Naked Ambition: 20 Bare-It-All Music Videos (NSFW)

It’s no secret that pop stars like to bare their bodies, whether it’s on stage, on the red carpet, or in a music video. Big pop names like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Gotye left little to the imagination in their video hits, and we’ve also seen nudity (and controversy) pop up in videos from rock acts like the Flaming Lips and Sigur Ros. Check out our list of 20 not so sweet videos that aren’t afraid to show some skin.

Lady Gaga, “Do What U Want” (2014)

Lady Gaga released the “Artpop” track “Do What U Want” as a single in 2013, but strangely never shared an official music video for it. In June 2014 TMZ leaked a 30-second semi-NSFW video clip that may reveal why. The video features snippets of what is allegedly Gaga’s “Do What U Want Video,” featuring R. Kelly and photographer Terry Richardson. According to the report, the video was scrapped because Gaga’s team feared the presence of her two co-stars would cause too much controversy amidst the video’s sexual themes. Seems like that was a good move.

Miley Cyrus, “Wrecking Ball” (2013)

While belting out her “Bangerz” album’s pop ballad “Wrecking Ball,” Miley swings in naked (but strategically covered) on her own sphere of destruction — taking breaks to suggestively roll around in gravel and tongue down a sledgehammer.

Robin Thicke (Feat. Pharrell Williams and T.I.), “Blurred Lines” (2013)

“Let me liberate you,” Robin Thicke requests of a gorgeous friend in this clip. She, as well as several of her cute friends, oblige. And so goes this boob-heavy video, featuring free, topless women with dapper (and clothed) guests Pharrell and T.I. prance after them. Watch the unedited version on Vevo here.

 NSFW: Sigur Rós (w/ Shia LeBeouf), “Fjögur Píanó” (2012)

Shia LeBeouf literally bares it all in the avant-garde short film for Sigur Rós’ “Fjögur Píanó,” which is definitely NSFW. The clip chronicles the ups and downs of a very sad-looking LaBeouf and his graceful girlfriend — or at least that’s what it seems to be chronicling. The incredibly strange video is difficult to decipher, but it keeps viewers watching for an astounding nine minutes.

 Katy Perry, “California Gurls” (2010)

Katy Perry strips down before slipping into her cotton candy cloud-covered bed in her video for “California Gurls,” which takes place in the sweet land of “Candyfornia.” Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what Katy Perry and her gurls are made of.

Gotye, “Somebody That I Used To Know” (2011)

Gotye bared more than his soul in the video for his chart-topping single — the Aussie singer shows off every inch of his body as he’s painted with colorful shapes, standing still and crooning “now you’re just somebody that I used to know.” Featured songstress Kimbra goes just as buff as she’s stripped of her geometric paint in the viral video.Blink-182, “What’s My Age Again” (2000)

Pop-punk pranksters Blink-182 forget their gym shorts and take a leisurely, naked jog through the streets, encountering a memorable cast of characters along the way. The boys were actually wearing thongs during most the outdoor scenes, but they let the cameras capture it all in the studio shots.

Britney Spears, “Womanizer” (2008)

Britney got her sauna on during the filming of her 2008 comeback clip, which allowed her to show off her re-buffed bod. The song quickly became Brit Brit’s first No. 1 hit in nine years. Coincidence?

NSFW: The Flaming Lips & Erykah Badu, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (2012)

Erykah Badu and the Flaming Lips’ extremely NSFW short for “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” made waves when it dropped — much to the dismay of a very publicly-angry Badu — in June. The footage switches between shots of the singer and her sister Nayrok Udab, fully naked in bathtubs, covering themselves in glitter and bodily fluids while Badu chants raw, haunting vocals. The video has since been removed by the Flaming Lips, but Lips frontman Wayne Coyne said that it might be remade, featuring Amanda Palmer.

 Pink, “So What” (2008)

In this anthem for the scorned woman, the fiery singer tosses aside her dress on the red carpet as paparazzi bulbs flash, trying to capture the risque moment. Strategic black bars shows that Pink can still be classy, even when she’s publicly parading in the buff.Alanis Morissette, “Thank You” (2002)

Alanis showed us everything we needed to know in this clip where she stands on street corners, takes public transportation and goes grocery shopping while naked as a jaybird. Luckily, her hair was long enough back then to avoid any FCC fines.

 D’Angelo, “Untitled” (2000)

In the video that sold a million gym memberships, soul crooner D’Angelo begs to be your man as beads of sweat seductively roll down the most ridiculous abs ever seen on a human being. We’re still trying to get in touch with his trainer.

 Michael Jackson, “You Are Not Alone” (1995)

In a desperate attempt to prove their love was real, Michael Jackson and then-wife Lisa-Marie Presley reverted to naked cudling for the King of Pop’s “You Are Not Alone” video. We miss Michael as much as you do, but admit it — those scenes still give you the willies, don’t they.

 Lady Gaga, “Love Game” (2009)

A bedazzled Gaga appeared wearing nothing but strategically placed crystals and a little body paint in the video for her second chart-topping hit. Oooh la la, indeed. Robbie Williams, “Rock DJ” (2000)

British heartthrob Robbie Williams has trouble catching the ladies’ eyes in a rollerdisco, so he strips off his clothes — and eventually his skin — to aid his cause. Some people will do anything for attention.

NSFW: The Flaming Lips, “Watching the Planets” (2009)

Long before the Lips were creating controversey with Erykah Badu (when she stripped down for the sixth video on this list), they were flaunting the human body in the name of music with “Watching the Planets.” You wouldn’t think that the king of all naked videos would belong to a band as quirky and, frankly, as unsexy as the Flaming Lips. But Wayne Coyne and co. came out with a clip that features so much flesh, we can barely bring ourselves to embed it.

Major Lazer, “Bubble Butt” (2013)

 

A trio of flat-backed party girls are visited by a big-booty monster that inflates their butts to balloon-sized proportions. Then they’re taught how to twerk what they’ve just been blessed with in the club.

NSFW: The-Dream, “Pussy” (2013)

This clip, which is more like a trailer for a porno movie than a traditional music video, is a literal as they come. The-Dream is known for being a bit raunchy at times, but this clip takes it over the top with a woman really enjoying his music while in bed.

Text by M. Tye Comer, Hannah Gilman, Danielle Levy & Brennan Carley.