Day two of Madonna week and time to highlight Madonna's best ten film clips. Knowing that Madonna is just as famous for her clips as she is her music, it was hard whittling it down to just 10!
Madonna is the consummate videographer, she doesn't just make film clips, she makes short films. When you talk about artists who make the best clips, you think of names like Michael Jackson, Beyonce and Madonna. With an evolving image, stunning visuals and the Queen of Style, Madonna film clips never disappoint.
Now it was very hard to whittle it down to just ten, so of course there are a few favourable mentions. Runner ups include the elegance of the Spanish inspired, "La Isla Bonita", the stylish Japanese inspired "Rain" and the latest wonderful clip, the matador themed, "Living For Love" - a true return to form.
Here are my top ten film clips, love you to comment below with your own favourite:
10 - Like A Virgin
While the First album had some great clips, it was when Madonna released "Like A Virgin" that she made her first truly iconic film clip. Shot in Venice, Madonna is seen lounging on a gondola through the "streets" of Venice and then in her iconic wedding dress with a lion. It was stylish, beautiful and still impressive all these years later. Classic stuff.
9 - Express Yourself
(Apologises I could only get a live version, not the actual clip) Upon its release it was the most expensive video clip of all time (before being overtaken by MC Hammer, cue the laughs), and it's not hard to see why. The "Express Yourself" clips straddles the very difficult line between style and substance. Based on the classic film, "Metropolis", the clip sees Madonna blurring the gender lines with an amazing dance routine in a men's suit, grabbing her crotch. Then she's also chained to a bed, drinking milk like a cat. It's sexy, it's strong, it's directed by David Fincher. I'm sure I'm going to use the word iconic a lot, and here it is again, an iconic clip from an icon.
8 - Open Your Heart
This may not be in everyone's top ten, but I am massive fan of this clip. Madonna, with some influence from Marlene Dietrich and Liza Minelli, plays an exotic dancer in a peep show. Meanwhile, a young boy tries to get into the club to see Madonna perform. Madonna looks incredible and the clip is amazingly stylish. The clip wonderfully blurred the line between provocative and innocent, a favourite theme of Madonna. A truly great clip.
7 - Hung Up
After the seriousness of the "American Life" album Madonna returned with this very fun clip starring her, an ABBA riff and that now famous pink leotard. The clip is a tribute to John Travolta, but takes on a strong feminist point of view, a woman in control of her moves and sexuality. The thing even more impressive about those extraordinary dance moves is that Madonna had fallen off her horse and had broken ribs. A true professional making a great, fun clip with some fun dance moves.
6 - Justify My Love
Another clip I couldn't get sorry. Now this is a famous Madonna clip, banned from MTV and then put on sale as the first ever video single. It was a cultural phenomenon that everyone was talking about. I remember taking the video to school and watching it secretly in the office AV room with a few friends and a couple of teachers. What was all the fuss about? Now it seems tame compared to what others are doing, but at the time it was ground breaking. A sexy black and white clip set in a hotel, the image of Madonna carrying a suitcase and playfully biting her knuckle is a favourite. This film noir inspired clip is Madonna's favourite, and you can see why.
5 - Frozen
Another stylish short film from Madonna, saw this black and blue clip make us freeze in the desert. Looking stunning in a gothic black dress the clip evokes a haunting feeling, witchcraft with the black dogs and the amazing scene when Madonna is transformed into a murder of crows. The "Ray of Light" saw a new Madonna sound and this clip showed us a new, stunning, adult Madonna. It is still impressive today.
4 - Bad Girl
Two words, Christopher Walken! I adore this classic clip where Madonna plays a high flying corporate exec who is on a self destructive path with booze and one night stands as her guardian angel, Walken, watches on. By the end Madonna takes home the wrong man and is the victim of a killer. Stylish and beautiful, the clip proves that people don't make music videos better than Madonna. I could watch this over and over again.
3 - Love Don't Live Here Anymore
While not one of Madonna's biggest hits, in fact, this cover was first an album track back in 1985 until she re-recorded and released it as a single in 1996. I remember watching this clip for the first time and holding my breath, I was so blown away. It's only one shot, one stunning shot, where the camera moves in closer to Madonna. It's shot in sepia and it's glorious. This clip proves Madonna doesn't need some grand clip to prove her dominance.
2 - Oh Father
This is a truly stunning and beautiful film clip, a tribute to Madonna's mother and her way of trying to get over her mother's death. Beautifully directed by David Fincher (he really seems to get Madonna), this is faultless. There's dual narratives here, a young child has just lost her mother and an adult woman struggles with her relationship. It is harrowing, sad and truly beautiful. I can only gush about this clip, it is in every respect perfect. Please watch it again, now!
1 - Like A Prayer
I've often said my favourite music begins and ends with "Like A Prayer". The song is perfection and so is the controversial clip. It's almost comical now how up in arms people were over this clip which they saw as an attack on religion. Really the clip is about racism with religious connotations, burning crosses, a black saint and Madonna with stigmata on her hands. It is compelling and brilliant and I could just gush all day. This is how a film clip is made and there is a reason why many see this as the best clip of all time!
So what yours favourite Madonna clip? Tell me in the comments below. Join us tomorrow for another countdown in our celebration of Madonna week.
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