The Video Revolution
MTV didn’t just play music videos. It created legends, set fashion trends, and defined entire generations. From futuristic experiments to glittering pop spectacles, these videos were cultural moments we’re still talking about today. Some were groundbreaking in their use of technology, others set new standards for style and choreography, and a few simply rocked so hard they couldn’t be ignored.
“November Rain” — Guns N’ Roses (1991)
Axl Rose gets married, Slash shreds outside a tiny chapel, and a wedding cake meets a tragic fate. “November Rain” was pure cinematic excess, running nearly nine minutes long with sweeping camera shots and heavy drama. MTV treated it like an event every time it aired, and fans never seemed to get tired of its spectacle. It won Best Cinematography at the 1992 VMAs, cementing its reputation as one of the most ambitious rock videos of all time.
Guns N' Roses - November Rain, Guns N' Roses
“Virtual Insanity” — Jamiroquai (1997)
Jonathan Glazer’s direction put Jay Kay in a sleek white room where the furniture seemed to move on its own. The optical illusions gave the impression that the floor was alive, creating an unforgettable visual that matched Jamiroquai’s funky futurism. The minimalist set, Jay Kay’s eccentric style, and those hats became instant trademarks that everyone remembered. At the 1997 VMAs, “Virtual Insanity” won four awards including Video of the Year.
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (Official Video), Jamiroquai Official
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” — Nirvana (1991)
Set in a dingy high school gym, this video looks like a pep rally gone feral. Cheerleaders wave black pom-poms, the crowd moshes uncontrollably, and the band thrashes until the set collapses around them. It visually captured the chaos and restlessness of the grunge movement, making it a generational anthem in both sound and sight. At the 1992 VMAs it scored wins for Best New Artist in a Video and Best Alternative Video.
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video), Nirvana
“Girls Just Want To Have Fun” — Cyndi Lauper (1983)
With neon outfits, street dancing, and her real mother playing herself, Cyndi Lauper’s breakout video was as playful as it was rebellious. It celebrated female independence while still being goofy enough for MTV’s new audience, a mix of comedy and pop charm. Captain Lou Albano as her dad gave it extra comedic flair, and Lauper’s charisma carried everything else. The video won Best Female Video at the inaugural 1984 VMAs, helping Lauper become a household name almost overnight.
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun (Official Video), Cyndi Lauper
“Sledgehammer” — Peter Gabriel (1986)
A surreal explosion of animation techniques, “Sledgehammer” used claymation, stop-motion, and time-lapse tricks to make everyday objects dance across the screen. Gabriel himself endured hours of frame-by-frame filming to create the mesmerizing effect of movement flowing over his face and body. It was quirky, bold, and visually unmatched at the time, setting a new creative bar. The video swept the 1987 VMAs with a record nine wins, including Video of the Year, making it the most decorated clip in MTV history.
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer (HD version), Peter Gabriel
“Thriller” — Michael Jackson (1983)
Directed by John Landis, “Thriller” blurred the line between music video and short film. At 14 minutes long, it was complete with zombies, a werewolf transformation, and Vincent Price’s iconic voiceover. MTV aired it as a special event and fans gathered around televisions as if it were a movie premiere. Its choreography became legendary, inspiring countless Halloween parties for decades. It won multiple VMAs including Viewer’s Choice and Best Choreography, solidifying Jackson as the King of Pop videos.
Michael Jackson - Thriller (Official 4K Video), Michael Jackson
“Vogue” — Madonna (1990)
Shot in black and white by David Fincher, this video combined high fashion with underground ballroom culture, making every frame look like a magazine cover. Madonna struck iconic poses, her hands and eyes perfectly choreographed, while dancers brought Harlem voguing into the mainstream spotlight. It was stylish, bold, and dripping with attitude. At the 1990 VMAs it won Best Direction, while also becoming one of the most imitated videos of the decade.
Madonna - Vogue (Live at the MTV Awards 1990) [Official Video], Madonna
“Video Killed The Radio Star” — The Buggles (1980)
The very first video played on MTV in 1981, this futuristic clip featured Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes surrounded by retro tech and glowing visuals. Directed by Russell Mulcahy, it had a quirky sci-fi feel that seemed prophetic for the channel itself. It may look dated now, but at the time it was a stylish, strange, and a perfectly chosen starting point. MTV’s launch with this video cemented its role in music history forever.
The Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star (Official Music Video), TheBugglesVEVO
“Rockit” — Herbie Hancock (1983)
Robotic mannequins twitch and flail while Hancock scratches on the turntables, and suddenly electronic music looked like the future. Directed by Godley & Creme, it was equal parts bizarre and groundbreaking, giving hip-hop’s DJ culture a surrealist twist. The imagery was unsettling but unforgettable, sticking in viewers’ minds long after it aired. It won five awards at the 1984 VMAs.
Herbie Hancock - Rockit (Official Video), Herbie Hancock
“Walk This Way” — Run-D.M.C. & Aerosmith (1986)
This wasn’t just a video, it was a genre breakthrough. The clip shows Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C. literally tearing down a wall between their rehearsal spaces, uniting rock and rap in one explosive moment. It revitalized Aerosmith’s career while cementing Run-D.M.C. as MTV heavyweights. The video became a cultural landmark, reminding everyone that music genres weren’t meant to stay separate.
RUN DMC - Walk This Way (Official HD Video) ft. Aerosmith, RUN DMC
“Sabotage” — Beastie Boys (1994)
Directed by Spike Jonze, “Sabotage” parodied 1970s cop shows with fake mustaches, sunglasses, and dramatic freeze-frames introducing the cast. The chaotic editing, rooftop chases, and tongue-in-cheek action made it hilarious while still being musically ferocious. It didn’t win big at the 1994 VMAs, but it’s still hailed as one of the greatest and most influential music videos ever made.
Beastie Boys - Sabotage (Official Music Video), BeastieBoys
“1999” — Prince (1982)
Prince threw a technicolor end-of-the-world party, complete with flashing lights, dazzling costumes, and nonstop energy. The video made heavy use of performance footage, highlighting Prince’s charisma and the band’s electricity. It gave MTV viewers a taste of his flamboyant style and exemplfied his ability to make even a simple stage feel larger than life.
Prince, Prince and The Revolution - 1999 (Live in Syracuse, NY, 3/30/85), Prince
“Freedom! ’90” — George Michael (1990)
George Michael stayed out of the spotlight, handing the mic to a lineup of supermodels—Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and more—who lip-synced his anthem of independence. Directed by David Fincher, the minimalist sets and moody lighting elevated the song into pure fashion fantasy. The video was nominated for several VMAs including Best Male Video, and its influence on fashion and pop videos still lingers today.
George Michael - Freedom! ’90 (Official Video), georgemichael
“Rhythm Nation” — Janet Jackson (1989)
Dressed in black uniforms, Jackson and her dancers performed razor-sharp choreography in an industrial warehouse, projecting discipline and unity. The black-and-white visuals emphasized the precision of the moves and the political weight of the message. It wasn’t just pop spectacle, it was social commentary in music video form. The video won Best Choreography at the 1990 VMAs, sealing Janet’s status as the decade’s dance icon.
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson
“The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” — Missy Elliott (1997)
Directed by Hype Williams, this video was futuristic, funny, and funky. Missy rocked a now-iconic inflated patent leather suit, creating one of MTV’s most unforgettable visuals. The fisheye lens effects, bright colors, and surreal atmosphere set it apart from everything else on the air. It was nominated for multiple VMAs, and later Missy was honored with the Video Vanguard Award, partly because of this video’s legacy.
Missy Elliott - The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) [Official Music Video], Missy Elliott
“Mary Jane’s Last Dance” — Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers (1993)
Dark, romantic, and more than a little eerie, the video shows Tom Petty romancing a mannequin version of Kim Basinger. It played like a gothic fairy tale, making audiences both uncomfortable and mesmerized. The cinematic look and haunting story gave it lasting impact. It won Best Male Video at the 1994 VMAs, further proof of Petty’s unique storytelling skills.
“California Love” — 2Pac Feat. Dr. Dre (1996)
This Mad Max-inspired epic featured desert warriors, dystopian costumes, and pure swagger. Directed by Hype Williams, it transformed a hip-hop video into a post-apocalyptic blockbuster, with 2Pac and Dr. Dre ruling the wastelands. The energy matched the explosive track perfectly, making it an instant MTV classic. It earned a nomination for Best Rap Video at the 1996 VMAs.
2Pac ft. Dr. Dre - California Love (Official Video) [Full Length Version], UPROXX
“Losing My Religion” — R.E.M. (1991)
Blending Renaissance art with Southern gothic imagery, this video was haunting and unforgettable. Directed by Tarsem Singh, it featured surreal religious iconography, fluttering angels, and Michael Stipe’s emotional performance. The video elevated the song into an art piece and captured MTV viewers’ attention immediately. At the 1991 VMAs it swept with Video of the Year and five other awards, a rare feat for such an unconventional hit.
R.E.M. - Losing My Religion (Official HD Music Video), remhq
“Take On Me” — a-ha (1985)
This video combined live action with rotoscope animation to tell a fantasy romance of a comic book hero coming to life. Its seamless transitions between black-and-white sketch and real world were mind-blowing at the time and still look charming today. The video won six awards at the 1986 VMAs, including Viewer’s Choice, proving that storytelling and visual innovation could go hand-in-hand.
a-ha - Take On Me (Official Video) [4K], a-ha
“Closer” — Nine Inch Nails (1994)
Industrial grit at its most disturbing, “Closer” features imagery of medical equipment, religious icons, and unsettling creatures spinning in sepia-toned light. Directed by Mark Romanek, it was censored on MTV yet still became a sensation thanks to its shocking visuals. It earned nominations for Breakthrough Video and Best Art Direction at the VMAs.
“No Rain” — Blind Melon (1993)
The Bee Girl dances awkwardly until she finds a field of other bee-costumed friends, a perfect metaphor for outsider longing. Sweet, odd, and ultimately uplifting, the video gave Blind Melon an image fans instantly adored. MTV played it constantly, and the Bee Girl became one of the channel’s most recognizable characters of the ’90s.
Blind Melon - No Rain, Blind Melon
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” — Eurythmics (1983)
Annie Lennox’s androgynous look—bright orange buzzcut, sharp suit, and piercing stare—made this video unforgettable. Surreal visuals like boardroom cows added a touch of strangeness that early MTV audiences loved. It was stylish, eerie, and very different from anything else on television. The video helped the band win Best New Artist in a Video at the 1984 VMAs.
“Welcome To The Jungle” — Guns N’ Roses (1988)
Set in grimy city streets, with Axl Rose wide-eyed at urban excess, this video captured the band’s raw energy and bad-boy image. It mixed performance footage with scenes of temptation and corruption, playing like a rock-and-roll cautionary tale. MTV rotation pushed Guns N’ Roses into superstardom, and by 1988 they had won Best New Artist at the VMAs, thanks in part to this breakout video.
Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle, Guns N' Roses
“Mama Said Knock You Out” — LL Cool J (1991)
Filmed in black-and-white with LL inside a boxing ring, the video was simple but incredibly effective. His charisma and delivery carried the entire clip, proving less could be more. The concept matched the song’s boxing metaphors perfectly and felt raw and immediate. It won Best Rap Video at the 1991 VMAs, cementing LL’s place as one of hip-hop’s leading voices.
LL COOL J - Mama Said Knock You Out (Official Music Video), LL COOL J
“Beat It” — Michael Jackson (1983)
Jackson staged a modern-day gang showdown, choreographed like West Side Story but with his signature flair. Leather jackets, glowing dance moves, and Jackson breaking up a knife fight with choreography all made for unforgettable TV. MTV played it endlessly, helping Jackson dominate the channel during the ’80s. While it wasn’t the biggest award-winner at the 1984 VMAs, it remains one of his signature clips and a cornerstone of MTV’s golden era.
Michael Jackson - Beat It (Official 4K Video), Michael Jackson
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