Top 10 Over The Top Music Videos
For this list, we're looking at the most extravagant and epic music videos that blew us away by holding nothing back. We're basing our choices on a mix of complex sets and stories, lavish designs and the intense theatrics that made these videos one-of-a-kind.
#10 “Old Town Road” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
The video for this super smash hit first transports us to the Wild West, where Chris Rock and company have given up the chase against Lil Nas X and Billy Ray. Nas is quickly transported to current day America, greeted with confused stares as he engages in a race with Vince Staples. When Billy Ray and Nas are re-united, it’s time for a little concert for the local bingo crowd, complete with square dancing and accompaniment from Diplo on the washboard. With great wardrobe choices, a big budget and playful cameos, director Calmatic captured the unique cultural moment that was “Old Town Road” in the best way possible.
#9: "False Alarm" (2016) The Weeknd
A bank heist goes haywire as we follow one robber's intense experience from a first-person perspective. The visceral action of 'False Alarm' is filled with crashes, bloody shootouts and explosions. 'Hardcore Henry' director Ilya Naishuller tells a breath-taking story from a unique point-of-view, while packing a surprising amount of twists and turns into the story. Despite how fast-paced and hectic the action is, many major moments of the video not only match the beat but the changing intensity of the music. The high concept and amazing attention to detail have us watching 'False Alarm' again and again.
#8: "Telephone" (2010) Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé
Picking from her murderous antics in 'Paparazzi,' Lady Gaga finds herself, fashionably, stuck in jail. After being bailed out by Beyoncé, the pair hop in the “Pussy Wagon” and go on a cross-country killing spree in 'Telephone'. Despite being incarcerated, Gaga appears in plenty of designer outfits including a police tape dress and a telephone hat. Jonas Akerlund brings plenty of visual style to the video, referencing b-movies and Quentin Tarantino. At nine minutes long, the video also has enough product placement to be a real film. The scope and amazing set pieces still have people talking about 'Telephone' to this day.
#7: "Say Amen (Saturday Night)" (2018) Panic! At The Disco
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When a bunch of goons try to rob the Devil's Key from Brendon Urie, they discover they're desperately outmatched. Urie uses ties and seemingly superhuman strength to destroy the thieves, while improvising using items in his house. The insane fight choreography has men flying about the house, while Brendon suavely lip-syncs to the song. There's even a wall-sized speaker to blow away some of the baddies with sound. Plenty of hits and even some pained screams are timed perfectly to the track, making the video feel like a hilarious extension of the song rather than a side-show.
#6: "Estranged" (1991) Guns N' Roses
The definition that opens up 'Estranged' lets you know right away that Guns N' Roses aren't going for subtlety. Axl Rose hides from a SWAT team, and eventually dives into dangerous waters just to escape them. Across nearly ten minutes, Axl bounces around stages, streets and even leaves his own body. The dramatic cinematography and religious imagery are even more melodramatic than the original song. As the finale to a trilogy of long and weird videos including 'Don't Cry' and 'November Rain', 'Estranged' is the most surreal. Axl is even saved by a dolphin at end to make things even stranger.
#5: "Windowlicker" (1999) Aphex Twin
Two guys swear relentlessly while cruising for women in the city, before they're pushed out of their parking spot by a white limo. After a creepy-faced man dances in the street, a dozen bikini-clad women dance with his face on as well. Though this is bizarre enough, the song itself doesn't start until five minutes into the ten-minute run-time. Director Chris Cunningham wanted to parody hip-hop videos, as all the sensual imagery is ruined by the grotesque faces. The rain dancing scene however is still unbelievably cinematic, despite how disturbing it is. Though it's comedic, 'Windowlicker' pushes its memorable commentary up to 11.
#4:“Jeopardy”, “Reunited” & “Lucky” (1983-85) The Greg Kihn Band
After getting cold feet, Greg Kihn sees his whole wedding party turn to skeletons and then go undead in 'Jeopardy'. After running away, he picks up a runaway bride and drives into the sunset. The story was bizarrely continued in 'Reunited' where Kihn's new woman is killed in Oz, and he marries the good witch. Then in 'Lucky' he goes from homeless to shipwrecked as revenge from his ex. Naturally, this series of events culminates in King Kong playing sax at the end. All oddities aside, this story set across three albums' music videos has certainly made the “Jeopardy” series one you’re unlikely to forget.
#3: "What’s It Gonna Be?!” (1999) Busta Rhymes feat. Janet Jackson
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Though Busta Rhymes got ridiculously goofy in 'Gimme Some More', 'What's It Gonna Be' was straight up experimental. Busta forms out of liquid metal 'Terminator'-style while Janet Jackson sings in a tunnel of metallic fluids. Soon Rhymes is leading a robotic marching band and occasionally flying as a disembodied head. All the bizarre imagery made 'What's It Gonna Be' one of the most expensive music videos of all time from the effects budget alone. On top of the Jackson's dominatrix look, her outfit itself is accessorized with sex toys. Though it seems strange today, 'What's It Gonna Be' still stands out decades later.
#2: " I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) " (1993) Meat Loaf feat. Lorraine Crosby
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In 'I'd Do Anything for Love', Meat Loaf mixes 'Beauty And The Beast' with the theatrics of 'The Phantom Of The Opera.' Isolated in his castle, Meat Loaf falls in love with a woman and brings her back to his home. After the woman has a vampire orgy, Meat Loaf flips out and destroys half of his belongings. Thanks to director Michael Bay, all the action is over-the-top and insanely dramatic. With floating beds, drastic lighting and plenty of mirror effects the video's budget rivaled feature films. The extravagant and beyond-romanticized production however is why we can't get enough of 'I Would Do Anything For Love'. Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: "Bad Blood” feat. Kendrick Lamar (2015) Taylor Swift  "Sicko Mode" (2018) Travis Scott "Get Back" (2004) Ludacris "bad guy" (2019) Billie Eilish  "Miracles" (2009) Insane Clown Posse
#1: "Black or White" (1991) Michael Jackson
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As we find Macaulay Culkin rocking out in his bedroom, he soon wrecks his house and father using a giant amplifier. The rest of 'Black Or White' finds Michael Jackson dancing around huge sets with people of all cultural backgrounds. The video is constantly mind-boggling with its massive cast and elaborate choreography, not to mention the seamless transitions between locations. Director John Landis needed every bit of the video's four million dollars to get famous actors and countless effects together in the video. Though 'Black Or White' is memorable enough as a hit song, its talented video crew made it a triumph of over the top production.
