The 10 Best 90s Music Videos to Revisit
The 90s were an exciting and influential time for music videos. Many videos combined a mix of creative visuals, special effects, and innovative storytelling techniques to create a powerful aesthetic.
Music videos from the 90s often had a unique look and feel that set them apart from other eras. They also featured a wide range of innovative styles, from the surreal, colorful visuals of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” to the gritty, street-level shots of Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.”
Many of these videos also featured groundbreaking, experimental techniques such as found-footage clips, stop-motion animation, split-screen editing, creative visuals, and innovative storytelling techniques. All of this combined to create a distinctive style of music video that is still influential today.
People of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy 90s music videos. These videos often evoke a sense of nostalgia, as the videos capture an era of music that was unique and influential. Fans of 90s music videos tend to be people who appreciate music, art, and culture from that era.
If you have lovers of the oldies around your establishment, playing the best 90s music videos is the best way to keep them entertained. This is a list of the 10 best music videos of the 90s that still rule today.
Best 90s Music Videos
The 90s was a time of change, when you could come home after school and watch music videos on television until dinner. Record labels were investing large sums of money to create the most visually stimulating videos.
The 90s was a time of emotional and personal expression, where the glossy, high-budget sheen of the 80s had been replaced by creative, raw talent. This trend makes for great viewing, and here are ten music videos that made an impact in the 90s and still rock now for your business.
1. Sabotage by Beastie Boys
There are two types of people in the world: those who think the Spike Jonze-directed "Sabotage" music video is the Beastie Boys' best work, and those who prefer the robot-B-Boy antics of "Intergalactic."
The former essentially set the standard for parody music videos that pay homage to 70s cop shows. The music video for "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys is an iconic and influential music video that is still worth revisiting today.
The video combines creative visuals, special effects, and innovative storytelling techniques to create a powerful aesthetic. It features surreal, colorful visuals, found-footage clips, stop-motion animation, and split-screen editing.
The video also has a great sense of humor and a strong punk rock attitude that makes it stand out from other videos of the era. It is a perfect example of the creative and expressive music videos that were popular in the 90s.
2. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video perfectly captured the spirit of the 1990s grunge era. Inspired by an anarchist pep rally, Nirvana fans were invited to fill the bleachers.
After 12 hours of filming, the audience was restless and irritated, so Kurt Cobain suggested they let loose and destroy the set. This iconic footage became representative of raw teenage angst and rebellion, and the single skyrocketed to success.
Unexpectedly, the song was requested so often that Nirvana won Best New Artist and Best Alternative Group at the MTV Music Video Awards. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” has since gone platinum, earned two Grammy nominations (Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal and Best Rock Song), and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of “The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll” in 1997.
3. Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai
The music video for "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai is a great video to revisit. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video and won six awards at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.
The video features a unique, surreal setting, and the main character's movements in the room are choreographed to match the beat of the song. The visuals are both captivating and creative, making use of optical illusions, reverse motion shots, and a constantly shifting floor.
It is an excellent example of a music video from the 90s that has stood the test of time. The music video is great for playing in an office setting because it is visually captivating and entertaining.
The video features a variety of special effects and visuals that will keep viewers engaged. The upbeat and funky music is also sure to put office workers in a good mood and encourage productivity.
4. Vogue by Madonna
The Queen of Pop ventured into the realm of house music with “Vogue,” a mesmeric dance track that she recorded for the Dick Tracy-inspired soundtrack album, I’m Breathless.
The song’s video, helmed by David Fincher, who would go on to become a noted feature film director, is a homage to Hollywood’s golden age; its stylish monochrome photography and luxurious Art Deco era-inspired sets exude a retro elegance.
Now considered iconic and one of the best videos of the 90s, the multi-award-winning “Vogue” video reached over 100 million views in 2019. The video is an iconic and timeless piece of art.
The video follows Madonna as she dances and poses to the beat of the song, which has become one of the most recognizable songs of the 90s. The video was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video and won six awards at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.
It is considered one of the best music videos of all time and reached over 100 million views in 2019.
5. The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliott
The music video for The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliott was released in May 1997 and was directed by Hype Williams.
The video features Elliott dressed in a yellow raincoat and walking through a city street as a thunderstorm rages in the background. It also features cameos from Timbaland, Ginuwine, and Magoo as well as a range of dancers.
The video earned a nomination for Best Rap Video at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards and has been viewed over 23 million times on YouTube. The Rain music video has been praised for its visuals, and its use of thunder and rain to create a sense of atmosphere.
It has also been cited as an example of Elliott's fashion sense, and its impact on the hip-hop scene.
6. Scream by Michael and Janet Jackson
Who could forget the larger-than-life blockbuster video for Michael and Janet Jackson's "Scream," from Michael's 1995 HIStory album?
The video reunited the siblings in the studio for the first time since the 1982 smash "PYT" from Thriller and features them performing a dance-off in a futuristic sci-fi setting, spitting refrains over industrial beats courtesy of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
The music video for Scream was directed by Mark Romanek, and features the Jackson siblings in a futuristic sci-fi setting, dressed in black leather and performing a dance-off.
The Scream music video was considered to be one of the most expensive music videos ever made, with a budget estimated to be around $7 million. It was also the first music video to be shot in digital high-definition.
The video was nominated for nine MTV Video Music Awards and won five, including Video of the Year. It has been praised for its visual effects and its use of cutting-edge technology, and for its portrayal of the sibling rivalry between Michael and Janet Jackson.
The video has been viewed over 140 million times on YouTube.
7. California Love by 2pac and Dr. Dre
The music video for California Love by 2Pac and Dr. Dre was released in April 1996 and was directed by Hype Williams. The video features 2Pac and Dr. Dre in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, with a range of dancers and extras.
California Love received praise for its visual effects, including the use of computer-generated imagery, and for its portrayal of 2Pac and Dr. Dre, who were seen as icons of the West Coast hip-hop scene.
The video has been viewed over 106 million times on YouTube and has been cited as an important example of West Coast hip-hop. It is also remembered for its iconic opening line, "Out on bail, fresh out of jail, California dreaming".
The music video for 2Pac and Dr. Dre's "California Love" is a great choice for playing in the office because it has a classic, uplifting sound that is sure to put office workers in a good mood.
The song is a perfect blend of 2Pac's hard-hitting rap verses and Dre's funky production, creating a timeless West Coast anthem. The visuals of the music video also feature a variety of high-concept scenes, including a dystopian future setting, lowrider cruises, and a cameo from Chris Tucker, that are sure to keep viewers engaged.
The video also serves as a reminder of the importance of staying true to oneself and celebrating individuality, making it a powerful and relevant message for office workers today.
8. Paranoid Android by Radiohead
When Radiohead released their animated music video for "Paranoid Android" in the 90s, it fit perfectly into the MTV landscape, which had expanded from just music videos to include animated series that used contemporary music.
Directed by Magnus Carlsson, the creator of the animated series Robin, the surrealist and somewhat graphic short was able to both horrify parents and fascinate the 12-34-year-old demographic.
"Paranoid Android" is a song by the English alternative rock band Radiohead, released in 1997 as the lead single from their third studio album, OK Computer. The video follows Robin as he wakes up, encounters an angel playing table tennis, and goes on a surreal, psychedelic journey to find meaning in a chaotic world.
The video's artwork and animation, coupled with the song's epic and sprawling sound, make it one of the most iconic and memorable music videos of the past decade-and-a-half.
9. Wannabe by Spice Girls
The Spice Girls' music video for "Wannabe" is a classic of the '90s and is still as enjoyable to watch today as when it was first released. It captures the essence of the '90s with its bright and colorful visuals, catchy and empowering lyrics, and unique choreography.
The video was directed by MJ Delaney, who teamed up with Project Everyone and Global Goals to create a feminist music video for the Spice Girls. It is a celebration of girl power and female solidarity, with the Spice Girls showcasing their individual personalities and characters while singing and dancing together.
The video was a huge success, becoming an iconic representation of the '90s and a rallying cry for female empowerment.
10. Freedom! ’90 by George Micheals
The music video for Freedom! '90 by George Michael was released in June 1990 and was directed by David Fincher. The video features a range of celebrities lip-syncing the song and is notable for not featuring George Michael himself.
The video was praised for its creative use of iconic imagery from the 1980s, including Madonna's iconic cone bra and Cindy Crawford's iconic mole. The video has been viewed over 135 million times on YouTube and is widely considered to be one of the most iconic music videos of the '90s.
The video was nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards and won three, including Video of the Year.
Thrill Your Customers with the Best 90s Music Videos
You need a playlist to create an aura of consistency when playing 90s classics in your office space. To do this, you may have to first get the license to play all the music. This process can be complicated and expensive.
Many businesses have found that using free services like Loop TV can ease the burden. Loop TV offers hundreds of hand-curated entertainment channels that elevate your customer experience and engage viewers.
All of Loop's content is fully licensed, and categorized by genre and themes, making it easy to play the best 90s music videos for your audience. Because Loop understand how music affects the customer experience, they have special channels curated for specific audiences, moods, events and more. You can easily select the channels that are just right for your business.