Top 10 Greatest Kelly Clarkson Music Videos

With an emphasis on romantic bonds, this lively music video features a truly celebratory Kelly. It’s playful and fun, yet there’s a sentimental aspect, too, as director Wayne Isham shifts between the past and present, demonstrating how relationships grow and thrive through mutual support. While the fast-paced editing helps move things along, it’s the performance visuals that boosts the video, as Kelly rocks out and howls the infectious chorus. By the end, she seems to be saying that love can be dangerous, but it’s worth the ride.

Directed by Alon Isocianu, here’s a video that relies more on metaphorical visuals than pure star power. With such an approach, the imagery lends more weight to inspirational lyrics, rotating between exuberant beachside visuals and a warehouse full of bright, floating cubes. The payoff comes when numerous women blossom from the interior lights, and suddenly everything becomes clear, as Kelly and company celebrate their individuality. It’s not often that you’ll find Kelly performing choreographed numbers, but “Invincible” gave her an opportunity to unite with fellow females for an important message.

While the visual theme of this music video is dark and moody, the core message rings true. Directed by Joseph Kahn, “Never Again” contrasts stripped-down, white performance visuals with an abusive man’s haunting ride towards a personal truth. There’s a heavy message to contemplate in “Never Again,” but Kahn abstains from shocking visuals and takes more of a cinematic approach, with Kelly functioning as a femme fatale out for revenge. As a result, there plenty of entertainment value, along with some insightful visual subtext in the supporting performance shots.

Despite the title’s suffix, this video is less about one particular individual and more about nasty internet trolls. And so, the “Wall of Doubt” in this Justin Francis-directed video speaks volumes, as Kelly smirks at media reports while flashing a knowing eye at the camera. For this video, she’s feisty and fed up, yet she also insinuates that she’ll keep on keeping on regardless of what people say. Visually, “Mr. Know It All” taps into an important issue in 21st century media, as news agencies and paparazzi spread rumours and create walls of doubt. In this visual, Kelly busts down that wall and ultimately takes the high road against her haters.

In this Joseph Kahn-directed music video, it’s all about knowing your personal value and rising above the drama. Sure, maybe “Walk Away” isn’t the most complex of Kelly Clarkson videos, but it shows how some romantic decisions can be quite simple. With Kelly rocking the mic, the complementary visuals touch on inner freedom, whether you’re at home or in the work place. And so, “Walk Away” symbolizes that feeling when you finally decide to trade bad vibes for happiness. It’s classic Kelly, and a perfect visual representation of why she became so popular after “American Idol.”

To support her anthemic song of self-empowerment, Kelly took an interactive approach to connect. And by “connect,” we mean she flash-mobs with a world of fans through Shane Drake’s direction, celebrating diversity and positivity. While that alone is a clever concept, “Stronger” becomes even more effective through Kelly’s fun-loving demeanour and attitude. With some practical choreography and an important message, “Stronger” represents how pop stars can change the world just a little bit, if only by showing love to others and communicating good vibes.

After “American Idol,” Kelly seemed primed for a pop takeover, and it was videos like this that helped jumpstart her career. Directed by Liz Friedlander, “Miss Independent” strays from innocent bubble-gum pop and positions Kelly as a strong female figure. With the party setting, she connects with her core demographic, separating herself from the more pretentious pop artists of the time. Like many Kelly videos, she just seems to genuinely be having the time of her life. And so, fans could easily buy into “Miss Independent,” as Kelly kept it real.

Based on painful, childhood memories, this video is both emotional and heartbreaking. Even so, “Because of You” offers some insight into Kelly’s personal life, as director Vadim Perelman stages the singer both on her own and with her younger self. Balancing mirror shots with images of domestic turmoil, “Because of You” zeroes in on the pain that comes from broken relationships, and Kelly doesn’t hold back with her impassioned performance. Artistically, it’s an impressive production, and emotionally – well, Kelly once again stays authentic despite her vulnerability by reflecting on a darker time in her life.

With this iconic music video, Kelly surprised the music industry with her thrashing take on failed relationships. Directed by Alex De Rakoff, “Since U Been Gone” jumps between punk rock performance clips and a visual theme in which Kelly is fed up and ready to break stuff. And so, the video pushes the boundaries a bit, as the former “American Idol” proved to be a regular American girl that could get feisty if she needed to. As a result, “Since U Been Gone” immediately upped Kelly’s cred amongst fans while simultaneously showcasing her charisma, goofiness and new style.




Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.



“Already Gone”
(2009)


“Don’t Waste Your Time”
(2007)


“Heartbeat Song”
(2015)

Conceptually dark and visually bleak, this production further established Kelly’s pop culture image after the success of “Since U Been Gone.” Also directed by Joseph Kahn, “Behind These Hazel Eyes” features a sensual Kelly with rain pouring over her bridal character. It’s a high-concept video; one that delivers numerous glam shots, too, whether it's close-up camera gazes or a dramatic roll in the mud. Having already established herself as a pop star, this video offered something extra for those on the fringes, making Kelly even more relevant as a pop icon and musical artist.


So, do you agree with our selections? What is your favorite Kelly Clarkson music video? For more musical Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.