“Window Seat” to “Justify My Love”: A Short History of Nude Music Videos
When Erykah Badu stripped down to nothing in the middle of Dallas for her “Window Seat” video, the neo-soul singer not only raised eyebrows of the Dallas PD but also entered the pantheon of great and provocative music videos that push television censors and NSFW to the max. Matt & Kim’s nude run through Times Square for “Lessons Learned,” the clip that inspired Badu, scored the relatively unknown duo the Breakthrough Video prize at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, proving that while the clip itself might have been too taboo for MTV, showing a little skin goes a long way.
Rolling Stone has collected our favorite boundary-pushing music videos, from Chris Isaak’s rollick on the beach with a topless Helena Christensen in “Wicked Game” above to Girls’ porn-pushing “Lust for Life.”
Below, watch “Window Seat,” “Lessons Learned” plus videos by Blink-182, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and a video by Madonna that was deemed “Too Hot for TV” back in the day. And for more classic nude moments in music, be sure to visit our Crotch Rock gallery and Getting Naked: Big Names Show Some Skin on the Cover of Rolling Stone.
Chris Isaak – “Wicked Game”
Erykah Badu – “Window Seat”
Michael Jackson – “You Are Not Alone”
Matt & Kim – “Lessons Learned”
Madonna – “Justify My Love”
Sigur Ros – “Gobbledigook”
Britney Spears – “Everytime”
Alanis Morissette – “Thank U”
Blink-182 – “What’s My Age Again?”
Girls – “Lust for Life”
Related Stories:
• Infamous Crotch Rock Moments: From Adam Lambert’s AMAs Stunt to “Dick in a Box”
• Getting Naked: Big Names Show Some Skin on the Cover of Rolling Stone
• Police May Charge Erykah Badu for Nude “Window Seat” Video
View full post on Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily
Missing
Smack my Bitch Up
and that video for Major Lazer song
I’m always reminded of Wayne & Garth from Wayne’s World invading Madonna’s Justify My Love. Pure Classic!!
How is “Pussy” from Rammstein not included in this list??!!!
I love MJ and all, but should he really be included on this list? I’d personally rather he not. Instead, you guys should have included D’Angelo’s “Untitled”. Which was a wildly popular song and an even more wildly popular video from back in the day.