Top 10 Essential Pop Music Videos

01
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Twenty One Pilots - "Stressed Out"

Twenty One Pilots Stressed Out Music Video
Twenty One Pilots - "Stressed Out". Courtesy Fueled By Ramen

Directed by Reel Bear Media

The latest music video by the duo Twenty One Pilots uses the color black on the neck and hands of lead vocalist Tyler Joseph as well as the color red spread throughout the video to represent the character Blurryface from the title of their album. Blurryface is identified as a conglomeration of adult human insecurities that encourage negative behavior. The music video for the breakthrough hit "Stressed Out" is much more entertaining than all of that sounds including riding a Big Wheel and the immediate families of both halves of the duo lecturing them while they lie in bed.

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02
of 10

Fall Out Boy - "Irresistible" featuring Demi Lovato

Fall Out Boy Irresistible
Fall Out Boy - "Irresistible" featuring Demi Lovato. Courtesy Island

Directed by Wayne Isham

This is the third music video released to promote Fall Out Boy's single "Irresistible." It is a broad parody of the music video for "It's Gonna Be Me" by boy band *NSYNC. The band members of Fall Out Boy are depicted as dolls in a toy store. Veteran music video director Wayne Isham, who directed the original *NSYNC video, put together this clip. Among his accomplishments include directing classic Bon Jovi videos for "Livin' On a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name," as well as winning the MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year honor for Britney Spears' "Piece of Me."

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03
of 10

David Bowie - "Lazarus"

David Bowie Lazarus
David Bowie - "Lazarus". Courtesy Columbia

Directed by Johan Renck

The music video for pop-rock icon David Bowie's song "Lazarus" was released January 7, 2016 just three days before his death from cancer. In retrospect, it is now seen as a self-meditation on his own impending death. As always, David Bowie's artistry is challenging. Veteran Swedish director Johan Renck worked on the music video. He also directed a clip for the title song from David Bowie's just released album Blackstar.

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04
of 10

Justin Bieber - "Love Yourself"

Justin Bieber Love Yourself
Justin Bieber - "Love Yourself". Courtesy Def Jam

Directed by Parris Goebel

The music video for Justin Bieber's hit single "Love Yourself" features husband and wife dancers Keone and Mari Madrid. They are well-known in the hip hop community. Music videos were created for every track on Justin Bieber's album Purpose. This clip was directed by 23-year-old New Zealand choreographer Parris Goebel. She has worked in the past with Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj, and Jennifer Lopez. The song itself was co-written with Ed Sheeran.

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05
of 10

The 1975 - "Love Me"

The 1975 Love Me Music Video
The 1975 - "Love Me". Courtesy Interscope

Directed by Diane Martel

Released in the fall of 2015, this music video for the single "Love Me" by British rock band The 1975 remains a visually arresting commentary on the emptiness of pop culture. It's all drenched in pink and features lead singer Matthew Healy hanging out with cardboard cut-outs of the likes of Elvis Presley and One Direction's Harry Styles who gets a big sloppy kiss. The clip was directed by Diane Martel who put together both the Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop" and the notorious "Blurred Lines" music videos.

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06
of 10

Adele - "Hello"

Adele Hello Music Video
Adele - "Hello". Courtesy Columbia

Directed by Xavier Dolan

Adele's "Hello" has dominated the pop charts for over two and a half months, but it still sounds phenomenal. The accompanying music video captures the pitch of the song perfectly. Canadian actor and director Xavier Dolan filmed it all in a sepia tone on a farm in Quebec. Actor Tristan Wilds appears as the past romantic interest. The music video has been viewed nearly one billion times making it one of the top 20 most viewed videos of all time on YouTube.

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07
of 10

Panic! At the Disco - "Emperor's New Clothes"

Panic! At the Disco Emperor's New Clothes Music Video
Panic! At the Disco - "Emperor's New Clothes". Courtesy Fueled By Ramen

Directed by Daniel Cloud Campos

Panic! At the Disco is a former pop punk band that has now been pared down to one official member, lead vocalist Brendon Urie. "Emperor's New Clothes" is the third single from the album Death Of a Bachelor. It is a follow up to the music video for the song "This Is Gospel" released in 2013. A physical transformation into a dark and evil character is shown in the clip.

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08
of 10

Blossoms - "At Most a Kiss"

Blossoms At Most a Kiss Music Video
Blossoms - "At Most a Kiss". Courtesy Virgin

Blossoms are a hot, rising British rock band. They finished fourth in the BBC's Sound of 2016 poll. The jittery black and white music video is perfectly timed to the power of the music. Kissing and the band itself are all that are needed to visually carry the song.

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09
of 10

Taylor Swift - "Out of the Woods"

Taylor Swift Out of the Woods Music Video
Taylor Swift - "Out of the Woods". Courtesy Big Machine

Directed by Joseph Kahn

Veteran director Joseph Kahn put together the music video to accompany Taylor Swift's latest single "Out of the Woods." It is his fourth video filmed for her album 1989. In the clip, she embarks on a journey to find a lost love through obstacles in mountains, along the beach, and through a burning forest. Ultimately, she doesn't find him, but she does find herself. The music video was filmed on location in New Zealand.

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10
of 10

Selena Gomez - "Same Old Love"

Selena Gomez Same Old Love Music Video
Selena Gomez - "Same Old Love". Courtesy Interscope

Directed by Michael Haussman

In tune with the sound of the song "Same Old Love," the music video begins in a moody tone, but it ultimately results in Selena Gomez performing live for an audience. Michael Haussman directed the clip. He is noted for his work on Madonna's "Take a Bow," Kanye West's "Jesus Walks," and Shakira's "La Tortura" among others.

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