Top Five Music Videos You Only Ever Saw During January Chart Shows

January had a very specific vibe.

Christmas was over.

School was back.

The decorations were gone, but the glitter hadn’t quite worn off yet.

And on TV?

January was chart show season — long countdowns, half-hearted enthusiasm, and music videos that felt cold, moody, and slightly depressing. These weren’t summer bangers. These were songs that thrived in darkness, coat collars, and emotional close-ups.

Here are five music videos you swear you only ever saw during January chart shows — usually while eating toast and avoiding homework.

5. Dido – “Thank You” (2000)

Grey skies.

Bare feet.

A sense of quiet reflection.

This video felt like it was filmed exclusively for January afternoons. It wasn’t loud, flashy, or exciting — it was calm, slightly sad, and oddly comforting. Perfect for a time of year when everyone was tired but pretending to be “fresh”.

January energy:

Staring out of a window, thinking about things you didn’t fully understand yet.

4. Travis – “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” (1999)

A song that practically is January.

The video leaned into the bleakness: coats, moody expressions, and rain that felt aggressively British. Even if you loved Travis, this was not a track you associated with joy — it was pure post-Christmas melancholy.

And yet, it was always there.

Every chart show.

Every countdown.

January energy:

Existential dread with a nice melody.

3. Robbie Williams – “Angels” (1997)

This one hit hard in January.

The slow-motion shots.

The dramatic lighting.

The emotional intensity that felt ten times heavier when you were still exhausted from Christmas.

You didn’t choose to watch this video — it just appeared, mid-chart, and suddenly everyone in the room went quiet.

January energy:

Arms folded, pretending not to feel anything. Feeling everything.

2. U2 – “Beautiful Day” (2000)

Ironically titled, because this video felt like it was always shown during the bleakest part of the year.

Desert runways, windswept scenes, and Bono in a coat staring meaningfully into the distance. It felt important. Significant. Very “this song means something”.

You didn’t fully understand it as a kid — but January chart shows convinced you that you should.

January energy:

Hopeful, but still cold.

1. Britney Spears – “Born to Make You Happy” (1999)

This one is pure January chart-show royalty.

Released post-Christmas, it dominated early 2000 countdowns — soft lighting, emotional close-ups, and Britney looking genuinely sad rather than pop-star shiny.

It wasn’t a fun Britney song.

It was a serious Britney song.

And January was the only time it really made sense.

January energy:

Teenage heartbreak, even if you’d never had a relationship.