Top 20 Best Beyonce Music Videos

This music video functions as a sequel to “Partition.” Here, the artist is waiting for her man, alone with her candlelit dinner for two, suspecting the very worst. The Gothic lighting in the luxurious mansion scenes is absolutely stunning, and eloquently calls to mind the dark emotion. One shot in particular of walking stoically down the street while she’s swarmed by adoring fans is haunting in its feeling of isolation. According to director Francesco Carrozzini[a], those people were not paid actors, but genuine fans. Carrozzini simply turned the camera on and captured the magic of Beyoncé. PR or not, it was a great creative choice.

While this hip hop tune garnered mixed reviews by critics, its music video is undeniably a success in terms of image. Here, Beyoncé ditches the silks and satins for comfortable sweatshirts as she goofs around with her backups. Even the choreography is literal, with simple but fun jumping and spinning moves that match the lyrics to a T. This more casual portrayal of the artist is also a flex to her competitors: You don’t need fancy editing or high production values for your music video to be successful. Well, at least if you’re Beyoncé, you don’t. It’s fresher than us, all right.

We’re back to the glamorous lifestyle with this beautifully-shot production. This music video showcases the color and vibrancy of African culture. The song comes from Beyoncé’s “Lion King”-inspired album, released as a promotional single. The video was created to honor the one-year anniversary of “Black Is King”, the visual companion to the album. Sure enough, cheetah prints, silks, and Oumou Sangaré[b]’s “Diaraby Nene” appear in a display of African wealth and power. The song itself has been praised for its composition, with “Rolling Stone” magazine deeming it a highlight in Beyoncé’s repertoire.

With blaring alarms, red lighting, and sharp editing, this video production showcases the best of Beyoncé’s powerful and angry vocals. Inspired by her role in “Dreamgirls,” “Ring the Alarm’s” music video depicts Beyoncé once again becoming green-eyed at her partner’s wandering eye. Instead of being weakened by her jealousy, however, the pop star is fully in control, telling her man directly what he has to do to shape up. The dark and gritty production did lead Internet sleuths to speculate about Beyoncé’s personal life but, regardless, it’s an unforgettable and powerful statement.

This dreamy video is the ideal visualization of this critically-acclaimed single, from the 2019 soundtrack album “The Lion King: The Gift.” Directed by Beyoncé and Jenn Nkiru[c], the production showcases the beauty of various women and girls of color, both in ballroom silks and traditional clothing. Beyoncé herself shows up in various stunning dresses. She even appears alongside her daughter, Blue Ivy, in a few heartwarming scenes. The song itself is a lovely homage to beauty of all shades of black and brown. This video won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video, along with several others. It was richly deserved.

Sex appeal has never been so classy. Directed by Jake Nava[d], this video captures the sultry rhythms and Arabic frills of this number, as well as Beyoncé and Usher’s smoldering chemistry. The production also includes allusions to 1953’s “The Band Wagon” with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. Hence, we get dancers in (loosely portrayed) period dress, complementing this otherwise contemporary number. The luxurious costumes, attractive lighting, and well-done editing make this musical visualization a winner. It even won the award for Best Female Video at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, for good reason.

Hitting number four on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart, this song showcases Beyoncé’s sensuality, this time with her eventual husband, Jay-Z. Its accompanying music video, however, was not as well received by fans. In fact, it got backlash at the time for its lack of theme, strange choreography, and risqué interactions between the artist and Jay-Z. It even prompted a petition to re-shoot the video altogether. Fortunately, the production, directed by Sophie Muller[e], has aged well, with iconic visuals and great dancing shot at the Maple Leaf Bar and the Oak Alley Plantation among other locations in Louisiana. Even in its day, it won Best Video at the 2006 MOBO Awards. An inspired choice, all in all.

Ever heard of a revenge song? How about a revenge music video? Directed by Diane Martel[f], this visual accompaniment has Beyoncé prepare for her wedding while crowing to a bad ex-boyfriend about her triumph. From the pop star’s wedding lingerie, prom date footage, and beautiful Baracci wedding dress, “Best Thing I Never Had” has tons of striking imagery. Not only does she look absolutely stunning, she’s also at her peak singing prowess. It’s as free and easy as the singer’s joy to be out of a toxic relationship. Good riddance has never looked so good.

There have been many songs about a cheating ex, but few have a music video as legendary as this one. This visualization, directed by Anthony Mandler[g], won the Video of the Year Award at the BET Awards in 2006. This time, Beyoncé kicks out her cheating lover, directing him to get all these things and hit the road, Jack, with the end of the production showing the singer opening her door to another lover. The video also showcases Beyoncé’s all-female band, Suga Mama, as an extra cherry on top of this female empowerment number. The message is clear: Don’t mess with Queen Bey.

“Lemonade” is one of Bey’s most praised albums. It’s only reasonable then, that it should go all out with its visuals. The one-hour film by the same name premiered on HBO, to nigh universal acclaim. There are many excellent selections, including the heartbreak and stunning accusations of “Sorry” and its stark black-and-white video. But it’s the visual production for the album’s second track, “Hold Up” that takes the crown. The video begins with beautiful shots of the singer underwater, drowning in her heartache. But then she appears back on land in a yellow dress and a baseball bat, ready to vent it all out. The pain of heartbreak metamorphosing into defiance is what makes this video a contemporary masterpiece.

We have covered the sequel, “Jealous,” and now it’s time to go back to how it all started. This video depicts the singer’s eroticism as she imagines herself seducing her partner while on the way to the club. With a silhouetted chair dance amid a purple background and the fantasy club scenes, the video goes perfectly with the exciting sexuality of this R&B selection. The video was directed by Jake Nava and shot at Crazy Horse, the cabaret club in Paris, and even features lines from the French dub of “The Big Lebowski.” The creativity at play here is dazzling.

One of the singer’s most melodic numbers, this Jake Nava-directed video accompaniment is equally intimate. A stunning portrayal of marital troubles, it features the star as a police officer, doing the things her husband has done that hurt her. In the video’s ending, Beyoncé and her husband are back to their real roles, the husband this time as the police officer. Nava’s signature greyscale portrays the stark emotions and drama, much better than in color. More significantly, it also criticizes the sexist double standards and society’s normalization of male infidelity. It’s a creative take on an old subject.

Beyoncé’s tendency for trenchant social commentary continues in this ballad about beauty standards. “Pretty Hurts” portrays Beyoncé as a beauty pageant contestant. The realism of the video, complete with dialogue, delivers its point about the destructiveness of the societal obsession with appearances and its impact on people’s self-esteem, particularly young women and girls. The song also comments on plastic surgery and the harmful, false ideals of perfection, as well as disordered eating and the volatility of an ever-changing definition of beauty. Directed by Melina Matsoukas[h], this is one of Beyoncé’s most ambitious and powerful videos.

This blast from the past cannot be overlooked. For the music video of this joyous R&B number, Beyoncé shows her beatnik moves, her all-black turtleneck ensemble alluding to Audrey Hepburn in “Funny Face.” The production clearly took inspiration from contemporary art and German dance—perhaps a bit too much. Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker [i]accused Beyoncé and her team of plagiarizing her work, particularly from her ballet “Rosas danst Rosas.” Even with this controversy, De Keersmaeker still praised the singer and her talents, saying that “she has good taste”. All’s well that ends well, we guess.

This collaboration between Beyoncé and Ed Burke highlights the latter’s impressive dance skills and showmanship. Unlike many of her other music videos, this one is simple, without much of a plot. Beyoncé performs in a single room with backup dancers, cycling through various formal looks, each as striking as the last. The video’s simplicity is its strength, capturing the sheer joy of being in love. The song itself is a great homage to ‘80s R&B, with its upbeat, infectious rhythms but the video ties it all together, with references to male groups of the 1960s. It’s as dapper as ever, if we do say so ourselves.

Queen Bey’s B-Day era was a fruitful one indeed. The music video for this song was so influential that it even helped the likes of Lizzo, who revealed learning the choreography saved her from a dark time in her life. “Get Me Bodied” takes inspiration from none other than legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, particularly “Rich Man’s Frug” from “Sweet Charity.” Co-directed by Anthony Mandler, the dancing is mesmerizing, with seamless synchronicity. We also get to see the singer’s former bandmates from “Destiny’s Child” in this one. And of course, Beyoncé’s looks more stunning than usual in that shimmery silver dress. Greatness inspires greatness.

Themes of female empowerment recur throughout Beyoncé’s arsenal. For this revolutionary video, the star was inspired by the work of Mozambican[j] dance group Tofo Tofo, partnering with eight choreographers for militaristic march-style dances. But it’s the visuals that are particularly stunning, especially the opening image with Beyoncé riding on a black horse in slow motion. The army of women against the police officers with shields is also remarkable. Its high energy, powerful message, and smart direction led “Run the World (Girls)” to win three nominations at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards and take home the award for Best Choreography.

One of the singer’s best of the early 2000s, “Crazy in Love” was a summer hit no one could or wanted to escape from. And its accompanying video is the crowning touch. With fiery visuals—including actual fire—and street dancing, “Crazy in Love’s” flair showcases the best of Jake Nava’s editing and direction. The hard work involved in this debut single paid off, with the video garnering widespan critical acclaim. It even won three awards for Best R&B Video, Best Female Video, and Best Choreography at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. This was indeed history in the making.

This is perhaps one of the most influential music videos in all of pop culture. And it’s all thanks to Bob Fosse. Beyoncé and Nava were inspired by his “Mexican Breakfast” choreography in “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Add in the beautifully stark black-and-white photography and its joyous uptempo portrayal of female empowerment, and an iconic video was born. Parodies and homages quickly followed, as well as cover versions. It won three awards, including Video of the Year, at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. It was this video, more than anything else, that cemented Beyoncé’s triple-threat status.

When it comes to social importance, however, the prize has to go to this video. A bold statement against police brutality, “Formation” drew tons of recognition, becoming the anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement. The video in question was directed by Melina Matsoukas and set in New Orleans, spotlighting Southern Black culture, people, and poverty, as well as the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. It was the powerful sight of a wall with the graffiti “Stop shooting us” that really elevated the video’s impact. The “Rolling Stone” named it the greatest music video of all time in 2021. And we agree.

Which other Beyoncé music video do you feel is the pinnacle of her artistry? Let us know in the comments down below!

[b]oo-moo sawn-gah-RAY https://youtu.be/c36vYc7FKwE?si=eQI20mpADHtfH2sq&t=3
jah-rah-BEE / jara-BEE neh-NEH https://youtu.be/vxauw-iEVnY?si=MttvgqHATE-9tjyL&t=209
[c]jenn nuh-KEER-oo https://youtu.be/gYFwmRcf2Hk?si=vTmI-aR88Kn1aNIw&t=8
[d]https://youtu.be/xnsSWQngkpQ?si=lr_q5zXJvn8QH1yY&t=3
[e]MOOL-ur? https://youtu.be/CcsKxGU-6OM?si=V8ioSYN69qWtkY9a&t=239
MOH-boh https://youtu.be/bwcVGzSfqw8?si=e5k2k5LcnusSMAo2&t=118
[f]dye-anne martel
buh-RAW-chee https://youtu.be/XhbMOCWlWBo?si=ryCDX-wAyhdETs_J&t=14
[g]https://youtu.be/cFyr7FPwYBc?si=ZD2wKPVJXaS7fBPE&t=52
[h]mat-SOO-kiss
https://youtu.be/VUPGh4gtlXM?si=-g7l2qwkCkEkGHcX&t=14
[i]awnna tuh-RAY-suh duh KEERSH-mocker https://forvo.com/search/Anne%20Teresa%20De%20Keersmaeker/#google_vignette
hrrROH-zawss dawnst hrrROH-zawss https://translate.google.ca/?sl=nl&tl=ar&text=Rosas%20danst%20Rosas&op=translate
[j]mozum-BEE-cun
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/Mozambican
TOH-foh https://youtu.be/UEdFczGMo98?si=5u7pMkIIESUwG8B9&t=281 https://youtu.be/UEdFczGMo98?si=F2AehDY-xP1eFnCX&t=147