Top 10 YouTube Music Videos of 2014 - TopX Ep.26

- If you were hoping for subtlety, you’ve come to the wrong place. However if you enjoy clever similes and big booties, then Nicki’s got’chya covered.
- Since this track heavily samples the beat and a classic line from Sir-Mix-a-lot’s Baby Got Back, and given Ms. Minaj’s ample frame, it should come as no surprise that this video contains a heavy dose of derriere. The end of the video even features Nicky performing a lap dance for Drake who looks…I dunno, slightly traumatized by the whole thing?
- This video actually broke the 24 streaming record on VEVO, previously held by Miley Cyrus’ – thus proving that Nicki’s buns are even more powerful than a wrecking ball.
- As is often the case with popular music videos, tons of parody’s exist for this clip – my personal favorite being College Humor’s “educational version”.

- You’ll remember that Jay-Z has 99 problems, but apparently a bitch ain’t one. Well little Arianna over here has a problem, of the man-bitch variety, apparently.
- Winner of MTV’s Best Pop Video of 2014, the video features a retro 60s vibe, with go-go swirls and film grain to push the theme. The song itself also features horns during the chorus, which, again, helps to sell the retro / R&B feel.
- Perhaps most ironically, the chorus also features Ariana’s ex boyfriend Big Shaun. I’m not exactly sure what happened to the two of them, but it seems that may have taken the lyrics to heart and rid themselves of one less problem – if you get what I mean wink wink knudge knudge.

- Continuing this countdown’s tradition of focusing on women who are 4 feet tall, next up we have the unofficial queen of the world cup, Shakira.
- Although this song was originally released as Dare for her 10th studio album, the song was relabeled with new lyrics and a new collaboration with Carlinhos Brown to serve as the anthem for the 2014 world cup. Even if you didn’t know this before you watched the video or heard the song, it’s pretty easy to guess. The lyrics are clearly about soccer/football, and the multicultural imagery sown into nearly every shot is pretty self-explanatory.
- Now, if you’re watching the video and wondering why people keep painting smiley faces on their tummies, that’s because they’re trying to sell you something. The video was actually done in collaboration with Activia, you know, the Jamie Lee Curtis yogurt that helps you poop – so the smiling timies technically symbolize regular bowels – isn’t that great? Try looking at those muddy shots the same now.
- All jokes aside, Activia and Shakira apparently used the video to support the World Food Program, and will both be donating to that. So, it’s a commercial, but it’s still for a good cause.

- Spanish language channels had a huge year on YouTube, so it makes sense that one of the most watched music videos should be Spanish as well… At #7, it’s that guy you may be surprised to know is still making music, Enrique Iglesias.
- In case you aren’t fluent in Spanish, Bailando means “Dancing”, which makes a ton of sense if you’ve seen the video. Shot in the Dominican Republic, it features all kinds of dancing styles, and even boasts appearances by professional flamenco dancers and Havana’s Ballet troupe Lizt Alfonso.
- This is actually the 8th most watched video in YouTube history, which is kinda crazy considering there are alternate versions in Spanglish and Brazilian Portuguese and a Portugal Portuguese - which don’t even count towards the record. If all of those were added together, who knows how high it would place…not that 800 million views and counting is anything to scoff at.

- Everyone’s felt a little down after a one night stand, and nobody knows that more than the ultra sensitive Sam Smith. He …he just wants to you stay…(sniffles)
- In case you didn’t know, Sam Crushed it this year at the Grammys, taking home Best Pop Vocal Album and Song of the Year for this song…albeit the “Dark child version”.
- The Grammy judges were not the only ones who thought the song was pretty sweet – its been covered by other big name acts like Florence and the machine, Chris Brown, Kelly Clarkson and Ed Sheeran …who I still confuse with Sam myself…
- Unfortunately, the resounding success of the song was tainted slightly by a lawsuit that Sam was forced to settle. As many people in the comments are quick to point out, the melody for Stay with Me is remarkably similar to Tom Petty’s Won’t Back Down – so much so that Petty was awarded songwriting royalties for the song.

- Perhaps the catchiest song of the year, and certainly the most unavoidable last fall, Taylor Swifts shake it off was definitely one of the most defining hits of 2014.
- For someone who’s early career was defined by songs detailing heartbreak after heartbreak, Shake it Off delivered a surprisingly upbeat and positive message. The video is a veritable mish-mash of Taylor taking part in different dance styles – ballet, hip-hop, Lady Gaga esque contemporary – and is undeniably cheerful and fun. It’s the 16th most viewed video in YouTube history, so I’m obviously not the only one who thinks so.
- Of course, this video’s not without it’s critics either. Some viewed of the dance bits to be the appropriation of black culture, and as such, rather offensive. Regardless of whether or not you think this is true, a much better example of this sort of appropriation is coming up next.

- Coming up next is the poster child for the appropriation of black culture, the Blond Bombshell from down under, Iggy Izalea.
- Now if you’re a young lady who grew up in the 90s, it should be obvious to you what this video is based off. But for those of you who are…clueless, essentially this whole video is a remake, at least by ways of look and style, of the classic 90s hit, Clueless – most evidently on display with the iconic yellow outfit Iggy sports. Iggy’s clearly supposed to be Cher, and if I remember the movie correctly, I guess that makes Charli into Tai?

- Those of you who saw our episode last week know that Sia’s Chandelier was one of the most popular YouTube videos on the year on 2014, period.
- Written and sung by Australian singer Sia, Chandelier gained 4 Grammy nominations and is currently the 19th most viewed video in all of YouTube history.
- Sia herself doesn’t appear in the video, although she did direct. Instead, the video focuses on the young dancer Maddie Ziegler, clothed in what’s quickly become her standard outfit, which you can also see on display in the video for Elastic Heart.
- As with any popular music video, especially the artsy ones like this, there are multiple parodies, which exist, perhaps none more famous than the one recently featured on SNL with Jim Carrey.

- At #2, we have the second video we’ll see today that takes a direct, lyrical shot at Skinny Bitches – I guess that’s a common theme this year.
- The video deliberately tries to juxtapose the whole booty-bumping theme of the song with the innocent pastel setting and dollhouse sorta look. As for the song itself, it’s basically an anthem about feeling comfortable in your own body, especially if your body is rather ample in its proportions.
- Funnily enough, some people have pointed out that the women in the video, including Meghan herself, are average sized at best. The only person who’s really on the heavy side is the fabulous male dancer, Sione Kelepi, you see from time to time. Whether you think this undermines the message is really a matter of opinion – although the dancers aren’t really obese, they’re certainly larger than most models you see in Vogue and would probably qualify as fat by those standards...so interpret at your own leisure.

Before we get to the #1 Music Video of 2014, here are a few honorable mentions.

- As I said last week out of all the VEVO channels that dominate YouTube, there’s none more dominant than Katy Perry. Her video for Roar Crushed 2013, so it should come as little surprise that the #1 VEVO video for 2014 was her clip for Dark Horse, ft Juicy J. It got nearly a billion views!
- The song itself is a mashup of pop, hip-hop and trap, so it makes sense that the imagery in the video is a mashup as well. Blending Ancient Egyptian imagery with Americana, bright colors, fancy costumes and nice amount of special effects abound.
- As my fun little bit of controversy trivia, we have a fun little fact about a change that had to be made to this video. One of Katy’s potential suitors, in the video, apparently was wearing a pendant that bore the Arabic word for Allah. This was apparently digitally removed from the video, following a petition.

That’s it for our countdown, we hope we didn’t bring back too many traumatic memories. Be sure to vote on upcoming episodes on our website, check us out on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to watchmojo.com for more great top 10s every day.