Best music videos of the 90s and 00s
MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This (1990)
MC Hammer defined the decade just as it was beginning with this music video!
Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (1990)
You can tell this video is on the cusp of the 80s and the 90s!
TLC - No Scrubs (1992)
When you think of late 90s music videos, you think of the inside of a cheese grater. Seriously, go and look for yourself and then come back. TLC – No Scrubs is exactly this! PLUS iconic 90s outfits.
Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box (1993)
Shortly after the video released, Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain passed away. This is the last music video he made, and the visuals depict what he was feeling at the time. This video will forever go down in music video history.
Blur – Parklife (1994)
Could this be any more English? We love it.
Green Day - Basket Case (1994)
There’s so much saturation in this video.
Beastie Boys – Sabotage (1994)
Spike Jonze's music video acted as a parody of '70s cop shows and it’s perfect.
Peter Andre - Mysterious Girl (1995)
How could we not leave this one here... Did someone say abs?
Spice Girls – Wannabe (1996)
Who didn’t love the Spice Girls? My brother was more obsessed than I was, and this video is probably why.
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (1996)
Revolutionary for its time. Don’t worry, that isn’t a bug on your screen.
2Pac - Hit 'Em Up (1996)
Explicit warning. This diss track was aimed at Biggie Smalls, and is one of the best rap videos ever made to be honest.
Daft Punk – Around the World (1997)
This has Daft Punk written all over it, plus there are skeleton men. What more could you ask for?
Fatboy Slim - Praise You (1998)
Supposedly too weird to air at first, people thought it was hilarious, and it holds up today, probably inspiration for that Napoleon Dynamite dance scene.
Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time (1998)
Britney Spears remains the pop princess to this day, and a pop princess is always equipped with an amazing 90s video, filled with colour, classic Britney dance moves and swimming with style.
Destiny's Child - Say My Name (1999)
Talk about colour co-ordination, Destiny’s Child take it up a notch matching each of their outfits to the room they’re in. That is until they start to blend into one, alluding to the man cheating on them.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (1999)
Become immersed in a super old style video game in Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Californication.
Eminem - Stan (Long Version) ft. Dido (2000)
With one of the greatest rap songs to accompany, the video for Eminem’s Stan is heartbreaking, raw and has gone down in music video history.
Shaggy - It Wasn't Me (2000)
We’re not sure if it’s Rikrok singing his part to the camera in a therapist chair or the calculator phone, either way it has the turn of the century written all over it.
Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag (2000)
Starring the guy from American Pie just makes this even better. Plus the hats are just everything.
Afroman - Because I Got High (2000)
Jay and Silent Bob + Afroman = talent.
Westlife - Uptown Girl (2000)
We just love it when the underdogs win!
P!nk - Get The Party Started (2001)
Punk rock, punk style, and peephole camera tricks. That‘s all.
P!nk - Don't Let Me Get Me (2001)
P!nk definitely had some of the best videos of the 00’s, but this one definitely tips the scales.
Smash Mouth - All Star (2001)
Two words: Ben Stiller.
Busted - Crashed The Wedding (2002)
So what happens when your band is actually every member of your wedding? Well, this is what happens.
Nelly – Dilemma (2002)
Another new texting device, this time, Kelly Rowland uses excel to send her latest updates...
Blue - One Love (2002)
This is just a gateway video for all boybands, it must be included.
Jennifer Lopez - Jenny from the Block (2002)
If you grew up in the 2000s, this will probably be a very memorable video for you. Or if you’re a fan of J-Lo, this is where it all began.
The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army (2003)
We recommend watching this in full screen mode for the full effect.
Blu Cantrell – Breathe (2003)
The blue backdrop just screams summer, and this song always sneaks its way onto our summer playlist because of this video (and the fact that the song is great).
50 Cent - In Da Club (2003)
Can you hang upside down from the ceiling like this? Didn’t think so.
The Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love? (2003)
Heartbreaking, this video really makes you think about the world we live in. One of the greatest of the early 2000s.
Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell (2004)
This looks like it was made with PowerPoint, but let's be honest the best visuals are made on PowerPoint.
D12 - My Band ft. Cameo (2004)
D12 getting fed up of Eminem and his entitled a** for five minutes and 35 seconds. Plus salsa...
Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For? (2004)
Very mad-hatter, very white rabbit. This is what happens when Gwen Stefani falls into wonderland.
N.E.R.D. - She Wants To Move (2004)
Inspired by Queen, N.E.R.D. takes us to another dimension in She Wants To Move.
Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (2005)
Don’t believe the hype. Or, do. Whatever.
Panic! At The Disco: I Write Sins Not Tragedies (2005)
This epic music video from the noughties is just the epitome of 2000s punk rock music, and Brendon Urie acting as the groom’s conscience is bound to end in mischief.
The Black Eyed Peas - Don't Phunk With My Heart (2005)
Great for people who love gameshows, this music video gives us a bit of drama, comedy and Will.i.am on a horse.
Cassie - Me & U (2006)
Cassie dancing in front of a mirror for 3 minutes = perfection
Lily Allen – Alfie (2006)
Before Theon Greyjoy was cast on Game of Thrones, Alfie Allen was chilling in his room playing X-Box ^
Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own (2006)
Winehouse makes her way down Hollywood Blvd and in a dim motel room, which alludes to the type of room she would wait for her husband-to-be Blake Fielder-Civil to arrive. It was the second to last music video Winehouse filmed before her passing.
P!nk - Stupid Girls (2006)
That spray tan scene just reminds us of Ross getting a spray tan in Friends... The whole video is just hilarious, with a great message.
Fall Out Boy - Thnks fr th Mmrs (2007)
Thanks for the Memories, Fall out Boy, this video really takes us back! Also Kim Kardashian.
Chris Brown - With You (2007)
Chris Brown’s dance moves deserve a place on the list, but the artistic shots in this video are just so 2000. We love.
Calvin Harris - Acceptable in the 80's (2007)
This 2007 Calvin Harris hit shows us what was acceptable in the 80s – do you agree?
Soulja Boy Tell'em - Crank That (2007)
The music video that created a new dance move for a generation. It’s ICONIC.
The All-American Rejects - Gives You Hell (2007)
Not me thinking they were two different people this whole time... Gives You Hell is the perfect throwback, and with a hilarious video and an upbeat tune to go with it, you can’t go wrong.
Mariah Carey - Touch My Body (2008)
*Greets guest in lingerie* = guest is dreaming. Obviously.
Britney Spears – Womanizer (2008)
Britney totally fooled us with those wigs...
Flo Rida - Low (feat. T-Pain) (2008)
Featuring Step-Up 2 scenes – see if you can spot Channing Tatum...
Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me (2008)
The best part of this video is Calvin Harris explaining his part to the camera, isn’t it?
Kid Cudi vs. Crookers - Day 'n' Night (2008)
Remix to the classic, the video was actually better 2nd time round! Featuring a superstore + strange customers. We love it.
Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (2008)
All the single ladies, the dance video that defined Beyonce’s style forever, is still epic today. Highly recommend you *try* and learn this dance.
Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl (2008)
When we think of Katy Perry, our memories take us all the way back to the I Kissed A Girl single. Another notable Katy Perry song and video to mention is Hot n Cold – chasing after your almost-husband is just too hilarious not to include.
Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me (2009)
Taylor totally fooled us with that wig. I swear I'm not being sarcastic.
Ke$ha - TiK ToK (2009)
Iconic Ke$ha, this song and video introduced us to a whole new era of music videos.
Mariah Carey – Obsessed (2009)
When Eminem made their relationship known to the public, Mariah fought back with this epic insult video for Obsessed where she dressed up as Em, adding a goatee for extra fuel to the fire!
Agree with our list? Check out our favourite BBC Radio One Live Lounge covers for more music recommendations! Want the latest TV news and updates? Be sure to follow our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, and sign up to our weekly newsletter below!
Freesat Editorial Team
