Music videos have always played a huge part in an artist’s career, especially after MTV launched in 1981. Some may even argue that the video often makes a song memorable and iconic. Madonna’s “Vogue,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time.” See what we mean?
Below, we count down 10 videos from 10 different megastars who have called upon Sin City to accompany the visual for their song. We delve into how popular they are in the digital age (as of September 2024), where they chose to shoot the video, and when it was first released.
Here are ten insanely popular music videos that were shot in Las Vegas.
1. U2 – I Still Haven’t Found What I’ve Been Looking For
Year – 1987
YouTube views – 222 million
Where? – Fremont Street
Taken from their 1987 career-defining The Joshua Tree album, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’ve Been Looking For” became U2’s second No. 1 single on the US Billboard 200. To this day, the rock, gospel-ballad remains one of their most memorable hits. In the video, the band is captured walking around Fremont Street while Edge plays the acoustic guitar. A notable spot in the background includes the Pioneer Club.
2. Sam Smith – Money on My Mind
Year – 2014
YouTube views – 116 million
Where? – Las Vegas strip
Serving as the breakout hit from their debut album, In The Lonely Hour, Sam Smith can be seen singing the tune while the famous Las Vegas Strip gleams behind them. Notable spots include the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and the Flamingo. In other scenes, watch Sam inside casinos and wandering around quiet streets in Downtown Las Vegas near the wedding chapels.
3. Ellie Goulding – On My Mind
Year – 2015
YouTube views – 281 million
Where? – An old casino
For the lead single of Ellie Goulding’s third studio album, Delirium, she chose to shoot the music video for “On My Mind” in an old casino in Sin City. During a radio interview for Capital FM in the UK, Goulding admitted the video had a slight Thelma & Louise theme. When mentioning Vegas itself, she said: “It’s a weird place. We went to this old casino and filmed stuff in there. […] We wanted to ride some horses, and there’s a gangster who is a not very good guy.”
4. Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
Year – 2016
YouTube views – 1.6 billion
Where? – MGM Grand Las Vegas, Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas Strip, Fountains of the Bellagio Hotel, and the Fremont Hotel and Casino.
If there is one music video that showcases how fun Las Vegas can be, it’s Bruno Mars’ vibrant video for “24K Magic.” Landing in a private jet, Mars and his fellow band members enjoy the trip of a lifetime. In many scenes, they can be seen partying and dancing with champagne in their hands by the pool, splashing the cash in the casinos, and driving down the Strip in a black Cadillac Allanté convertible. At the end of the video, Mars rides a jet ski in the Fountains of the Bellagio hotel.
5. Katy Perry – Waking Up in Vegas
Year – 2009
YouTube views – 101 million
Where? – Palms Hotel and Fremont Street
For a song titled “Waking Up in Vegas,” it was inevitable that Katy Perry would choose the city that never sleeps to shoot its visual. The video follows a couple who, after a wild night in Las Vegas, wake up married and experience a rollercoaster of good and bad luck as they win big at casinos and enjoy the city’s glitz, only to face the consequences of their impulsive decisions. The video playfully captures the highs and lows of a spontaneous Vegas adventure. During one of the highs, Perry is filmed racing down the streets of the city in a Lamborghini Murciélago.
6. Sade – Turn My Back On You
Year – 1988
YouTube views – 3.5 million
Where? – Streets of Vegas
For the fourth single from Sade’s platinum-selling album Stronger Than Pride, “Turn My Back On You” saw frontwoman Sade Adu and her band members parade around the streets of Las Vegas. With the camera quickly focusing on various landmarks, the Las Vegas strip cannot be mistaken for anywhere else.
7. Mariah Carey – Infinity
Year – 2015
YouTube views – 10 million
Where? – Caesars Palace
To promote her compilation album #1 to Infinity, Mariah Carey recorded the new single “Infinity” to tie in with the release. Its music video was filmed while she was embarking on her Las Vegas residency, also called “#1 to Infinity,” which took place between 2015 and 2017 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. In the video, Carey is captured performing the song on stage at the venue. Near the beginning, she is seen walking out across a balcony where she spots her billboard promoting her residency at the hotel on the strip.
8. The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
Year – 2020
YouTube views – 861 million
Where? – Fremont Street, Stratosphere Tower
The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” music video captures a neon-lit, chaotic night in Las Vegas, where he speeds through empty streets in a red suit. Iconic Vegas landmarks like the Fremont Street Experience and the Stratosphere Tower are prominently featured, adding to the intense, dizzying atmosphere of his wild, adrenaline-fueled journey through the city.
9. The Killers – Shot At The Night
Year – 2013
YouTube views – 113 million
Where? – Las Vegas strip
The Killers’ “Shot At The Night” video follows a romantic, dreamlike story of a hotel maid and a guest exploring Las Vegas. Set against the backdrop of the city’s iconic landmarks, the video features the Bellagio fountains, the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower, and the Cosmopolitan hotel, capturing the magic and allure of the Strip as the pair experience a whirlwind night of connection and adventure.
10. Lana Del Rey – Ride
Year – 2013
YouTube views – 163 million
Where? – Fremont Street, Ferguson Downtown, Family Foods Market, Travelers Motel
Lana Del Rey’s “Ride” video tells a story of freedom and longing, with scenes of her wandering the desert and riding on the back of motorcycles. The video features iconic Las Vegas landmarks like the neon-lit Fremont Street and retro signs from the Downtown area, complementing the video’s themes of escape, rebellion, and a bittersweet yearning for love and adventure. Other noticeable locations include the Travelers Motel and Family Foods Market.
