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Long Weekend Rock List: Best Music Videos of 2008

12/24/08, 12:55 pm EST


Yesterday we lamented the lack of videos on MTV, but the network’s neglect of the art form doesn’t mean 2008 wasn’t a banner year for rock clips. Kanye West dropped our jaws with not one but three “Flashing Lights” videos — though it was his “Heartless” clip we enjoyed the most — and clips from Metallica and Bjork also had us reaching for the popcorn. Tell us your favorite videos of ‘08 and on Monday, we’ll compile the votes and program a mini film festival from the results. Until then, enjoy our picks and happy holidays!

Metallica - “All Nightmare Long”


Beyoncé - “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”


Weezer - “Pork and Beans”


Bjork - “Wanderlust”



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Comments

Anonymous | 1/29/2009, 5:16 am EST

i don’t understand.
people, this is not a discussion of BEST SONG - it’s a discussion about BEST VIDEO. and ‘human’ IS NOT THE BEST VIDEO.

agung pramono | 1/25/2009, 12:59 pm EST

metallica is the best metal band in the world.

Allan | 12/31/2008, 10:42 pm EST

Human - The Killers
Lovers in Japan - Coldplay

Jenna | 12/29/2008, 5:31 pm EST

The Killers - Human

Josh | 12/29/2008, 3:57 pm EST

MGMT- Time to Pretend
Radiohead- House of Cards

Anonymous | 12/29/2008, 1:23 pm EST

Imagine how big The Replacements would’ve been if Paul Westerberg looked like Brandon Flowers.

Sheesh.

I love the Killers but... | 12/29/2008, 1:11 pm EST

I’m going to go with Viva La Vida as my first choice….

As a second….John Legend’s Greenlight…

Two really good videos, one serious and artsy, the other just plain fun.

I love the Killers but I wouldn’t pick Human as the #1 video, not because it isn’t good but because there were so many better videos this year….oh, and I love Kings of Leon too, but Sex on Fire is by no means a top video nor a top song. I pray that everyone listens to the whole record so they can know how great Kings of Leon really are.

One more thing…for those who keep talking down the Killers, it’s okay not to like them as much as those here seem to like them, but to minimize their talent is so unfair. They are very good, and for anyone who thinks Hot Fuss is their best record, they should give Sam’s Town a fair listen, it’s better than Hot Fuss and Day & Age…and I happen to like both of those…

Jeff C. | 12/29/2008, 11:28 am EST

Be Your Own Pet- The Kelly Affair
M83- Kim & Jessie
MGMT- Time to Pretend
Del Tha Funky Homosapien- Workin It
Gnarls Barkley- Going On

DAVID | 12/29/2008, 11:12 am EST

also, if i could be counted as a vote against the killers, that would be cool

JSuzart | 12/29/2008, 11:08 am EST

NO MORE KILLERS VOTES!!!!!! It’s ridiculous!

Best videos?
- L.E.S. Artistes by Santogold
- Toe Jam by BPA feat. David Byrne & Dizee Rascal
- A - Punk by Vampire Weekend
- Single Ladies by Beyoncé
- Porks and Beans by Weezer
- Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend
- Blind by Hercules and Love Affair
- Who’s Gonna Save My Soul? by Gnarls Barkley
- Id Engager by Of Montreal
- Flashing Lights by Kanye West

Luc | 12/29/2008, 11:01 am EST

House of Cards -Radiohead

Good song, good video, amazing album and amazing band

fouad | 12/29/2008, 7:48 am EST

metallica - the day that never comes

lou diamond phillips | 12/29/2008, 6:58 am EST

this series of votes is laughable at best. if you want to watch that jerkoff brandon flowers strut around like a slightly less masculine cher while you cream your pants, then please do so elsewhere. the videos you vote for should have artistic integrity. they should push the envelope. they should be, you know, videos that won’t be forgotten in a few years. are the killers that desperate to be taken seriously that they sit here on rollingstone.com all day and just vote for their lame ass video that showcases their stunning lack of grammatical skills? my guess is yes. all those who support the downfall of the killers raise your fists and fart in their general direction.

“are we human, or are we dancer?”

creep.

Ariel | 12/29/2008, 6:37 am EST

HUMAN BY THE KILLERS :D

becca | 12/29/2008, 2:33 am EST

it was hard to tell but it looks like people like the human video by the killers?

personally i’d go with house of cards by radiohead or violet hill by coldplay.

Parik | 12/28/2008, 11:59 pm EST

Human by the Killers

or

Time to Pretend by MGMT

mike | 12/28/2008, 7:39 pm EST

shhhhhhhhh!

human - the killers

;)

BB | 12/28/2008, 7:35 pm EST

The Killers!! HUMAN!!!

spk | 12/28/2008, 7:21 pm EST

My god people, nothing the killers does is better than mediocre. They are not creative or original in any way. Brandon Flowers has on more than one occasion stated “i was trying to sound like (insert much better musician here) when i wrote this song.” I am beginning to wonder if you killer fans actually listen to other music or if its just the killers all the time for you. “Human” is the worst song on Day and Age, which as an album isn’t bad, but isn’t particularly good either. Bottom line, Killers will be a footnote. My apologies, victims.

Claire | 12/28/2008, 6:27 pm EST

Human - The Killers
Move - CSS
Standing Next To Me - The Last Shadow Puppets
Ghosts - Ladytron
Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event
Shock Of The Lightning - Oasis
Never Miss A Beat - Kaiser Chiefs

Molly | 12/28/2008, 2:32 pm EST

The Killers - Human

rol | 12/28/2008, 1:29 pm EST

the killers human

kw | 12/28/2008, 12:29 pm EST

Ok this may be really shallow of me but I vote for:

“Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon cuz the boys are HOT! and…

“Human” by the Killers cuz how cute is that Brandon!?!

alexis | 12/28/2008, 11:54 am EST

THE KILLERS- HUMAN

paw paw: i can see that it might seem as though the killers are overated but when you really think about it, their music isnt as widely known as you think. They could become so much bigger and considering how well made their albums are you’d think they would be at the top and somehow overated but they havent. each album is individually different and creative which is very diverse and could be for many fan bases but calling them repetitive is not true.
the killers earn their votes fairly.

mimosa | 12/28/2008, 11:48 am EST

human - the killers!!!

tk | 12/28/2008, 11:46 am EST

Human by THE KILLERS

none | 12/28/2008, 11:46 am EST

The Killers- Human
Panic at the Disco- Nine in the Afternoon
Coldplay- Violet Hill

Keri | 12/28/2008, 11:17 am EST

the Killers: Human

best song and best video of the year (:

Deauny | 12/28/2008, 10:56 am EST

Human - The Killers

Jeremy | 12/28/2008, 8:36 am EST

Human by The Killers

neon tiger | 12/28/2008, 8:33 am EST

Human: The Killers!

Brian | 12/27/2008, 11:36 pm EST

I Don’t Care - Fall Out Boy
Leave Out All the Rest - Linkin Park
Decode - Paramore

buttstain | 12/27/2008, 10:27 pm EST

“All Nightmare Long” by Metallica

Arai | 12/27/2008, 9:37 pm EST

The Killers-Human

John | 12/27/2008, 2:51 pm EST

Hmm… Gotta say Radiohead- House of Cards

henry | 12/27/2008, 1:53 pm EST

thunderheist - jerk it

Anonymous | 12/27/2008, 1:40 pm EST

ugh

PAW PAW | 12/27/2008, 1:31 pm EST

The Killers are just a little overrated, Emmylou. By you and a lot of others. They are a good band who do a great job of imitating U2, Duran Duran, and countless other bands. I like them and have seen them live twice and they seem to me to be the band that is always coming but never arrives. Three albums in and their best album was their first one. Getting a little repetitive. Coldplay did the same with Rush of Blood and X +Y, hopefully the Killers will expand a little next album.

lorena | 12/27/2008, 12:48 pm EST

The Killers- Human

LoogigeHot | 12/27/2008, 11:30 am EST

Огромное человеческое спасбо!

Sameer | 12/27/2008, 8:54 am EST

the killers - human
weezer - pork and beans

Emmylou | 12/27/2008, 1:07 am EST

Human - The Killers (THE very best band of our time) If you guys can’t get it, then you are an idiot. I rest my case.

Ginny | 12/27/2008, 12:55 am EST

The Killers-Human

Anonymous | 12/26/2008, 11:15 pm EST

metallica- all nightmare long

Anonymous | 12/26/2008, 11:14 pm EST

house of cards by radiohead
salute your solution by the raconteurs
old enough by the raconteurs
going on by gnarls barkley
pork and beans by weezer

…also, if i could be counted as a vote against the killers, that would be cool

Pff | 12/26/2008, 10:17 pm EST

House of Cards

Chuck | 12/26/2008, 4:56 pm EST

How easily we forget… “House of Cards” from Radiohead!!!

Nick | 12/26/2008, 1:39 pm EST

The Ting Tings - Great DJ
Weezer - Pork & Beans
Fall Out Boy - I Don’t Care
Q-Tip - Gettin’ Up
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart

Four Nick Eight | 12/26/2008, 11:47 am EST

Put down the bong and check reality. MGMT’s video is beyond douchey. and “Human”? All you Killers fans should be ashamed of yourselves. Yes, a decent song but a mediocre video. The real winner is “All Nightmare Long” by Metallica. “Violet Hill” by Coldplay runs a close second.

Sue | 12/26/2008, 11:46 am EST

The Killers-Human
(I love the white tiger in the video :D )

Michelle | 12/26/2008, 11:07 am EST

The killers - Human
:)

Melody | 12/26/2008, 6:35 am EST

The Killers-Human
Paramore-Decode
Beyoncé Knowles-If I Were A Boy
Katy Perry-Hot n Cold

Marine | 12/26/2008, 4:31 am EST

The Killers - Human

Gassman | 12/26/2008, 2:54 am EST

Inside the Fire - Disturbed
Psychosocial - Slipkont
All Nightnamre Long - Metallica

The Falcon | 12/25/2008, 10:03 pm EST

The Killers- Human
3 Doors Down- It’s Not My Time

Anonymous | 12/25/2008, 7:59 pm EST

MGMT - Time to pretend
Kanye West - Heartless

time to pretend is an amazing video

Yadiel | 12/25/2008, 7:00 pm EST

Human by The Killers

chris s | 12/25/2008, 6:52 pm EST

i think human was definitely one of the biggest and best songs of this year, but the video was unfortunately not too interesting

Mark | 12/25/2008, 3:19 pm EST

All nightmare long

Simple Math | 12/25/2008, 2:16 pm EST

Human by the Killers=good song
Human by the Killers=average video

thezero | 12/25/2008, 12:10 pm EST

the mars volta - askepios

kanye west - flashing lights

luke | 12/25/2008, 10:49 am EST

The Killers - Human.

They could have shot a video of paint drying - with this song, it still would have rocked.

Jackie | 12/25/2008, 10:09 am EST

Kings of Leon - “Use Somebody”
The Killers - “Human”

MoT | 12/25/2008, 9:31 am EST

The Killers - “Human”

Nishy | 12/25/2008, 8:30 am EST

The Killers - Human!

Loved the video! Portrays Day And Age superbly!

Brandon is oh so cute too which is another advantage:)

Leskas | 12/25/2008, 7:58 am EST

The Killers - Human )

Izabella | 12/25/2008, 7:42 am EST

THE KILLERS-HUMAN
PINK-SO WHAT
SEX ON FIRE-KINGS OF LEON

Jen | 12/25/2008, 7:18 am EST

Human by The Killers

J.A | 12/25/2008, 7:14 am EST

THE KILLERS-HUMAN

Rosa | 12/25/2008, 4:58 am EST

Human - The Killers.

:D

Johnny | 12/25/2008, 3:36 am EST

The Killers - Human

ENddd | 12/25/2008, 2:20 am EST

Erykah Badu-Honey
Kanye West-Heartless
Gnarls Barkley-Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
M83-Kim and Jesse
Meshuggah-Bleed

ENddd | 12/25/2008, 2:19 am EST

Erykah Badu-Honey
Kanye West-Heartless
Gnarls Barkley-Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
M83-Kim and Jesse
Meshuggah-Bleed

Asslan | 12/25/2008, 1:15 am EST

MGMT - Time to Pretend

Danny | 12/25/2008, 12:08 am EST

Human- The Killers

ReiskMem | 12/24/2008, 11:51 pm EST

Огромное человеческое спасбо!

No Questions | 12/24/2008, 10:55 pm EST

Weezer- Pork and Beans

By far the best, the quirkiest, and the most fitting for the music itself.

Michelle | 12/24/2008, 10:37 pm EST

“Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon
“Human” by The Killers
“Shock of the Lightning”- Oasis

LT | 12/24/2008, 9:37 pm EST

the killers - human

Lola | 12/24/2008, 8:53 pm EST

The Killers- Human (we’re baack :D )
Not the best video, but still pretty awesome!

Viva La Vida- Coldplay
Great!

I knew it.... | 12/24/2008, 8:20 pm EST

This is going to be an intersting vote for me but….

1. Academy Is… - About a Girl
2. Kings of Leon - Use Somebody )better video and better song than SOF)
3. Coldplay - Viva La Vida (the version where each band member sort of melts away in pieces at the end)
4. The Killers - Human (Hey, there is a tiger in it, I love that!)
5. Womanizer - Britney Spears (hey, Britney’s back….you know the rest)

tony | 12/24/2008, 8:12 pm EST

Radiohead - House of Cards
The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight
Weezer - Pork and Beans
Kanye West - Heartless

suada | 12/24/2008, 7:42 pm EST

human - the killers

J | 12/24/2008, 7:35 pm EST

Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
After Hours - We are Scientists

moioi | 12/24/2008, 7:26 pm EST

Human by The Killers

rotflol

Rebekah | 12/24/2008, 7:13 pm EST

Human - The Killers !

Leila | 12/24/2008, 6:52 pm EST

Human- The Killers

Surprise, surprise. :)

Roberto | 12/24/2008, 6:52 pm EST

The Killers- Human

Johnny | 12/24/2008, 5:55 pm EST

Metallica - All nightmare long

Anonymous | 12/24/2008, 5:39 pm EST

time to pretend - MGMT

mike | 12/24/2008, 4:56 pm EST

Metallica - “All Nightmare Long”

DAVID | 12/24/2008, 3:53 pm EST

Time to Pretend: MGMT
Wanderlust: bjork
Pork and Beans: weezer
Troublemaker: Weezer
Heartless: Kanye West
House of cards: Radiohead

Joe | 12/24/2008, 2:10 pm EST

Metallica - All Nightmare Long

John | 12/24/2008, 1:54 pm EST

Goldfrap “A&E”? Gnarls Barkley “I’m Going On”? Free Blood “Royal Family”? Yes, there were a ton of great videos this year. Sadly, RS’s selections here just prove, again, how out of touch the magazine has become.

tom | 12/24/2008, 1:49 pm EST

radiohead house of cards

WalkinDude | 12/24/2008, 1:45 pm EST

All Nightmare Long had to be one of the best of the year. Any music video that takes advantage of story telling opportunities is usually a good video.

Brendan | 12/24/2008, 1:28 pm EST

Radiohead - House Of Cards

the end.

Oh, also their promotional video for “15 Step” using footage from Se7en.

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