Music video history
Here is in my opinion some of the most iconic music videos of all time. I will look at these videos and try to pick out some of the key points that make them so good, I will then try and incorporate some of these into my own video.

Johnny Cash- Hurt
Released in 2002 Johnny Cash's cover of the Nine Inch Nails track tries to capture the essence of Cash by using different photos of him from through out his life. Director Mark Romanek also uses clips showing Jesus Christ to represent Cash's devout christianity. The use of rotting fruit really signifys Johnny's detiorating health, the video became even more poignient with the death of Cash coming just seven months after its release.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go&safe=active

Bloodhound Gang- The bad touch
A very controversial video at the time, the uncut version icludes references to zoophilia, sex and homophobia it could also be deemed offensive to the French. Shot in Paris the video shows the band dressed in Monkey suits running around and pulling some stunts in the city of Paris. Even though the video is quite a simple concept it is still one of the most recognisable videos of all time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xat1GVnl8-k&safe=active                              

 Weezer- Buddy Holly
Weezer's Buddy Holly shows clips from the hit American TV show Happy days with he band performing at Arnold's drive in. The video combines contemporary clips from the band with clips from he show. A cameo appearance from Al Molinaro and a body double of the Fonz allowed them to look as thought they were actually in the show. The video wrote its self into the history books winning four awards at the MTV awards. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4&safe=active

Foo Fighters- Everlong 
Director Michael Gondry's video actually lasts longer than the original track so the song was edited to last the same time. It is a surreal, satirical parody video including themes from Evil Dead. The video also shows clips from the band playing with Taylor Hawkins on drums when in actual fact it was Dave Grohl. It was nominated for the best rock video at the 1998 MTV awards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBG7P-K-r1Y&safe=active

Michael Jackson- Thriller
Probably the most iconic music video of all time, Michael Jacksons original video is made as if it was a short film. Including parodies from 'An American Werewolf in London' and other horror classics the video mixes classic Jackson dance routines with the horror of a thriller film. The video received two Grammys and four MTV awards including the '100 greatest videos of all time'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA&safe=active
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG6oy46qKE4&safe=active