. Many special effects
73. Basement Jaxx - Where's your head at?
Features: monkeys - replaced the band. Monkeys are the inventers of music
72. Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love
Black and White theme
71. Bjork - All is Love
Features: abstract visuals, surreal objects, portrays a sense of suffering.
Director: Chris Cunningham
70. The Police - Every Breath You Take
Black and White theme
Close-ups of lead singer Sting
69. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes
Features: boxing in suits (presidents), creates energy, portrays how boxing has replaced war.
68. Madonna - Ray of Light
Director: Jonas Akerlund (also directed The Prodigy - Smack my bitch up & Lady Gaga - Paperazzi)
Time lapse photography
Filmed in Sweden, New York and LA
67. The Beastie Boys - Sabotage
Mockery of the Police
Director: Spike Jonze (also directed Weapon of Choice/Praise You)

These are only some of the greatest music video's, however I feel they are slightly outdated for a girl of my age, therefore I have noted my top 5 favourite music videos. Here they are as follows:

1. Michael Jackon - Thriller
Director: John Landis
This music video has been voted the best music video of all time. It is by far my favourite as it is almost like a short film at an outstanding 14 minute long music video. It's scary how suddently Michael Jackson turns into a zombie and the other zombie's around him break into an elaborate song and dance number, followed by the main chorus of "Thriller".

2. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
Director: Walter A Stern
This is my second favourite music video mainly because this is one of my favourite songs of all time. I love how the video focuses on the lead singer walking down a busy London pavement, refusing to change his direction throughout, completely oblivious to what is going on around him, repeatly bumping into passers-by. I also find it very interesting how the video lighting is very dull and gray, making the lead singer look very miserable.

3. Fat Boy Slim - Praise You
Director: Spike Jonze
This is my 3rd favourite music video because it never fails to make me laugh! It is based on a dance group who look like they are making up the dance on the spot, however it fits to the music. I love how there are many onlookers observing their 'moves', with straight faces. It looks as if this music video costed close to nothing as it is all filmed on a handheld camera.

4. Lady GaGa - Paperazzi
Director: Jonas Akerlund
This is my 4th favourite music video as I think this is the best video Gaga has ever produced. All of her music videos are great as they portray a narrative storyline to each one, however this one really interests me as its very dark and disturbing. I love how she plays so many different roles and has so many different outfits. She is portrayed as a murderer at the end as she kills her boyfriend after what he has done to her, yet the 'paperazzi' love it and the Fame is back. I love the dancing, the close-up shots of her face and the locations of which each scene is filmed in.

5. Coldplay - Fix You
Director: Sophie Muller
This is my 5th most favourite music video partly because I love the song, and everytime the electric gutair kicks in towards the end of the song, it gives me goosebumps everytime! I love how the lead singer, Christ Martin, is seen walking through various streets in London, and we see where about he is walking. Then, as soon as the electric guitar kicks in, his walk turns into a run as he darts through streets until finally reaching the Reebok Stadium, where he joins the rest of the band for the song's finale. Here the audience can be clearly heard singing along, and at the end of the video Martin thanks them for their support and wishes them goodnight.