Justin Timberlake recently released the totally not safe for work video for Tunnel Vision, the third video from 20/20, and frankly, it’s disappointing. Boring and disappointing. If he cared at all about the comparisons being made between him and Robin Thicke, JT’s video featuring three beautiful, nearly nude women aimlessly prancing and writhing around certainly will not help. However, where the women in Thicke’s totally not safe for work video are instant video icons, JT’s are literally like moving wallpaper. It’s a real missed opportunity.
As listed after the jump, there are plenty of examples of other artists having used models to great effect. Study up, this generation of people making music videos!
NOTABLES:
Warrant – Cherry Pie, featuring Bobbie Brown
No subtlety here – this former Star Search spokesmodel winner served it up good!
Whitesnake – Here I Go Again On My Own, featuring Tawny Kitaen
Kitaen made this song – period, end of story.
Benny Benassi – Satisfaction
Dare you to look away (if you do, you’ll miss some valuable information about the tools!).
Billy Joel – Uptown Girl, featuring Christy Brinkley
This is what not to do – so, so awkward. But she bagged her guy in the end!
THE BEST:
12. Sade – Cherish the Day, featuring Sade
A former model, Sade sauntered onto the music scene and proceeded to simmer and smolder for decades. Seemingly no one needed to tell her how to move, it appeared to come naturally to her, and it is ridiculously sexy.
11. Michael Jackson – Remember the Time, featuring Iman
Iman is the grande dame of the supermodel world and is even married musical superstar, David Bowie. That the king of music videos would have her in another one of his epic productions – as Cleopatra, no less – made absolute sense. Poor woman even tried to make kissing Michael convincing but alas, she is a model, not Meryl Streep!
10. George Michael – Too Funky, featuring Linda Evangelista and a host of supermodels
This is as close to models being models in any of the videos on this list but it so captures the supermodel zeitgeist of the early 90s.
9. Michael Jackson – In The Closet, featuring Naomi Campbell
Let’s be real: Naomi is a bad betch. Her long limbs encircling Michael like a serpent about to strangle and consume her prey brought out the sexiness in Michael, even as we worried for his safety. Also the first entry on the list by fashion photographer/director, Herb Ritts.
8. Fountains Of Wayne – Stacy’s Mom, featuring Rachel Hunter
With this video, we officially enter the era of the MILF, “tramp stamp” and all.
7. Duran Duran – Notorious, featuring Christy Turlington
This woman looks like that and can dance – all with her nipples covered! Notorious, indeed.
6. Rihanna – Te Amo, featuring Laetitia Casta
You know, there are times when the video just speaks for itself. You may need a cold compress for your __________ after watching this.
5. Guns N’ Roses – November Rain, featuring Stepahnie Seymour
This rockumentary of a rock and roll relationship rocketed (last one) the Victoria’s Secret model into orbit.
4. The White Stripes – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, featuring Kate Moss
Kate Moss was the most recognizable face of her generation of the “heroin-chic, waif” supermodels. When you have a star as big as Moss for your video, not much more than a platform and a pole is required.
3. Janet Jackson – Love Will Never Do, featuring Djimon Hounsou and Antonio Sabato, Jr.
If there were male supermodels, these men would have been it. Herb Ritts once again brings the breathtaking visuals of the breathtaking bodies.
2. Chris Isaak – Wicked Game, featuring Helena Christensen
Chris Isaak is slick and Helena even slicker, since everyone knew her name after this video. Two incredibly good-looking people rolling around mostly naked in Hawaii? So sexy it’s painful. One wonders how long it actually took to shoot this Herb Ritts video.
1. George Michael – Freedom 90, featuring Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Tatjana Patitz
The is the standard by which all other model videos are judged. It features all of the biggest supermodels doing every day things much more sexily than you or I could, including singing the lyrics. Glistening bodies, saturated colors, stunning close-ups equal a classy and timeless video.