1. Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
This video is often credited with changing the whole idea of what a music video could be. Instead of just filming a live performance, Queen leaned into the dramatic, surreal style that matched their song’s operatic sections. The close-up shots of the band’s faces in the dark with sharp lighting felt like something from a dream. Fans who saw it in 1975 were stunned, since television wasn’t used to treating music with that kind of visual artistry.
It wasn’t just a promotional tool, it was art in itself. The video also gave the band more control over their image instead of leaving it up to television producers. Queen proved that a music video could be just as important as the song. It set the bar for every rock group that came after.
2. ABBA – “SOS”
ABBA knew the power of image as much as sound, and their music videos in the mid-’70s helped them reach audiences who might never see them live. “SOS” showcased the group in polished, carefully styled visuals that matched their perfectly crafted pop. It wasn’t flashy compared to later videos, but it was a lesson in how to sell a band’s identity through television. Their coordinated outfits, close-ups, and gentle storytelling made people feel like they knew them personally.
It was an early example of how music videos could create a global connection. The band’s videos played a big role in making them international stars. When people talk about music videos changing pop culture, ABBA is always in that conversation. They proved videos weren’t just for rock, they were for pop too.
3. David Bowie – “Life on Mars?”
Bowie always understood reinvention, and this video showed just how much he could transform a song into a visual experience. Dressed in a striking turquoise suit and with that iconic makeup, he looked like he had stepped right out of another world. Unlike other videos of the time, this one was simple in concept—just Bowie performing—but it was his look that made it unforgettable. He turned image into performance art, and that made him more than just a singer.
For teenagers who saw this in the ’70s, it felt like permission to embrace their own weirdness. Bowie’s video style would go on to influence glam rock, punk, and even new wave. His ability to make an unforgettable impression in a short video was revolutionary. It was about more than music—it was about identity.
4. Blondie – “Denis”
Blondie was a bridge between punk and pop, and their early videos leaned into that mix of grit and glamour. “Denis” feels playful and quirky, capturing the band’s downtown New York cool in a way that television rarely did. Debbie Harry came across as both approachable and mysterious, which instantly set her apart from other singers. The band’s rough edges made it feel authentic, like you were peeking into the underground scene.
What made this video so important was the way it showed punk-inspired music could still be packaged for the mainstream. Blondie managed to keep their credibility while reaching MTV-style audiences before MTV even launched. Debbie Harry became a style icon largely because of how she looked in videos like this. It set the stage for countless female frontwomen after her.
5. Bee Gees – “Stayin’ Alive”
When people think of the Bee Gees, they think of disco and Saturday Night Fever. The “Stayin’ Alive” video was essential in linking their sound to the style of the disco era. The video captured them strutting through the streets of New York in perfect sync with the music, and that image became instantly iconic. It wasn’t just about singing—it was about embodying a lifestyle.
The suits, the swagger, the rhythm all came together in a way that television audiences couldn’t ignore. Suddenly, disco wasn’t just music, it was fashion, attitude, and identity. The Bee Gees mastered the art of making the visuals part of the story. “Stayin’ Alive” showed how music videos could create cultural movements, not just reflect them.
6. Fleetwood Mac – “Tusk”
Fleetwood Mac didn’t just make music, they created drama, and the “Tusk” video leaned into that. Instead of sticking to a staged performance, they filmed an entire marching band filling up Dodger Stadium. It was bigger, louder, and stranger than most videos of its time. The contrast of rock music with the UCLA marching band made it unforgettable.
Fans were used to seeing rock bands in clubs or concert halls, not sports arenas with brass and percussion blaring beside them. The video captured the chaos and excess of the late ’70s music scene perfectly. It also proved that videos didn’t have to be polished—they could be strange experiments. That spirit of trying something new is what helped keep Fleetwood Mac larger than life.
7. Patti Smith – “Gloria”
When Patti Smith made the video for “Gloria,” it wasn’t about glamour, it was about raw presence. Dressed in her signature shirt and tie, she looked nothing like the female pop stars of the era. That was the point—her video challenged every stereotype of how women in music were “supposed” to look. She performed with a mix of intensity and nonchalance, which made it mesmerizing.
Viewers who had never seen a female rocker like her before suddenly had a new idea of what was possible. The video wasn’t designed for mass appeal, but it carved out space for alternative artists. It showed that videos could be personal statements, not just marketing tools. Patti Smith made sure her image matched her art, and that changed everything.
8. Pink Floyd – “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)”
Pink Floyd’s videos were more like short films, and this one blurred the line between music and cinema. The video leaned into the song’s themes of rebellion and control, showing schoolchildren marching and breaking free from authority. For anyone who had felt trapped by teachers or systems, it was a visual anthem of freedom. The stark images gave the song even more power than the audio alone.
It wasn’t about selling the band—it was about giving the song a bigger stage. The video made people think, which wasn’t always the goal in pop at the time. It showed that music videos could deliver a message as well as entertainment. Pink Floyd gave the format more weight and seriousness, and it worked.
9. Kate Bush – “Wuthering Heights”
Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” video was like nothing people had ever seen before. Dressed in flowing costumes and dancing expressively, she turned the song into a theatrical performance. Her movements were strange, haunting, and beautiful all at once, and they helped define her as an otherworldly artist. The video looked more like performance art than anything else on TV.
For some, it was confusing, but for many, it was mesmerizing. Bush showed that music videos could create entire characters, not just promote singles. She leaned into the dramatic and the surreal, and it made her unforgettable. To this day, “Wuthering Heights” feels like the kind of video that could only come from the ’70s—daring, dreamy, and impossible to copy.
10. Elton John – “Pinball Wizard”
Elton John was already known for his outrageous costumes, but the video for “Pinball Wizard” from Tommy put him on another level. Giant glasses, wild outfits, and a performance that felt larger than life made it unforgettable. Unlike some of his more serious peers, Elton leaned into fun and excess, and it paid off. He understood that videos were a chance to go over the top.
For fans, it was proof that Elton didn’t just play music—he created a spectacle. That became central to his brand, and his videos helped reinforce that image. This video in particular captured the balance of talent and flamboyance that defined him. It showed that in the video era, personality was just as important as sound.
11. Ramones – “Rock ’n’ Roll High School”
The Ramones weren’t polished, and they didn’t want to be. Their “Rock ’n’ Roll High School” video leaned into that raw energy by putting them in chaotic, silly situations. It was fast, messy, and loud—just like their music. Unlike other videos that tried to look perfect, this one embraced imperfection.
Fans loved it because it felt real, like you were part of the punk scene instead of watching from afar. It gave punk credibility in the video format and made the band feel approachable. At the same time, it showed how much fun rebellion could be. The Ramones made sure their videos reflected their sound, and that authenticity changed how people saw punk.
12. Olivia Newton-John – “Totally Hot”
Olivia Newton-John reinvented herself in the late ’70s, and the “Totally Hot” video captured that transformation. Gone was the sweet, wholesome image—this was edgier, darker, and more confident. Her look and energy in the video helped set the stage for what she would do in Grease and beyond. Fans could see her growing into a more modern pop star right before their eyes.
The visuals gave her a way to shed old expectations and embrace new ones. For many, it was proof that videos weren’t just about the song, they were about the story an artist wanted to tell. Newton-John showed how reinvention could happen on camera. It became a blueprint for countless pop stars in later decades.
13. Donna Summer – “Love to Love You Baby”
Donna Summer helped define disco, and the video for “Love to Love You Baby” made sure her image matched the sound. The video leaned into sensuality and style, with Summer front and center as a glamorous star. At a time when female performers were often presented as wholesome, this was bold and unapologetic. It made her the face of disco as much as its voice.
The combination of her performance and the visuals made her unforgettable. Some critics were shocked, but fans embraced it as a new vision of what a pop star could look like. Summer showed that confidence and allure could be part of a star’s image. Her videos helped open the door for more freedom in how women were presented in pop.
