MORE MUSIC VIDEOS

2Pac and Dr. Dre: "California Love"
1996
Directed by Hype Williams


Three minutes and 19 seconds into the "California Love" video, there's a shot of Tupac Shakur slapping hands with Dr. Dre and managing to look badass while doing a butt-dance. In that brief moment, Tupac transcended the video's cheesed-out concept and showed the raw, furious, defiant charisma that made him rap's messiah. But then, as cheesed-out video-concepts go, "California Love" is pretty much perfectly conceived and executed: California as post-apocalyptic dancefloor warzone, Mad Max's Thunderdome as future-club, Roger Troutman leaning coked-up out of a helicopter with a voicebox chord sticking out of his mouth, Dr. Dre in an eyepatch. Hype Williams has the decency to shoot this monstrosity in the same bleached-out grainy film stock as the movies he's parodying, and even Chris Tucker manages not to fuck this one up. "California Love" is the greatest rap video ever made.

Journey: "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)"
1983
Directed by Tom Buckholtz
Can be found on Journey: Greatest Hits DVD 1978-1997: Music Videos & Live Performances DVD


The guys playing air keys had to be in on the joke, but Steve Perry looks like he's auditioning for On the Waterfront.

David Brent: "If You Don't Know Me By Now"

2003
Directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Can be found on The Office: Christmas Special DVD





To explain the joke is to ruin the joke. If you don't know David Brent by now, you will never never never know him.



(No you won't.)

Air: "Kelly Watch the Stars"
1998
Directed by Mike Mills
Can be found on Talkie Walkie Japanese import CD/DVD


Crazy how so much kitsch-- slo-mo ping-pong, retro couture, acoustic guitars, out-of-body experiences, French people, and Pong for crissakes-- coalesces into a superlatively fun and surprise-filled play on the tired sports nail-biter. Doesn't hurt any that Kelly is totally crushworthy.

Björk: "Triumph of a Heart"
2005
Directed by Spike Jonze
Can be found on Triumph of a Heart DVD


It's that same old song: Girl is vaguely but essentially dissatisfied with cat; girl leaves cat and goes out for night of debauchery and soul-searching; soul-searching turns into a cappella orgy and bruises to the forehead; cat (who has undoubtedly been peering into his soul as well) picks up girl from the side of the road, immediately recognizing the passionate young pixie he fell for all those year ago; couple basks in renewed love and performs dance of happiness (and also cat becomes huge). Love is the answer.