The greatest songs tell a story and most directors either try to adhere to far too literally or do something so obscure with a music video that it adds no value to a song whatsoever. The best music videos take a moving melody and create something that not only adds to its meaning but also gives the track a breath of new life. Some are old some are new but all of them add an awesome visual twist to already solid songs...
Run - Snow Patrol
There isn't much of a storyline here but the visual element of flares at night makes this emotional song even heavier. It's mostly personal bias but I took some inspiration from this when I made Chasing.
Evil - Interpol
Makes for an interesting almost surreal view. I've never seen a puppet casted in a serious setting which makes this all the more attention grabbing.
Sixteen Military Wives - Decemberists
Humorous visuals that fit a somewhat satirical song perfectly.
The Scientist - Coldplay
It's been played millions of times and Coldplay is far from unknown. I don't care because it is the best music video ever made. In less than 5 minutes the director told a short story in a style that hadn't been effectively done in a music video before. Groundbreaking style that has been imitated quite a bit lately by other artists.
Those are some of my favorites, but I'm interested to see others I've forgotten. What other music videos should be added to the list?
Author: Ryan Shook
Date: February 11, 2008
By your criteria, I think Hands by the Raconteurs is great. The director adds to the idea of the song without distracting from the meaning. And it has hot chicks in the song :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat List! Evil is by far the best music vid ever! Well Michael Jackson Thriller was good also.
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