These Music Videos Were Better Than Their Songs

Growing up, I'm sure I'm not the only one whose music tastes were more often than not influenced by music videos. There were tons of songs which, if I'm being truly honest with myself, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed without first hearing them with the music video. As a result, there's actually a fair amount of great music videos that are better than their songs. While some of these may still get talked about in best music videos of all time lists, many of them sadly do not. But that's not to say they aren't amazing, anyway. For the most part, many of these artists are notorious for their creative and groundbreaking music videos, but often part of the success of that song can also be credited to the power of the song.

And though none of these tracks are especially bad, they simply don't stand out or aren't as strong when compared to other hits from the artist's back catalogue. But the videos for these songs? A whole different story. In fact, for most of these videos, the songs themselves serve more as a vital backing track to the visuals. They help to push narratives, bolster innovative dance sequences, intensify drama or simply soundtrack the motion of a really terrific outfit. Whatever these songs accomplish, they simply aren't as good as their videos:

1. Korn - "Twisted Transistor"

Starring Lil Jon, Xzibit, David Banner, and Snoop Dog as the titular band members of Korn, "Twisted Transistor" is shot like a band documentary from an alternate universe. It also serves as a terrific parody of both nu-metal and hip-hop culture.

2. Lady Gaga Feat. Beyoncé - "Telephone"

As a song, "Telephone" isn't quite as great as some of Gaga's more notorious tracks, but as a music video, it is the absolute Queen. Stacked full of campy, dark comedy and filmed in an eye grabbing pop art visual style, the video is a treasure from start to finish. Everything from the dance routines to the costumes are utter perfection.

3. OK Go - "Upside Down & Inside Out"

Known for their jaw-dropping, highly choreographed videos, it's easy to feel like OK Go are writing songs just so they can make music videos at this point. Which is totally fine. Especially when they're making videos like this one which was filmed entirely in zero gravity and contains some truly mind boggling dance routines and stunts.

4. Fatboy Slim - "Weapon Of Choice"

Starring national treasure Christopher Walken as he shows off his spectacular array of dancing talents, the "Weapon Of Choice" video is gleefully fun. It's so good, in fact, that the Fatboy Slim song feels more like it's promoting Walken's dance skills, rather than the other way around.

5. Rage Against The Machine - "Sleep Now In The Fire"

Showing an actual protest performance that RATM did at Wall Street (which managed to briefly close down the New York Stock Exchange in the middle of a trading day), "Sleep Now In The Fire" is pure power. With footage from their show spliced in with that of a fake satirical game show, the video provides a scathing commentary against capitalist structures.

6. Gorlliaz - "Stylo"

This might be the only music video you ever see where a gang of animated rogues take on Bruce Willis in a road fight. And the results are just as wonderful as you can imagine.

7. Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna - "We Found Love"

While I'm personally a much bigger fan of tons more Rihanna songs over this collaboration, the video is powerful, enchanting and also haunting. Showing a troubled relationship gripped by addiction, and featuring a heartbreaking monologue by supermodel Agnyess Deyn, it shows romantic love in all of its delirium and danger.

8. Jamiroquai - "Virtual Insanity"

With "Virtual Insanity", Jamiroquai made dancing across a moving floor look absolutely effortless. The illusions of the moving set beneath his dancing body still hold up to this day.

9. D'Angelo - "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"

I'm a big fan of D'angelo but for whatever reason, never truly connected with this song. I have always loved the video for it though — and not just because he happens to look beyond beautiful in it. It's intimate, tender and completely real, simply revealing a man against a black background, baring his soul.

10. Bright Eyes - "First Day Of My Life"

Providing truly moving glimpses at the lives and relationships of a diverse set of individuals, "First Day Of My Life" is enough to move you to tears if you're in the right mood. There's plenty of heart warming romance, playfulness, heartbreak and joy as we get to see how different people respond to this very song as they listen to it.

11. Daft Punk - "Da Funk"

This is definitely one of those songs in which the video overtakes the music. Showing the everyday life of a dude with a dog head (because, of course) making his way around New York, the "Da Funk" video is weird, funny and utterly charming.

12. Bon Jovi - "Always"

Look, this is by no means a masterpiece or anything, but it is blown out, melodramatic '90s greatness well worth indulging in. Featuring gigantic hairstyles, burning buildings, destroyed paintings and grand romantic gestures, it's basically a trashy '90s drama in music video form.

13. The Chemical Brothers - "Let Forever Be"

Like a synchronised dance routine of old Hollywood movies filmed on a tight budget in an old factory, "Let Forever Be" is simple, sublime and psychedelic.

14. Missy Elliott - "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"

Featuring Missy's now iconic inflated black bag outfit, "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" isn't one of her most standout tracks, but the video absolutely makes it feel like one.

These songs might not be the artist's absolute best but every one of these music videos definitely helps to make them that little bit more loveable.

Images: LadyGagaVEVO;