Where would a lot of today’s greatest hits be without their music videos? Pretty much still doing good, you’d hope. Anyway, music videos can be damn entertaining and just because a song might not need one, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t bother. Here are 10 of Jimmy’s favorites…

Ok Go – Here It Goes Again.
I just love this video. Truth be told I love most of their music videos. This one is of particular interest for me. It’s ingenious how they’ve choreographed a whole dance routine on treadmills. Plus the song is super great to run to. I just ran a 5k up a mountain and placed in the top ten. Thanks OK GO!

Sir Mix-a-lot – Baby Got Back.
While I was watching this video, I thought, “Could this be the first instance of proto-twerking?” Yes, I just created the term proto-twerking. This video came out when I was a kid and I had no business watching it but to this day those yellowish orange things that the ladies are dancing in front of look like huge peaches… however, I’m pretty sure they are supposed to represent the female posterior.

Madonna – Like A Prayer.
This video caused so much scandal when it came out. I mean a black Jesus?!?! Will someone please think of the children!! Madonna ends up falling in love with a black man who turns out to be the same actor playing Jesus. He’s wrongly accused of a crime and is only freed when Madonna defends him. Whoa!!! Metaphor! It’s all neatly tied up at the end as a musical. Plus it’s got a kick-ass gospel choir.

Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al.
Watching this video again as an adult I can say that it’s really weird and random but hey Paul Simon isn’t always logical. Chevy Chase is in the video and he’s pretty hilarious. I love the gag of using the bongo stand as a table with no tabletop.

Thriller – Michael Jackson.
I really shouldn’t have to write anything for this video. You should have all seen it multiple times as it’s the best music video ever. It’s spooky and scary and is exquisitely choreographed. Who doesn’t know at least some of the dance moves? I’m doing them right now as I write this. I’m talented like that.

Björk – In A Musical.
So this isn’t a music video per se. It’s more of a musical sequence in her film Dancer In The Dark but I love it too much to leave it out. It’s fun, whimsical, and there is tap dancing. How can you go wrong? If that male voice sounds familiar to you, that’s because it is… That’s Joel Grey. You may remember him from his Oscar winning performance as the Emcee in Cabaret.

Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compare 2U.
This is video is pretty famous too. That shot of Sinead staring at the camera was so simple but no one had really done it before. It was also very evocative, especially when a tear rolls down her cheek at the end. She was definitely thinking about her mother then.

Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart.
This song is epic and so is the video. It’s doesn’t really make sense with what the lyrics are. It’s pretty creepy and off the wall. It’s made even more so when you watch a literal version of the video. When she sings “Turn it around bright eyes” at the end, a child literally turns around and has really bright eyes. Enough said.

Beyonce – Single Ladies.
This song is probably still too overplayed but the video is actually really good. The dance became incredibly popular and everyone was trying to replicate it. Funny story, I was dating a guy who I liked very much. I took him to a friend’s Christmas party and this song came on. He cleared the dance floor and started to do the whole dance while everyone looked on in horror. It was not that kind of party. Needless to say, we broke up a few weeks later. He’s a sweet chap though.

Björk – It’s Oh So Quiet.
I put Björk on here again because I’m a fan of whimsy and this is another example of that. It’s Broadway, fun and frankly it makes me smile. We could all stand to smile more in life. You have so many different body types dancing here, which I also love. Dancers don’t always have to be super skinny or ripped.

What are your favorite music videos?