The first video clips appeared in the 1920s, simultaneously with sound cinematography. However, the form in which clips are familiar to modern viewers was acquired in 1964 with the beginning of the broadcast of the hit parade of the week Top of the Pops on the popular BBC channel.
Today, music videos are available on popular music channels and on the Internet. Artists spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on filming to make a lasting impression on the viewer. The Most Expensive Music Videos in History entered our top ten today.
10. Heartbreaker 1999 – $2.5 million
The music video for Mariah Carey's Heartbreaker was filmed in collaboration with rapper Jay-Z. A significant portion of the production budget went toward creating a digital avatar of Jay-Z, as he was unable to physically attend the shoot.
The singer plays two different women in the video, and the meaning of the song is that the heroine returns again and again to her beloved man, who cheats on her and breaks her heart.
After its release on August 16, 1999, the Heartbreaker video became a hit not only in the United States, but also in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, and New Zealand. Its success made Mariah Carey the only female artist to release hits every year throughout the 1990s.
9. 1998 Victory – $2.7 million
The song "Victory," performed by rapper Puff Daddy (Sean John Combs), was written by the genius trio of The Notorious B.I.G., Jason Phillips, and Stephen Jordan.
Puff Daddy spent $2.7 million to produce the video, a high cost that included helicopters, a truck, and pyrotechnics. Although celebrities like Dennis Hopper and Danny DeVito appear in the video, they reportedly did it for free as a favor to Combs.
8. Cartoon Heroes 2000 – $3.5 million
Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua spent an estimated $3.5 million on the song Cartoon Heroes, which was included on their second studio album Aquarius.
The song was released as a retail single on January 31, 2000. In Denmark, "Cartoon Heroes" was certified platinum within 48 hours of its release. The song became the country's best-selling single of 2000. It also topped the charts in Italy, Norway, and Spain, and reached the top 10 in at least nine other countries, including Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
7. Black or White 1991 – $4 million
Released by Epic Records in November 1991, Black or White was written by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Among the other expensive videos Jackson recorded and produced during his music career, this was one of the most notable.
When Black or White aired on national television, it received nearly 500 million views, making it the highest-rated video on Fox. The song became one of the top 10 best-selling singles of 1991 in the United States, and Jackson won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video for the video.
Actors Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone and its sequels), George Wendt (The Cheers, Fletch, etc.) and Tess Harper (The Jackal, No Country for Old Men, Breaking Bad, etc.) took part in the filming of the video.
6. Make Me Like You 2016 – $4 million
Gwen Stefani is one of the biggest stars in the music industry. And most of the money spent on her music videos goes towards quickly changing costumes and artistic sets. Stefani reportedly spent $4 million on the Make Me Like You video.
The song is featured on her third studio album, This Is What The Truth Feels Like, which was released in 2016. The video went viral on social media and livestreams. In the US, the single stayed at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks straight.
5. Estranged 1993 – $5 million (according to other sources – $4 million)
The band Guns N' Roses is known for making expensive music videos since the beginning of their career. The Estranged video, however, broke all records as its production cost was $5 million according to The Richest and $4 million according to Wikipedia.
The band spent over $2 million on their previous single, November Rain. But while filming Estranged, the team realized they wanted to incorporate fresh elements into their creation, like dolphins and walking on water, without breaking the bank. The video also earned critical acclaim for its excellent graphics.
4. Bedtime Story 1995 – $5 million
Michael Jackson was truly the King of Pop, and Madonna is worthy of the title of Queen. And like a true Queen, she spares no expense when it comes to creating a masterpiece.
The single, written by Björk, Nellee Hooper and Marius De Vries and produced by Maverick Records, was one of the most expensive music videos in history. It had the same name as the album, which was released in 1994, because it was intended as a promotional video.
The song's rhythm is hardly danceable, and its lyrics are not typical of Madonna's work, which usually focuses on carnal pleasures and material things. As a result, the single failed in the American market, although it received a warmer reception in the UK and Australia.
3. Express Yourself, 1989 – $5 million
Another super-expensive music video by Madonna, it was inspired by the 1927 German film Metropolis, directed by Fritz Lang.
The song was first performed at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. And the "voguing" style in which Madonna and her two backing vocalists danced later became a famous dance style.
2. Die Another Day (2002) – $6.1 million
The song may have received mixed reviews from music critics, but it certainly served its purpose, becoming one of the most popular songs among casual listeners.
The video received a Grammy nomination and its popularity was partly due to its inspiration from the James Bond franchise.
1. Scream 1995 – $7 million
The collaboration between Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson became an instant sensation and entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive music video ever made. Another important aspect of this video release was its premiere on ABC Primetime Live.
The lion's share of the $7 million went toward the extensive props used in the video. But the success of the 13-minute monochrome clip has more than made up for the cost.
The single entered the top 5 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It topped the charts in Hungary, Finland and New Zealand, became number one on the European Hot 100 chart, and was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Vocal Collaboration.
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