From the early days of cheap promo clips being sent out to TV stations as filler, to the heady days of 1980s MTV and 24-hour wall-to-wall videos, to the modern era of YouTube where there are more videos than anyone could watch in a lifetime, it’s been a challenge to get a music video to stick out from the crowd.
Controversy does it. Offending people in any way, whether deliberately or not (and whether justifiably or not) can create a buzz around a video, a bit of notoriety that can turn it into a must-see. Some of the most memorable videos have led to arguments about censorship and offensiveness, attempts to “ban this sick filth”, and happily toed the line between art and dirt.
Here are some of our favourite videos to have raised the hackles of the squares and netted some views and notoriety in the process...