20 iconic songs that deserved better music videos

Fans seemed to love Kanye West’s “Bound 2” because the production reminded them of his older work. While the song lyrically finds West realizing how much a woman is tired of trying to find love, the video itself is mostly a scene with West and his ex-wife Kim Kardashian topless, riding on his motorcycle through different landscapes. The video ended up being parodied on episodes of South Park and Saturday Night Live. 

In 2005, James Blunt released his breakout single “You’re Beautiful,” which tells the story of a man seeing his ex-girlfriend on a subway with her new partner. Although they locked eyes and smiled at each other, Blunt realizes he’s still infatuated with her even though he knows they could never be together again. In the music video, Blunt is seen overlooking the ocean before he removes his clothes and jumps in when he realizes he can’t be with his ex anymore. 

In 1998, electronic group Eiffel 65 released their hit single “Blue (Da Ba Dee).” The song tells the story of a character who lives in a blue world, where everything he sees and possesses has that color, from his house to his car, and the streets and trees. In the music video, group member Jeffrey Jay is abducted by blue-colored aliens while performing at a concert. Jay tries to fight the aliens away, and the video ends with the aliens performing with his group. NME listed the visual on its list of “50 Worst Music Videos Ever.”

Mariah Carey worked with The-Dream and Tricky Stewart on her 2009 single “H.A.T.E.U.,” an acronym meaning “Having A Typical Emotion Upset.” The track finds Carey reminiscing on a relationship turned sour and her desire to release herself from the emotions she’s left with. The music video was simplistic as it showed Carey singing along the beach, and it seemed like a missed opportunity to truly showcase the story of relationship woes. 

In 2010, pop rock band Maroon 5 released “Misery” as the lead single of their third album Hands All Over. On the track, lead vocalist Adam Levine describes the ups and downs in a relationship, especially when he realizes their bond might be fading away. In the music video, model Anna Vyalitsyna plays Levine’s girlfriend, who initially seems to have sexual tension, but then she’s doing everything in her power to assault and injure Levine. 

In Billie Eliish’s 2024 hit single “Birds of a Feather,” she expresses how the love and commitment she has for her partner should last until they’re no longer alive, basically the only thing that could pull them apart would be their deaths. While it is a love song, the video showcases Eilish in an office building and being dragged around by invisible forces. It seemed like the video was a missed opportunity to showcase a love story that would match the song’s lyrics.  

In 2012, rock band Imagine Dragons released their breakout single “Radioactive,” a track that highlights how people are looking for a change or an awakening in a world that seems to bring them down. In the music video, the group members are held captive at a puppet-fighting ring, before being saved by their friend at the end. 

When rapper Drake released his 2009 single “Best I Ever Had” from his critically-acclaimed mixtape So Far Gone, fans instantly knew that would be a song that would push him into more mainstream status. Since it was a breakout hit for Drake, fans had high expectations for the music video, especially since the rapper confirmed it would be directed by Kanye West. Although Drake uses the song to praise his lover and describe his infatuation for her, the music video showcases him as the coach of a women’s basketball team who loses a game even after Drake gives them a pep talk. 

On Katy Perry’s 2014 single “Birthday,” she uses double entrendres to reference a sexual rendezvous in celebration of a partner’s birthday. As she sings on the hook, “Boy, when you're with me, I'll give you a taste / Make it like your birthday every day.” However, in the music video, Perry is seen working as a birthday entertainer in disguise, such as an animal trainer at a kid’s party, and a burlesque woman at an elderly party. These were real parties that Perry worked at, and the attendees had no idea it was her as the entertainer. 

On Justin Bieber’s 2020 single “Yummy,” the singer is describing the infatuation he has for his partner. However, the music video doesn’t show a love story at all, it showcases Bieber at a dinner party and eating different foods before turning the party into a dance session. 

Rock band Starship might have released their hit single “We Built This City” back in 1985 but it’s one of those songs that still gets major rotation even decades later. The music video is filled with low-budget computer graphics and images of notable monuments across the world. 

By the time Miley Cyrus released her fourth album Bangerz, the singer was moving away from her Disney channel image and into a provocative look that took some fans and critics by surprise. On her single “Wrecking Ball,” Cyrus describes how she threw herself into a relationship that she desired, but her partner ultimately destroyed what they built. In the music video, Cyrus is seen scantily clad while swinging on a wrecking ball. Surprisingly, Cyrus won Video of the Year at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. 

“Dancing in the Street” was a song made popular by girl group Martha and the Vandellas back in 1964. However, other artists released their own covers of the song, including David Bowie and Mick Jagger, releasing their version two decades later. While their version gives more of rock sound, the music video itself showcases the two legends literally dancing in the street, which some viewers and critics deemed as cheesy. 

In 2006, girl group Danity Kane released their second single “Ride For You,” a track in which the members give the perspective of a woman realizing her relationship is going through a rough patch, but she’s willing to show resiliency and commitment through the tough times. The song would’ve hit home even further if the music video showed the girls going through relationship woes, instead of strolling around the city during multiple weather conditions.  

While Harry Styles’ 2017 single “KIWI” highlights a seductive woman who ends up having a one night stand and gets pregnant, the music video doesn’t depict this story at all. Instead, the video shows a group of kids at school having a food fight. 

Hoobastank’s 2003 single “The Reason” gives a perspective of a man who regrets the harm and heartache he caused his loved ones, and although he isn’t perfect, he’s ready to change and become a better person. However, the music video shows the group members staging a car accident to distract people as they carry out a heist of a local pawnshop. 

In 1994, R&B singer Aaron Hall released his biggest hit to date with “I Miss You.” Although the song finds Hall expressing how much he misses his partner who’s moved on to someone else, the video can be a bit traumatizing and sad to viewers as it showcases Hall's partner losing her life as she gives birth to their child. 

Daniel Bedingfield took the dance genre by storm when he released his debut 2001 single “Gotta Get Thru This.” On the track, Bedingfield expresses the infatuation and longing he has for a potential partner that he wants to pursue, and realizes he needs to get control over his emotions. In the music video, Bedingfield is seen cruising around a city before meeting a lover at the end of the video. 

Olivia O’Brien’s 2020 single “Now” finds the singer describing a relationship that went wrong and how her ex-partner ruined their potential due to his infidelities. In the music video, O’Brien is first seen as a TikTok influencer giving viewers advice on how they need to move on from a relationship that is no longer serving them. The video then showcases O’Brien going through different phases of heartache, like catching her partner in the act, and then attempting to change her looks. 

Monica is longing for a relationship in which her partner is supportive, uplifting, patient, and consistent, as evidenced by her 2019 single properly titled “Commitment.” While the song focuses more on the good sides of love, the music video shows how ugly and violent love can be. The video begins with Monica walking into a bar and catching her partner on a date with another woman, she then shoots him and sings the rest of the song while in jail.