The Top 50 Music Videos of the 1990s (that Pitchfork missed)

Sure, when you’re compiling a list of the best music videos from the ’90s it’s wise to include the high spots from Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry & Chris Cunningham’s careers, but there’s a little more to the decade’s music video output than indie aesthetic… Take “Weird Al,” for instance: did Pitchfork find space for him on their recent Top 50 Music Videos of the 1990s list? Nope. Fiona Apple followed by Massive Attack followed by Ice Cube followed by Spiritualized; that’s what they’re bringing to the table. But don’t get me wrong: despite its predictability, the list is great. That said, it’s missing a few things here and there… so consider this to be a supplemental list offering suggestions which should be considered the next time anyone chooses to compile a breakdown of the best music videos from a decade which produced some classics. If nothing else, at least one of these should have made Pitchfork’s list… I mean, what would the ’90s be without Primus, anyways?

2Pac feat. Dr. Dre “California Love”

AC/DC “Thunderstruck”

Aerosmith “Crazy”

B-Real, Coolio, Method Man, LL Cool J & Busta Rhymes “Hit Em High”

Beastie Boys “Intergalactic”

David Bowie feat. Nine Inch Nails “I’m Afraid of Americans”

Garth Brooks “Standing Outside The Fire”

Mariah Carey “Honey”

The Cranberries “Salvation”

Cypress Hill “Dr. Greenthumb”

Dinosaur Jr. “Feel The Pain”

Eels “Last Stop: This Town”

Eminem feat. Dr. Dre “Guilty Conscience”

Fun Lovin’ Criminals “Scooby Snacks”

Guns N’ Roses “Estranged”

Guns N’ Roses “November Rain”

Michael Jackson feat. Janet Jackson “Scream”

Wyclef Jean feat. Pras & John Forté “We Trying To Stay Alive”

Jeru The Damaja “Ya Playin’ Yaself”

Lenny Kravitz “Are You Gonna Go My Way?”

Madonna “Frozen”

Marilyn Manson “The Beautiful People”

Marilyn Manson “Dope Hat”

Metallica “Until It Sleeps”

Mr. Oizo “Flat Beat”

Nada Surf “Popular”

Nine Inch Nails “The Perfect Drug”

Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Ma$e “Mo Money Mo Problems”

Pearl Jam “Do The Evolution”

Pearl Jam “Jeremy”

Iggy Pop “Lust For Life”

The Presidents of the United States of America “Peaches”

Primus “Wynonna’s Big Brown Beaver”

The Prodigy “Smack My Bitch Up”

Puff Daddy & the Family feat. Notorious B.I.G. & Ma$e “Been Around The World”

R.E.M. “Losing My Religion”

Radiohead “Street Spirit (Fade Out)”

Red Hot Chili Peppers “Love Rollercoaster”

Refused “New Noise”

Rollins Band “Liar”

The Roots “What They Do”

Smashing Pumpkins “Tonight, Tonight”

Sonic Youth “100%”

Stardust “Music Sounds Better With You”

Supergrass “Pumping On Your Stereo”

System of a Down “Sugar”

TLC “Waterfalls”

Tool “Sober”

Tool “Stinkfist”

“Weird Al” Yankovic “Jurassic Park”

Pitchfork’s list of The Top 50 Music Videos of the 1990s

50. PJ Harvey “Man-Size” [dir: Maria Mochnacz; 1993]
49. Beck “Loser” [dir: Steve Hanft; 1993]
48. Frank Black “Headache” [dir: Adam Bernstein; 1994]
47. Ol’ Dirty Bastard feat. Kelis “Got Your Money” [dir: Nzingha Stewart/Scott Kalvert/ Hype Williams/ Durville Martin; 1999]
46. The Verve “Bittersweet Symphony” [dir: Walter Stern; 1997]
45. Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dog “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” [dir: Andre Young; 1992]
44. Wilco “Outtasight (Outta Mind)” [dir: Bill Fishman; 1997]
43. Snoop Doggy Dog “Gin & Juice” [dir: Dr. Dre; 1994]
42. Sonic Youth “Dirty Boots” [dir: Tamra Davis; 1991]
41. Lauryn Hill “Everything Is Everything” [dir: Sanji; 1999]
40. Fiona Apple “Criminal” [dir: Mark Romanek; 1997]
39. Massive Attack “Protection” [dir: Michel Gondry; 1995]
38. Ice Cube “It Was a Good Day” [dir: F. Gary Gray; 1993]
37. Spiritualized “Come Together” [dir: Baillie Walsh; 1998]
36. Chris Isaak “Wicked Game” [dir: Herb Ritts; 1991]
35. The Chemical Brothers “Elektrobank” [dir: Spike Jonze; 1997]
34. Air “Kelly Watch the Stars” [dir: Mike Mills; 1998]
33. A Tribe Called Quest feat. Leaders of the New School & Busta Rhymes “Scenario” [dir: Jim Swaffield; 1992]
32. Busta Rhymes “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” [dir: Hype Williams/ Busta Rhymes; 1997]
31. Cibo Matto “Sugar Water” [dir: Michel Gondry; 1996]
30. Squarepusher “Come on My Selector” [dir: Chris Cunningham; 1998]
29. The Smashing Pumpkins “1979″ [dir: Jonathan Dayton/ Valerie Faris; 1996]
28. Jamiroquai “Virtual Insanity” [dir: Jonathan Glazer; 1996]
27. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” [dir: Samuel Bayer; 1991]
26. Foo Fighters “Big Me” [dir: Jesse Peretz; 1996]
25. Pavement “Cut Your Hair” [dir: Dan Koretzky/ Ryan Murphy; 1994]
24. The Pharcyde “Drop” [dir: Spike Jonze; 1995]
23. Wu-Tang Clan “Triumph” [dir: Brett Ratner; 1997]
22. Sinead O’ Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” [dir: John Maybury; 1990]
21. Radiohead “Just” [dir: Jamie Thraves; 1995]
20. Nine Inch Nails “Closer” [dir: Mark Romanek; 1994]
19. Notorious B.I.G. feat. 112 “Sky’s the Limit” [dir: Spike Jonze; 1997]
18. Beck “Devil’s Haircut” [dir: Mark Romanek; 1996]
17. Foo Fighters “Everlong” [dir: Michel Gondry; 1997]
16. Pulp “This Is Hardcore” [dir: Doug Nichol; 1998]
15. Daft Punk “Around the World” [dir: Michel Gondry; 1997]
14. Blur “Coffee + TV” [dir: Garth Jennings; 1999]
13. Nirvana “In Bloom” [dir: Kevin Kerslake; 1992]
12. Yo La Tengo “Sugarcube” [dir: Phil Morrison; 1997]
11. Aphex Twin “Windowlicker” [dir: Chris Cunningham; 1999]
10. Missy Elliott “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” [dir: Hype Williams; 1997]
9. Björk “All Is Full of Love” [dir: Chris Cunningham; 1999]
8. UNKLE feat. Thom Yorke “Rabbit in Your Headlights” [dir: Jonathan Glazer; 1998]
7. The Chemical Brothers “Let Forever Be” [dir: Michel Gondry; 1999]
6. Fatboy Slim “Praise You” [dir: Richard Koufey and the Torrance Community Dance Group; 1998]
5. The Beastie Boys “Sabotage” [dir: Spike Jonze; 1994]
4. Björk “Bachelorette” [dir: Michel Gondry; 1997]
3. Daft Punk “Da Funk” [dir: Spike Jonze; 1997]
2. Weezer “Buddy Holly” [dir: Spike Jonze; 1994]
1. Aphex Twin “Come to Daddy” [dir: Chris Cunningham; 1997]

(Additional videos noted in the introductory paragraph: Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time,” Folk Implosion’s “Natural One,” Danzig’s “Mother” & Green Jelly’s “Three Little Pigs.”)