Top 10 Best Music Videos of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Thriller - Michael Jackson

There are music videos that are good, there are music videos that are great, but this one stands alone.

An absolute masterpiece that, nearly 40 years later, still slaps.

Michael Jackson turned music videos into a 'pop event' with the release of the Thriller music video. Everything about the video - the props, the dance moves, the storytelling in the music video - everything was groundbreaking. He was so ahead of his time when it came to music videos, just like Madonna was. Truly, he was the definition of a trailblazer. No one was like him, and there never will be anyone like him. He is the King of Pop.

The top 10 should all be Michael Jackson's music videos. Here is the perfect list of Best Music Videos of All Time:

1. Michael Jackson - Thriller
2. Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
3. Michael Jackson - Remember the Time
4. Michael Jackson - Bad
5. Michael Jackson - Black or White
6. Michael Jackson - You Rock My World
7. Michael Jackson - Earth Song
8. Michael Jackson - Beat It
9. Michael Jackson - They Don't Really Care About Us
10. Michael Jackson - Jam

2 Take On Me - A-ha

Before I saw this one, I would have always said that Michael Jackson's Thriller is the best. But I think this one is much better, simply because it's something entirely new and groundbreaking. The Thriller video has awesome makeup, dancing, and costumes. But Take On Me... it's something so new and unique. So many of A-ha's other videos have that same uniqueness to them (The Sun Always Shines On T.V., Manhattan Skyline, Train Of Thought). Take On Me is heartwarming and beautiful. Love it. The '80s were an awesome time for music videos, which surprises me since it was such a new form of art back then.

The animation was so ahead of its time. Such beautiful animation, cinematography, and editing all blended together to tell a great story. Along with a great pop song, this makes it the greatest of all time.

This song is amazing, and it will never be forgotten because of its melody, its wonderful video, and the great job that Morten, Mags, and Paul have done in it. A-HA forever!

3 Breaking The Habit - Linkin Park

I knew this video would be really high up there, but having Thriller get three times as many votes is surprising.

This is the best song, from the best band, sung by the best singer, featured in the best video. Truly the best.

This is the best song I have ever heard and seen. Linkin Park RULES!

4 Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson

How this is not even on most of the lists of Best Music Videos of All Time baffles me. It's a good thing people voted this to at least 4th place here.

Smooth Criminal is the best it can ever get and blows Thriller out of the water. Thriller had bad pacing, some poor acting, and moments from characters. Also, the dance of MJ is never shown at its peak in Thriller, unlike in this video alongside live tours of Billie Jean. If Thriller is the Essential Music Video of All Time, Smooth Criminal is the perfect one.

I was hoping I'd see this on the list. Otherwise, this whole thing would have been a big joke.

If we are going by truth, most of Michael's music videos should be on here.

5 November Rain - Guns N Roses

One cold November, while driving, this song broke my heart over an ex so much that I had to call her to rekindle our relationship. But as Axl says, nothing lasts forever, unfortunately. It still hurts when I listen all these years later. Even more so in November, like it is right now at the time of posting. The video is awesome, and the track and lyrics are spectacularly well-composed. They fit so perfectly into many people's lives.

This video has something that the others lack. It's not dance moves or weird outfits. It's the emotions that the video gives you. November Rain is full of emotion.

The storyline is great and full of emotion. The video is one of the most expensive music videos of all time. Watch it, and I'm sure you won't regret it.

6 Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance

It's an amazing video that expresses the true meaning of the song. The song is about a guy who died in the hospital, and death came to him in the form of his fondest memory, which was a parade. His best memory was watching a parade with his dad when he was a kid, so death approached him in the form of a parade.

The message is that death should be happy and should come in the form of your favorite memory, not sad and depressing as it usually seems to be. The video and song have a very deep meaning, told in the form of a beautiful little story. It's inspiring and great!

This music video is amazing and it features the patient joining the Black Parade.

Best video with great lyrics! Your memory will carry on, My Chemical Romance!

7 Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

This is probably Lady Gaga's best work. She was able to make a clean, eye-catching, simple video with all her crazy, quirky ideas. It's pure genius. Everyone who worked with her must have had the best chemistry ever because the result is astonishing.

All of her videos always have a good idea behind them, but sometimes they don't take the best direction and end up looking like too much at once, sort of like a mess. But Bad Romance is just perfect. I wouldn't change anything about it and could watch it all day long. Also, it's her most iconic. It really defines her as an artist and includes most of what people recognize in her.

Any human being with a brain knows that Bad Romance was not only one of the best music videos of 2009, but also one of the best music videos of the decade. I mean, the choreography, the set, the costumes, and even the song itself were all amazing. Come on, the song was one of the best I've ever heard in my life. If you're a Little Monster, you know Bad Romance was the best thing you've laid your eyes on. It was nominated numerous times at the 2010 VMAs and won many of those nominations. Vote this up, people. Gaga killed it with this video.

8 Beat It - Michael Jackson

Michael was great in this music video. He was the pioneer for short film music videos. This was an amazing video, and the dancing was the best. It was an early video, but one of the best.

Michael Jackson's music videos were, and still are, the best to watch because they're like mini-movies. Rest in Paradise, MJ, the King of Pop.

Of course, Beat It should make this list. It should be in the top 5 for dancing.

9 Bring Me to Life - Evanescence

I don't care what everyone else says. This video deserves to be number one.

This is a very good video. When I first saw the video, I downloaded it. Laugh out loud.

Laugh out loud, best music video ever. Very action-packed and ultimately epic.

10 One - Metallica

I hope that when people vote for a video that isn't this very video, they understand the true meaning of it. From the deep political, anti-war themes set over a dark, horrifying atmosphere to the solemn and dreadful tones of one of the most influential bands at the peak of their career, this video isn't even comparable to any other video on this list because of the sheer talent, emotion, and history that was poured into it.

For those who just think of One as an awesome metal track, watching the video alongside it reveals the true meaning of this very moving song.

How the hell is Thriller above this? Thriller is the most overrated piece of junk on this whole list. Metallica is a real band, with real music.

The Contenders
11 Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

This is in the 300s? Really? This is the first music video. Every other music video would not exist if not for this one. Could we at least bring this into the top 50?

And by the way, why are there so many horrible choices near the top of this list? You know who I'm talking about.

This should be number one in my opinion, or at the very least in the top five. Anyone who knows anything about music knows this video.

This video doesn't even have a million views on YouTube! It needs more attention!

12 Basket Case - Green Day

It all keeps adding up. It sucks that it's not at the top. This site makes me annoyed. Yeah, yeah, yeah! It should be so much higher, as should Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Wake Me Up When September Ends, and When I Come Around.

13 Lemonade - Beyonce
14 Freak On a Leash - Korn

Legendary video by a legendary band. This band helps people deal with the dark side of life.

15 Mirrors - Justin Timberlake

The powerful video shows an elderly lady (supposed to represent JT's grandmother) sinking into her nostalgic memories of falling in love with her husband who passed away, as she reaches out to feel his ghostly presence. It perfectly complements the beautiful song.

16 Stan - Eminem

Why is this so low? This is my favorite music video, other than Thriller. I want to find out who ranks these things so low. No one knows music these days.

Are you kidding me? Lady Gaga is better than this legend? This is the best music video I've ever seen. And the way it tells the story is far better than Madonna or Lady Gaga.

Awesome song, best video. I think it must be in the top three, at least.

17 Earth Song - Michael Jackson

This music video is amazing because it has extremely meaningful lyrics and doesn't make you regret watching it.

Michael Jackson's best music video after Thriller, tied with Black or White and Remember the Time.

18 Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

How can this be? Nirvana should be way up on this list. Come on, they express every ounce of their energy to create a perfect song that knocked MJ songs off the charts.

This video still sends chills down my spine like it did when I first saw it 22 years ago.

How is this ranked at 25? This video, along with the song, defined the '90s and changed music history!

19 Waiting for the End - Linkin Park

One of my all-time favorites, Linkin Park has produced heaps of songs, all just as good as the rest!

Best music video; Thriller is overrated in my opinion.

20 Hurt - Jonny Cash

Too many people on here don't appreciate real beauty and genius. If you can somehow get past your extremely biased views (I'm talking to you, Michael Jackson worshipers, among others), this is clearly the best video. It shows the emotion of the song. A music video is, or at least should be, a form of art. This video could play non-stop in an art museum. It has no flaws. It's absolutely perfect.

The raw pain and emotion in his voice and expressions alone make this video worthy of the top five. To be able to still make music after going through the death of your true love is just astounding. Johnny Cash will always be a huge influence on all genres of music and will never be forgotten.

Originally by Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash made the song his own, and the video is incredibly moving. It's a must-see, even if you're not into Cash.

21 Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers

93? This disappoints me. I don't see how such a delightful video, paired with such an amazing song, is this low. It'll always beat Thriller in my mind.

Californication - I just love the song, man! After all, it's Guns N' Roses we're talking about!

Good music video. It's sad to see it at 125.

22 Castle of Glass - Linkin Park

But I'm only a crack in this Castle of Glass.

23 Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden

Wonderfully creepy. The CG looks a bit dated now, but the concept still works great.

It's very weird. I think they were on drugs back then.

24 Crawling - Linkin Park

Chester had some sweet hair back in the day..

25 Like a Prayer - Madonna

Not a big fan of her or pop music in general, but credit where credit is due. Clever concept.

8Load More
PSearch List