10 Music Videos That Shaped Me

### 10. *Wannabe* – Spice Girls

**The music video that made girl power global.**

The first time I saw this video, I didn’t even know who they were—but I knew they were *something*. They came in loud, confident, and totally unbothered. It was silly, catchy, wild, and bursting with personality. This video introduced a cultural moment that never really left.

### 9. *If You Had My Love* – Jennifer Lopez

**The music video that made pop futuristic and fierce.**

Every time the breakdown hit, I’d be right there trying to do her dance moves. It was sleek, digital, and ahead of its time. This wasn’t just a debut—it was a launch.

### 8. *Work It Out* – Beyoncé

**The music video that sealed a superstar's arrival.**

This video holds special meaning. I knew with this video that she was going to be a bonafide star. I taped it and rewound it so many times. It was sultry, soulful, high energy—and no one works a hula hoop better. My favorite song of hers, believe it or not.

### 7. *The Boy Is Mine* – Brandy & Monica

**The music video that made drama feel iconic.**

Two of the biggest acts in music together—it felt like an R\&B showdown. The looks, the mood, the tension—it all still holds up. And now that they’re finally touring together? Full circle.

### 6. *Sledgehammer* – Peter Gabriel

**The music video that turned imagination loose.**

This was pure visual invention. I used to wait all day watching MTV just to catch it. The animation was fun, surreal, and totally unique—like watching cartoons, but cooler.

### 5. *Remember the Time* – Michael Jackson

**The music video that made a premiere feel like a holiday.**

I watched this the night it premiered on FOX with my aunt. I was five, already obsessed with MJ, and had the album (my favorite of his). This was a movie, not just a video.

### 4. *Opposites Attract* – Paula Abdul

**The music video that blurred reality and animation.**

I almost feel the same about this as *Sledgehammer*. I thought that cat was real—no one could tell me otherwise. It was fun, charming, and totally unforgettable.

### 3. *Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See* – Busta Rhymes

**The music video that turned rap into visual art.**

I had never seen a rapper bring this kind of cinematic vision. The lighting, the color, the camera work—it was bold, surreal, and a total standout. Busta and Hype Williams made magic.

### 2. *Rhythm Nation* – Janet Jackson

**The music video that became a movement.**

This wasn’t just a video—it was a short film, a mission statement. Cinematic, powerful, and choreographed to perfection. Janet led with precision and purpose. Nothing else has come close.

### 1. *Thriller* – Michael Jackson

**The music video that changed everything.**

It scared me when I was younger, but it also felt like a movie. I knew—even as a kid—that I was seeing something unlike anything else. And even though it was nearly a decade old by then, it felt like it was happening *now*. No one did it like MJ.

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**Final Thought**

Music videos were more than just promo clips—they were visual experiences that defined eras, pushed creativity, and helped raise me. These ten still live rent-free in my mind.