There was a stretch of time when the outside world felt like a distant rumor and the days blurred together in sweatpants and sourdough starters. Music didn’t just fill the silence—it became a timestamp. Certain songs weren’t just hits; they were companions during uncertainty, boredom, and the strange comfort of shared isolation.

There was a time when music videos felt like extras, fun, flashy, but ultimately optional. Then the 21st century showed up and completely flipped that idea on its head. With the rise of YouTube, social media, and artists gaining more creative control, music videos stopped being promotional tools and became events.