Ever since The Buggles became the first band ever to premiere a music video on MTV back in 1981, music videos have been an immensely popular form of entertainment. They stand alone as works of art themselves, while also serving as promotional vehicles for the albums and singles on which the song is featured.
Over the years, music videos have provided great opportunities for up and coming filmmakers to work their chops, as well as for established directors to experiment with a different medium while still honing their cinematic craft. Here are 1o examples of music videos directed by famous filmmakers.
“Vogue” By Madonna – David Fincher
Director David Fincher is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of his generation. Before he got started making feature films, however, he directed dozens of music videos in the 80’s and early 90’s for big name artists like Steve Winwood, Sting, Roy Orbison, Rick Springfield, and, most famously, Madonna.
The appropriately stylish black and white video for “Vogue” is arguably Fincher’s best, and the precise cinematography and editing techniques for which he’s now known are both evident in this project.
“Under The Bridge” By Red Hot Chili Peppers – Gus Van Sant
Like David Fincher, Gus Van Sant also got his start making music videos. His debut feature film, My Own Private Idaho, featured Michael Peter Balzary, aka “Flea,” from Red Hot Chili Peppers. After getting to know each other on that project, Van Sant signed on to direct the video for the Chili Peppers’ hit single “Under The Bridge” off their landmark album Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
Even after his film career took off, Van Sant still directs the occasional music video, and would reunite with the Chili Peppers years later to direct “Desecration Smile” off their 2007 double album Stadium Arcadium.
“Here With Me” By The Killers – Tim Burton
There are few directors out there with styles as distinct as Tim Burton’s. Starring Winona Ryder as both a real-life woman and a mannequin, the video is a dark romance inspired by the 1935 film Mad Love.”
Like much of Burton’s work, it’s not necessarily the most accessible, but it’s undeniably creative and instantly recognizable as his own. The song is a brooding, anthemic ballad which complements the tone of the visuals quite well. This was Burton’s second collaboration with The Killers, having also directed the video for their 2006 song “Bones,” the subject matter of which was also right in his wheelhouse.
“Dancing In The Dark” By Bruce Springsteen – Brian De Palma
Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” video is famous for its Courtney Cox cameo at the end, when “The Boss” invited her up on stage to dance. Famous director Brian De Palma shot the video at the St. Paul Civic Center in Minnesota over two nights, the first being a straight video shoot, the second being the opening night of the “Born in the USA” tour.
Fans to this day want to believe Cox’s appearance was random, as she was an unknown actress at the time of the shoot. In fact, however, she was preselected by De Palma, and flown out to the arena from New York City specifically for the gig.
“I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” By The White Stripes – Sofia Coppola
The White Stripes’ cover of the 1962 song “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” was a single off their smash hit album Elephant in 2003. Director Sofia Coppola cast English supermodel Kate Moss to do a seductive pole dance in this dimly lit black and white music video that feels both classic and contemporary at the same time, much like the song itself, a modern hard rock rendition of a Burt Bacharach 60’s tune.
“Fast As You Can” By Fiona Apple – Paul Thomas Anderson
Acclaimed auteur Paul Thomas Anderson dated singer-songwriter Fiona Apple from 1997-2000, during which he directed four of her music videos. Their personal relationship is most evident in “Fast as You Can,” which features Fiona looking straight into the camera the entire time, mouthing the song’s lyrics in different locales.
The video has a very personal, homemade quality to it. Fiona foregoes elaborate wardrobe selections for her own casual clothing and wears no makeup. It was shot by Anderson’s regular cinematographer Robert Elswit on a hand-cranked camera, which explains why Apple’s lips don’t exactly sync with the recording.
“Bad” By Michael Jackson – Martin Scorsese
More a short film than a music video, Scorsese’s video for Michael Jackson’s “Bad” is 18 minutes long and was shot over the course of six weeks. The video stars Jackson himself as well as actor Wesley Snipes, and is inspired by West Side Story, which is referenced numerous times throughout.
In addition to this video, Scorsese has also directed and produced several acclaimed documentaries about artists like Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Band, and George Harrison.
“I’d Do Anything For Love” By Meat Loaf – Michael Bay
Director Michael Bay got his start in music videos, and this was one of three he directed for Meat Loaf. It’s a truly bizarre yet oddly effective video that draws inspiration from Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera. Meat Loaf wears creepy stage makeup and plays the “beast” character, splitting vocal duties with the “beauty,” played by actress Dana Patrick, who mouths the lyrics to Lorraine Crosby’s studio vocal track.
It’s shot by cinematographer Daniel Pearl, whose debut was the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and who went on to direct dozens of music videos.
“Weapon Of Choice” By Fatboy Slim – Spike Jonze
One of the most famous music videos ever is Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice,” directed by Spike Jonze and starring the inimitable Christopher Walken. Walken has musical theater training, and so he pounced at the opportunity to dance through the lobby of the Marriott hotel in Los Angeles for this unforgettable video. It won six MTV Video Music Awards, including, of course, best choreography.
Throughout his career, Spike Jonze has worked in different genres, from short films, to music videos, to acclaimed Oscar-winning features. This is by far his most famous effort as a music video director.
“Headlights” By Eminem – Spike Lee
“Headlights” is a song by rapper Eminem off his 2014 album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The song was written as an apology to his mother after a turbulent and toxic relationship which dates back to Eminem’s childhood. The lyrics are his plea for reconciliation and family unity. It was released on Mother’s Day of 2014.
The great Spike Lee directed this touching video, which tells the story from the mother’s perspective. Lee previously directed music videos for Michael Jackson and Public Enemy, as well as numerous concert films.
