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.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
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.
19:46And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.