Much of what makes a single memorable isn’t actually how it sounds, it’s how it looks. Most of the time, we associate music’s biggest moments with an unforgettable visual to go with. Ask yourself, “what are some of the biggest songs of all time?”, and see if a scene from their respective music video comes to mind.
Unfortunately, as of late, music videos have become less of an event. They come and they go - if they even appear at all. With the streaming era in full effect, singles have a much faster expiry date.
A solution to this isn’t really in sight, but leaving you on that mundane of a note would be criminal! So, let’s reminisce on the good ol’ times with our list of the 9 best electronica videos.
9: “Makes Me Wanna Die,” Tricky (dir. Floria Sigismondi)
There’s nothing particularly crazy about this largely forgotten Tricky music video - but it is beautiful. Maybe this is a little contradictory, speaking of how music videos aren’t that much of a ‘thing’ anymore and then including this cut - but we each contain multitudes - as does this video. “Makes Me Wanna Die” is a Medusa-Wong Kar Wai fever dream come to life - a visual staple of the electronica era.
8: “I Want You”, Madonna and Massive Attack (dir. Earle Sebastian)
Inspired by French new wave cinema, the music video for M&M’s Marvin Gaye cover is beautifully simplistic - seeing Madonna star as a lover waiting impatiently for a phone call, growing increasingly manic. They say she’s not a good actor, but this video suggests otherwise - Madonna would never wait around for anybody. You can learn more about the video’s process, including who popped an E in the presence of the Queen of Pop, here.
7: “Playground Love”, Air (dir. Sofia Coppola)
Okay, maybe this one is cheating. But Air’s soundtrack to Coppola’s debut “The Virgin Suicides” is a match made in eerie heaven. The music video is mostly a compilation of scenes from the movie, with primary footage scattered in, but we don’t care. It’s still iconic… and unsettling.
6: “Ray of Light”, Madonna (dir. Jonas Åkerlund)
“And I feeeeeelaghhhhhhhhhh!” became synonymous with dancefloors upon the release of “Ray of Light.” The music video, directed by visual godfather Jonas Åkerlund, was a hit upon arrival - featuring city timelapses and Kabblahdonna drunkenly emoting. “I didn’t think it was much of an idea, but now I love it”, Åkerlund said. We love it too.
You can read more about the music video in our interview with Åkerlund here.
5: “Bachelorette”, Björk (dir. Michel Gondry)
There are several artistic relationships that remain superior: Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos, Lady Gaga and Nick Knight - and of course, Björk and Michel Gondry. The pair have made a plethora of great videos together, but our personal favourite is “Bachelorette” - which sees Björk star in a dystopian musical. Don’t mix it up with “Dancer in the Dark”, though!
4: “Karmacoma”, Massive Attack (dir. Michel Gondry)
Back to back Gondry entries - he must have loved electronica as much as us! His “Karmacoma” video for Massive Attack was a cinematic feast, paying homage to staples like The Shining, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Beware though, it’s the sort of video you usher the children out of the room for.
3: “korg funk5”, Aphex Twink (dir. Nadia Lee Cohen)
Sometimes the best art happens for absolutely no reason. Photographer to the stars Nadia Lee Cohen released her take on the Aphex Twin deep cut 8 years after its initial release, exclusively on Instagram. The music video is utter bonkers - and left many yearning for the two to collaborate on some kind of visual album.
2: “Strict Machine”, Goldfrapp (dir. Jonas Odell)
If the “Strict Machine” in question contains kaleidoscopic visuals, muscular human huskies, and Alison Goldfrapp twirling in a red chiffon jacket - then we’re in love with it too! Inspired by neuroscience experiments, the music video is a total acid trip. Fitting.
1: “Smack My Bitch Up”, The Prodigy (dir. Jonas Åkerlund)
A re-entry for Åkerlund! “Smack My Bitch Up” is probably one of the most controversial music videos to ever be released, depicting a night out gone heavily wrong (or right.) There’s sex, there’s drugs, there’s prostitutes - it’s hard to believe the BBC refused to play it? Joking.
Åkerlund recalls the experience fondly - shooting in Soho back when permits were a mere laughing matter. “I was writing the idea based on a party night that I had in Copenhagen, thinking that it was a comedy - people are gonna think it was fun,” he says, “Then when it got released, I realised it was serious. People are really upset about this!”
He goes into more detail in our interview here.