Top 10 Music Videos That Made HISTORY

Psy
Once upon a time, YouTube had a limit on how many views a video could rack up—but then “Gangnam Style” came along. This viral hit blew past the algorithm’s known limits, confusing the system so badly that it flipped to negative numbers. YouTube admitted, “We never thought a video would be watched in numbers greater than a 32-bit integer... but that was before we met Psy.” Some Google engineers had supposedly foreseen the era of “breaking the internet” and wanted to prepare. Psy’s success forced YouTube to raise its cap to an unfathomable number—something starting with nine quintillion. You might say Psy galloped, so every viral video since then could run.

Beyoncé
In 2016, Beyoncé encouraged her fans to “get in formation” with a powerful video that addressed important social issues. But before that, in 2008, she amazed everyone with the “Single Ladies” music video. It was inspired by Bob Fosse’s choreography, especially “Mexican Breakfast.” Beyoncé's co-choreographer, JaQuel Knight, said she’d aimed to create a fun and strong dance that anyone could learn. The video was actually one of her lowest-cost and speediest to make, but it allowed the dance moves to take center stage. It launched a full-blown dance craze, with fans everywhere trying to replicate her moves. If TikTok had been around back then, this dance would’ve been all over it!

Britney Spears
Britney’s debut single made her an overnight sensation and ushered in the golden age of teen pop. Just 16 at the time, she played a major role in shaping the video, even pitching the concept herself. That schoolgirl outfit became instantly iconic and stirred plenty of debate, blurring the line between innocence and rebellion. Her sassy dance moves and magnetic performance set a new bar for pop choreography. The video earned her first three Moonmen, landed in TRL’s final countdown, and won TRL’s 2007 award for “Most Influential Video of All Time.” The video’s imagery and style have continued to influence fashion trends and pop culture references ever since.

A-ha
Believe it or not, this wasn’t the first music video the group made for this song—but there’s a reason it’s the one we all remember. The video became famous for blending sketch animation with live action, achieved through rotoscoping, an animation technique where real-life footage is traced frame by frame for a lifelike effect. Reportedly, they traced around 3,000 frames, taking 16 weeks to reach the final product. Dire Straits also pushed boundaries with animation, using CGI in “Money for Nothing.” But arriving about a year earlier, A-ha arguably laid the groundwork for what a music video could be. It cemented its place in pop culture and took home six VMAs.

Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” really made audiences sit up with its powerful take on American culture, especially the Black experience. The video mixes fun dance moments with some pretty intense imagery, creating a striking contrast that reflects the country’s struggles with politics, race, and culture. Its deep symbolism sparked a ton of discussions, pushing people to face tough truths about the world around them. The message spread fast—racking up 12.9 million views in just a day—so people were definitely listening! On top of that, its bold storytelling and sudden shifts in tone changed the game for music videos. It earned plenty of praise and solidified its place as a cultural milestone.

Queen
Before music videos as we know them today, songs were sometimes accompanied by what was known as a “pop promo.” The game really changed with the release of the “Bohemian Rhapsody” promo, which proved to record labels just how much a great video could help promote their artists. This way, they could show off their music globally without racking up the air miles. Plus, it let them have more say in how their art was presented while sidestepping the headaches of live lip-syncing—especially with a tricky song like “Bo Rhap.” Some have even said that this video played a big role in carving out space for the MTV era.

Peter Gabriel
Gabriel pulled out all the stops for this video, throwing in stop-motion, claymation, and even some dancing chickens. Aardman Animations (yes, the “Wallace & Gromit” guys) helped bring the magic to life, while Gabriel himself spent 16 hours lying under glass to capture the shots. The grand finale involves a stop-motion swirl of people spinning around him, including his daughters, the animators, and even the director’s girlfriend. Apparently, filming took a wild 100 hours, with every single second made up of 25 different Gabriel poses. “Sledgehammer” ended up winning nine VMAs, which set the record for the most wins for a single video! It’s also said to be MTV’s most-played video of all time.

Nirvana
This video became the face of grunge music. Director Samuel Bayer was a newbie, and believed that Nirvana liked that he wasn’t tied to big industry rules. He captured the raw energy of the band, filming them in a high school gym surrounded by wild, moshing teens. The whole thing screamed the rebellious spirit of ‘90s grunge and helped cement Nirvana’s place as the band that changed rock. Reportedly Kurt Cobain wasn’t happy with the first version of the video, so worked with Bayer to give it the perfect edge. According to Guinness World Records, “Teen Spirit” became MTV Europe’s most-watched video. Apparently, it also helped bring in a whole new audience for the network.

Madonna
Madonna has always been someone to break the mold, and her video for “Borderline” was definitely bold for its time, showcasing her no-holds-barred femininity. But it was the “Like a Prayer” video that really turned heads. In 1989, her $5 million deal with Pepsi was a game changer—it was the first time a record debuted in a commercial. Skipping traditional airplay was risky, but Madonna knew exactly what she was doing. The video stirred up controversy with its mix of religious and sexual imagery, even catching the Pope’s eye, and nope, he wasn’t a fan, even calling for a boycott! Madonna’s confident stance paved the way for future pop rebels, making her video a cultural landmark that topped lists and won the Viewer’s Choice VMA.


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

With a Hefty £250,000 Price Tag, This Was the Priciest Music Video Ever Made in Its Day

Along with “A Million Ways,” the Group Ushered In the Age of the Internet Music Video

The Simple Visuals with That Now Famous Tear Rolling down Her Face Made Her the First Female Winner of Video of the Year at the VMAs

A Trendsetting Video That Made Cue Cards Popular Long Before “Love Actually”

Paving the Way for Rap Artists on the Music Video Scene plus It Made a Star of Snoop!

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson made history with hits like “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Scream” with his sister Janet, which still holds the record for the most expensive music video. But nothing beat “Thriller” when it came to revolutionizing the artform. It had a movie-like feel, an awesome storyline, and those iconic dance moves that we're still busting out. Plus, it broke racial barriers, becoming a massive hit at a time when black artists were still struggling to get airtime. Directed by John Landis with a $1 million budget, “Thriller” was the first video to get an exclusive broadcast on MTV, which helped boost the network’s popularity. The legendary zombie dance and red jacket became cultural icons, cementing Jackson’s place as entertainment royalty.

Which music video do you think was the most pivotal to its evolution? Let us know in the comments.