Yesterday we brought you the news that the Beastie Boys are re-teaming with director Spike Jonze for a new music video.
We’ll have to wait and see whether the new video will reach “Sabotage” levels of awesomeness. The director’s delivered more than his share of entertaining music videos in the past, so we’re confident that he and the Beasties have something good up their sleeves. In the meantime, tide yourself over with 15 of our favorite Spike Jonze-directed music videos.
15. Weezer, “Island in the Sun”
Rivers Cuomo serenades a bear cub. The band flies kites. A chimp flies through the air. We all go, “Aww…”
14. Sonic Youth, “100%”
We could make an entire list of Jonze’s skateboard videos. In addition to an awesomely ‘90s sea of flannel shirts, this music video features a young Jason Lee cruising around on a skateboard.
13. The Chemical Brothers, “Elektrobank”
Sofia Coppola stars as a young gymnast who finds herself in a Kerri Strug-esque situation.
12. The Breeders, “Cannonball”
Kim Gordon co-directed this trippy video, which features Kim Deal singing underwater as a cannonball rolls down a suburban street.
11. Beck, Guess I’m Doing Fine
Leave it to Spike Jonze to get meta in a music video. Here, an angsty Beck gets interrupted by a kid with a soccer ball, telling him, “We’re shooting a video for a song I wrote.”
10. Björk, “It’s Oh So Quiet”
Jonze plays to the huge changes in dynamics on this track by switching between slow motion movements and elaborate, enthusiastic dance scenes.
9. Fatboy Slim, “Weapon of Choice”
It seems like everyone and their mother has a Christopher Walken impression, but few can imitate his stellar dance moves.
8. Tenacious D, “Wonderboy”
We’re not sure why Jonze wouldn’t want his name attached to a video as hilarious as this, but he directed this Tenacious D ditty under the Marcus Von Bueler moniker.
7. Daft Punk, “Da Funk”
A talking, boombox-wielding dog wanders through the big city with a broken leg, ultimately choosing music over a possible love connection. There’s a message about human nature in there somewhere, we think. Discuss!
6. Weezer, “Buddy Holly”
In which Jonze pays homage to Happy Days with Rivers and the gang edited into some footage from Arnold’s diner. If the Fonz digs it, so do we.
5. Björk, “Triumph of a Heart”
The Icelandic songstress escapes her feline significant other, gets drunk and sings karaoke to her own song. Typical Friday night, right? Cats can be such a drag.
4. LCD Soundsystem, “Drunk Girls”
We always thought panda bears were cute and cuddly. Turns out, they’re horrifying.
3. Arcade Fire, “The Suburbs”
It’s easy to get sucked into the story of this video, which features some teens who appear carefree at first but must cope with living in a military state. You can watch the entire Scenes from the Suburbs short film here.
2. Beastie Boys, “Sabotage”
Arguably one of the most iconic music videos of all time, this video finds the Beastie Boys lovingly paying tribute to ‘70s cop shows to hilarious effect.
1. Fatboy Slim, “Praise You”
Jonze steps in front of the camera for a change to demonstrate some of his stellar dance moves. It’s impossible to watch this video without a smile on your face, and for that, we have to praise you, Spike.