Image via Complex Original
Last night was the kick-off to what we hope might be a real turning point for MTV. Though it seems the network's still taking baby steps when it comes to bringing back the music, after 14 years, iconic friends and fartknockers Beavis and Butt-Head just made their big return to the station's Thursday night line-up. While the duo was known for their lack of respect for authority, their regular torture of fellow student Daria (or "DIARRHEA, CHA CHA CHA!" who landed her own successful spin-off), and their infinite list of admirably grimy quotables, the ultimate reason to tune into Beavis and Butt-Head was, of course, to watch to them crack on music videos.
Since the guys have been out of the music circuit for a little while, and focus has shifted to making fun of reality TV, we thought we'd do them a favor and catch them up to speed with some of the most awesomely ridiculous vids in the game, as well as some classics that they missed the first go-round. From buried treasures and off-the-grid gems to fresh picks, check out 25 Music Videos We Wish Beavis And Butt-Head Had Made Fun Of.
Written by Lauren Otis (@LaurNado)
25. Khia, "My Neck, My Back"
Damn, Khia! Who’d have guessed that one of the dirtiest singles of all time would be accompanied by such a contrastingly un-sexy video? With lyrics like these, you’d expect to see something a little more stimulating than the songstress crooning about rimming to a bunch of people grilling at a barbecue. And did we just spot some kids in the background? Well, in the event that didn’t send any potential boners south, the countless glory shots of pool floaties just might.
24. Andy's Val Gourmet, "Chacarron"
Uplifting. Thought-provoking. Game-changing. Not a one of these are words we’d ever use to describe Panamanian artist Andy de la Cruz’s 2006 breakout hit (well, in the UK). But those wanting firm proof that just about anyone can become a pop star need look no further than this awesomely budget chart-topper. Having a shitty day? We’ve got your Rx right here.
23. Haddaway, "What Is Love?"
What is love? Love is coming home every night to someone who sports a flat-top fade and an Aladdin vest—and outputs videos that look something like this.
22. (Lil') Bow Wow, "Take Ya Home"
Was Bow Wow even old enough to be taking anyone home when this was recorded? Half of the fine women in this video would probably be charged with statutory rape. Unless, you know, he was taking them home for help with his math homework or something.
21. Enigma, "Sadeness"
It doesn’t matter whether you heard this song in a Pure Moods infomercial or Chappelle’s Show convinced you to bump this track while pretending to do your laundry in slow motion—the fact remains the same that the video is straight up (unintentionally) ridiculous. The robed dude waltzing through the ruins is on some weird Neverending Story shit, and the creepy shots of that model segueing in and out look like part of someone’s PowerPoint presentation. What would Cornholio say?
20. Drake, "Find Your Love"
The Degrassi alum loves to showcase those acting chops in his music videos, first as a basketball coach to a crew of well-endowed ladies in 2009’s “Best I Ever Had,” and once again in 2010’s “Find Your Love,” where we witness him, well, doing just that in Jamaica.
For some reason, though, this causes him to wind up in the middle of some shady entanglement with a bunch of old locals that isn’t explained very well. In the end, it seems like he should’ve opted to find his love somewhere else—he ultimately gets shot in the head by his backstabbing boo. If only Drake was as skilled at vetoing questionable video plots as he is at making money.
19. Chris Rock, "Champagne"
Remember this? Probably not. It got completely overshadowed by (and is often confused with) Chris Rock’s more well-known “No Sex in the Champagne Room,” which is too bad, because this was easily the funnier of the two.
In addition to producing one of the finest Bad Boy spoofs out there, Rock flawlessly recreates “Crush On You” and “The Rain,” but with video girls feasting on subs and rocking troll hair in place of Missy and Kim. However, we can only imagine how this might look to a duo, such as Beavis and Butt-Head, who are probably unfamiliar with the inspiring vids. We especially wouldn’t mind catching their Tiger Woods commentary.
18. Heart 2 Heart, "Facebook Official"
"Hey, girl. It's me, Chad. I hope you don't mind that I raided your makeup drawer. Again."
Side note: Gotta love that dude tapping his brow about 14 seconds deep. It’s like he knows what you’re thinking. That you wanna get official. Facebook official. Yeah, girl.
17. Mariah Carey, "Touch My Body"
Unicorns! Thrones at the dinner table! Feeding each other ambiguous marshmallow-looking things! Why do we have a sneaking suspicion that this isn’t a music video at all, but a creepy documentary of Mariah’s home life?
16. Clarence Carter, "Strokin'"
Clarence Carter might be the original Ladies’ Man, but we can’t decide whether listening to him sound off about his “strokin’” is hilarious or really uncomfortable. The longer we listen to that narration, the more he starts to remind of us our dad initiating awkward sex talks. Maybe we can only hear the term "make love" so many times. We are the "smush" generation, after all.
15. Dirty Vegas, "Days Go By"
It’s pretty hard to hate on this video. It’s straight up awesome. But c’mon, dude: Dancing on a cardboard box in the street isn’t likely going to help you woo your girl back—or get any others for that matter. No grown woman is going to be thrilled about a former flame busting moves in front of a coffee cup filled with quarters. In fact, the new guy in her life is suddenly looking even better.
14. Antoine Dodson & The Gregory Brothers, "The Bed Intruder Song"
Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your web browser! Hasn’t your boss caught you watching this video enough times in the past year? It’s thanks to fans like you, however, that the now-famous Antoine Dodson was able to nab enough iTunes proceeds to move his family out of the PJs. Who’s climbing in his windows and snatching his people up now? No one.
13. Fatboy Slim, "Praise You"
Long before flash mobs began taking over the streets of New York, director-producer-music-video-visionary Spike Jonez brought awkward staged dance to the masses in his award-winning 1999 video for Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You.”
Shot guerilla-style in Westwood, CA, the vid features a crew of mom jeans enthusiasts tearing it up outside a busy movie theater. While the clearly weirded-out onlookers are half the entertainment, it’s really Jonze (in disguise as the fictional troupe’s leader, Richard Koufey) and his unforgettable interpretive dancing that brings the laughs. Now if only we could’ve seen those moves make a cameo in “Otis.”
12. Dru Hill, "In My Bed"
We got this feeling and we just can’t turn it loose…that Sisqo looks like a flaming version of Neo from The Matrix in that patent leather overcoat.
11. Eric Prydz, "Call On Me"
Don’t be so quick to hate on that guy’s poom poom shorts. Admit it: For entry into a fitness class like this, you’d probably don a pair, too.
10. B4-4, "Get Down"
No one does music videos like Canada. No one. And that’s because somewhere, in one of Sony Canada’s offices, a room of people approved a pitch for the storyline of this vid: “Well, guys, it’ll tell the story of an inner-city kid. And when he looks through a magic View-Master, he’ll be transported over to the Jersey Shore, where a bunch of muscleheads will sing to him about Indian giving when it comes to oral sex.” It’s all too perfect.
9. D'Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel?)"
Some things are better left to the imagination. Like D’Angelo getting serviced. Actually, we don’t really want to think about that, either. Sorry, man. Outkast’s provided us all the vicarious love below we need.
8. Bubba Sparxxx, "Ms. New Booty"
Booties popping, Holy Ghost parties, that random dude from the VH1 countdown shows: Could one really ask for anything more from a music video?
7. Benny Benassi, "Satisfaction"
Talk about satisfaction! Scantily clad women wielding power tools. So simple, so effective. Perhaps the greatest pairing since beer and wings. Did someone descend from the heavens with this reel? Even MTV’s dynamic duo might be rendered speechless.
6. Prince, "When Doves Cry"
Prince didn’t get nearly enough airtime during the original seasons of Beavis And Butt-Head. With those ruffles, that guyliner, and those jheri curls, you’d think we’d have witnessed much more of a purple reign over their tube.
Well, we believe it’s time Mike Judge and MTV remedied that, kicking off with Prince’s classic “When Doves Cry.” Relive your favorite scenes from his 1984 flick, and crack up at The Artist crawling “seductively” across a bathroom floor littered with lilacs. If you don’t laugh at least once while watching this, it might be time for you to go purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
5. Tupac & K-Ci & JoJo, "How Do U Want It?"
If this video is any indication of how Tupac wanted it, we’d guess…really freaky. We aren’t sure exactly how the chicks dressed up like Marie Antoinette tie into his crew dry-humping the mechanical bull, but that’s cool. Everyone’s got their kinks, Tupac.
4. Snow, "Informer"
If you’re one of the select few who are able to understand Snow’s lyrics without looking them up, you’re aware that the deceptively herby-looking Canadian is actually much harder than he seems. Dude might want to rethink that wardrobe, though. The collared shirt and grandpa glasses make him look less like a G and more like a conspicuous narc. Female readers: Would you let this man licky-boom-boom-down?
3. R. Kelly, "Trapped in the Closet: Chapter 9"
Picking the most outstanding chapter from R. Kelly’s epic 22-part series is almost like picking a favorite child. The weird-ass surprises just keep on coming, from used condoms hiding in sheets to Rosie the nosy neighbor.
However, we can’t imagine a segment more deserving of Beavis and Butt-Head’s side commentary than Chapter 9, which reveals that R. Kelly’s protagonist, Sylvester, isn’t the only one hiding out in storage. In one of the series’ greatest reveals, we find out that Sylvester’s wife’s jump-off’s wife’s jump-off (still with us?) isn’t just a homewrecker—he’s also a midget, compact enough to take cover in a cupboard. Talk about adding insult to injury.
2. Duck Sauce, "The Big Bad Wolf"
As that guy toting 145 lb. balls on Howard Stern might go to show, elephantitis can be a drag. That is, unless the load you’re carrying between your legs is none other than DJ sensation A-Trak, or his Duck Sauce counterpart, Armand Van Helden. In that case, the world is your oyster.
Bodily functions are never as cool as when they’re carried out by the two superstar "dickheads." And on Beavis And Butt-Head? The possibilities for “balls” jokes are limitless.
1. Eddie Murphy & Michael Jackson, "Whatzupwitu"
Michael Jackson and Eddie Murphy. Two of music and comedy’s most beloved superstars joining forces to create the ultimate track. What could be better, right? Well, as it turned out, a lot of things.
Is it us, or do the graphics make this look like it should be playing on a background screen at a karaoke joint? You know, along with those other '80s montages of flocking seagulls, suns setting over the water, and frolicking Korean couples? We can’t help but ask…whatzupwithisvideo?
