This may be hard to believe, but award shows don't always make the right choice, and the Video Music Awards is certainly no exception. A lot of excellent, worthy videos have been named "Video of the Year" by MTV, but there have been some years where another video deserved the title more than the actual winner. Here are five videos that should have won Video of the Year.
1. Michael Jackson - "Thriller" (1984)
What Beat It: The Cars - "You Might Think"
The Cars' "You Might Think" video was my choice for the worst Video of the Year winner in the VMA's 30-year history, but what makes its win even more absurd is the fact that it beat out Michael Jackson's epic "Thriller" video. "Thriller" might be a little dated, but it's still an undeniably cool video that broke every rule for music videos before they were even established. It's one of the all-time classics, while "You Might Think" looks like someone trying to spoof a cheesy '80s video and succeeding a little too well.
2. A-ha - "Take On Me" (1986)
What Beat It: Dire Straits - "Money For Nothing"
Here are two videos that were both huge technical achievements in their time. "Money For Nothing" took advantage of early 3D animation technology, while "Take On Me" used hand-drawn rotoscoping for its distinct animation. The difference between the two, however, is that "Take On Me" still looks great today, while "Money For Nothing" just looks awkward and dated. I'm guessing the only reason Dire Straits got the Moonman was because they referenced MTV in their song.
3. Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1992)
What Beat It: Van Halen - "Right Now"
This is one that seems incredibly obvious in hindsight, but in 1992, the true cultural impact of Nirvana's breakthrough hadn't yet been completed or fully realized. So instead of giving the Video of the Year award to the mainstream's fullest embrace of alternative and punk rock, MTV gave it to "Right Now," in which Van Halen basically made its own Pop-Up Video segment five years before that show even premiered.
4. Beastie Boys - "Sabotage" (1994)
What Beat It: Aerosmith - "Cryin'"
Few things in this world give me more joy than the sight of MCA, Mike D, and Ad-Rock wearing those awful wigs, fake mustaches, and huge aviator sunglasses in the brilliant "Sabotage" video. It's the best video from one of America's greatest bands, but apparently all of this was outweighed by how excited everyone was about Aerosmith being back on top.
5. Weezer - "Buddy Holly" (1995)
What Beat It: TLC - "Waterfalls"
I have nothing against TLC's "Waterfalls" video. It's a great song with an intelligent, socially conscious message, so out of all the videos nominated at the 1995 VMA's, it's probably the most "important." With that in mind, Weezer's Spike Jonze-directed "Buddy Holly" video is the most fun, clever, and brilliantly executed of the '90s, if not of all time. Even before he started making feature-length films, Spike Jonze was already one of America's greatest filmmakers.
