They once said, “Video Killed the Radio Star”. But we now know that’s not the case.
Music videos have boosted the visibility and popularity of songs and artists, often filmed in locations you’d never expect to be linked to music.
From stunning landscapes to historic and imposing infrastructure, some of these places have even become pop culture icons.
Here are four surprising examples where music meets engineering, nature, and history.
1. Ridracoli Dam, Emilia-Romagna (Vasco Rossi – Come Vorrei)
Built by Webuild (formerly Impregilo), the Ridracoli Dam is a prime example of engineering serving both the environment and local communities. Standing 103 metres tall and holding over 33 million cubic metres of water, it supplies dozens of towns in the Romagna region.
Solid, efficient, and perfectly integrated into the landscape, it gained new cultural significance when Vasco Rossi chose it as the location for one of his music videos.
2. London Underground Station on the Bakerloo Line (The Chemical Brothers – Believe)
Once again, the London Underground proves itself a striking backdrop for the music world. Scenes from The Chemical Brothers’ video for “Believe” were shot in Maida Vale station, on the Bakerloo Line.
This London Underground station’s distinctive tiles and architecture play a key visual role, becoming part of the video’s unique aesthetic.
3. Iceland’s Landscapes and Cliffs (Sigur Rós – Glósóli)
For their “Glósóli” music video, Sigur Rós turned to the breathtaking Iceland landscapes of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, with its fjords and volcanic bays.
The video follows a group of children as they journey through these surreal, dramatic settings – a visual story that reflects, through Iceland’s nature, the purity and dreamlike quality of the song itself.
4. Villa Erba, Cernobbio (Gwen Stefani – Cool)
In the video for “Cool”, Gwen Stefani moves through the elegant interiors of Villa Erba in Cernobbio.
Built between 1894 and 1898 by the Peluso family, this Lake Como villa later became a cultural hotspot under the Erba family and a favourite summer retreat of director Luchino Visconti, who even finished editing his film Ludwig there.
Today, Villa Erba on Lake Como adds timeless charm to Stefani’s nostalgic video.
