It will come as no surprise that many a Texan musician has filmed music videos in their home state, capitalizing on our iconic music hot spots, such as Gruene Hall, to set the stage for their videos. What you might not know though is that there have been quite a few world-renowned bands and artists who have also chosen the great state of Texas to visually tell the story behind their music. From up and coming young country artists to wildly popular European boy bands, here are 10 famous music videos that you might not know were filmed right here in Texas.
Lifestyle
10 Famous Music Videos You Might Not Know Were Filmed in Texas
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“Rock The Casbah” By The Clash–Filmed in Austin (1982)
Photo: Facebook/theclash
Filmed all over 1980s Austin, this phenomenally famous song, performed by the English punk rock band The Clash, shot to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1982. Those who were familiar with downtown Austin in the ’80s might recognize many obscure spots that make an appearance in the music video.
“Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” By U2–Filmed At The Houston Astrodome (2000)
Photo: Facebook/U2ByU2
Two videos were shot for this popular U2 video, with one version featuring two fictitious American football teams, playing a game which was filmed in the (then) newly-abandoned Houston Astrodome. There is a brief cameo in the video by NFL announcer John Madden. Fun fact: The fictional placekicker in the video’s name is “Paul Hewson,” which also happens to be the real name of U2 frontman, Bono.
“Pancho & Lefty” By Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard–Filmed in the Texas Hill Country/Austin (1983)
Photo: Facebook/When the Cowboy Sings and Newhillbilly
The song “Pancho & Lefty” was written by famous Texas country artist Townes Van Zandt but covered by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard on their 1983 collaborative album, Pancho & Lefty. The video depicts the dusty, cactus-covered Texas Hill Country as well as Austin’s Hotel Alamo, which closed shortly after the video was filmed there.
“Drag Me Down” By One Direction–Filmed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (2015)
Photo: Facebook/onedirectionmusic
The insanely popular, British/Irish boy-band, One Direction, chose NASA’s Johnson Space Center near Houston as the backdrop for their video depicting astronauts preparing for a space mission. The video has been viewed over 711 million times on YouTube.
“Head Over Boots” By Jon Pardi–Filmed at Twin Sisters Dancehall in Blanco (2016)
Photo: Facebook/cmt
The video for California native turned Nashville recording star, Pardi’s lead single on his second studio album features the iconic and historic Twin Sisters Dancehall, located in Blanco. In the video, Pardi plays frontman to several incarnations of a country band, performing on stage at the dancehall through the decades.
“No Me Queda Mas” By Selena–Filmed in San Antonio (1994)
Photo: Facebook/wemissyouselena
While Tejano sensation Selena is probably best known for her iconic Houston Astrodome performance called “The Last Concert,” which was filmed just one month before her death, the artist also filmed a popular music video in San Antonio. The video for “No Me Queda Mas,” was filmed at the San Antonio Amtrak station in downtown, but you’ll also recognize the popular River Walk restaurant Casa Rio in the beginning of the video.
“On Hold” By The xx–Filmed in Marfa (2016)
Photo: Facebook/thexx
English indie pop band The xx chose Marfa as the backdrop for the lead single off their third studio album. The video, often called a “love letter to Marfa,” features sweeping vistas of far west Texas, as well as depictions of small town life in quirky Marfa.
“Without You” By Mötley Crüe–Filmed in Galveston (1990)
Photo: Facebook/MotleyCrue
The video for “Without You,” was filmed at the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston the day after a Houston concert stop by the mega group in 1990. The Grand Opera House was built in 1894 and has survived all of Galveston’s most devastating hurricanes to date, including the 1900 storm that devastated the island.
“Left Hand Free” By alt-J–Filmed along the Guadalupe River (2014)
Photo: Facebook/Alt-j
The video for this English indie-rock band’s second single off their second album was shot along the banks of the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country. The video depicts young people doing familiar Guadalupe River activities such as tubing, splashing in the water, and drinking beer.
“Singles You Up” By Jordan Davis–Filmed in El Paso (2018)
Photo: Facebook/jordandavisofficial
Louisiana native Jordan Davis’ debut single off his first album Home State features a music video filmed in the picturesque desert near El Paso. The popular song has hit the number 1 spot on the Country Airplay chart and has sold more than 208,000 copies since April 2018.
Texas has gained some traction in the past couple of decades for being an affordable and visually stunning place to film movies, television shows, and music videos. When artists choose to showcase Texas’ picturesque terrain, as well as the quaint (and often quirky) scenery of our downtowns it just goes to show what we locals have always known: Texas’ gorgeous landscapes and charming culture hold universal appeal.
