10 Inspirational and Creative Music Videos

The problem with a creative mind is you can never actually switch off. You think ‘Ok, work done. Now I’m just going to chill out and watch some TV.’ However, if you are like me, TV time can often lead to you leaping up off the sofa sending your partner crashing to the floor. You rush around trying to find a pen, repeating what ever was on the screen over and over in your head so that you dont forget it. Simply because something on the screen has triggered that creative spark in your brain.

I am forever writing notes and ideas down on any shred of paper I can find. I am always getting in trouble with people at work for tearing adverts out of their magazines. And I have to be the only person I know who actually looks at (and sometimes keeps) the flyers people hand you outside of bars and clubs. Simply because we can pull inspiration from all these everyday things.

Below is a list of 10 Music Videos that have inspired me in one way or another. I’m sure if any of you guys are familiar with any of my work, you will see one or two obvious reflections.

1: Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

This was the debut video for Scottish Band Franz Ferdinand. If you have not heard this song then you must have fallen off the side of the Earth between 2004 and now. The video epitomizes grunge. Using various effects to make the band appear printed. The whole video revolves around old pop-art and media. So many creative moments in this video to choose from.

2: Skepta – Sunglasses At Night

Now, for those of you who are old enough to remember the 80’s (Im not), you may have heard a song of the same title by a Canadian called Corey Hart. Well Skepta has sampled this 1983 hit and put in some simple but catchy lyrics. The video is also simple, and revolves around Skepta dancing in front of various coloured backgrounds, whilst streams of abstract light randomly appear from him. I particularly like the girls eyes right near the start of the video.

3: Example – Watch The Sun Come Up

This is one of my favorite music videos ever. The song by Fulham born Example is definitely on the right side of okay, but the video is simply awesome. Its so clever the way the sketches combine with reality to create a whole new perspective on the scene. Its only been around since September 2009 so if you have not seen it already be sure to check it out.

4: Justin Timberlake – LoveStoned

Ah, everybody loves Mr Timberlake. This quirky video was released mid-2007, and I can remember still remember being wowed the first time I saw it. I love soundwave artwork, so this video was certainly inspirational. You can pretty much press pause at any point during this video, and on the screen will be an image somebody could have spent hours creating in Photoshop.

5: Linkin Park – In the End

This is Linkin Parks massive 2002 hit In The End. Ok, now, I know this video doesn’t really fit in as well as the rest, as the CGI is more 3D modeling. However, I do feel the techniques, such as the vines wrapping around Mike Shinoda could be used to create something of similar greatness using photoshop. Thats my opinion anyway, which is why I put this video in here.

6: Coldplay – Viva La Vida (iTunes Commercial Version)

The version of this video I am referring to is not actually the official video for this Coldplay track. But infact a 2008 TV commercial for iTunes. The video shows an almost silhouetted version of the band performing in front of vibrant lighting effects and coloured smoke. Although it is only 30 seconds long, this is by far one of the most exhilarating pieces of editing I have ever seen. The whole thing just has a massive feel-good factor for the entire duration, and you just can’t seem to take your eyes off it no matter how many times you have seen it.

7: Feeder – Feeling a Moment

This is Feeling A Moment by Welsh rockers Feeder. The video itself is not that brilliant all the way through. So I won’t pretend that it is. But it does have some really beautiful moments. The picture above is my favorite part at 1:40 into the song. The way the building is boxed out along with the road, but the post and the leaves still remain. Feeling a moment was released in 2005 and was voted 98th best song of the year by Q Magazine readers.

8: Muse – Plug In Baby

I am a huge Muse fan, and I believe anybody who appreciates a decent guitar riff will love this intro. Released in early 2001 Plug In Baby made its way onto our screens via channels like MTV2, and in between Matt Bellamy tearing the frets off his guitar there is some serious CGI trickery in this video. Most of it is crammed into the end minute or so though. So if your not a fan of the Alternative Genre you may turn it off before you see any of it lol.

9: Incubus – Drive

Drive, like Incubus, was massive. I was still in school when it was released in 2001, and I can remember just listening to it over and over and over. The video is exceptionally clever, combining the band footage with sketch animation. I found the idea of drawing yourself from a first person perspective very interesting. As if you could just pick a pen up, and turn yourself into a drawing. Though I know the reality of it is you will just spend about 5 hours trying to wash biro pen off your forehead.

10: Justice – DVNO

Typography fans rejoice. For we have found a video dedicated to exactly that. Justice brings you DVNO. The song was officially released in 2008, but did feature in Hitman, and briefly on a TV commercial for the Discovery Channel in 2007. Band memnber Xavier De Rosnay claims that DVNO actually stands for Divino, and the theory behind it is, most cities ‘apparently’ has a nightclub called El Divino. Maybe he just loves Ibiza a little bit too much. Who knows. But the video is stunning, and if your ever short of inspiration this is definitely the one to watch!

So there you have it. Hopefully these will help with that creative spark we all struggle to find at times! If you can think of a video be sure to let us know in the comments. Thank you for taking the time to visit.