Only 10! (Top 10 Videos)

Member Name: grahamt

Product:	Top 10 Videos
Date:	24/08/01 (115 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Compulsive Viewing

Disadvantages: Compulsive Viewing

UPDATED - 23.2.2003
It's been some time since I saw a video that really got me excited but now I have. The list has to be revised. Sadly, someone had to go. With deep regret I say goodbye to Godley & Creme. Gone but not forgotten. Now we have a brand new number one.


Original Review
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When you think of the thousands and thousands of pop videos that have been produced over the years, to choose just 10 to represent the best of all time is a substantial challenge. Inevitably the reasons for choosing one over another must be personal.

There have been any number of programs on MTV and VH-1 where the votes of viewers have determined the Top 100 Videos of all time. I usually find myself agreeing with many of the choices but wondering just why another was chosen. Many in the list seem to have little actual merit other than it features the "hot" artist of the day.

I have chosen my list on the basis that for a video to be "The Best", it has to be hypnotic, compulsive viewing. I have to be able, no, need to watch it end-to-end every time. It must never bore and always entertain. Some in my list may surprise you, especially my all-time No. 1.

Don't assume that these selections represent my favourite artists either. In fact, none of my favourite artists (except Phil Collins and Jamiroqui although, Gorillaz may soon be considered so) are included since, although they are great singers with superb songs they haven't had any memorable videos.


10. Justify my Love - Madonna
Without any doubt the sexiest pop video ever produced. It caused an uproar in the States at the time, less so here in the laid-back UK. Nevertheless, the sight of Madonna getting it on will remain with me forever. But, let's face it, nothing actually happens. A bit like Gipsy Rose Lee, the greatest stripper of all time, who never actually took anything off! Despite that, overall,
not a great fan of Madge. Sorry.

9. Don't Speak - No Doubt
So, this is just a video of the band performing! Well, it is and then again it isn't. Apart from being brilliantly shot, the underlying theme is what makes this a great video. Watch the interplay between the members of the group. Especially watch the tensions building up when the publicity photographer singles out Gwen to the exclusion of the rest.

This is about the sort of things that make groups break up. Rivalries, jealousies, love-hate relationships.

Brilliant song as well. Pity it's really the only good song they ever made.

8. 19/2000 - Gorillaz
I love Damon Albarn's Gorillaz. They are such a refreshing group and their videos are superb. I was almost tempted to include "Clint Eastwood" as well but in the end I elected for their latest one "19/2000". I just love that moose.

7. Wannabe - Spice Girls
Their first and still their greatest, song or video. It was probably the second or even the third time that I realise it was all shot in one take. After that I spent every moment it was on looking for the joins. There aren't any. It really was all shot in one take. Now that's impressive. It's a complex video in terms of movement and interaction. I wonder how many rehearsals they had before they got it right?

6. Jesus He Knows Me - Genesis
Apart from being just about the best singer/songwriter to come out of the UK, Phil is not a bad actor either, as anyone who saw "Buster" will agree. But then, he did start out as a child actor, playing The Artful Dodger. This video captures to perfection the sleazy, money-grabbing American TV Evangelist. The song is all about the hypocrisy of these people and the images he portrays sum that up. A superb video.

5. Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
The sight of Richard Ashcroft single-mindedly striding down the road, walking through and over everything and everybody is compulsive cinema. That someone can have that degree of focus! OK, you may consider it boorish, ill-mannered, violent even but as a video concept it does it. Watch the reactions of those he passes. Brilliantly acted. Brilliant video.

4. Starlight - Supermen Lovers
A brand new one. If I had done this list last month it would even have been included! I still can't work out how it's done. Is it stop action? Is it stick puppets? Is it all computer graphics? It's all about what it takes to achieve fame. In this case it's all because of the aliens! Great song as well.

3. Virtual Insanity - Jamiroqui
Yes, I know we all now know how this was done but I still can't see the joins! JK is magnificent. One of the most difficult things in the World to do is not to fall over when things are moving about you and you are standing still. We take our reference to the World from the expectation that things like walls stay still. Hypnotic. And once again, great song.

2. Pumping up the Stereo - Supergrass
Bet you didn't expect this one to be here did you? One of the funniest videos I have ever seen. This sort of puppet show used to be very popular in the 60s but the way they have used it for this video is magic. I just roar every time I see it. And the song's not bad either.

1. Cry Me a River - Justin Timberlake
I have to admit I have seriously misjudged young Justin. I regarded him as just another boy group member trying to making it on his own. Nothing more than Britney's ex. I was wrong and I'm pleased to admit it. This is a seriously talented guy. This video is without any doubt one of the best of all time. Hitchcock himslelf could not have produced better. A study in obsession and revenge. Creepy. Brilliant. And a sensational song as well.


What! No Michael Jackson? No Peter Gabriel? No Ah-Ha? Well, good though videos like "Thriller" are, for me they have lost that compulsive viewing factor. If I can now get up and walk out in the middle of a video then it's lost its magic. Perhaps if I chose my top 20 instead of my top 10 then "Thriller", "Sledgehammer", "Take on Me", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and so on might be there as well as offerings from newer artists like Travis and old masters like Bob Dylan and The Beatles.

I was very tempted to include some of Kylie's recent videos...
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Sorry, came over all funny there for a moment...

This list will, in any case, change in time I have No Doubt. I don't expect that we have already seen the best videos that there ever will be!

Summary: So difficult to choose just 10!