Beastie Boys: Sabotage

Sabotage by Beastie Boys is one of those music videos that never fails to put a smile on your face. As a song frequently featured on YouTube reaction channels, we've seen countless social media influencers enjoy the video time and again-and they are rarely disappointed.

There's just something magical about Sabotage. Styled like the opening sequence of a 1970s cop film, its high-speed car chases and almost caricature-like characters, combined with the song's unique, memorable, and energetic sound, make for pure entertainment. Essentially, it's a parody-without needing a story. Also, it's a cultural experience.

What can be said. To see is to believe. Without viewing this modern day masterpiece of short-subject film making, it is hard to describe the energy and invocation of sheer hilarity that this video portrays.

A straight up, in-your-face farce on the 1970's cop sitcoms, rockets its way through your TV with the electrifying Beastie Boys hamming it up on the screen and rocking out on the soundtrack.

Socking it to the man as they tounge and cheek their comedy chompers around a nice fat donut, the Beasties "Starsky and Hutch"-it so hard you'll want to apply a fake mustache and bust some heads.

Likewise, Spike Jonez (director of critically acclaimed "Being John Malkovich") stupifies us with his stunning camera work, blending mood altering hand-held mastery with kung-fu action shots that contain such artistry it should be illegal. To say Jonez's style mixed with the Beastie Boys' lyrical stylings is the understatement of the century. Simply put, Sabotage is the pinnacle of Music in Motion.

With a single music video, I became a fan of Spike Jonze. I am a totally huge fan of classic rock (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, ect.) and when this video came out, I was instantly hooked. I have seen this style so many times in old 70's tv shows that when I saw it in this video, in this context, I knew Spike Jonze was brilliant. If you want proof, who heard this song before the video came out and instantly thought, "Starsky and Hutch"? A great performance by all those involved.

Before seeing this video on Beavis & Butthead way back in my youth, I'd only a passing acquaintance with the Beastie Boys. Did this put me on track!

Masterful direction and a matching of visual action to the music that's just sublime, all backed up with some hilariously well thought out costuming and makeup. It looks like everyone had a lot of fun making this.

The only other video that comes close for sheer artistic value (in this reviewers' humble opinion) is Aphex Twins' Come to Daddy. But I'd happily put Sabotage head to head against Come to Daddy any day of the week.

Definitely one of the best music videos of all time and certainly the only one I've ever bought on VHS. Do excuse me, I've gotta watch it again now...

Well, what can we say,,,,,,The Beasties are showing their best side...Sabotage is a song that gives you a rush,,,and the movie is too!!!!

The movie got really great action stuff. The video was voted by fans all over the world to be in song videos top10 on MTV,,,,and now they are on the 7`th place on the list,,,so, if you are going to buy just one video this year,,,,,let it be The Beastie Boys with SABOTAGE!!!!!!!!