11 Music Videos Set In High School: Iggy Azalea, Britney Spears, And More

Even though I don't go to school anymore, part of me is still pretty depressed that back to school season is upon us. If you're as bummed out as I am, here are some classic music videos set at high school to help you through this tough time.

1. Ramones — "Rock 'n' Roll High School" (1979)

When you name your single "Rock 'n' Roll High School," you really have no choice but to set the music video at a high school. This 1979 clip features the Ramones in detention, and ends with Dee Dee causing a nuclear explosion, naturally.

2. J. Geils Band — "Centerfold" (1981)

The video for the J. Geils Band seems to take place in a classroom at an all-girls school, which is where the band rehearses, for whatever reason.

3. Pink Floyd — "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2" (1982)

This one technically isn't a music video, but rather a sequence from the film adaptation of Pink Floyd's rock opera The Wall, but it's still one of the most iconic school-themed rock clips of all time, not to mention one of the creepiest.

4. Van Halen — "Hot For Teacher" (1984)

I always felt bad for the all of the girl students in the "Hot For Teacher" video, because they probably don't care that much about how hot this teacher is.

5. Twisted Sister — "I Wanna Rock" (1984)

Twisted Sister made not just one, but two music videos from their Stay Hungry album starring actor Mark Metcalfe from Animal House, the second of which, "I Wanna Rock," casts him as the world's angriest teacher.

6. Mötley Crüe — "Smokin' in the Boys Room" (1985)

Mötley Crue's video for their cover of "Smokin' in the Boys Room" is like a cross between the hard rock campiness of the Twisted Sister videos and the nightmarish "Another Brick in the Wall" video, aided by the casting of The Hills Have Eyes star Michael Berryman as the principal.

7. Nirvana — "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1991)

Unlike the previous videos mentioned here, Nirvana's classic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video doesn't take place in a classroom, but rather in a gymnasium that looks like it was burning down during filming.

8. Britney Spears — "...Baby One More Time" (1998)

Remember back in the late '90s, when it was considered acceptable to overly sexualize teenage girls? Man, how times have changed...

9. Missy Elliott — "Gossip Folks" (2003)

I don't know what high school Missy Elliott went to that gave out Adidas tracksuits as uniforms, but it must have been a pretty hip place.

10. My Chemical Romance — "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" (2004)

Like the members of My Chemical Romance, I went to high school in New Jersey, but I can't say that I can relate to the video for "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)." I didn't go to a private school, though, so that probably has something to do with it.

11. Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX — "Fancy" (2014)

Every time some Hollywood producer feels the urge to remake a classic movie, they should just turn it into a music video instead, like Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX did with Clueless in their "Fancy" video.

Tags

Iggy Azalea, Charli XCX, My Chemical Romance, Missy Elliott, Britney Spears, Nirvana, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Ramones