Schools Of Rock: The 20 Coolest Schools In Music Video History
Summer is almost over, which means it's almost time to go back to school. Before you get all angst ridden about the social horrors and intimidating curriculums of elementary school, high school and college, keep in mind that school doesn't have to suck. In fact, these 20 music video schools are pretty damn cool.
One of them might even feature Beyoncé.
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20) P!nk - "Don't Let Me Get Me"
P!nk's high school boasts gym class and locker rooms, but it's also a depressing place without fun or dancing. The one redeeming thing about P!nk's high school experience in this video is that she gets to become a pop star by the end. So, it's a cool school because it's a character building school.
19) JoJo - "Leave (Get Out)"
There's nothing uncool about JoJo's school, but there's nothing really cool, either. It's just…a school. A normal, ordinary school where normal, ordinary heartbreak happens.
That all said, the school does have some great lighting. Most of high school's worst moments could have been greatly improved with good lighting.
18) Stacie Orrico - "Stuck"
The school that Stacie Orrico attends in "Stuck" seems pretty normal except for the fact that there doesn't appear to be any classes except for gym. Everyone's hanging out, laughing, playing sports, riding the bus and going to dances. Sign me up for that curriculum.
17) My Chemical Romance - "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)"
At some point, we've all probably imagined that we were living in a movie and in high school it can be tempting to cast yourself as the hero...or the anti-hero. In the music video for My Chemical Romance, the band gets to play both in a teen movie trailer themed storyline.
16) De La Soul - "Me, Myself And I"
The members of De La Soul don't seem to be too thrilled to be in their classroom in the video for "Me, Myself And I," which is a shame because it kind of looks like a fun classroom. You've got pranksters, you've got turntables, you've got three of the best rappers in the game…that girl has a cheetah fez. It's great.
If only De La Soul was more enthusiastic about it. They sort of kill the cool school buzz.
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15) Wheatus - "Teenage Dirtbag"
The high school in "Teenage Dirtbag" is cool insomuch as they let a band that's comprised of twentysomethings play all over the school.
Oh, and Jason Biggs and Mena Suvari go to school there.
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14) A Simple Plan - "I'm Just A Kid"
High school life is pretty lame in this music video for "I'm Just A Kid," except for the fact that Eliza Dushku goes to this high school. Oh, and there's that cool hole in a stone wall where you can hang out and sing out your worries. Sorry, but both of those details make this school way cooler than any I ever went to.
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13) Paramore - "Misery Business"
What stands out about the high school in Paramore's "Misery Business" is how dramatic it is. There are girls pushing and shoving each other and people making out in the halls. It's definitely first choice for a someone who wants to be schooled in dramatics.
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12) Missy Elliott - "Gossip Folks"
This school is cool by virtue of the fact that there are numerous dance numbers and at one point everyone changes color. It's uncool because a lot of the kids who attend this particular high school appear to have stank attitudes.
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11) Twisted Sister - "I Wanna Rock"
The school in this video would be extremely uncool except that Twisted Sister shows up and leads all the kids out of bondage. Oh, and it has a pool. Pools are cool.
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10) Alicia Keys - "High School Love Affair"
The video for Alicia Keys's "High School Love Affair" is so cool it doesn't even take place in high school; it takes place in college. And it's a cool college with hot co-eds, political consciousness, a killer talent show and steaming hot romance.
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9) Taylor Swift - "The Story Of Us"
Besides the fact that the school in Taylor Swift's "The Story Of Us" looks like an exclusive private school fun of wealthy and ambitious people, the school also boasts an impressive library. I mean you can find any book you want, an exuberant back up band or the boy of your dreams in it.
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8) Avril Lavigne - "Here's To Never Growing Up"
The school in Avril Lavigne's "Here's To Never Growing Up" is so cool that she and her adult friends hang out there after dark even though they're all in their 20s. Talk about going to a party school...
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7) Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Pep rallies are the bane of every sullen teen's existence, unless they are headlined by one of the greatest bands of all time and devolve into a mosh pit with pyrotechnics.
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6) Mötley Cruë - "Smoking in the Boys Room"
The school in Mötley Cruë's "Smoking in the Boys Room" is kind of despondently lame until you realize there's a Lewis Carroll-esque looking glass in the Boys' Room that takes you to an alternate universe where everything is creepy and twisted! Oh! And Mötley Cruë is there! Fun! Weird, but fun!
5) J. Geils Band - "Centerfold"
Since it's only pretty girls hanging out in a classroom late at night, it's pretty cool. Not to mention the fact that there are no children or teens in this school. Just avatars for J. Geils's confused sexual desires.
4) Van Halen - "Hot For Teacher"
At first, it's a boring black and white classroom and then the teacher turns out to be a stripper. That's cool. Also, Van Halen plays in the library. That's also pretty cool.
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3) Britney Spears - "...Baby One More Time"
--A Lax Uniform Code
--Dancing in the halls
--Dancing in the gym
--Cars
--Everyone is cool
And okay, maybe it was all just a fantasy, but isn't that how most of us spend high school anyway? Wishing it was better?
2) The Ramones - "Rock & Roll High School"
Is there anything cooler than going to "Rock & Roll High School"? Well is there? Is there???
Oh, there's one thing cooler than going to "Rock & Roll High School."
1) Beyoncé - "Move Your Body"
Imagine for a minute that you're back in school and you're just eating lunch in the cafeteria. It's a normal school. It's a normal day. You're a normal person.
Then, Beyoncé rushes in and leads everyone in a dance number.
Oh, and Michelle Obama is somehow involved.
I'm sorry, but THAT is as cool as school can ever get.