25 music videos that ruled MTV back in the day

“Thriller” by Michael Jackson was a highly acclaimed music video in its day. After its initial airing in 1983, it was regularly played on MTV, which nearly doubled its sales. Not to mention, the cinematic video is nearly 14 minutes long.

Cyndi Lauper’s music video for her infamous song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” first premiered on MTV in 1983. Through a surprising collaboration, the video featured Lauper's mother and WWE wrestler Captain Lou Albano, who was a dear friend. It was so popular that it won Best Female Video at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards. 

I’d be remiss not to include MTV’s first-ever music video. The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” premiered in 1981 and was an ironic choice given the song’s underlying sentiment. While it didn’t necessarily dominate MTV, it was an iconic start to the station’s success.

Premiering in the early 1990s, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ music video for "Give It Away" became a massive hit. In fact, its presence on MTV greatly helped the band gain mainstream success. 

Unsurprisingly, NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” absolutely dominated MTV during its time. Premiering in 2000, the video's popularity helped them jump-start their career as a boy band. It was an especially influential music video on MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL) countdown.

“Take On Me” by a-ha premiered on MTV in 1985, immediately capturing the hearts of many. This infamous ‘80s hit rose to fame due to its extensive airplay on the station. In fact, it even topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.

Backstreet Boys is yet another iconic boy band from the ‘90s. Their video for “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” did exceptionally well when it premiered on MTV in 1997. In fact, it went on to win the Best Group Video award at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.

Tool’s “Sober” was on heavy rotation on MTV. First premiering in 1993, the song became a major hit. Fans loved its unsettling, slow-motion music video, and it became a staple within its genre.

Destiny’s Child’s "Say My Name" had ample airplay on MTV — and for good reason. The video first premiered on the channel in 2000, where it garnered a ton of positive attention. It even went on to win the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video in 2000.

As one of the most popular ’80s songs, “Hungry Like the Wolf” deserves a spot on this list. Duran Duran’s hit track premiered on MTV (and did extremely well for itself) in early 1983. The music video eventually went on to win the Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video in 1984.

It’s no shock that this popular ‘90s hit ruled MTV back in the day. Radiohead’s “Creep” first debuted on MTV in 1993. The video was frequently played during that time, contributing to the overall success of the song. 

"Everlong" by Foo Fighters gained major traction in the ‘90s, thanks to its humorous and popular music video. The video first aired on MTV in 1997. The following year, it went on to receive a nomination for Best Rock Video at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.

OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” was one of the most iconic songs from the early 2000s. Premiering on MTV in 2003, the music video received widespread acclaim. In fact, it even won Video of the Year at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards.

Missy Elliott’s music video for "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" began playing on MTV in 1997 and soon became part of heavy rotation. It was so well-received and critically acclaimed that it was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards.

Jennifer Lopez’s "If You Had My Love" did exceptionally well on MTV. First airing in 1999, the music video cemented Lopez as a major pop artist. In fact, the video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards. 

“Scream” by Michael and Janet Jackson goes down as the most expensive music video ever made. It’s no shock then that it performed incredibly well on MTV in 1995. Iconically, it was nominated for a record 11 MTV Video Music Awards, ultimately winning three. 

As one of the earlier music videos included on this list, “White Wedding” by Billy Idol was a staple on MTV. Premiering on the channel in 1982, the video helped establish Idol as an artist. Its beloved gothic/vampire aesthetic set it apart from others in rotation.

The Spice Girls dominated the ‘90s with their song “Wannabe.” The music video, however, was just as sensational. Airing on MTV in 1996, it pretty much became an instant hit.

How could I not include this iconic ’90s hit? Britney Spears was known for her legendary, choreographed music videos, and "...Baby One More Time" is no exception. The video aired on MTV in 1998 and contributed to her rise to pop stardom.

No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak” first premiered on MTV in 1996. It was in heavy rotation that year, along with many other alternative rock bands of the time. 

Starting in 1991, “Losing My Religion” received heavy rotation on MTV—and for good reason. R.E.M. gained massive popularity from the video, which went on to receive six awards at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. In fact, it even won Video of the Year. 

Daft Punk’s Michel Gondry-directed music video for “Around the World” received major acclaim on MTV. Airing in 1997, it gained significant exposure for its unique, repetitive choreography. The visual nature of the video has since inspired modern music video aesthetics and production.

Madonna was infamous for her hit single “Like a Virgin.” The original music video for the track began airing on MTV in 1984 and was added to their rotation. It went on to receive three MTV Video Music Award nominations, including Best Choreography, Best Editing, and Best Art Direction.

“Sweet Child o' Mine" by Guns N' Roses became a staple music video on MTV. Airing in 1988, it became extremely successful within a short period. In fact, many fans believe the video is what propelled the band to fame.

You’re probably not shocked that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is on this list. In fact, Nirvana’s hit track — and its iconic music video — performed so well on MTV that it helped the band gain mainstream success. It first aired in 1991, triggering the legendary grunge movement that flourished throughout the ‘90s.