History of the Music Video

1894   First Example of Illustrated Song

Still images are projected onto a screen simultaneous to a live performance of ‘’Little Cost Child’’

1926   Arrival of Talkies

Many musical short-films produced featuring many brands, vocalists and dancers.

1930-1959   Music Films

The music film was a film genre in which several songs were interwoven into the film

1930  ‘’Screen Songs’’ Introduced

Series of cartoon flms which encourages audiences to sing along by ‘’following the bouncy ball’’

1930-1940   Ancestor of the Music Video

Many artists featured in dramatized performance of hit songs

1940-1949   Arrival of Promotional Clips

These were short films of many famous jazz artists and their bands on a movie-set bandstand.

1956- 1960   Rise Of Television

The rise of popular music was ties with the rise of television as the format exposed new 
stars

1964   The Beatles

The Beatles set the stage for the modern music videos with the motion picture ‘’ A Hard Days Night’’

1965   The Beatles use Promotional Films

Beatles film 10 films which are used to promote album releases.

1981   MTV Launched

24 Hour Broadcast means music videos began to play a central role in the music marketing by the 1980s.

1985   VH1 Launched

This featured softer music and catered to an older demographic, widening the audience of videos.

1995   Scream

The Jackson’s “Scream’’, costing seven million to produce, is the most expensive video ever.

2005   Youtube

Allows people to watch  videos online. New artists see popularity rise through internet

2005   iTunes opens

Allows music videos to be downloaded from the internet. One million d/s after twenty days.

2010   One Billion

Lady Gaga’s music video reach one billion views.  Her song ‘’Poker Face’’ sees 375 million alone.

2010   New Heights

Number of music videos viewed online reaches 34 billion with 183 million viewers.

100 Top Music Videos

Every source has a different view on the best 100 music videos. However information provided at NME is very interesting as greatest examples of the artform is being counted down. There are many music videos, that I have not seen. I have highlighted some of the track in red, because they are relevant to the genre of my music video or had been directed by one of my inspirational people- Spike Jonze

1. Johnny Cash – Hurt (2002) Director: Mark Romanek.

2. Radiohead – Just (1995) Director: Jamie Thraves

3. Chris Isaak – Wicked Game (1989) Director: Herb Ritts

4. Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun (1994) Director: Howard Greenhalgh

5. Bjork – All Is Full Of Love (1998) Director: Chris Cunningham

6. Foo Fighters – Ever Long (1997) Director: Michel Gondry

7. Weezer – Buddy Holy (1994) Director: Spike Jonze

8. Beastie Boys – Sabotage (1994) Director: Spike Jonze

9. Sigur Ros - Vidrar Vel Til Loftarasa (1999) Director: Arni & Kinski

10.         The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up (1998) Director: Jonas Åkerlund

11.         Hole – Doll Parts (1994) Director: Samuel Bayer

12.         The Horrors – Sheena Is A Parasite (2006) Director: Chris Cunningham

13.         MIA – Born Free (2010) Director: Romain Gavras

14.         Vampire Weekend – A-Punk (2008) Director: Garth Jennings

15.         Ok Go – This Too Shall Pass (2010) Director: James Frost

16.         Fatboy Slim – Praise You (1999) Director: Spike Jonze

17.         Lady Gaga – Telephone (2010) Director: Jonas Åkerlund

18.         The Cure – Close To Me (1985) Director: Tim Pope

19.         Hot Chip – I Feel Better (2010) Director: Peter Serafinowicz.

20.         Blur – Coffee&TV (1999) Director: Peter Serafinowicz

21.         No Doubt – New (1999) Director: Jake Scott

22.         Nirvana – Heart Shaped Box (1993) Director: Anton Corbijn

23.         Smashing Pumpkins – 1997 (1996) Directors: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris

24.         My Chemical Romance – Helena (2004) Director: Marc Webb

25.         Metallica – Turn The Page (1998) Director: Jonas Åkerlund

26.         Wax – California (1995) Director: Spike Jonze

27.         Muse – Knights Of Cydonia (2006) Director: Joseph Kahn

28.         Nada Surf – Popular (1996) Director: Jesse Peretz

29.         The Xx – Islands (2010) Director: Saam

30.         The Streets – Fit But You Know It (2004) Director: Dougal Wilson

31.         NWA – Straight Outta Compton (1989) Director: Rupert Wainwright

32.         The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony (1997) Director: Walter A. Stern

33.         The Smiths - Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before (1987) Director: Tim Broad

34.         Madonna – Like A Prayer (1989) Director: Mary Lambert

35.         Kanye West – Monster (2010) Director: Jake Nava

36.         Prince – Raspberry Beret (1985) Director: Prince

37.         The White Stripes – Blue Orchid (2005) Director: Floria Sigismondi

38.         The Prodigy – Firestarter (1996) Director: Walter Stern

39.         Radiohead – Karma Police (1997) Director: Jonathan Glazer

40.         The Raplacements - Bastards Of Young (1986)Director: Unknown

41.         Major Lazor – Pon De Floor (2009) Director: Eric Wareheim

42.         PJ Harvey – Down By The Water (1995) Director: Maria Machnacz

43.         Outkast – Hey Ya (2003) Director: Bryan Barber

44.         Judas Priest (1980) Director: Julien Temple

45.         Talking Heads – Wild Wild Life (1986) Director: David Byrne

46.         Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence (1990) Director: Anton Corbjin

47.         Pulp – This Is Hardcore (1998) Director: Doug Nichol

48.         Kate Bush – Cloudbusting (1985) Director: Julian Doyle

49.         The Knife – Pass This (2003) Director: Johan Renck

50.         Nine Inch Nails – Closer (1994) Director: Mark Romanek

51.         Aphex Twin – Come To Daddy (1997) Director: Chris Cunningham

52.         Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight Tonight (1996)Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

53.         Mark Ronson – Somebody To Love Me (2010) Director: Saam Farahmand

54.         O'Sinead Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U (1990)Director: John Maybury

55.         Eurythmics - Beethoven (I Love To Listen To) (1987)Director: Sophie Muller

56.         Pearl Jam – Jeremy (1992) Director: Mark Pellington

57.         The Breeders – Cannonball (1993) Directors : Kim Gorden and Spike Jonze

58.         Arcade Fire - The Wilderness Downtown (2010)Director: Chris Milk

59.         The Chemical Brothers – Let Forever Be (1999)Director: Michel Gondry

60.         Blink-182 – All The Small Things (2000) Director: Marcos Siega

61.         Missy Elliott – The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) (1997)Director: Antonine Wagner 

62.          Bon Jovi – Always (1994) Director: Marty Callner

63.         Tori Amos – Spark (1998) Director: James Brown

64.         The Pharcyde – Drop (1995) Director: Spike Jonze

65.         REM – Imitation Of Life (2001) Director: Garth Jennings

66.         Coldplay – The Scientist (2002) Director: Jamie Thraves

67.         Daft Punk – Da Funk (1996) Director:Spike Jonze

68.         Klaxons – Twin Flames (2010) Director: Saam Farahmand

69.         Outkast – B.O.B (2002) Director: Dave Meyers

70.         Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (1975)  Director: Bruce Gowers

71.         Eminem – My Name Is (1999) Director: Phillip Atwell, Dr Dre

72.         Guns N' Roses – Estranged (1991) Director: Andy Morahan

73.         The Strokes – You Only Live Once (2006) Director:Samuel Bayer

74.         Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart (1983)Director: Russell Mulcahy

75.         Rilo Kiley – Silver Lining (2007) Director: Autumn de Wilde

76.         Bjork – Oh Its So Quiet (1995) Director: Spike Jonze

77.         Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun (1989) Director: David Fincher

78.         These New Puritans – Elvis (2008) Director: Saam Farahmand

79.         Sonic Youth – Teenage Riot (1988) Director: Sonic Youth

80.         Summer Camp – Round The Moon (2010) Director:Summer Camp

81.         Ratat – Drugs (2010) Director: Carl Burgess

82.         Pendulum - Salt In The Wound (2010) Director:Pendulum

83.         Jane’s Addiction - Been Caught Stealing (1990)Director: Casey Niccoli

84.         Robyn - Don't F*cking Tell Me What To Do (2010)Director: Mary Fagot

85.         Bright Eyes – First Day Of My Life (2005) Director:John Cameron Mitchell

86.         UNKLE – Rabbit In Your Headlights (1998) Director:Jonathan Glazer

87.         Foo Fighters – Learn To Fly (1999) Director: Jesse Peretz

88.         Peter Gabriel – Shock The Monkey (1982) Director:Brian Grant

89.         Human League – Don’t You Want Me (1981) Director:Steve Barron

90.         Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing) (1998) Director:Big TV

91.         Madonna – Boarderline (1984) Director: Mary Lambert

92.         Rage Against The Machine - Sleep Now In The Fire(1999) Director: Michael     Moore

93.          Janelle Monae – Cold War (2010) Director: Wendy Morgan

94.         Radiohead – Street Spirit (Fade Out) (1996)Director: Jonathan Glazer

95.         Blur – Parklife (1994) Director: Pedro Romhanyi

96.         Jay-Z – Big Pimpin’ (1999) Director: Hype Williams

97.         Flaming Tips - Watching The Planets (2010)Director: Jérémie Périn

98.         Lykki Li – Get some (2011) Director: Johan Söderberg

99.         Simian Mobile Disco – Hustler (2007) Director: Ace Norton

100.       Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (1982) Director:Steve Barron

However, out of NME Top 100, I have some of my own favorites: