The Best Pop Music Videos of All Time

From Michael Jackson to Britney Spears, Madonna to Beyonce, check out our list of the best pop music videos of all time!

Introduction

There are countless music videos that have been produced over the years, but there are only a handful that can truly be considered as classic pop music videos. Here is a list of ten of the best pop music videos of all time.

1. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1983)
2. Madonna – Like a Prayer (1989)
3. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (1975)
4. a-ha – Take on Me (1985)
5. Guns N’ Roses – November Rain (1992)
6. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)
7. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Give It Away (1991)
8. Stone Temple Pilots – Wicked Garden (1993)
9. Weezer – Buddy Holly (1994)
10. Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time (1999)

Michael Jackson – Thriller

The Thriller video is often cited as the greatest music video of all time. It was directed by John Landis and starred Michael Jackson as a zombie who terrorizes a group of people. The video was filmed in black and white and had a budget of $500,000, which was a record at the time. It was voted the best music video of all time by readers of Rolling Stone magazine in 1999.

Madonna – Like a Prayer

Madonna’sytical and religious exploration of race and religion in her “Like a Prayer” video is unforgettable. The video was highly controversial when it was released, but it’s aged incredibly well. It’s still one of the best pop music videos of all time.

Britney Spears – Toxic

The defining music video of the early 2000s, “Toxic” has everything: a Britney at the height of her powers, a catchy as hell melody, and a plot that is delightfully bonkers. It starts with Britney acting as a flight attendant, before she’s drawn into a web of deceit and danger by a dapper gentleman (played by Colin Farrell). From there, the video takes us on a wild ride that includes Britney dancing in a barely there bikini, being covered in snakes, and ultimately saving the day. It’s campy, it’s sexy, it’s over-the-top… and it’s completely unforgettable.

Lady Gaga – Bad Romance

Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” video is one of the most iconic and memorable pop music videos of all time. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the video features Gaga as a glamorously sinister character who is pursued by masked men in a dark and labyrinthine setting. With its mix of high fashion, dance, and horror elements, the “Bad Romance” video cemented Lady Gaga’s status as a pop culture icon.

Rihanna – Umbrella

Rihanna’s 2007 video for “Umbrella” was a game-changer. The statement-making clip featured the singer in a variety of fashion-forward looks (including a now-iconic sequined juju hat by Stephen Jones) while umbrella-wielding dancers performed around her. The result was a visually arresting and stylish video that perfectly complemented the song’s summery feel.

Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)

“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” is a song from American singer Beyoncé’s third studio album, I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008). Columbia Records released “Single Ladies” as a single on October 13, 2008 as a Double A-side alongside “If I Were a Boy”, showcasing the contrast between Beyoncé and her aggressive alter ego Sasha Fierce. The two songs were written by Beyoncé, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart, Kuk Harrell, and Thaddis “Kuk” Harrell. The confessing tune was produced by Nash and Stewart.

The music video for “Single Ladies” was directed by Jake Nava and premiered on October 7, 2008. Inspired by Fred Astaire’s 1949 musical film Annie Get Your Gun and Bob Fosse’s 1972 musical film Cabaret, it features Beyoncé dancing in front of three inverted mirrors. Upon its release, the music video of “Single Ladies” won three MTV Video Music Awards. It has been ranked on various publications’ lists of the best music videos of all time.

Justin Timberlake – Mirrors

Few artists have had as big an impact on the pop music landscape as Justin Timberlake. Since bursting onto the scene as a member of *NSYNC, Timberlake has gone on to become one of the most successful solo artists of all time. With hits like “Cry Me a River,” “ SexyBack,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” it’s clear that Timberlake knows how to make a catchy pop song. But it’s not just his songs that are great — his music videos are some of the best in the business.

Timberlake’s music videos are often creatively innovative, visually stunning, and just plain fun to watch. His video for “Mirrors” is all of those things and more. The eight-minute video tells the story of a man reflecting on his life and relationships, and it does so in a way that is both beautiful and moving. With its gorgeous cinematography and emotional resonance, “Mirrors” is one of the best pop music videos of all time.

Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.

Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” is one of the best music videos of all time. The video is a remarkable achievement in both storytelling and visuals, Kendrick Lamar rapping in front of a burning cityscape. The video was directed by Dave Meyers and the LittleHomies, and it was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards, winning five of them.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many great pop music videos that have been released over the years. There are countless others that could have been included on this list, but these are the ones that we think are the best of the best.

We hope you enjoyed our list of the best pop music videos of all time. If you have any other favorites that you think should be on this list, let us know in the comments below.