10 Best Songs Without Music Videos

It might seem odd but in the age of YouTube and MTV there are still tunes being written without official music videos.

And these aren’t shabby tunes with no budget for an official music video!

No, these are hit songs that, for whatever reason, some music studio executive decided didn’t need a visual presentation when they were laid down.

Our Favorite Songs Without An Official Music Video

Adele – Set Fire To The Rain

Now, you may be thinking but… I’ve seen the official music video for this song. Except, despite this song being a huge hit, you haven’t. Adele’s label has rushed out a live performance (which has nearly 700 million views on YouTube) but this is one song that needed a music video and never got one.

Give it a listen here.

Taylor Swift – Getaway Car

If there was ever a song made for YouTube videos, it’s Getaway Car which has Ms. Swift telling a wonderful story of love and betrayal.

Sadly, it’s not going to get one though – so you can opt for the fan-made lyric video or just stick to the song itself.

Give it a listen here.

Jimmy Eat World – Hear You Me

Another great tune sadly condemned to nothing more than a lyric video on YouTube is Hear You Me.

This sad piece about the loss of some friends really would benefit from a music video but give it was released 20 odd-years ago now, we think that it’s unlikely that the recording studio will sign a check to make it into a visual feast now.

Give it a listen here.

Lady Gaga, BLACKPINK – Sour Candy

This is a beast of a tune and it was a global hit which makes it even more surprising that there’s no music video (not even for the popular remix version either).

There’s real demand for a visual element too – the current CD rip on YouTube has over 110 million views!

Give it a listen here.

Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’

Michael Jackson was a pioneer of the video so it’s even more surprising that one of his biggest hits has no visual representation but Wanna Be Startin’ Something is that hit.

It went platinum, has been streamed in excess of 100 million times over on Spotify but given that it was released long ago and that the artist is sadly long-deceased we don’t hold out any hope of a video now.

Give it a listen here.

Ariana Grande – R.E.M.

Arian is such a huge international sensation that you’d think all of her tunes would get music videos.

She’s everyone’s dream musical date and her other hits have really been brought to life through the medium of video, so we really don’t get it.

Plus, this is such a surreal song that it simply begs for the kind of trippy videos that we used to see from 60s artists.

However, while there won’t be a visual release for this – there is a fragrance named after it, so you can smell the substance instead.

Give it a listen here.

Paramore – For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic

This band never missed the opportunity for a video when they started their career so it seems odd that this smashing tune didn’t get one.

They had 7 other tunes that all got a video at around the same time – but maybe they just didn’t have another date in their calendar to record one for this tune?

Give it a listen here.

Evanescence – Tourniquet

If you grew up in the rock scene then this song is an incredible earworm and even if it’s not the perfect tune for a first date – it really did deserve a video.

But it didn’t get one and now? It never will, sadly.

Give it a listen here.

Katy Perry – Legendary Lovers

Katy could have asked her mater Justin Timberlake to star on the video for this hit track about Romeo and Juliet.

Instead, no videos were forthcoming and we have to imagine that we visit the scene in our head instead. Does that date us?

Give it a listen here.

Britney Spears – Breathe On Me

Another video that could have had a Justin Timberlake appearance on it, if only it had been made, is the one for the track Breathe On Me by Britney.

It’s erotic, sensual and sets the scene for the growing maturity of the princess of pop.

Give it a listen here.

We don’t think it’s a bad thing that there’s not one music video for the songs above – without the video, you’re going to spend more time focused on the sound and less time trying to watch the track and trying to glean hidden meanings from the visuals.

In the author’s youth there were no visual settings for most music. Songs were released for the radio, not the screen.