visual connoisseurs and undeniable masters of the music videos
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top ten artists that make the best music
ten artists that make the best music
ten artists that make the best music videos
for this list we’re not excluding any
for this list we’re not excluding any artist or band due to genre time of
artist or band due to genre time of
artist or band due to genre time of release or even the fact that they might
release or even the fact that they might
release or even the fact that they might have released a couple of does but
have released a couple of does but
have released a couple of does but rather the overall brilliance of their
rather the overall brilliance of their
rather the overall brilliance of their collective work
it’s good
it’s good born out of tragedy upon the death of
born out of tragedy upon the death of
born out of tragedy upon the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain Foo
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain Foo
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain Foo Fighters began as a one-man show
Fighters began as a one-man show
Fighters began as a one-man show featuring Dave Grohl and decades later
featuring Dave Grohl and decades later
featuring Dave Grohl and decades later the fully formed man has further
the fully formed man has further
the fully formed man has further established their legacy thanks to a
established their legacy thanks to a
established their legacy thanks to a knack for music video comedy and
knack for music video comedy and
knack for music video comedy and striking visuals
before he would go on to direct HBO’s
before he would go on to direct HBO’s girls Jesse Pratt’s guided the early Foo
girls Jesse Pratt’s guided the early Foo
girls Jesse Pratt’s guided the early Foo Fighters productions however in recent
Fighters productions however in recent
Fighters productions however in recent years Dave Grohl has stepped behind the
years Dave Grohl has stepped behind the
years Dave Grohl has stepped behind the camera four hits including rope and
camera four hits including rope and
camera four hits including rope and whites limo
balancing the line between comedic
balancing the line between comedic brilliance and emotional gravity food
brilliance and emotional gravity food
brilliance and emotional gravity food fighters infuse each video with a heavy
fighters infuse each video with a heavy
fighters infuse each video with a heavy amount of energy that’s always a joy to
amount of energy that’s always a joy to
amount of energy that’s always a joy to watch
number nine tools released few and far
number nine tools released few and far between the music videos of tool never
between the music videos of tool never
between the music videos of tool never failed to leave their fans wanting more
failed to leave their fans wanting more
failed to leave their fans wanting more and given their propensity to focus on
and given their propensity to focus on
and given their propensity to focus on the imagery rather than personalities
the imagery rather than personalities
the imagery rather than personalities the experience always takes on a greater
the experience always takes on a greater
the experience always takes on a greater meaning
for example look at the 1999 stop-motion
for example look at the 1999 stop-motion video sober directed by guitarist Adam
video sober directed by guitarist Adam
video sober directed by guitarist Adam Jones a haunting production that will
Jones a haunting production that will
Jones a haunting production that will make you rethink the entire concept of
make you rethink the entire concept of
make you rethink the entire concept of the music video
kicking off their videography with the
kicking off their videography with the black and white hush directed by Ken
black and white hush directed by Ken
black and white hush directed by Ken Andrews
each video sentence has been directed by
each video sentence has been directed by Jones who proceeded to deliver something
Jones who proceeded to deliver something
Jones who proceeded to deliver something truly spectacular each time around
number eight Beyonce Aven drink almond
number eight Beyonce Aven drink almond drank
drank
drank I’m 51 and the kid already a legitimate
I’m 51 and the kid already a legitimate
I’m 51 and the kid already a legitimate pop star as a member of Destiny’s Child
pop star as a member of Destiny’s Child
pop star as a member of Destiny’s Child as a solo artist
as a solo artist
as a solo artist Beyonce quickly ushered in the next wave
Beyonce quickly ushered in the next wave
Beyonce quickly ushered in the next wave of iconic music videos beginning with a
of iconic music videos beginning with a
of iconic music videos beginning with a collaboration featuring her beau jay-z
collaboration featuring her beau jay-z
collaboration featuring her beau jay-z Oh y’all know when the flow is so cool
Oh y’all know when the flow is so cool
Oh y’all know when the flow is so cool young Oh since then beyonce has combined
young Oh since then beyonce has combined
young Oh since then beyonce has combined her astounding sex appeal with the most
her astounding sex appeal with the most
her astounding sex appeal with the most innovative styles and dance moves of the
innovative styles and dance moves of the
innovative styles and dance moves of the time of course it was the single ladies
time of course it was the single ladies
time of course it was the single ladies video that left perhaps the biggest
video that left perhaps the biggest
video that left perhaps the biggest imprint on pop culture even if her
imprint on pop culture even if her
imprint on pop culture even if her repertoire is certainly not limited to
repertoire is certainly not limited to
repertoire is certainly not limited to formulaic creations you never know what
formulaic creations you never know what
formulaic creations you never know what to expect with Queen B well except for
to expect with Queen B well except for
to expect with Queen B well except for the fact that she will handle her
the fact that she will handle her
the fact that she will handle her business
when it came to living young wild and
when it came to living young wild and free
free
free there was nobody quite like the Beastie
there was nobody quite like the Beastie
there was nobody quite like the Beastie Boys and while ad-rock Mike D and MCA
Boys and while ad-rock Mike D and MCA
Boys and while ad-rock Mike D and MCA certainly played into their Brooklyn
certainly played into their Brooklyn
certainly played into their Brooklyn thug personas they made it so damn fun
under the pseudonym Nathaniel Hornblower
under the pseudonym Nathaniel Hornblower mca directed their 1981 debut holy
mca directed their 1981 debut holy
mca directed their 1981 debut holy snappers and since then the Beastie Boys
snappers and since then the Beastie Boys
snappers and since then the Beastie Boys have continued their classic music video
have continued their classic music video
have continued their classic music video legacy
although MCA has since moved on to the
although MCA has since moved on to the next life the Beastie Boys are firmly
next life the Beastie Boys are firmly
next life the Beastie Boys are firmly rooted in the groundwork of
rooted in the groundwork of
rooted in the groundwork of transformative hip-hop videos
number six Lady gaga for a music video
number six Lady gaga for a music video to stand the test of time
to stand the test of time
to stand the test of time it must have that it factor otherwise
it must have that it factor otherwise
it must have that it factor otherwise known as the WTF element
in a digital world full of wacky
in a digital world full of wacky personalities it takes a true artist to
personalities it takes a true artist to
personalities it takes a true artist to stand out and in the digital age a fully
stand out and in the digital age a fully
stand out and in the digital age a fully realized Lady Gaga spectacle will surely
realized Lady Gaga spectacle will surely
realized Lady Gaga spectacle will surely become a social media phenomenon
she doesn’t necessarily have the resume
she doesn’t necessarily have the resume of a Madonna or Janet Jackson however
of a Madonna or Janet Jackson however
of a Madonna or Janet Jackson however she’s clearly learned a thing or two
she’s clearly learned a thing or two
she’s clearly learned a thing or two from those who came before then again
from those who came before then again
from those who came before then again Gaga is only getting started but if she
Gaga is only getting started but if she
Gaga is only getting started but if she was to retire today she forever have a
was to retire today she forever have a
was to retire today she forever have a place on our list right baby
place on our list right baby
place on our list right baby I was bonus with hey number 5 Radiohead
it’s such or Rockstar cliche but some
it’s such or Rockstar cliche but some musicians do actually choose substance
musicians do actually choose substance
musicians do actually choose substance over style and then there’s a band like
over style and then there’s a band like
over style and then there’s a band like Radiohead that’s capable of providing
Radiohead that’s capable of providing
Radiohead that’s capable of providing the best of both worlds
complementing the poignant lyrics and
complementing the poignant lyrics and complex musicianship that made Radiohead
complex musicianship that made Radiohead
complex musicianship that made Radiohead such a beloved alternative band the
such a beloved alternative band the
such a beloved alternative band the videos further allow fans into their
videos further allow fans into their
videos further allow fans into their world in essence Radiohead music allows
world in essence Radiohead music allows
world in essence Radiohead music allows for a personal escape and their visuals
for a personal escape and their visuals
for a personal escape and their visuals only enhance the experience now if only
only enhance the experience now if only
only enhance the experience now if only we can get another music video with Thom
we can get another music video with Thom
we can get another music video with Thom Yorke dancing
number four Madonna time goes by so
number four Madonna time goes by so slowly time goes by so slowly it’s hard
slowly time goes by so slowly it’s hard
slowly time goes by so slowly it’s hard not to be aware of Madonna’s influence
not to be aware of Madonna’s influence
not to be aware of Madonna’s influence on pop culture in fact MTV presented
on pop culture in fact MTV presented
on pop culture in fact MTV presented Madonna with a video Vanguard Award in
Madonna with a video Vanguard Award in
Madonna with a video Vanguard Award in 1980 six years before iconic releases
1980 six years before iconic releases
1980 six years before iconic releases such as express yourself and vote both
such as express yourself and vote both
such as express yourself and vote both directed by none other than famed
directed by none other than famed
directed by none other than famed filmmaker David Fincher to Betty Davis
filmmaker David Fincher to Betty Davis
filmmaker David Fincher to Betty Davis given the vast videography of Madonna
given the vast videography of Madonna
given the vast videography of Madonna we’ll just say that it’s worth your time
we’ll just say that it’s worth your time
we’ll just say that it’s worth your time to take an hour or two to explore her
to take an hour or two to explore her
to take an hour or two to explore her immaculate collection from beginning to
immaculate collection from beginning to
immaculate collection from beginning to end as she fully embraced the artform
end as she fully embraced the artform
end as she fully embraced the artform and utilized the platform of MTV to the
and utilized the platform of MTV to the
and utilized the platform of MTV to the fullest all the while becoming the
fullest all the while becoming the
fullest all the while becoming the biggest female pop star in the world
the voice and music of the orc may not
the voice and music of the orc may not appeal to all but her mind-bending music
appeal to all but her mind-bending music
appeal to all but her mind-bending music videos will surely provide something
videos will surely provide something
videos will surely provide something you’ve never seen before
after exiting icelandic banda sugar
after exiting icelandic banda sugar cubes york teamed up with some of the
cubes york teamed up with some of the
cubes york teamed up with some of the most admired directors of our time
most admired directors of our time
most admired directors of our time including Eternal Sunshine of the
including Eternal Sunshine of the
including Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind director Michel Gondry who
spotless mind director Michel Gondry who
spotless mind director Michel Gondry who created the singer’s debut video human
created the singer’s debut video human
created the singer’s debut video human behavior
considering the surrealistic nature of
considering the surrealistic nature of such a film and those of frequent
such a film and those of frequent
such a film and those of frequent collaborator Spike Jonze it’s not hard
collaborator Spike Jonze it’s not hard
collaborator Spike Jonze it’s not hard to see why Bjork was drawn to such
to see why Bjork was drawn to such
to see why Bjork was drawn to such talent and vice-versa as a truly
talent and vice-versa as a truly
talent and vice-versa as a truly original video will challenge our
original video will challenge our
original video will challenge our perceptions and dwell in our
perceptions and dwell in our
perceptions and dwell in our subconscious
they may have only released a handful of
they may have only released a handful of albums but Ok Go have unleashed a vast
albums but Ok Go have unleashed a vast
albums but Ok Go have unleashed a vast collection of killer videos like any
collection of killer videos like any
collection of killer videos like any band of mad geniuses okay go continue to
band of mad geniuses okay go continue to
band of mad geniuses okay go continue to up the ante both in song titles and
up the ante both in song titles and
up the ante both in song titles and visuals one of their tracks was even
visuals one of their tracks was even
visuals one of their tracks was even called WTF which seemed to capture the
called WTF which seemed to capture the
called WTF which seemed to capture the thoughts and most viewers even if they
thoughts and most viewers even if they
thoughts and most viewers even if they loved every second of the Ok Go video
loved every second of the Ok Go video
loved every second of the Ok Go video experience
call it what you want lowbrow or deadpan
call it what you want lowbrow or deadpan humor the truth is that okay go lives in
humor the truth is that okay go lives in
humor the truth is that okay go lives in a world of their own certainly when it
a world of their own certainly when it
a world of their own certainly when it comes to modern art
before we unveil our top pick here are a
before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
she’s howling for love she’s howling for
she’s howling for love she’s howling for revenge
revenge
revenge she’s howling for you 24/7 365 she still
she’s howling for you 24/7 365 she still
she’s howling for you 24/7 365 she still stays on my mind I did it alright
stays on my mind I did it alright
stays on my mind I did it alright alright I admit it now pick your next
alright I admit it now pick your next
alright I admit it now pick your next move you can leave or live with it
move you can leave or live with it
move you can leave or live with it anyways I hope you get this man hit me
anyways I hope you get this man hit me
anyways I hope you get this man hit me back just attack so the yours the
back just attack so the yours the
back just attack so the yours the biggest fan it’s Stan I’m Charles I grew
biggest fan it’s Stan I’m Charles I grew
biggest fan it’s Stan I’m Charles I grew up next door to you
number one Michael Jackson with all due
number one Michael Jackson with all due respect to the other artists on this
respect to the other artists on this
respect to the other artists on this list they all pale in comparison to the
list they all pale in comparison to the
list they all pale in comparison to the King of Pop
King of Pop
King of Pop no one will ever transcend the very idea
no one will ever transcend the very idea
no one will ever transcend the very idea of the music video quite like MJ as he
of the music video quite like MJ as he
of the music video quite like MJ as he cross racial barriers while
cross racial barriers while
cross racial barriers while simultaneously offering the world
simultaneously offering the world
simultaneously offering the world something new with each release
of course MJ didn’t just make videos he
of course MJ didn’t just make videos he made short films and enlisted the
made short films and enlisted the
made short films and enlisted the biggest names in the business to ensure
biggest names in the business to ensure
biggest names in the business to ensure a premium experience the world stopped
a premium experience the world stopped
a premium experience the world stopped when a new MJ video hit the airwaves and
when a new MJ video hit the airwaves and
when a new MJ video hit the airwaves and he more than anyone understood the
he more than anyone understood the
he more than anyone understood the importance of his craft
so do you agree with our selections who
so do you agree with our selections who do you think makes the best music video
your time
your time you really
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