64 of our Favorite Music Videos (I TRIED to pare it down, y'all, but I just CAN'T!)

During summer break, Christmas break, or other days off of school, the boys and I tend to watch a lot of music videos. We sort of leave them on in the background while we do other things, but then when one of our favorites comes in, we often stop what we're doing to watch it. Plus, if you grew up in the 90s like I did, you remember watching MTV back when it was still actually music videos? Here's some of our favorites (including a few I don't let the kids watch): 

Let's just get right to it, yeah? Here's the list in alphabetical order.

(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)
Just hilarious. A bit obnoxious and “to hell with it all”, but that sort of summarizes Beastie Boys, amirite?

All Star
Catchy song, This video is one you’ve gotta watch over and over, because there’s SO MUCH GOING ON. I swear, I still find things I haven't noticed before.

All The Small Things
Is there a 90s band out there that isn’t portrayed in this video somehow? How did they fit it all in!? 

Army of Me
This music video was made by Michel Gondry, so automatically, it’s at another level. I’m not sure what the gorilla is all about though… 

As Long As You Love Me
The folding chair dance. Enough said. 

Buddy Holly
Oh, Weezer! This is one of the coolest music videos ever… you know, the one where they’re performing at Arnold’s Drive-In from Happy Days? Oh, classic! Definitely toward the top of our list. 

Bye Bye Bye
While the song is not my thing, I think the marionette scenes are clever. Plus, you know, 5 grown men jumping around and dancing in a teeny tiny blue box? 

California Gurls
Girl power! Oh, I mean GURL power! The “Candyfornia” game is pretty classic by now, as well. 

Can’t Hold Us
This video may win the award for having the most filming locations… this video is SO wacky. It’s SO random. A camel with sunglasses? A Kangaroo? A Mariachi band? This one, when it’s over, will have you wondering, “WHAT WAS THAT?”

Can’t Stop the Feeling
Just so FUN! Plus, this is one of Froot Loop’s favorite songs, so it’s a frequent request around here. I love how it’s mostly scenes of “everyday life” and just being happy and dancing! Love the Trolls cameos in it too. 

Come Into My World
Another Michel Gondry directed video, this one has a crazy twist! Is that another Kylie? And another? Oh this video is just AWESOME. 

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
The White Stripes arguably have the best videos (although Weezer is up there too). Michel Gondry directed this video too. It’s pretty indescribable… it’s best to just watch it for yourself. 

Don’t Speak:
This video actually is pretty brilliant. I love how it delves into how the media pretty much had Gwen Stefani at the forefront of the band and pretty much ignored the rest of them. The live scenes are pretty fun too. 

Everlong
Hey, another Gondry video. Perhaps that explains some of the satire and surrealism? The undead… thing… is pretty creepy. The whole music video seems like sort of a mini movie, though. 

Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
Another epic video. Werewolves, Mummies, and Vampires, oh my! And could there BE any more backflips in this video? 

Every Breath You Take
First of all, I just LOVE watching Sting play that upright bass. (total bass envy, here!) Second, did you know this song is actually very sinister? It’s not a song for lovers; rather, it’s more about like “Big Brother is watching you” via surveillance technology. 

Everytime
Was this song a response to Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me A River song and music video? Anyway, I enjoy how this video makes fun of the paparazzi. The video takes a dark turn though as Britney is found drowning herself in the bathtub… a very depressing video indeed. 

Fell In Love With a Girl
The White Stripes and Michel Gondry team up again in this EPIC, epic video. Yes, this is the Lego animation video. It speaks for itself. 

Firework
Katy Perry is not my cup of tea, but I like this music video. It’s pretty inspirational even to me. I love the message portrayed throughout the video: empower yourself. Find your inner firework. I mean, not literally, like it appears Katy Perry’s chest did, but figuratively. 

Gangnam Style
This is one of the most viewed videos on YouTube. I had to watch it a couple times to really understand it due to all the switching scenes stuff. There’s some fun dance moves here too. The kids seem to love dancing to it, too. 

Get The Party Started
P!nk was a hero to me when I was in high school. I wanted to be JUST LIKE HER… so fierce, so independent, so carefree. I just love this music video. Some of the outfits she tries on are pretty funny, and there’s the dance scene at the very end. What teenage girl didn’t try to master that dance? 

Go
What is it about Michel Gondry’s music videos that I love so much? Just watch it for yourself. 

Happy
Did anyone watch the 24-hour long version of the music video? I’ve seen clips since then, but I don’t have an extra 24 hours to devote to this, despite all the celebrities who drop in. I HAVE watched the 4 minute video several times, though, because, well, it just makes me happy, and it’s pretty much Cocoa Puff’s theme song! It's hard NOT to move when the song comes on. 

Hardest Button to Button
This may be my favorite White Stripes music video. It was the third White Stripes’ music video to be directed by, guess who, Michel Gondry. Look at all those instruments multiply! It’s just mesmerizing to watch Meg White play that bass drum and watch the new ones materialize as she plays. I believe I read somewhere that there were 32 identical drum kits? 32? 36? 30? Something like that. 

Here it Goes Again
This is the TREADMILL music video. It is just SO FUN to watch. Check it out for yourself. 

Hey Mickey
Toni Basil’s classic, catchy, chanty hit with cheerleaders? Yes please! I do think it’s cool that she actually wore her own head cheerleader uniform from when she was in school. Also, this was one of the only music videos created before the actual song was. Interesting! 

Hips Don’t Lie
Oh, Shakira. Shakira. That is all. 

In The End
This is another song that was an anthem for me in high school. Linkin Park was (and still is) one of my favorite bands. The CGI effects are fun and the statue is amazing. Plus, the scene where it’s raining and the band is performing in the rain… sigh. Love It. Also, sigh… Chester Bennington… I am still not over his death. 

Iris
I have to admit that one of the reasons I love this music video so much is because of the song itself. It was “our song” for my first boyfriend and me, and we even danced to it at his junior prom (I was a freshman). Even after we broke up, we were great friends, and when he died at only 22 years old, I was beside myself for weeks. Plus, this SONG. The STRINGS. I still tear up when I hear it. 

It’s Gonna Be Me
Y’all probably remember this video from the toys in the toy store coming to life? And the army men fighting with the N’Sync dolls? Plus, there’s tons of cheesy boy band choreography. I have to admit though, the scene with the Barbie Dolls cracks me up every time. Plus, of course, there’s the throwbacks to Bye, Bye, Bye, both the song and the video. 

I Write Sins, Not Tragedies
This really is an epic music video. The scene is a strange circus-themed wedding. My favorite part is when you find out that the bride’s family, who appear to have been all well-behaved, are actually asleep and have eyes painted on their eyelids. Plus, the ringmaster being the groom’s alter-ego? BRILLIANT! 

Learn to Fly
If you haven’t seen Airplane! (and if you haven’t, you need to get out from under that rock and watch it!), this video won’t be as funny to you. And wouldn’t Dave Grohl make an interesting FBI agent in real life? 

Lose Yourself
Eminem co-directed this music video himself. And yes, the video has several scenes from 8 Mile in it. This video is an inward look of Eminem’s life, which is very admirable. 

Moves Like Jagger
Gotta love the old video footage of Jagger, amirite? 

My Name Is
Oh, so many parodies! Plus, don’t you just love the ventriloquist part? Classic Eminem.

November Rain
THAT DRESS!!!  And, does anyone else have the sense that “Don’t Cry” and “Estranged” somehow sort of belong with this video? And frankly, who doesn’t love watching Axl Rose play the guitar? 

Numb
This video is powerful to me. It follows the problems of a young female social outcast. She is shown drawing, and then confronted for doing so in class. She falls down the stairs and no one helps her. You see her self-inflicted cut marks on her arms and then she starts throwing paint at her canvas. The ending is pretty depressing too… the empty church? 

One
This is another music video I never would have found if I hadn’t loved the song so much. One is still my favorite Metallica song, and is wayyyyy up there on my all-time favorite song list. The video is striking because it’s mostly in black and white. There’s scenes of the band playing the song as well as dialogue and several scenes from a movie. I LOVE Lars’ drum kit, and I could watch him play all day. Plus, I wish I could play bass with a pick HALF, no, a QUARTER as well as Jason Newsted, and I totally envy his 5-string. 

Pork and Beans
I DARE you to watch this video without smiling. It’s just not possible! 

Protection
Anyone who ever watched the TV show HOUSE knew that Massive Attack was the band who performed the opening theme. Michel Gondry was at the wheel for this video, and it’s another epic one. This one has all the typical tricks and twists of a Gondry video, and it’s definitely worth another watch. 

Pump It
Oh, this song drives me CRAZY, and not so much in a good way. Plus, I have NO IDEA why I like this stupid video, which is pretty much just The Black Eyed Peas fighting with a gang. I seriously don’t know why, but I like it. 

Roar
So, apparently Katy Perry and her boyfriend’s plane crashes in the middle of the jungle. Her boyfriend gets eaten by a tiger and Katy gets scared by practically every other animal in the jungle, and then a few days later, she’s a jungle queen? Oh wait, it’s all just a dream? Or NOT!? 

Run the World
How could I not include a Beyonce song in this list? That girl can DANCE! 

Seven Nation Army
I bet this song is stuck in your head now, right? Plus, this video is just MESMERIZING. It’s like looking through a kaleidoscope or something. These two rock. This music video rocks. 

Single Ladies
Not only is the song fun, bouncy, and catchy, but the music video is as well. And if you’re really good, you can probably learn the dance just by watching the video over and over. 

Sledgehammer
My husband tells me this was his favorite music video as a kid. The dancing chickens were the highlight for him. It was always so exciting when it would happen to come on MTV and he could watch it. 

Smells Like Teen Spirit
Epic. Just, epic. I love the pep rally concept with the bored kids. And who doesn’t just LOVE the janitor? 

Somebody That I Used To Know
This video is crazy. The performers are naked against a white backdrop, and then as the song plays, paint appears via stop animation. 

Star Guitar
Hey, what do you know? Another Michel Gondry video! This one is brilliant, too. It’s a continuous shot from a train as it journeys through towns and the country. The first time I watched it, I was like, “hey, is all of this stuff appearing exactly as it does in the song?” so then I had to re-watch it to affirm my suspicion. 

Sugar
Kidz Bop has pretty much ruined this song for me, but the music video is still one of my favorites. The band crashing the weddings is just great, but I’m not sure how I would have reacted if they’d crashed MY wedding. 

Take On Me
This video is epic-epicness. The pencil-sketch and live-action animation is STILL amazing today. I LOVE when the hand reaches out of the book and drags the woman into the book with them. I then further love when the hero breaks out of the comic book and into the arms of the woman waiting for him. Sighhhhhh. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Definitely toward the top of the list.

The Denial Twist
The White Stripes start at a talk show and then are followed on their drive and to an apartment. The duo look distorted, like in a house of mirrors. Conan O’Brien is even in the video, too. Michel Gondry did this video, so if you haven’t seen it yet, you’ve GOTTA watch it. 

This is America
I was SO MOVED by this music video (how had it been out for 9 months before I ever saw it or even heard of it!?), that I’m probably going to write a post JUST about this music video. In short, it’s a shocking video that addresses gun violence, police brutality, racism and more all in just a few moments. I have to keep watching it because I just keep finding more and more layers in this video. Definitely NOT for kids though... definitely not. 

Thriller
Yeah, this one speaks for itself. And it just never loses its coolness. Roar turn! 

Try
I’m talking the P!nk version here. It appears violent, but it is just absolutely beautiful. I’ve since read that it was based on the Apache dance, a sort of Parisian street performance. The powder paint is a really cool effect too. 

U Can’t Touch This
Oh, MC Hammer. I just like to watch his dance moves. 

Uptown Funk
I’m not sure exactly why I like this music video. I guess it’s just fun. The song isn't really my favorite, but the video makes it tolerable.

Wannabe
Here’s a song that will now be stuck in your head the rest of the day. This is just such a fun music video. You get to see each of the girls’ personality in a fun way. I miss the Spice Girls. 

Waterfalls
This video does not shy away from the issues of illegal drugs, and HIV. One of the stories in the video follows a young man who keeps selling drugs, despite his mother’s begging him to stop. He ends up getting killed. The other is a man whose partner convinced him to not use a condom and ends up contracting AIDS. Plus, the liquified TLC members look pretty cool, and the ending scenes of the two stories… ugh, ALL THE FEELS! 

Weezer’s Take On Me
I can’t get enough of this music video. It was recently released (in February 2019) and it’s AMAZING. Yes, it’s meta… almost nauseatingly so, but that just adds to the amazingness. Calpurnia is even in it! (And dude, if you haven’t heard of Calpurnia, the indie rock band fronted by Finn Wolfhard from Stranger Things, you are SOOOO missing out) Wolfhard plays a young Rivers Cuomo, who wants to be a metal rock star. He leads his bandmates through Weezer’s rendition of a-ha’s famous song in his parent’s house. And just like the a-ha music video, it alternates between live-action and pencil-animation. Just brilliant. I’m going to go watch it again. This one may be at the very top of the list... 

We No Speak Americano
I found this gem thanks to the boys’ Just Dance game. We love to dance to this song, so one day we decided to look up the story behind the song. The song samples an original 1956 Italian song, “Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano” by Renato Carosone (yes, I had to look that up just now). Anyway, the music video parodies silent film comedies and Charlie Chaplin and follows the young man in the video as he tries to make enough money to propose to the young woman he meets in the video. Just go watch it. It’s fun. (P.S. The original can be found HERE

Whenever, Wherever
Shakira. Once again, enough said. Remember when everyone else tried to belly dance like Shakira? Oh wait, was that just me? 

White & Nerdy
I remember back in elementary school when Weird Al released “Amish Paradise” and everyone everywhere was singing it. Oh, Weird Al! Well, he’s at it again with White & Nerdy, which parodies Chamillionair’s Ridin’. In the video, Weird Al tries to fit in with the “ganstas” and hilarity ensues. Plus, that failed Vulcan salute? Hysterical. 

Work It
First of all, you’ve gotta appreciate the tribute to Aaliyah and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in the video. Secondly, I really don’t like this song all that much, despite it popularizing the term “badonkadonk.” It’s just a fun video I guess, and I appreciate a powerful woman with a defiant and sassy attitude. 

Did your favorite music video make the list?