# What is the best music video you've ever seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544 "2016-04-08T14:55:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/1 "2016-04-08T14:55:39Z")
After cringing through some of the gawdawful examples given in [this thread about bad music videos](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=789586), I thought it would be nice to take the other extreme. What, in your opinion, is the best music video you’ve ever seen, where the audio and the video meshed together and perfection was achieved? ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/2 "2016-04-08T15:08:51Z")
To this day I think that A-ha’s “Take On Me” is the best video of all time. Considering the technology back then it’s a masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/3 "2016-04-08T15:10:58Z")
[Malcolm McLaren – Something’s Jumpin’ in Your Shirt.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuXjoCTxDkc&feature=related) A perfect combination of story and absurdity. Great song. Well produced. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/4 "2016-04-08T15:14:04Z")
Beastie Boys’ [Sabotage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE) is a favorite. As is Weeze’s [Buddy Holly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4&nohtml5=False). Lady Gaga’s [Bad Romance](https://youtu.be/qrO4YZeyl0I) too. Oh and I’ve always like Bjork’s [It’s Oh So Quiet.](https://youtu.be/htobTBlCvUU) Ok, I just realized three of my four favorites are Spike Jonze videos. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/5 "2016-04-08T15:15:14Z")
[Hit me baby one more time](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C-u5WLJ9Yk4) is absolute perfection. Of course now that I read the OP I guess that only qualified as visual perfection but damn is it fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rainbow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@black\_rainbow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rainbow)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/6 "2016-04-08T15:18:21Z")
Missy Elliott - wtf is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/7 "2016-04-08T15:19:57Z")
The previously mentioned Take On Me Alan Parson’s Don’t Answer Me. It’s got a similar feel to TOM, but done it a comic book style. Don Henley’s Boy Of Summer. I never really “got” the song until I saw the video, so that should count for something! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/8 "2016-04-08T15:27:03Z")
Sledgehammer…Peter Gabriel [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OJWJE0x7T4Q/maxresdefault.jpg "Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer (HD version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJWJE0x7T4Q) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/9 "2016-04-08T15:31:42Z")
Actually, [perfection](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ). ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/10 "2016-04-08T15:53:35Z")
David Lee Roth [Just a Gigolo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeXjBWN8LO8) is probably still the funnest music video I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/11 "2016-04-08T16:02:30Z")
Although L’Trimm’s [_Cars With The Boom_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0DmDRlOZHo) will always hold a very special place in my heart, I think I’ll have to go with Prince’s _Raspberry Beret_. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/12 "2016-04-08T16:02:57Z")
> [@Personal](#): > > David Lee Roth [Just a Gigolo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeXjBWN8LO8) is probably still the funnest music video I’ve seen. Dave’s saunter through the women’s dressing room was a very special 8 seconds during my youth, and for a while was the top reason to keep checking back to MTV throughout the day. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/13 "2016-04-08T16:07:43Z")
[Nirvana’s - Smells Like Teen Spirit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg). So very grunge. ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/14 "2016-04-08T16:16:00Z")
I grant you, “Take On Me” posts a really strong second, but, for the win… Neil Young, “Wonderin’”. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/15 "2016-04-08T16:25:03Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Beastie Boys’ [Sabotage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE) is a favorite. Oh yeah - love this! Also agree with **Sledgehammer** and **Take On Me**. I guess I think of, maybe, **Beat It** as the “official” answer - folks could argue Billie Jean or Thriller. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/16 "2016-04-08T16:28:31Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > [Nirvana’s - Smells Like Teen Spirit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg). So very grunge. Must be paired with Weird Al’s [Smells Like Nirvana.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FklUAoZ6KxY) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/17 "2016-04-08T16:32:56Z")
> [@Totenfeier](#): > > I grant you, “Take On Me” posts a really strong second, but, for the win… > > Neil Young, “Wonderin’”. Wonderin’ was my choice, so +1 ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/18 "2016-04-08T16:37:40Z")
Sabotage is great. Ladybaby - [Nippon Manju](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8-vje-bq9c) Pure happiness and joy. ---
**Author:** ![satogata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@satogata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satogata)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/19 "2016-04-08T16:46:23Z")
Gabriel’s Sledgehammer and A-ha’s Take On Me are kind of the stock answers here; they swept industry technical and creative awards at their time of release. Art of Noises’ [Close to the Edit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sFK0-lcjGU) was always one of my favorites. Not exactly long on narrative, but that’s not surprising considering it’s an instrumental. A very memorable mix of editing and design to work with the music. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544/20 "2016-04-08T16:53:41Z")
NIN’s [Closer](https://vimeo.com/3554226). ETA: Spoliered for some NSFW imagery. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-music-video-youve-ever-seen/751544.md?page=2)