The "Futuristic" Music Videos Of The '00s

If a martian crashed into my apartment and asked that I show it some early '00s Top 40 music videos, I would try to not pass out immediately. I would be too overwhelmed to speak. Once I got ahold of myself, I'd fire up YouTube and tell the martian to expect at least one of the following two elements from every vid: elaborate choreography and The New Millennium Aesthetic. Ah, The New Millennium Aesthetic: We’re in the 2000s! See our handheld cellular devices? See all of the technology? See our laser beams? See all of the metallic accessories and decor? The future is here! We are what The Jetsons dreamed of! We are Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century!

Between the years of 2000 and 2004, it seemed like every other music video was set in outer space and shellacked in silver paint. We'd made it to The New Millennium, aka The Future, and the music videos celebrated that. No, we did not exist in the same The Future that was depicted in all of the music videos that ruled the Total Request Live countdown, but that was neither here nor there. All that mattered is that we beat the Y2K scare and could go on existing in our present-day future.

Here are some of the best "futuristic" music videos from the beginning of The New Millennium:

"Come On Over" By Christina Aguilera

The music video starts with an enormous flip phone, and then devolves into some candy-coated 2001: A Space Odyssey madness. 2000-and-late? More like 2000-and-great!

"Play" by Jennifer Lopez

J. Lo the Space Agent doesn't flinch at all when that scary robot arm descends from the ceiling. She just keeps on dancing. J. Lo is the queen of The Past, The Present, and The Future.

"Irresistible" by Jessica Simpson

I can't wait to walk on walls.

"Can't Get You Out Of My Head" by Kylie Minogue

I wish everyone in real life dressed like the humans in this music video. That'd be the best.

"He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton

Another space station full of trained dancers. Honestly, if The Future = dancing in outer space, sign me up.

"No Scrubs" by TLC

OK, I bent the rules for this video. It was released in 1999. But come on, I'd be a monster if I didn't include it.

"Stronger" by Britney Spears

The car in this video subverts expectation; rather than hopping into a hovercraft or strapping on a jetpack, Brit Brit cruises around in a vehicle that looks like the opposite of The Future.

"Holler" by the Spice Girls

This version of The Future is very scary.

"Dilemma" by Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland

Kelly sends a text message via Excel spreadsheet. I watched a lot of wild music videos this afternoon, but this Excel spreadsheet text technology takes The Future cake. Excel spreadsheet text messaging! What'll they think of next?! I hope Excel spreadsheet texting become a reality at some point during my lifetime. Seems like an extremely convenient way to communicate.

Image: NellyVEVO/YouTube