Most Expensive Music Video Ranked in 2023: Scream by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, Die Another Day by Madonna, Express Yourself by Madonna and More.
Over the last thirty decades, music has become a part of people’s life. Music Videos have played a significant role in the music industry’s quick rise and gaining recognition over Music Videos have completely changed the world of the music industry with their importance and past three decades.
A song without an audio-visual presentation rarely becomes a hit and is liked by the listeners. People are mostly attracted to the view they see, and music videos are one of them. Music Videos are an effective medium to stimulate the audiences and relate them to the song.
Music videos are an effective tool to promote songs and provide recognition to artists. The importance of music videos is emphasized by the awards and recognition given in many categories including video creation and development, song, Music, VFX, set designs, and many more. Music Videos give a higher chance of getting those awards such as MTV Video Music Awards, Grammy Awards, and others.
For better competence and result, many musicians search for the best production companies to assist them in creating captivating, heart-touching, and enjoyable videos. Some artists have easily made Music Videos a multi-million dollar project by spending huge amounts of money on Video production.
Here are the 20 most expensive Music Videos in History that are made with crazy amount of budgets.
20. November Rain by Guns N’ Roses
November Rain is a 1992 Hard Rock song that was produced with a $1.5 Million budget. The song is performed by American Hard Rock Band Guns N’ Roses.
November Rain was written by the lead vocalist of the Band Axl Rose. It was taken from their third studio album, Use Your Illusion, and released as a single in February 1992. Producers Mike Clink, Guns N’ Roses, and Steven Wilson spent millions to make it one of the best Music Videos. The song was recorded in several studios including A and M, Record Plant, Studio 56, Image Recording, Conway, Northstar recordings (violins), Metalworks Recording, and Skip Saylor Recording (album mixing).
The music video is a long version of Del James’s short story “Without You”. The music video is about a rockstar struggling to cope with the loss of a Girlfriend who has committed suicide by shooting herself in the head after he repeatedly cheated on her.
The song was one of the most popular of the time. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was the longest song 8.57 minutes at the time of its release to reach the top ten of that chart. At present, the song is the fourth-longest song to enter the Hot 100 chart. The song ranked second on the Portuguese Singles Chart and ARIA (Australia). It has reached in top ten in several music charts.
In addition, the music video crossed a billion views in July 2018 and became the first video created prior to Youtube. On November 4, 2022, the original video was recorded and resynced with a real 50-piece orchestra.
19. Unpretty by TLC
Unpretty is one of the most expensive music videos that cost over $1.6 Million. It is a Pop rock song by the American group TLC released in 1999.
Unpretty is the second single from TLC’s third studio album Fanmail. The song is written by American singer Tionne Watkins aka T-Boz and produced by musician Dallas Austin. Unpretty was adapted from the latter’s written poem. The song was recorded in several studios including D.A.R.P., Atlanta, and Georgia Bosstown. Director Peter Hunter filmed the music video in Valencia California which cost over $1.6 million in production. The song was released to all kinds of audiences in 1999.
The music video revolves around three women who start meditation. While meditating a probe camera is released to record the images of their struggles in life. All of them have different stories in life relating to the song lyrics. The first girl has suffered from a toxic boyfriend while the second one is dealing to fit into the ideal image of a petite supermodel. The third girl suffered from harassment in high school. It deals with their struggles with their self-image and unrealistic concepts of beauty in the media.
The song reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in the chart. It ranked in the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.
The music got so popular worldwide that it was nominated at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards for the Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Currently, the music video has 54 million views on Youtube.
18. My Name’s Women by Ayumi Hamasaki
Sung by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki in 2005 My Name’s Women is a famous and expensive song costing $2 million for production.
My Name’s Women is a pop song from the sixth studio album My Story of Hamasaki. The song was featured on the DVD for her 35th Single. Ayumi Hamasaki herself wrote the song while Max Matsuura produced it. The music video was directed by Wataru Takeishi.
The Music video was one of the best-selling singles by a Japanese artist. The Music video features Ayumi Hamasaki herself. She is shown in a high-class host club. However, she is excluded from men and women. So, she leaves and later returns with some friends all dressed up and singing. They take control of the place and give their musical performance on the stage. The hosts and dancers in the music video are back dancers of Hamasaki.
17. Freeek! by George Michael
Freeek! is a 2002 funk song that was produced with a $2 Million budget. The song is performed by English Singer George Michael.
Freeek! is a mix of urban pop and funk genres. It was written by Moogymen and George Micheal himself. It was included in Micheal’s fifth and final studio album Patience and released as a single on 18 March 2002. It contains samples from Try Again, Breathe and Stop, and Kool and the Gang. George Micheal himself produced and featured in the song. It was directed by Joseph Kahn.
The music video incorporates a futuristic theme. It is reminiscent of Blade Runner with cyborgs and advanced technology. The suits worn by the artist were stunning and expensive while the lyrics are sung in a sexually aggressive tone. The directional effects in the music video were previously introduced for Janet Jackson’s song Doesn’t Really Matter.
The song ranked number seven on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top ten in other European countries. It peaked on the charts in Denmark Hungary, Italy, Portugal, and Spain while in Australia it reached number five.
16. She’s a Bitch by Missy Elliott
She’s a Bitch is a 1999 Hip Hop song produced with a budget of $2 million. The song was sung and performed by American Rapper Missy Elliott.
15. Miami by Will Smith
Miami was the debut solo album of American Rapper and Actor Will Smith, Big Willie Style. It is one of the most expensive Music videos costing $2 million for production.
14. Remember the Time by Michael Jackson
Remember the Time is a single released on January 14, 1992, by the king of pop Michael Jackson. Director John Singleton directed the song with over $2 million Budget.
13. Larger Than Life by the Backstreet Boys
Biggest-selling American Boy Band Backstreet Boys released Larger than Life on September 7, 1999. With production costs of over $2.1 million, it is one of the most expensive music videos.
12. Bad by Michael Jackson
Bad is the music video directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese for a production cost of $2.2 million. The song was sung by the king of Pop Michael Jackson.
The song was released on September 7, 1987, as the second single from Michael Jackson’s seventh studio album. The song was written and composed by Jackson and co-produced by Quincy Jones. It is a pop-rock song influenced by a real-life story Jackson had read about.
The music video revolves around a young teenage man Darryl who tries to escape poverty by attending private school. He also leaves a criminal gang for this purpose. The gang realizes that he has changed. Hence, he is killed by the Mini Max. The song is about a teenager who tells the world that he is not bad anymore.
The song was a huge success and had a positive review from the critics. It peaked at number one on Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. It also ranked at number one on the Hot R&B Singles, Hot Dance Club Play, and Rhythmic charts. The song was commercially successful in the international market. It was listed in the top ten charts in Australia, Canada, Austria, New Zealand, France, West Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and the UK. Additionally, it was even certified as Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The song was also presented in the form of a short film. It premiered in a TV special called Michael Jackson: The Magic Returns.
11. It’s All Coming Back to Me Now by Celine Dion
2006 released song It’s All Coming Back to Me Now by Canadian singer Celine Dion is estimated to have cost about $2.3 million. The music video was released in 2006.
The music video has a power ballad style and pop and soft rock genre. It was written by Jim Steinman. The song was released three times with a grand release. The first version was recorded by the female pop group Pandora’s Box. Then, it was recorded by Celine Dion for her fourth English Language studio album Falling into You. Celine’s version was a commercial hit in the market.
The music video was co-produced by Jim Steinman, Steven Rinkoff, and Roy Bittan. While Todd Rundgren, Eric Troyer, Rory Dodd, Glen Burtnick, Kasim Sulton, Meat Loaf, and Bat Out of Hell, provided the backing vocals. It was recorded in The Hit Factory Studios.
The music video was recorded at the Prague, Czech Republic’s Ploskovice Summer Palace of the Austrian Emperors and Barandov Studios. Dion’s character is haunted by her lover image who is killed by the emperor. She sees through a mirror and imagines them together.
The song ranked second on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. Similarly, internationally it was at a peak position in different charts. The song even peaked at number one on several charts. Additionally, the music video has 121 million views on YouTube.
10. What’s It Gonna Be!? by Busta Rhymes Featuring Janet Jackson
What’s It Gonna Be is one of the most expensive music videos that cost about $2.4 million for production. It was released in 1999.
The song was sung by the American rapper Busta Rhymes featuring a guest vocal American singer Janet Jackson. What’s It Gonna Be is the third studio album E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front. T. Smith, D. Allamby, and Antoinette Roberson wrote the lyrics for the song. The music video was directed by Rhymes and Hype Williams making it one of the most expensive music videos.
The music video has extensive use of special effects. It is age restricted video that contains sexual innuendo. The story of the video revolves around a Knight and a dominatrix.
The song was a huge success. It peaked in the third position on the Billboard Hot 100 and top ten in other charts of different countries. Additionally, it hit number one on Billboard Hot Rap Tracks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts. It was also nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2000 Grammy Awards and 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.
9. Heartbreaker by Mariah Carey
Heartbreaker is a Pop song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey that was produced with a $2.5 Million budget.
The song was released on September 21, 1999, by Columbia Records as the lead single from Carey’s seventh studio album, Rainbow. The lyrics of the song were written by Jay-Z and produced by DJ Clue and Mariah Carey herself. The music video was directed by Brett Ratne the cost over $2.5 million.
Heartbreaker features Carey who visits the film theatre with her friends and coincidently catches her boyfriend cheating on her. The song describes a relationship from the female perspective and how the lead character keeps going back to her lover despite his repeated infidelity and heartbreak.
Heartbreaker topped the Canadian Singles Chart and ranked 14th on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song peaked at number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart and reached the top five in Croatia, France, Poland, Spain, and the UK.
8. 2 Legit 2 Quit by MC Hammer
2 Legit 2 Quit is a Hip Hop song directed by Rupert Wainwright for $2.5 million. It is a song sung by rap artist MC Hammer and released on September 5, 1991.
The song is the first single from Hammer’s fourth studio album, Too Legit to Quit. James Earley, Michael Kelly, Louis K. Burrell, Felton Pilate, and Hammer himself wrote the lyrics of the song along with the production. The music video features several athletes.
The song was successful in the US ranking in the top ten positions on the Billboard Hot 100 and number sixty on the UK singles chart. It has selected viewers only.
While in other countries the video flopped. It was ranked number five in the MAX Music’s World’s Worst Ever Video countdown, and No. 1 in its Forgotten Video Clips countdown in 2008. Additionally, it received 24 votes on MTV’s “25 Lame” all-time list in 1999.
7. Victory by Puff Daddy featuring Notorious B.I.G. & Busta Rhymes
Victory is a 1998 East Coast Hip Hop song that was produced with a $2.7 Million budget. The song is performed by American hip-hop recording artist Puff Daddy.
Victory is Puff Daddy’s debut studio album No Way Out. It was written by The Notorious B.I.G., Jason Phillips and Steven Jordan. The music video was produced by Stevie J and Puff Daddy himself. It was directed by Marcus Nispel featuring many cameos including Tamara Beckwith, Hopper, DeVito, and others.
The eight-minute video revolves around a character running through the dark streets. He is chased by armed Gestapo-esque forces of Chase TV. It represents a flashback of Sean Comb’s Character.
The song is one of the most successful singles reaching in 19th number on the Billboard Hot Hundred and 2nd on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs. It was also used for the video game Fight Night 2004 and NBA 2K13. For Masahiro Chono’s Team 2000 faction in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, it was also used in professional wrestling.
6. Estranged by Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses’ second entry on this list, Estranged is a power ballad with a music video with a budget of $ 4 million.
Estranged was released on January 17, 1994. The song is from the second part of their album, Use Your Illusion II. The song was written by Axl Rose while Mike Clink and Guns N’ Roses themselves produced the song. the official music video of the song was directed by Andy Morahan.
The music video has live scenes filmed at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany. The song has similarities to November rain. It is also about a romantic relationship that ends up. The video shows Axl Rose being arrested by special police officers and taken into the mental Health Clinic due to various emotional disorders. He was then given treatment by a therapist. But he gets inner peace after he got released and jumps into the water swimming along with the dolphins.
The video highlighted several “expensive” scenes, including Slash emerging from the ocean’s depths and Axl Rose leaping off the deck of an oil tanker. Estranged is considered one of the best songs of the band. The song was ranked number two by Paste on their list of the top 15 Guns N’ Roses songs and number four by Kerrang on their list of the top 20 Guns N’ Roses songs in 2020. The song also got a good ranking in other charts as well.
5. Black or White by Michael Jackson
Black or White is one of the popular songs performed by American Pop Star Micheal Jackson that cost $4 million in production.
Black or White was the first single of Micheal Jackson’s eight albums released on November 11, 1991. The song is a fusion of pop, rock, dance, and hip-hop. It was co-written, composed, and produced by Jackson and Bill Bottrell. The song was recorded in Westlake, record one, and Larrabee Studios. The music video for the song was directed by John Landis who previously directed Thriller.
Black or White features boy wonders of the Era Jackson, Macaulay Culkin, Tess Harper, and George Wendt. The song is directed toward a sensitive matter of modern racism. Jackson performed with dancers from different cultures including African Zulu hunters, traditional Thai dancers, Plains Native Americans, a Sri Lankan Tamil Odissi dancer, and Hopak dancers. In the end, Jackson appears as the Black Panther. Featuring the huge cast with computers generated transformation cost a heavy amount for production.
The song was an instant hit and made Jackson a global icon in the fight against racism. It is one of the most-watched music videos of all time. the song was number one on Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. Internationally, Black and white also peaked at number one in 20 countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, and others.
The song turns out to be the best-selling single in the world. Additionally, the song was also certified as 3x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. It has also released its remix version by Clivilles and Cole.
4. Bedtime Story by Madonna
Directed by Mark Romanek Bedtime story by Madonna was produced with a budget of $5 million. The song is the fourth most expensive music video of all time.
Queen of Pop Madonna’s Bedtime was the most experimental music video from her sixth studio album. Renowned director Mark Romanek filmed the music video in six days only while the post productions take weeks to be completed. The song was released on February 13, 1995. Bjork, Nellee Hooper, and Marius De Vries wrote the lyrics of the song, and Madonna co-produced with Nellee Hooper. It is a fusion of Electronic and Trance.
The music video has use extensive digital effects. It has been preserved by music and art galleries all over the world. Madonna is seen lying in her white gown at a scientific experiment and all the imaginary incident occurs in her dream. The production house has promoted the music video saying Madonna’s Pajama Party.
The song received good reviews from music critics. It was a commercially successful music video. The single ranked number one on the Billboard Dance Club Song charts. Bedtime Story ranked in the top ten in the charts of the UK, Italy, and Australia but was unsuccessful in the USA.
3. Express Yourself by Madonna
The pop queen Madonna has no issue with spending over $ 5 million for her song Expressed Yourself. The music video was directed by David Fincher and released on May 9, 1989.
Expressed Yourself is Madonna’s second single from her fourth studio album, Like a Prayer. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray. It is a mix of Dance, pop, and deep funk with instrumentation of percussion, handclaps, and drum beats. It was recorded in Johnny Yuma Studios.
The music video was made urging females to never go for the second and to express inner feelings and empowerment. It expresses a gender equality message with a hymn to freedom and encouragement to women and minorities. It symbolizes gender blending through Madonna’s masculine image.
Expressed Yourself was praised by critics and was commercially successful as well. The peaked at number two on Billboard Hot 100 chart and became turned into Madonna’s eighth number-one hit on the European Hot 100 Singles chart. It ranked at the top o the singles charts in Canada and Switzerland and other countries.
2. Die Another Day by Madonna
Die Another Day is an Electroclash and Dance-pop song by Pop Queen Madonna costing around $6.1 million for production, making it the second most expensive music video ever made.
Die Another Day is a theme song from the James Bond movie. The music video was officially released on October 22, 2002. The song was the single from Madonna’s ninth studio album American Life. Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzai had written and co-produced the song. The music video was directed by renowned Swedish Director Traktor.
Since it was a James Bond movie it consist of lots of action scenes which were performed by Madonna Herself. In the video, Madonna was shown as a prisoner tortured in the torture chamber and a fencing duel between good and evil. Additionally, Madonna also got training in fencing to make her sword fight Legit which cost a big amount of the budget. These include expensive computer effects for the dueling of her role.
The song got mixed responses from critics. However, it was commercially one of the most successful music videos. The song peaked at the eighth position on the Billboard Hot 100. Die Another Day was also ranked in the top ten in other charts of the world including Canada, Italy, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Uruguay.
Similarly, it was nominated for the Golden Globe Awards for best original song and two Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording and Best Short Form Music Video. It was the best-selling song in the USA in 2002 and 2003 since the song was sold 232000 digital downloads.
1. Scream by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
Scream is a collaborative single of Micheal Jackson with his sister Janet that cost $7 million for its production making it the most expensive music video of all time.
Micheal Jackson has broken all the records through their music video. Scream is Micheal Jackson’s single from his ninth studio album. It is a duet with his sister Janet Jackson. The song was directed by renowned director Mark Romanek and released on May 29, 1995. Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis had written and co-produced the song. It is a fusion of R and B, Pop and electronic rock, and funk. The song was recorded at the Hit Factory and Flyte Tyme Studios.
Scream is an aggressive retaliatory song that covers child sexual abuse accusations made against Micheal Jackson in 1993. The video was filmed on an expensive computer-generated white spaceship. The st was filled with special lighting and there was extensive use of special effects which was nowhere to be cheap.
The song was critically praised and won three MTV Video Music Awards and Grammy Award for Best Music Video. Similarly, it was also listed in the Guinness World Record for the most expensive music video ever made.
Scream was the first single in the history of Billboard to debut to peak on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also topped on international charts in Italy, New Zealand, and Spain while reaching the top five in Belgium, Australia, France, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom and Switzerland.
World wide tune has also made a list of Top 20 Best Selling Solo Artists of All Time.