...MORE CONTROVERISAL MUSIC VIDEOS

Christina Aguilera - Dirrty (2002)

Christina Aguilera broke away from her squeaky-clean image with this video. It was directed by David LaChapelle and depicts what was described as "a post-apocalyptic orgy", featuring nudity, wrestling, boxing and revealing outfits such as chaps. The video generated such controversy that many TV companies only played the ‘edited’ version on their channels. Protests even occurred in Thailand over Thai-language posters in the video that translate to eg - "Thailand's Sex Tourism" – leading to it being banned to Thai TV. This video was such a shock to the world due to the vast contrast between this and her previous image – but whether people loved or hated it, it certainly is one of Aguilera’s most memorable videos

The Prodigy - Smack my B*tch Up (1997)
This is probably one of the most controversial music videos ever; as it features everything from the lyrics encouraging violence against women to nausiating shaky camera work, to drug taking, driving under the influence, fighting in clubs and a lot of nudity. However there is a twist at the end as the “protagonist” turns put to be female. Although universally banned from television, massive demands on MTV meant they did show the video, but only after midnight, following a warning. In 2002 the unedited version of this video was aired on MTV2 as it was #1 on the countdown of "Most Controversial Video" in MTV's history.

CONTROVERSIAL MUSIC VIDEOS

Madonna - Like A Prayer (1989)

The highly controversial music video for the song was directed by Mary Lambert. It was criticised for its narrative which included Madonna making love to Saint Martin de Porres - which some thought was a black version of Christ. The Catholic iconography also offended people as it included a scene where Madonna developed stigmata, and cross burning imagery, however the video did gain praise for its interpretation on discrimination, rape, and faith. It even made MTV's countdown of "100 Videos That Broke The Rules" in 2005, and for the 25th anniversary of MTV (2006), the viewers voted this video as the "Most Groundbreaking Music Video of All Time". Shocking videos like this one really are the ones that we remember, as even now 20 years after it was made it’s still gripping, shocking and a great video for today’s audience, as shown by its acknowledgement in these recent polls.

Pink - Sober (2008)

This video seems fairly normal at first as it is Pink sitting on a bed singing, however we are given an indication as to the strange, surreal video ahead as there is a TV in the room flashing with white noise. We then see a party in the house Pink is in, she walks into the bathroom and another version on Pink is there (throwing up in the toilet). While it is actually quite common for artists to play more than one of themselves in a video, these characters never usually cross paths. As the video progresses it become more an more surreal and strange, soon we see flashes of Pink in a white room, dressed all in white, which signifies a mental hospital. Later on to add to the disturbing feel of the video, Pink is on her bed kissing, herself (the alter-ego she crossed paths with in the toilet) – very weird, and controversial as I am pretty sure that this has never been done before.