11 alternative music videos with the best choreography, ranked

The alternative music scene isn’t necessarily known for its dance moves, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t seen our fair share of amazing choreography in music videos. While these clips might not be “Thriller,” they do showcase incredible dancing and should be recognized. There’s more to music than wearing snapbacks and guitars, people. And to that end, here are 11 music videos with phenomenal choreography and more moves than Brendon Urie accidentally sitting on an anthill while wearing a Speedo…

11. OK Go – “Here It Goes Again” 2006

OK Go have become known for their moves, but this is video is the one that took them to viral status. Within a couple of days of posting it on YouTube, the video reached 900,000 views, and for good reason. This impressive piece shows immense creativity, proving it doesn’t take a big budget to make something special.

10. All Time Low – “Poppin’ Champagne” 2007

Back before the guys in All Time Low were even old enough to legally pop a bottle of champagne, they released this video. Right around the two-minute mark is where things heat up and the guys break out into a choreographed dance routine. What they lack in technique (Which is a lot. It’s bad. Like really bad), they make up for in spirit and dedication. We give them props for really going for it, and the result is, dare we say it: So Wrong, It’s Right.

9. Wildways – “Faka Faka Yeah” 2016

Western Russian metalcore outfit Wildways enlisted the help of dancer/choreographer/twerking expert Kate Shoshina for their over-the-top “Faka Faka Yeah” video. Yes, twerking is a form of dance. Despite the negative view many might have of it, this style takes a lot of strength and control to execute. Shoshina and her twerk team were new to the heavy music genre, but they certainly brought their A-game to this celebration of excess.

8. Polyphia – “LIT” 2016

Dancer/choreographer Vinny Balbo brings this song by instrumental outfit Polyphia to life. “LIT” is a re-imagined version of the band’s previously released song “Light” fortified with popping and locking that suits this groovy track perfectly. We can definitely see this song inspiring others to create their own methods of dance.

7. Foals – “Inhaler” 2012

Directed by frequent Foals collaborator Dave Ma, this video shows the strange and beautiful side of contemporary dance. The climax to the quirky choreography at the four-minute mark is truly striking.

6. Good Charlotte – “Girls & Boys” 2002

Who could forget this Missy Elliot-channeling moment in Good Charlotte’s history? Frontman Joel Madden and his (let’s call them mature) backup dancers tear up the dance floor in matching Adidas tracksuits. Werk.
 

5. Emarosa – “Helpless” 2016

Emarosa’s Bradley Walden is known for his energetic live performance and singing chops, but did you know he apparently also has some talent in the choreography department? Walden channeled his inner Michael Jackson and collaborated with choreographer and dancer Lindsay Ames to create this lovely piece of performance art for the band’s clip for “Helpless.”

4. Fall Out Boy – “Dance, Dance” 2005

Is a high school dance scene really a high school dance scene if the attendees don’t break out into choreographed routines? This classic video highlights various kinds of choreography, but nothing tops the end scene where Pete Wentz pulls out some moves parodying a scene in Revenge Of The Nerds.

3. The 1975 – “A Change Of Heart” 2016

Who knew the 1975’s Matty Healy had moves like Gene Kelly? The simple, yet beautiful movements are reminiscent of Hollywood’s golden era when icons such as Kelly and Fred Astaire ruled Hollywood. What a lovely way to tell this story of love and heartbreak.

2. Twenty One Pilots – “Holding On To You” 2012

“Holding On To You” was Twenty One Pilots’ first official music video, and they set the standards pretty high for any future videos they would release. Contemporary dancers in skeleton facepaint jerk and weave their bodies around Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun as they perform. At the climax, dancers pull a rope tied around Joseph’s neck as he yells, “This ain't a noose, this is a leash/And I have news for you: You must obey me.” The rope breaks, sending the dancers into the abyss, and a skull-faced ballerina in all black (pointe shoes, tights, tutu and all) gracefully steals the show.

1. My Chemical Romance – “Helena” 2004

In this gorgeous and iconic music video directed by Marc Webb, choreographer Michael Rooney and his his team of dancers tell a beautiful story of mourners in grief at a funeral procession. From the dynamic duets and improvisation at the pulpit to Helena dancing her way down the aisle and into the afterlife and the umbrella-armed mourners guiding the casket into the hearse, this dynamic and moving video easily takes the top spot on this list.