Top 20 Music Videos That Defined Our Childhood
Who remembers MTV? Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most iconic, memorable, and culturally resonant music videos of our childhood.
Transcript
00:00Welcome to MissMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic, memorable
00:08and culturally resonant music videos of our childhood.
00:1520.
00:20The Anthem – Good Charlotte For any suburban kids that like to skip school,
00:24this video might just be the most accurate of its kind.
00:33This track and the accompanying video have universal themes, but it's ultimately about
00:37wanting to hang out with friends, be independent, and most importantly, having fun.
00:49You also get a glimpse into what pop, punk and rock fans might have looked like in the
00:532000s.
00:54There's cars, tattoos, and above all, lots of attitude.
00:58Younger fans might not understand that it really looked like that.
01:00It's the kind of time capsule that makes you want to ride bikes in your old neighborhood.
01:0819.
01:11All The Small Things – Blink-182 We all love the boy band videos of the 1990s
01:17and 2000s, but we also like to make fun of them.
01:26Blink-182 take aim at the likes of 98 Degrees and Backstreet Boys with this fantastic parody.
01:32The pop-punk group hangs out at the beach, meets fans at the airport, and makes fun of
01:37the general hysteria surrounding many pop stars.
01:46It's so accurate at certain points that you forget that you're watching a video starring
01:50the irreverent trio.
01:51Both authentic and hilarious, this video takes fans back to a simpler time while making us
01:56fall over laughing.
02:0218.
02:06A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton Almost everyone loves to belt out a few bars
02:11of A Thousand Miles.
02:18The equally memorable video gives you a playful journey through Los Angeles.
02:22Vanessa Carlton plays the piano, keeping her balance as she's driven along highways and
02:27beaches.
02:28It's full of scenic settings that you'll want to visit for yourself, and the whole concept
02:32has a magical quality to it.
02:40And Carlton's fantastic performance really makes it special.
02:44The whole video feels like a dream that you don't want to wake up from, providing the
02:47perfect visualisation of a 2000s radio staple.
02:5417.
02:58Bye Bye Bye – NSYNC In the late 1990s and early 2000s, NSYNC gave
03:03pop music a major shake-up, and this electrifying video might just be their biggest statement
03:08as musicians.
03:15As puppets being pulled by strings, the bandmates create one of the indelible images from the
03:19boy band era.
03:20The choreography includes exciting train chases and a room where the guys dance up the walls.
03:30Group members like Justin Timberlake and JC Chazet each fly off the screen in amazing
03:35showcases of their talent.
03:37Bye Bye Bye presents an eclectic group on top of the world, singing and dancing like
03:41there's no tomorrow.
03:4616.
03:49Hey Ya – Outkast For this mega-hit, Outkast provides a video
03:53that's larger than life.
04:01This includes several clones of Andre 3000 doing their best rendition of Hey Ya.
04:07It's full of fun outfits, set design, and a lively crowd.
04:11You'll be as excited as this studio audience by the time it's over.
04:14It's a simple idea, yet always a genius way of letting the song do all the talking.
04:25Sometimes all you need is a straightforward performance, having people focus on the many
04:29versions of the talented musician at work.
04:32Anyone that lived through the 2000s should watch again to shake it like a Polaroid picture.
04:4115.
04:44Bring Me To Life – Evanescence In this atmospheric video, singer Amy Lee
04:49blurs the line between reality and nightmares, which leads to a death-defying climb outside
04:54her apartment.
05:01The entire experience is as intense as a psychological horror film.
05:05Lee teeters on the edge, making you fear for her character, and at the same time almost
05:10giving you vertigo.
05:17If you have a serious fear of heights, watch this one with extreme caution.
05:21The whole story plays out like a rollercoaster of emotions.
05:23Whether you're listening to the song or watching along, Bring Me To Life grabs you
05:27from the first few notes and makes you reconsider everything.
05:3414.
05:38No Scrubs – TLC This R&B group has no shortage of iconic
05:43videos, including the amazing Waterfalls.
05:45But their work on No Scrubs might exhibit them at the peak of their powers, showing
05:49off one of their best songs with striking imagery.
05:58This includes a futuristic sci-fi set and some fantastic choreography.
06:01We're not exactly sure where T-Boz, Chilli, and Left Eye are, but we'd like to go there
06:06with them.
06:12It would also be a fun ride on the swing that Chilli uses.
06:15Whether or not you're singing along, you definitely want to dance along with these
06:19icons from the 1990s.
06:2413.
06:27You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift In the year 2009, Taylor Swift was already
06:32famous and becoming even more so by the minute.
06:39Her video for You Belong With Me features one of her many iconic stories about love.
06:43Swift's nerdy teenager pines for her neighbor, writing notes to him from her window.
06:47It's a cute image that makes us all remember our first crushes.
06:58While the singer hopes that the boy will pay attention to her, she later has a dramatic
07:01reunion with him at a dance.
07:03It's the kind of fairytale romance that we all wished we could have had.
07:06Full of nostalgic glimpses at our teenage years, this concept captures all the highs
07:11and lows of high school.
07:1612.
07:20Genie In A Bottle – Christina Aguilera An inimitable singer, Christina Aguilera performs
07:26one of her earliest and best singles in this video, blasting you back to memories of campfires
07:30and beach parties.
07:37Any love story here is secondary to the beautiful setting, and boy is it entertaining to watch.
07:48There's an easy-going atmosphere that's a mix of summer fun and nostalgia, contrasting
07:52with her other work on a classic like Dirty, which demonstrates an entirely different kind
07:57of energy.
07:58It's ultimately a feel-good video, with no shortage of enjoyable dancing.
08:01For anyone with fond memories of going to the beach, you'll watch this and be transported
08:06back to your childhood vacations.
08:1211.
08:15Work It – Missy Elliott The beauty of the video for Work It is that
08:18it blends the wonderful and the bizarre.
08:26Characters move forward and reverse, bending time and physics in exciting ways that feel
08:30straight out of The Matrix.
08:32This only makes the action and dance that much more entertaining.
08:42Missy Elliott also has to contend with bees at one point, which is wild in and of itself.
08:47Full of surprises, this concept defies description in many fascinating ways.
08:53Elliott's innovative style also highlights the work of many great dancers.
08:57Even if you grew up with this song, you'll be surprised at how this video still breaks
09:01the mold.
09:0610.
09:09Complicated – Avril Lavigne Within seconds of this video starting, you're
09:13instantly transported back to the 2000s.
09:22Avril Lavigne rides a skateboard before hanging out with her pop-punk friends.
09:26Former alternative kids will love seeing the band performing at a skate park, while others
09:30might enjoy glimpses of the mall.
09:37Hijinks ensue as the main group runs around to various stores, plays basketball, and tries
09:42on different outfits.
09:44The setting and the wardrobe alone create a strong nostalgic feeling for a time that
09:48seems just like yesterday.
09:50Lavigne doesn't miss a beat, looking confident as she conquers the pop-culture landscape.
10:009.
10:03Everybody – Backstreet's Back – Backstreet Boys
10:06For any fans of Halloween-themed videos, Everybody by the Backstreet Boys has you covered.
10:16The boy band finds themselves stranded at a spooky house where all kinds of scary things
10:20might be lurking behind any corner.
10:22Thankfully for the audience, the frightening imagery gives way to an all-out dance party.
10:27There's also some pretty cool costumes to make it all better.
10:37If you like to dress up in October, this is exactly the video that you want to live inside.
10:41Filled with fun energy and nods to horror films, this pop experience is nothing short
10:46of entertaining.
10:51The boys aren't afraid to switch genres either, with their equally fun, Larger Than Life.
10:578.
10:58November Rain – Guns N' Roses
10:59Despite their hard rock credentials, Guns N' Roses could also deliver a moving ballad.
11:04November Rain receives a music video that captures all the melodramatic majesty of the
11:08song.
11:16From an emotional wedding to a funeral, this story plays out like a huge event with massive
11:20stakes.
11:25It's utterly engaging from beginning to end, with a sadness lurking underneath.
11:29There's also some spectacular production values here, including the incredible scene involving
11:34Slash's guitar solo.
11:35This music video definitely cost a lot of money, and the filmmakers ensured that not
11:39a cent was wasted.
11:447.
11:48Take On Me – A-Ha
11:50Any 1980s kids that spent time watching MTV will remember this one.
12:02Take On Me isn't just a catchy song, it's also the basis for a truly imaginative video.
12:07A woman finds herself whisked away into a hand-drawn dream world with singer Morton
12:11Harkett.
12:18The adventure feels like something out of a fairy tale, with the rotoscoping technique
12:22delivering on some impressive visuals.
12:24It's still stunning to watch both live action and animation come together to tell this story.
12:28With all the hard work paying off, the filmmakers craft a beautiful concept that pushes the
12:33medium further.
12:376.
12:40Like a Prayer – Madonna
12:41In the video for one of her biggest songs, Madonna plays a witness to a crime that results
12:46in the wrongful imprisonment of a black man.
12:52The powerful storyline uses religious imagery to convey a story about racism, faith, and
12:57injustice.
12:58It's also unafraid of telling hard truths about life in America.
13:01The artist is at the peak of her talents, delivering an intense performance alongside
13:05some memorable and provocative scenes.
13:12She appears in front of burning crosses in one of many surprises that force you to think
13:17beyond the pop soundtrack.
13:18It might be controversial, but it also carries an inspiring message that hopefully continues
13:23for new generations of fans.
13:285.
13:30Stan – Eminem Featuring Dido
13:33Outspoken and unafraid, Eminem tackles serious issues throughout his catalogue.
13:37This track, in particular, reveals the dark side of a fan's obsession.
13:47With the video for Stan, the artist delves into thoughts about fame, fandom, and domestic
13:52violence.
13:53It's something that's hard to watch, and even harder to look away from.
14:02The lead character writes letters to the rapper, but he eventually takes out his aggression
14:06by trapping his girlfriend in a trunk.
14:08It all points towards a tragic ending that combines compelling drama and an important
14:12lesson.
14:13Guided by the performer's impressive lyrics, this story is nothing short of unforgettable.
14:24This represents some of his greatest work, while The Real Slim Shady reveals that he
14:28also has a sense of humor.
14:304.
14:31Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
14:34During her original rise to fame, Britney Spears found an incredible way to kick off
14:37her solo career.
14:44Spears finds herself as a student dancing around a school.
14:48In one of her trademark outfits, the singer glides down the hallway and into our hearts.
14:57These images helped the artist become an international sensation that would go on to create more
15:01classics like Oops!
15:02I Did It Again.
15:04With some great choreography, she also proves that she's a formidable dancer.
15:08The video then moves into the gymnasium for more maneuvers and dances, keeping the mood
15:12light and the entertainment value high.
15:14It's rare that you get to witness a star rise so completely over the course of a few
15:19minutes.
15:223.
15:25Wannabe – Spice Girls
15:27Have you ever wanted to be at a dance party with the Spice Girls?
15:30The music video for Wannabe lets you do just that, encouraging viewers to join in.
15:34Scary, sporty, ginger, baby, and posh enter a swanky hotel and wreak havoc in the best
15:45way possible.
15:46It's a crazy and energetic time that gives each member a chance to show off.
15:55From running around to dancing on the stairs, these singers exude a contagious and youthful
16:00energy.
16:01You can't help but smile watching the free-spirited bandmates fly around.
16:05As the artists ride off into the night, you wish you could follow them to their next wild
16:08event.
16:112.
16:15Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
16:17Inspiring the rebel in all of us, the video for Smells Like Teen Spirit finds the band
16:22at a pep rally.
16:31Their music eventually inspires the students to rise up.
16:34With the help of grunge, the audience turns the gym into something between a mosh pit
16:38and a riot.
16:44The moody visuals give band members like Kurt Cobain some iconic looks.
16:49With loads of intensity, this concept, and music, encourages you to break free from
16:54conformity.
16:55It's especially satisfying to watch if you never liked going to school assemblies.
16:58Cobain's performance stands out here, letting one of his greatest anthems ring out as he
17:03ends it in a glorious close-up.
17:13Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.
17:16Barbie Girl – Aqua
17:17The group takes us to a well-designed world of fun references to the famous doll.
17:29Do Wop – That Thing – Lauryn Hill
17:31The R&B legend performs in the 1960s and the 1990s in an innovative split-screen video.
17:43Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus
17:45With an American flag behind her, Miley delivers a patriotic tribute at a drive-in.
17:56Survivor – Destiny's Child
17:57The dynamic trio take over a beach in a powerful and stylish video.
18:08Stacey's Mum – Fountains of Wayne
18:10A kid's obsession with his friend's mum turns into a funny coming-of-age tale.
18:38Thriller – Michael Jackson
18:40It's the music video that keeps on giving.
18:42For many viewers, Thriller takes them back to a time when any scary movie terrified them.
18:53This seminal work frightens, excites, and entertains all these years later.
18:58Director John Landis sends up the horror genre,
19:01but also gives Michael Jackson plenty of time to perform.
19:08The latter dons zombie makeup and unleashes some iconic choreography.
19:12With a cinematic quality to it, this timeless work brings out the kid in all of us.
19:17This outperforms even the highs of Jackson's other efforts like Beat It.
19:21Even if you didn't grow up in the 1980s,
19:23this engaging video perfectly illustrates the exceptional artistry of that decade.
19:33Did we forget another generational music video? Let us know in the comments below.
19:38Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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