When Four Wheels Became the Main Attraction
Music videos are usually built around the artist, the song, and the performance, but we need to call a spade a spade here: sometimes a car steals the spotlight. Those artists know what they’re doing, too, including some of the sleekest designs we’ve ever seen! We just couldn’t help ourselves; we had to compile 20 music videos that prove that a great set of wheels can be just as memorable as the chorus.
1. Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé — “Telephone”
They might not be your favorite genre of music, but “Telephone” feels like a short film, and the iconic car from Kill Bill only pushes it even further in that direction. When Beyoncé pulls up in the bright yellow truck? Yeah, that’s pretty much when the video shifts into full getaway mode.
2. ZZ Top — “Gimme All Your Lovin’”
ZZ Top’s red 1933 Ford Coupe is one of the clearest examples of a car becoming part of a band’s identity. Gearheads and music-lovers alike know that the Eliminator gives the video its hot-rod attitude and makes the whole thing feel bigger, cooler, and more rebellious.
3. Rae Sremmurd ft. Juicy J — “Powerglide”
A lot of modern rap videos know how to use an awesome set of wheels as symbols of movement, money, and confidence. “Powerglide is no different.” The sleek vehicles, rooftop views, and parking-garage scenes all give the video a bumpin’ late-night energy that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
4. Bruce Springsteen — “Dancing in the Dark”
We won’t lie; “Dancing in the Dark” isn’t exactly a car-heavy video, but it still carries the feeling of classic American car culture, doesn’t it? The denim, the working-class energy, the arena-rock atmosphere—they all connect easily to open roads and late-night drives. We had to toss it in, even if the main video is really just Springsteen on stage!
5. Michael Jackson — “Thriller”
Obviously, most people remember “Thriller” for the zombies and choreography, but the opening car scene does a lot of work, too. That 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air helps set up the old-school horror-movie feel before the video takes its supernatural turn.
6. Audioslave — “Show Me How to Live”
Audioslave’s “Show Me How to Live” needed a car that could match the weight of the song, and we weren’t sure how they planned to pull it off—until a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T did exactly that. It has the right kind of muscle for a video built around desert roads and escape, and it brought the same power that the track does.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA on Wikimedia
7. Kelsey Lu — “Foreign Car”
With a name like that, what were we expecting? “Foreign Car” treats the vehicle as part of the video’s overall style rather than just some scenery. The bright model fits into Lu’s visual world in a way that feels planned, yes, but also shows that a car doesn’t have race or show off to make an impression.
JoachimKohlerBremen on Wikimedia
8. Prince — “Little Red Corvette”
Prince knew how to leave his mark on music, but as it turns out, so did the vehicles! “Little Red Corvette” made its title car one of the most memorable automotive images in pop music. The car works more like a symbol than a traditional music-video prop, but that is part of its power.
Saperaud~commonswiki on Wikimedia
9. OK Go — “Needing/Getting”
OK Go always devoted their time to making some of the most iconic videos around, and “Needing/Getting” was just another drop in the bucket. A Chevrolet Sonic drives through a course built with instruments and objects that help create the song as the video unfolds—and the whole thing took months to get right.
10. Queens of the Stone Age — “Go With the Flow”
“Go With the Flow” leaned into the artistry of cool music videos. Okay, sure, it wasn’t the most realistic appearance a car’s ever made, but that’s part of the point. The animated vehicles fit perfectly into the video’s red, black, and white desert world.
dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada on Wikimedia
11. Jamiroquai — “Cosmic Girl”
The more you watch, the more you realize that “Cosmic Girl” feels like a dream garage in motion. The Ferrari F355, Ferrari F40, and Lamborghini Diablo SE 30 all give the video the kind of energy only real supercars can bring.
12. Killer Mike ft. T.I., Bun B, and Trouble — “Big Beast”
“Big Beast” indeed! This video uses cars to build a gritty, crime-film atmosphere, and it’s one of the more stellar examples of an iconic video. The vehicles are tied directly to the video’s sense of tension; they aren’t there to look pretty. Instead, they help make the story feel way more intense.
13. Gorillaz — “Stylo”
Gorillaz are no stranger to turning their songs into something strange and cinematic on-screen—but this one takes the cake. We’ve got a Camaro driven by the animated band, while Bruce Willis rides alongside in a Chevrolet El Camino. The whole thing belongs somewhere between a cartoon, a thriller, and a road movie.
14. Rihanna — “Shut Up and Drive”
“Shut Up and Drive” is built around cars from the start. Rihanna arrives in a Ferrari, but that’s just the start. From there, the video quickly moves into a world of garages, repairs, racing, and engines. We like to think of it as confidence and a cool song had a baby.
Carlos Valenzuela on Wikimedia
15. Beastie Boys — “Sabotage”
“Sabotage” doesn’t need expensive cars to make its chase scenes memorable. If anything, the older models are just part of what gives the video its 1970s cop-show feel. (We mainly have that 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria to thank). Every sharp turn and chaotic street scene adds to the sense that the whole thing is proudly over-the-top.
16. The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk — “Starboy”
“Starboy” uses luxury cars to show a very specific kind of reinvention, and it’s an awesome sight to witness. The garage scene, especially the McLaren P1, fits the whole vibe’s dark, glossy mood. The car feels like an extension of the character The Weeknd created: cold and untouchable.
17. Miike Snow — “Heart Is Full”
“Heart Is Full” uses its vehicles to create a world that feels tense and slightly dystopian. But who could blame him? The cars, especially the 1970s Lincoln Continental Mark III, add to the video’s road-warrior mood. They're, overall, a huge part of the atmosphere, helping the video feel dangerous without actually overwhelming the song.
18. Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg — “Still D.R.E.”
Okay, well, we obviously had to mention this one! “Still D.R.E.” is closely tied to lowrider culture and West Coast cruising, which means it’s Chevrolet Impalas and hydraulics all the way down. The cars also match the song’s confidence perfectly and make the whole video more iconic.
19. Lady Gaga — “John Wayne”
Sorry, we’re back to Gaga for this one! “John Wayne” throws motorcycles and Ford Mustangs into a fast, chaotic visual world. Blink, and you’ll miss it, but the vehicles help give the video its reckless energy, making it feel like everything could spin out at any moment.
Hans-Jürgen Neubert on Wikimedia
20. Madonna — “What It Feels Like for a Girl”
Madonna’s “What It Feels Like for a Girl” puts the car at the center of the video’s story, and it’s a classic move on her end. Much of the video follows her behind the wheel of a Camaro as the story moves through a series of tense, reckless scenes. The car makes the whole thing feel like a dangerous drive that just keeps escalating.
