The 35 Best Videos of the Last 35 Years | SPIN – SPIN

SPIN launched in the peak MTV era, when an innovative or even just salacious music video could make or break an artist. Thirty five years later, YouTube is an obligatory part of any promotional push, but no ones counting on a mind-blowing clip to sell a record. (The views do often matter just not always the creativity.)

A sizable chunk of the best videos came out during the 90s alternative bloom, when directors like Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry and Hype Williams experimented with the style and substance of this malleable medium. But the format hasnt died with MTV: artists like Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar and Miley Cyrus all made this list for a reason and it wasnt to meet a decade quota.

Here are the top 35 from the last 35. Ready or not, here we go again. Ryan Reed

35. Guns N Roses November Rain

CREDIT: Pete Still/Redferns

Nine minutes and 16 seconds of pure theater. A song that should be considered the second coming of Stairway to Heaven was paired with a short film about Axl Rose marrying and then mourning his wife (played by supermodel Stephanie Seymour). Nearly 30 years later, does anyone know how she died? Perhaps it was during the most dramatic rainstorm in music video history, which was overshadowed by Slashs guitar playing. - Jason Stahl

34. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Summertime

CREDIT: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air takes us on a tour of Philadelphia in the Summertime video, which features one hell of a cookout. You know you wanted to be there whether it was for the fly honeys, family reunion, nostalgia or just to be a part of the happiest group of people in the city of brotherly love (who were actual friends and family of Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff). - J.S.

33. Chris Isaak Wicked Game

CREDIT: Lex van Rossen/MAI/Redferns

Herb Ritts directed this ultra-sexy black-and-white video featuring Chris Isaac and supermodel Helena Christensen, both mostly discretely shirtless and sandy frolicking, touching and splashing around on a beach. Undeniably one of the most sensual videos of all time, it took home MTVs 1991 awards for Best Male Video, Best Cinematography and Best Video From a Film. Liza Lentini

32. Janet Jackson Nasty

CREDIT: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images

Listen up, all you nasty boys: Ms. Jackson makes all of her dance moves look effortless and flawless. It helps when the choreography is directed by Paula Abdul, who, by the way, makes an appearance at the 3:24 mark. But were not quite sure who decided to dress those Chicago Bears-looking fans in perv raincoats at the end. J.S.

31. Tool Stinkfist

CREDIT: Paul Bergen/Redferns

Tool guitarist Adam Jones directed this intricate stop-motion nightmare, populated by sand creatures, levitation, inaudible screams, nail swallowing, dismembered limbs, eyeless faces and mysterious tumors. The meaning of life could be embedded in the clips creepy symbols. Maybe its just super trippy. Ryan Reed

30. Weird Al Yankovic Like a Surgeon

CREDIT: Paul Natkin/Getty Images

The quote marks around his name are superfluous he was certainly then, and probably is now, a very weird fellow. He was also, at his satirical height, a very funny mimic, whose first spoof video Eat It was a masterpiece, a perfect and hysterical take on Michael Jacksons Beat It. But that came out in 1984, so it doesnt make this list, even though it just sort of did. In 1985 the comedians barbed lightning struck again, taking on Madonna and changing Like a Virgin to a nightmare realm of the gangly, curly hair helmeted and creepily mustached Yankovic as an incompetent intern at a hospital from Hell. He captures Madonnas sing-song-y pop pitch like he thought of it first; and, like her, glides and writhes and teases if that word can be so stretched to describe his perfectly Madonna-duplicating moves like a demented, alternate universe sexpot. A very alternate universe, it must be said, and one we hope is very far away. Incredibly, this recording was his second single off his third album. He was a recording star too! Bob Guccione, Jr.

29. Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball

Miley Cyrus makes erotic videos, is sexy as heck and pisses people off. Ergo, I love her. Shes politically incorrect I now love her more and doesnt care. And, in the immortal words of David Spade, said about Lindsay Lohan, she looks like shes having fun. She also makes great pop songs and has a fantastic voice. Here, gloriously and, given her song, very literally, she rides a wrecking ball, alternatively naked and in her underwear. There is nothing wrong with this. She licks the head of a sledgehammer. I think this is meant to be metaphorical. I also think its meant to make anyone who broke up with her regret it and spend the rest of their miserable lives in unrelenting agony. The video won MTVs 2013 Video of the Year and has, to date, 1 billion and 97 million views, which would be about one seventh of the worlds population, although I suspect some people have watched it more than once. That makes it one of the most watched videos in video history. Vox Populi, baby. B.G.J.

28. Foo Fighters Big Me

CREDIT: Mick Hutson/Redferns

This jangle-pop nugget lasts just over two minutes barely longer than the ridiculously goofy Mentos commercials that director Jesse Peretz parodies here. With its numerous thumbs up shots, fourth-wall-breaking grins and outlandish silliness (like the pre-teen Foo fan outsmarting venue security and sneaking onstage with a guitar), the clip expertly zooms in on the uncanny vibe of mid-90s ads and sitcoms. R.R.

27. M.I.A. Bad Girls

CREDIT: Lloyd Bishop/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

The idea was to compile Arabic references fantasized or not into a pop video, director Romain Gavras said of M.I.A.s joyous Bad Girls clip. Pop videos usually show American kids in their element. Here, you got Arab kids in an insane car rodeo element. Inspired by deep-dive YouTube videos of Saudis drift-driving vehicles on two wheels, the filmmaker and rapper voyaged to Morocco and staged subtly innovative scenes that flip hip-hop car clichs on their heads. R.R.

26. John Mellencamp Rain on the Scarecrow

Before the music begins, the Rain on the Scarecrow video opens with three farmers offering their unscripted distrust of how the American government is supporting or, rather, destroying the small, family-owned American farmer. The unglamorous video, a first of its kind with its stark realism, powerfully depicts Farm Aid co-founder and Indiana native Mellencamps continuing call-to-action to preserve a dying American tradition. L.L.

25. Kendrick Lamar Alright

CREDIT: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Kendrick Lamars best music videos have the same precise imagery that he uses to shape his albums and thats what director Colin Tilley and regular collaborators Dave Free and the Little Homies deliver with their black and white clip for Alright, set in the place the rapper calls home. Lamar appears free as can be throughout: freestyling with fellow Top Dawg rappers, jumping at the front of a crowd in a Compton courtyard, doing donuts with a kid passenger throwing cash and flying like a loose bill out the window. When a cops finger gun shoots him from atop a streetlamp, the screen goes black then returns to his smiling face. Tomas Miriti Pacheco

24. Fugees Ready or Not

CREDIT: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

You might not expect a group named for refugees to splice A-Team-esque shots of helicopters and gunshots in the desert between their verses. But the trio slouched in the corner of a submarine is a vibe suited to the slow pressure of the song. - T.M.P.

23. Daft Punk Around the World

CREDIT: Paul Bergen/Redferns

Synchronized swimmers, gyrating skeletons, mummies wrapped in layers of bandage, robots literally doing the Robot, breakdancers with enormous torsos and tiny doll heads these are the human tools Michel Gondry used to personify Daft Punks electronic funk. The director placed these mysterious humans on a massive platform, choreographed their dreamlike movements and seemingly backed away, with his camera only occasionally switching angles. Its like spinning a colorful top and marveling at its motion. - R.R.

22. Fiona Apple Criminal

CREDIT: David Corio/Redferns

The seedy underbelly of 70s-paneled, suspiciously stained, shag-carpeted basements is the backdrop for some pretty provocative and highly controversial at the time teen debauchery, as depicted in the video for Criminal, the fifth single from Fiona Apples debut album. Part of the controversy was all of the suggestive unzipping amongst so many languid bodies, combined with an 18-year-old Apple, whos said to have written the Grammy-winning hit when she was 17, in 45 minutes. L.L.

21. Whitesnake Here I Go Again

Raise your hand if, at any stage drunk or sober after watching this video, youve attempted a cartwheel, somersault or the splits over two parked cars. [RAISES HAND] Aside from featuring two of the most gorgeous humans in music history kissing while fake-driving a car, this video is the perfect trailer for all that was great about late 80s radio rock: huge hair, big smiles and an anthemic chorus you can still blast in your car to make the moment utterly perfect. L.L.

20. Madonna Justify My Love

CREDIT: Frans Schellekens/Redferns

The Queen of Pop once ranked Justify My Love the best video from her own sprawling catalog and while we dont completely agree (see below), its impossible not to consider this erotic slice of voyeurism. Within, director Jean-Baptiste Mondino wanders through the halls and bedrooms of a very accommodating hotel, documenting snippets of sexual encounters heavy on the BDSM. MTV banned the clip, which only gave the singer a publicity boost. Not that she needed it. R.R.

19. Missy Elliott The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)

CREDIT: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc

Of all her iconic music video looks, Missy shapeshifting and shimmying in a trashbag/puffer/jumpsuit reigns supreme. Its the kind of fly thats as effortless as it is dramatic. Her trademark fisheye lenses and color-coordinated green screens come together in this piece of simple genius, matching her easygoing flow and Timbalands sparse drums. T.M.P.

18. Britney Spears Oops! I Did It Again

CREDIT: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Britney Spears, inexplicably in space, bops around while singing apologies to her astronaut boyfriend for breaking his heart again. And no one could forget her iconic red catsuit, which officially announced to the world that the pop star is not that innocent. Mary Elisabeth Gibson

17. Radiohead Karma Police

We open inside a rickety car at night, headlights flicking on with Phil Selways first cymbal crash. Our path is a desolate road until we see the target: a man, balding and sweaty, glancing around in terror. The camera pans to the back seat, where we glimpse Thom Yorke, almost narcotically sleepy in a sharp leather jacket. He props his face on the front passenger headrest, numbly mouthing the Karma Police chorus. The target seems to be tiring, and he sputters to a stop on the dividing white line. He stands and stares with menace, and the car backs up. The target fumbles for a match in his pocket, strikes it and drops the stick onto a trail of gasoline. Flames engulf the car and eventually, we assume, the camera. But first, we cut to an empty back seat: Somehow weve lost Yorke, whos already lost himself. R.R.

16. PSY Gangnam Style

First, let me say: If fat Elvis was Korean and had real moves (not those Trumpish, fake macho poses), an Alice in Wonderland-on-acid imagination, a sublime gift for choreography and a sense of humor about himself, he might might! have been as entertaining as Psy. Left up to me (but no one listens to me) this would have been No. 1 on our list, and, in respect, I would have left spots 2 5 empty. There are more moving and important videos, sure. More artistic of course! Better songs, uh-huh, yes your point? But there has never been a better video than this. Nothing so epic. This is the Lawrence of Arabia meets The Godfather of music videos, with lapping layers of luxurious insanity and playfulness. At one point Psy is Michael Jackson doing his West Side Story knock-off, but with sexier back-up dancers and better and completely un-self-conscious dancing, and lasers. Psys trademark horse riding move is the modern equivalent of the Jackson moonwalk, but less precious, more fun and more memorable. And his underground parking lot dance-off with the Gangnam area poser in the yellow suit is simply glorious and life-affirming. B.G.J.

15. George Michael Freedom! 90

CREDIT: Mick Hutson/Redferns

Supermodels Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford and Tatjana Patitz came together to lip-sync in the video for Freedom! 90, the second single from George Michaels 1990 LP, Listen Without Prejudice Vol., 1, simply because he refused to appear. The consolation is one of the most iconic videos of all time. You know that verse where Christys crawling on the floor and singing? She admitted in the 2017 documentary George Michael: Freedom that they put her in the dark because she didnt know the words. L.L.

14. Nine Inch Nails Closer

CREDIT: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Somewhere between A Clockwork Orange and Eyes Wide Shut lies NINs 1994 Closer video, which is roughly 41% sadist and 57% masochist. For the remaining 2%, we have to figure out those monkeys tied to crosses, pig heads spinning, beating hearts, ultra-real nude mannequins (or plastic-looking nudists) and Trent Reznor in bondage. Damn, those guys surely know how to make us want to be closer to Godand getting fucked like an animal is not one of them. J.S.

13. Busta Rhymes Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See

CREDIT: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Busta starts this video as a leopard-print Darth Maul, though he spends most of his time as an ancient prince touring a set equal parts Taj Mahal, Egyptian Tomb and Shaolin Temple. And thats just the lobby dip down the hallway into the spirit world for the real glow-in-the-dark body paint action. - T.M.P.

12. Jamiroquai Virtual Insanity

CREDIT: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Anyone else think they were trippin watching frontman Jay Kay pull off some serious video magic as a modern-day, furniture-moving MC Esher? Or were you too distracted by his hat? Or the bugs or blood? J.S.

11. Pearl Jam Jeremy

CREDIT: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Eddie Vedder and director Mark Pellington explore the tragedy of teen suicide in this gripping video for the turbulent Ten anthem. The massive set pieces Jeremy arguing with his parents at the dinner table; his classmates pointing and laughing, crystalizing adolescent social angst make the MTV time capsule. But Vedders less-is-more performance, seething in an empty room, is also essential to the atmosphere. R.R.

10. Fatboy Slim Weapon of Choice

CREDIT: Andrew Hasson/Photoshot/Getty Images

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The 35 Best Videos of the Last 35 Years | SPIN - SPIN