Iconic Denim Moments in Music Video History

Fashion and music have a special connection—especially when it comes to denim.

Jeans and denim jackets have been staple in music videos for decades, from rock ‘n’ roll to hip-hop, and the crossover is not slowing down anytime soon.

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“Denim and music are actually rooted in each other,” Selen Ergül, senior marketing communications executive at Turkish mill Calik Denim, told Rivet. “Many legendary names from unforgettable cult periods of music identified with denim, and they were the names we saw on the stages with the most trendy denim of that period—and millions of people followed those trends.”

Here are 10 music videos infused with iconic denim moments—from Mariah Carey’s “Heartbreaker” to George Michael’s “Faith.”

Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z, “Crazy In Love”

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are crazy in love—with denim, that is.

Released in 2003, the billionaire musical couple dropped their smash hit, “Crazy In Love,” which spent eight weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 2003. Despite the song’s catchy beat and mainstream success, one defining moment for the music video was Beyoncé’s opening scene outfit where the singer is seen wearing a white tank top and micro denim shorts.

The outfit has become so iconic that many still recreate it every year for Halloween. Even Beyoncé revives the looks during concert. During “The Renaissance Tour” 2023, her backup dancers donned variations of the simple but bold outfit.

Flo Rida ft. T-Pain, “Low” 

Catchy product placement gave AppleBottom Jeans, the brand denim brand co-founded by rap artist Nelly, a lift in 2007 when it became part of the chorus of Flo Rida’s hit song “Low” featuring T-pain.

The song went 4x platinum in its first year, and in 2021, became Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Diamond for selling over 10 million records.

The video for “Low” takes viewers to a 2000s club scene with women dancing low in the high-stretch AppleBottom Jeans and “boots with the fur.”

George Michael, “Faith”

All singer-songwriter and record producer George Michael needed was his guitar and Levi’s jeans to shoot to stardom in the 1980s. The British performer’s “Faith” music video is a testament to that.

Spending four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1987, the late singer wore a classically cool outfit of aviator sunglasses, Levi’s jeans, boots and a black leather jacket for the “Faith” music video.

“Beginning in the 20th century, Levi’s, specifically the 501 jeans, have been worn by everyone from folk musicians in Greenwich village, through the punk and early hip-hop movements, to the Seattle grunge scene,” Paul O’Neill, design director at Levi Strauss & Co, told Rivet. “ Levi’s is the epitome of cool and creates a clear thread through generations of authentic musicians. We see it adopted and customized by so many subcultures, in unique ways, that it proves Levi’s are the ultimate blank canvas.”

Janet Jackson, “All For You”

Taking place in an animated version of Hollywood, singer Janet Jackson’s 2001 “All For You” music video—which spent 7 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2001—marries denim, neon and good vibes.

In the video, Jackson jumps into choreography with her seven backup dancers who are all wearing high-rise, loose-fitting jeans paired with neon crop tops and chunky black shoes. This theme transpires throughout the entire video, with several outfit changes.

Madonna, “Ray Of Light”

Madonna’s “Ray Of Light” music video stands the test of time.

In the video, the queen of pop wore dark wash jeans from Chloe’s Spring/Summer 1998 collection, a Plein Sud Jeans denim jacket and custom-made Stormie Art beaded wrist cuffs. Dancers throughout the video are also seen wearing jeans in an array of styles, including slim, straight and bootcut.

Mariah Carey and Jay-Z, “Heartbreaker”

Mariah Carey played double-duty on the set for her “Heartbreaker” video, acting as both the star and seamstress.

Before filming the 1999 video, Carey decided to DIY a pair of jeans by tearing off the waistband, creating an ultra low-rise. She paired the jeans with a pink crochet bralette.

After the video’s release, Carey said a sudden desire for low-rise jeans spurred. In Billboard’s “Throw It Back” video series, Carey said, “The jeans that people were wearing were high-waisted, and I was like, ‘Why? Why are we doing a high-waisted jean? That’s not flattering.’ I didn’t understand it.”

Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

It’s no secret that destroyed denim is a staple piece needed to complete any grunge look, the generation-defining musical genre that made flannel shirts, cardigans, ripped and shredded jeans and more all the rage in the ’90s.

One group that led the grunge charge was rock band Nirvana, composed of frontman Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic. The band’s massive hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1992, is one example from their discography that perfectly marries denim and grunge.

Cobain sports straight-leg jeans and layers a striped tee over a long-sleeve shirt in the video—a look that became synonymous of the cultural icon and the musical genre.

Almost two decades later, a par of Cobain’s DIY-ed jeans sold at auction for $412,750.

Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney, “FourFiveSeconds”

Music legends Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney opted for all denim in their simple video for “FourFiveSeconds” in 2015.

In the video, Rihanna wears West’s vintage Sean John oversized denim jacket which she referred to as “f***ing iconic,” during a behind-the-scenes video. McCartney, on the other hand, wore an all-black denim tuxedo while West played with different washes, wearing black jeans and a light-wash denim jacket.

“Kanye came up with the idea of doing some real street denim. [An] all-American type look,” Rihanna said in a behind-the-scenes video. “Denim never goes out of style. It’s classic. It’s iconic. Just like the f***ing Beatles.”

Shania Twain, “Any Man Of Mine”

Country music is arguably one music genre that plays with denim the most, and Canadian singer-songwriter and actress Shania Twain’s 1995 “Any Man Of Mine” music video is no exception.

In the video, Twain is seen riding a horse in high-rise jeans, a blue knotted shirt, dark brown chaps, and of course, a cowboy hat and boots. Keeping the denim theme running, Twain later changes into a light-wash denim vest to match her jeans.

Troye Sivan, “Rush”

Denim, club scene and grunge-infused sportswear are key elements in Australian singer-songwriter and recent Calvin Klein star Troye Sivan’s 2023 “Rush” music video.

The video features unique pieces like a patchwork denim jean and crop-top set, dark wash flared jeans with lacing up the thighs, red jeans splattered with white paint and more.

Dancers in the video are also seen wearing jeans in a variety of jean fits, including straight leg, loose and skinny. Taking the club scene aesthetic to the next level, Sivan also incorporated a variety of leather pieces, including dark brown chaps, loose-fit pants and jackets.

“‘Rush’ is the feeling of kissing a sweaty stranger on a dance floor, a two hour date that turned into a weekend, a crush, a winter, a summer,” Sivan said in a statement.