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Probably not, but that hasn’t stopped the viewers of MTV UK to crown it as such, ahead of promotional reels by the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, and OK Go. Sure, it’s all the result of an online poll, and one could argue that the clip is probably one of the most important videos of the (seemingly waning) music-video era, with its quick-for-its-time cuts and glossy preening, but the best ever? Really? This result is kind of making me wonder just how bloody an online battle royale between Durannies and fans of the Jonas Brothers would get. Anyway, for those of you who want to see what “Rio” beat out in the minds of MTV UK’s visitors, the full top 10 (with embeds! because I care!) after the jump.
1. Duran Duran, “Rio”
2. Bjork, “All Is Full Of Love”
3. a-ha, “Take On Me”
4. Michael Jackson, “Thriller”
5. Sigur Ros, “Svefn-g-englar”
6. Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
7. Radiohead, “Just”
8. Jamiroquai, “Virtual Insanity”
9. Madonna, “Like A Prayer”
10. OK Go, “Here It Goes Again”
MTV’s Greatest Video Ever [MTV UK]
It’s certainly the best bass line of all time.
Yes. Yes, it is.
EOT.
“Rabbit in the headlights” by UNKLE… anyone? anyone? Bulher? Buhler?
Most of these are incredible videos, the list is just order-challenged.
And it’s a list, so it can include every great video ever…
Svefn G’englar pops out as the more obvious sore thumb in this list to me. Or maybe I just haven’t caught up with the ongoing reevalution of Sigur Ros contributions to popular music?
I didn’t even realize that Svefn-g-englar had a video. I’m gonna kind of agree mexiback, but I’ll take your “Rabbit in the headlights”, stoffle, and raise you a “Windowlicker”.
Actually… where’s “Southern California”? Man on fire should always win.
Wait… MTV UK. The list makes a bit more sense now (no way Bjork would’ve made a straight MTV.com list, regardless of how visually arresting that vid is).
That moment in “Thriller” where he screams “Get away!” still- still- scares the bejaysus outta me.
There’s something in there about how it eerily portended the rest of his career-to-date (transformation into weird nonhuman creature, distancing self from other human beings), but I’m way too lazy to get really into it.
All is Full of Love is a great song, but the vid can’t touch the legendary status of Thriller or Just. Some of these videos, like the OKGO one redeem crappy songs with good videos.
Am I the only one surprised that (even though I hate it) California Love by Tupac wasn’t on here? That’s some overblown shit.
What, no “Sledgehammer”?
@Dead Air ummm Dead Air: I liked that bass line it when it was in a Roxy Music song in the 70s, too.
As an MTV viewer back in the day, I barely remember this video. I was hypnomatized by “Hungry Like the Wolf.”
“Virtual Insanity” plays like an old parlor trick now. But that A-Ha video is timeless.
It still bothers me after all the years, that I never knew why the guy was laying on the ground in the “Just” video.
Speaking of timeless, lets not forget “God Bless The USA” by Lee Greenwood, every time I listen to it it gets a little dusty.
i thought the best video of all time was for The Reflex, when all that water pours out of the big video screen…. that was so crazy!! and no. 2 would be that J. Geils one where the drum turns out to be full of milk.
@dippinkind: hmm… sensing a pattern here…
@Maura Johnston: yes, things that are solid actually turning out to be liquid totally blow my lil mind
What about the November Rain/Don’t Cry/Estranged trilogy?
@dippinkind: Estranged had streets made of water, with dolphins in them?
@janine: Careful – you’re just one step away from anointing Live’s “Dolphin’s Cry” as the greatest video of all time…
Also, no Missy?
@NeverEnough: OTM. There is nothing better than this video, I am still as rabidly fanatical as a 12 year old JoBro fan when it comes to this point.
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