Work it! Grind to the best Labor Day music videos of all time
For most, Labor Day is a chance to get away from the 9-to-5 grind and enjoy some 5-to-9 fun. But some pop and rock stars make just another day at the office seem downright cool. Case in point: these workplace-themed music videos. Put in some overtime in front of your computer screen and watch them all.
16. Young Love, “Find a New Way”
Long before Marina Shifrin went viral by making an interpretive-dance YouTube clip to quit her job, pop-rockers Young Love shot this video featuring sexy afterhours cubicle-dancing. Talk about a casual Friday!
15. The Blood Brothers, “Lazer Life”
Every wonder where all that recycled e-waste ends up? Mystery solved!
14. Fifth Harmony, “Work From Home”
Not since the Village People’s heyday have hard hats and pop music been such a winning combination.
13. The Members, “Working Girl”
According to this 1981 classic, all those shoulder-padded, power-suited career women that infiltrated the U.K. workplace during the Thatcher era liked to let their hair down and knock back a few pints with some working-class punk lads after a rough day at the office.
12. Hilary Duff, “Chasing the Sun”
It’s hard to accept this former teen star, who’s never held a regular job in her life, in the role of a typical office drone. But it’s nice to see her resuming her musical career after a six-year recording hiatus. Don’t be alarmed by the final cubicle scene, by the way: No hamsters were harmed in the making of this video.
11. The Dandy Warhols, “All the Money or the Simple Life Honey”
They may be bohemian like you, but the Dandys apparently need to hold down day jobs to fund their rock ’n’ roll lifestyle. We have to say, Courtney Taylor-Taylor looks mighty good in a suit.
10. Taylor Swift, “Ours”
Back in her pre-Reputation days, the “old Taylor” somehow made even working in a boring, Dunder Mifflin-style office seem totally adorable. We wish we looked this fetching in floppy-bowed blouses and sandalfoot hose.
9. Avicii, “Levels”
A dance party can break out anywhere … even in the office break room! This one should get your Labor Day weekend started off right.
8. Michael Gray, “Can’t Wait for the Weekend”
Every man’s sexy-secretary fantasy comes to life in this clip. Be warned, though: This video is ever-so-slightly not-safe-for-work.
7. Britney Spears, “Womanizer”
She’s the boss! Britney is a surprisingly convincing pencil-skirted authority figure in her corporate-themed comeback clip from 2008.
6. OneRepublic, “Wherever I Go”
A bored Japanese salaryman powers through his afternoon slump with a colorful dance routine that could make even the grumpiest, hardest-hearted boss crack a smile. Whoever directed this delightful clip deserves a big fat raise.
5. The Chemical Brothers with the Flaming Lips, “Golden Path”
We’d totally volunteer to work nights, weekends, and holidays if going to the office meant taking a magical, mystical trip via a Xerox-machine portal to a psychedelic alternate universe inhabited by wood nymphs and Wayne Coyne. Heck, we’d even take a pay cut.
4. The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
Can this awesome guy please, please come to our Labor Day party?
3. Mr. Oizo, “Flat Beat”
The next time you have a big, important meeting with your boss, picture this pencil-tapping puppet behind the executive desk, and you’ll feel a lot less nervous.
2. Har Mar Superstar, “Power Lunch”
We don’t suggest you get up to these antics at your own day job, lest you get reported to HR. But kudos to Har Mar for celebrating the fierceness of women who like to lean in.
1. Donna Summer, “She Works Hard for the Money”
Any Labor Day video list worth its paycheck just has to be topped by Donna’s everywoman anthem. Work it, ladies!
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