Recommendations of the Editorial team
In the early hours of August 1, 1981, someone flipping through television channels might have come across an image of a rocket rocketing into space. The familiar sight of Neil Armstrong exiting his lunar module and walking on the moon filled the television screen.
And then you heard a voice from the off that sounded as smooth as that of an FM disc jockey: “Ladies and gentlemen, rock ‘n’ roll.” What followed were power chords and a flag with a network logo – something called MTV – that quickly changed colors and patterns. This was not a news channel. But “Music Television”. As they continued to tune in, they saw clips and heard VJs talking about bringing you the latest music videos. At this point, viewers may have had a few questions. Like: Is this something like a radio station on TV? What is a “VJ”? And what the hell is a “music video”?
A year later, no one asked that last question anymore. Virtually everyone knew what a music video was, and wanted his MTV. The station revolutionized the music industry, inspired a variety of copycat programs, launched many careers and destroyed more than a few. Entire genres and subgenres – from hip-hop to grunge to boy band pop and nu metal – became part of the mainstream.
Michael Jackson is there… but not “Thriller”.
The format proved so enduring that artists continued to make music videos even when MTV decided to switch its programming and use its airtime for game shows, reality TV and scripted series, eliminating the primary platform for these commercials.
The Internet soon stepped in to fill the void. Four decades after the channel launched and long after it stopped playing them, music videos still complement songs, create mythologies and generate conversation and controversy. We don’t want our MTV anymore. We still want our music videos.
Now that MTV is over, we’ve decided to rank the 100 best music videos of all time. You will see some significant changes compared to last time notice. (Yes, Michael Jackson is there. No, “Thriller” is not there.) Some are older than the network. Others were never played on MTV. But all of these selections are perfect examples of how the marriage of sound and image has created an entire artistic vocabulary, given us a handful of masterpieces in mini-movie form, and changed the way we hear (and see) music.
From Adele’s “Hello” to ZZ Top’s “Gimme All Your Lovin’.” These are the videos that continue to excite, delight, disturb and remind us how much you can achieve in three to four minutes with a song, a camera, a concept, a pose, some mood lighting and an iconic hand gesture or two.