No matter who the artists may be, when aclassic rockmusician releases amusicvideo, it’s enough to capture people’s attention. However, when a celebrity is added, it becomes even more famous. This is common practice, as artists such as Justin Bieber, Blink-182, and Ariana Grande have all done this. Often, it simply makes sense because it can unite two large fan bases. However, the situations in which the paths of two famous entities, or in some cases multiple, cross can vary.
Sometimes, it is the actual musician who seeks out specific celebrities to make cameos. Especially in the case of classic rock artists, you will see individuals who have been in the industry long enough to know precisely what they want from their production. Other times, it happens by chance, butit turns out to be the best thing for both the musician and the celebrity. There are plenty of instances where it has led to bigger roles for actors, making the music video a piece of pop culture history.
10Robert Downey Jr.
Elton John - I Want Love
Beginning in 2008, Robert Downey Jr. became part of the Marvel franchise asIron Man. Throughout his career, he has been a legendary cornerstone of their movies, which will continue with theAvengers: Doomsdayculmination movie. However, before he found his most iconic spot, he was an up-and-coming actor trying to find parts. One role he ended up with wasplaying the lead in the music video for Elton John’s song “I Want Love.”
This tune arrived in 2001 as part of John’s 26th studio album,Songs from the West Coast. It reached the Top 10 on a couple ofBillboardcharts, helping make it yet another hit for the singer. As for the music video, it is pretty straightforward, as it follows Downey Jr. around as he lip-syncs the song.
What stands out is its filming location, asit was shot at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. This place is part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Along with this video, it has been used for countless other projects, including music videos for artists such as Mariah Carey, and movies such asThe Big Lebowski.
9Kim Basinger
Tom Petty - Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Throughout the course of his career, Tom Petty became known for his litany of hits and his smooth voice. Although he explored many musical ventures, he was best known for playing alongside his band, the Heartbreakers.One of their biggest successes was “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,“which was included as part of their 1993Greatest Hitsalbum. The song reached the 14th spot on theBillboardHot 100 and the number one position on the Mainstream Rock chart.
To complement an already well-received tune,Petty understood they needed to create a music video that was even more haunting to attract further attention. Famed actress Kim Basinger, recognized for her roles in films such asBatmanand8 Mile, was cast to play Petty’s counterpart.
The concept was morbid, as Petty would take a corpse (Basinger) from a morgue and then proceed to dance with it and eat with it. Eventually, Petty would let the body go, leading to Basinger opening her eyes at the end. The video was so good that it won an MTV Music Video Award for Best Male Video in 1994.
8Cynthia Rhodes
Toto - Rosanna
From “Hold the Line” to “Africa” to “Rosanna,” Toto has had no shortage of hits as a band. The latter was a major success for them, as “Rosanna” would hold steady as the number two song on theBillboardHot 100 for multiple weeks. While the tune itself, known for its iconic drumming, is a staple, the song’s legend has grown thanks to the music video associated with it.Featuring in the presentation was Cynthia Rhodes, who would take this role and use it to catapult her career.
The video was based on a tale likeWest Side Story, allowing Rhodes to showcase her dance moves that would help lead her to the filmStaying Alive, which was the sequel toSaturday Night Feverand named after the Bee Gees' hit song. Later, Rhodes would go on to star in the iconicDirty Dancingalongside Patrick Swayze, who was actually an uncredited dancer in this video. Thanks to the success Rhodes achieved and the legendary status of Toto,this video has become a must-see.
7Natalie Portman & Johnny Depp
Paul McCartney - My Valentine
As a member of The Beatles, Paul McCartney is music royalty. After everything he contributed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, he could have let his career with them speak for itself. However, he didn’t do that, and instead has ventured on a successful solo career.For his 15th studio album, McCartney created the song “My Valentine,“which is one of only two original compositions on the record. Knowing that he wanted to make the video special, McCartney sought out major actors.
Appearing in the video were Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman. Depp was famous for roles such asPirates of the Caribbean, and Portman was known for roles in movies such asStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.The video, which was in black and white,was produced by McCartney. It showed Depp and Portman sitting and using sign language to depict the song. Depp also had a guitar in hand, as he is a known guitarist.
6Chevy Chase
Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al
Before embarking on his solo career, Paul Simon was part of the successful duo Simon & Garfunkel. Although the two enjoyed success together, they would never stay together for long durations past the early ’70s. One show that helped Simon achieve prominence on his own wasSaturday Night Live. The show was a cultural phenomenon from its beginnings,which provided Simon with a huge stage to perform on. It was his excellent relationship with show creator Lorne Michaels that would lead to a legendary music video.
Their significant height difference created a comical visual that became very memorable.
The original video for “You Can Call Me Al” did not meet Simon’s expectations. In search of a new concept, the idea was conceived for Simon to perform the song alongside SNL alum Chevy Chase. By 1986, Chase was known for hisNational Lampoonfame and his roles in movies such asCaddyshack. With producing assistance from Michaels,the video featured Simon and Chase performing the song together. Their significant height difference created a comical visual that became very memorable.
5Mila Kunis
Aerosmith - Jaded
Throughout their career, Aerosmith has always recognized good collaboration when they see one. Whether it be musically, teaming up with Run-D.M.C., or featuring Alicia Silverstone in multiple videos as the lead role, the band has consistently known what works. To continue increasing publicity for their name, they chose to cast Mila Kunis in the leading role for their 2001 song “Jaded,” which received plenty of airplay.
At the time, Kunis was in the midst of playing one of the main characters onThat ’70s Show. She brought a wealth of new eyes to the band, which had started over 30 years prior. Aerosmith capitalized on this, having two major showings of the video happen at the American Music Awards and Super Bowl XXV. It would go on to win multiple awards, while the song itself became a radio hit, finishing in the Top 10 of theBillboardHot 100.
4Angelina Jolie
Meatloaf - Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through
Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Meat Loaf will always be remembered as one of the most successful rock artists of all time. Along with a long list of crowning achievements, one of the most interesting aspects of his résumé is featuring Angelina Jolie in the music video for his cover of the song “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through.” While the original comes from a 1981 album by Jim Steinman,Meat Loaf’s cover was released in 1993.
Since the release of this, Jolie has gone on to play roles in major films such asEternalsandMaleficent. Additionally, she appeared in a music video for the song “Anybody Seen My Baby?” by the Rolling Stones. Given that Jolie has gone on to dominate Hollywood,it has only enhanced the legacy of these songs. While the artists may not have fully known at the time, you never know who from a music video will achieve major success.
3Kristen Stewart
The Rolling Stones - Ride ‘Em On Down
Beginning their career in the early ’60s, the Rolling Stones have managed to last decade after decade, becoming one of the most legendary bands ever.The band has learned to pivot whenever necessary,which has contributed to their longevity. A key example of this was their 2016 album,Blue & Lonesome.Not only did the band change things by making their logo blue, but they also created the entire album from cover songs of classic blues-rock tunes.
One of the most popular songs from the record became “Ride ‘Em on Down.” This was a cover of a track originally performed by Eddie Taylor. What made the song stand out was the music video, which featured Kristen Stewart ofTwilightfame. It shows Stewart driving in a blue Ford Mustang around Los Angeles, adding to the allure of the blue theme the band was pursuing.This was the blending of two generations, and it worked out tremendously for both, as the album even won a Grammy Award.
2Anthony Hopkins
Mudcrutch - I Forgive It All
Although it wouldn’t be where he found his greatest success, Mudcrutch was where Tom Petty began his career, building a name for himself. After everything he had done,Petty would revisit the band in the 2000s, including for a record in 2008 and another in 2016. The latter, titled2, would be one of the last recordings Petty ever released prior to his death in 2017. One of his final defining pieces was “I Forgive It All,” a fitting song that details making peace with life.
One of his final defining pieces was “I Forgive It All,” a fitting song that details making peace with life.
Adding to the song’s history was the Sean Penn-directed music video that starred Anthony Hopkins. Penn is well-known for his roles in movies such asI Am SamandFast Times at Ridgemont High. As for Hopkins, his legendary career includes the filmsSilence of the LambsandThe Mask of Zorro. Together, they created magic,adding an extra emotional element to the words that were already as heartfelt as possible.
1Arnold Schwarzenegger
Guns N’ Roses - You Could Be Mine
In 1991, two major forces collided when Guns N’ Roses teamed up with Arnold Schwarzenegger. At the time, Guns N' Roses were coming off their first three albums, with their first one being considered one of the best debuts ever. For Arnold, he already had a slew of classic movies to his credit, includingCommando,Predator, andThe Terminator. Therefore, when discussions aboutTerminator 2: Judgment Daywere ongoing with director James Cameron, it only made sense to have the powerhouses collide for promotion leading up to it.
The deal ended up being great for both parties involved, as Guns N' Roses got a hit song that ultimately reached the 29th spot on theBillboardHot 100. For theTerminatorfranchise, they received great publicity, as it featured Arnold and teaser clips from the movie. This resulted in one of the band’s most memorable music videos of all time. It became a number one hit on MTV and even reached the number one spot on their countdown.
