It was a year of variety in pop music videos. Some of the best generated a chuckle or two with their sense of humor while others told heartwrenching stories. There was also room for political commentary and a sense of the heroic. These are the top 10 pop music videos of the year 2006.
1. Arctic Monkeys - When the Sun Goes Down
The Arctic Monkeys broke our hearts with this tale of one of the forgotten people of the night. On watching it a few more times you also begin to notice the brilliance of the editing and camera work matching up with the Arctic Monkeys' abrupt changes in tempo. The story was later expanded by the group in a longer video work.
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2. Pink - Stupid Girls
Pink has a point here, and it's not hard to figure it out. The broad satire of the song brought to life in the video is hilarious at times.
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3. Christina Aguilera - Hurt
There is a tearjerking story at the heart of Christina Aguilera's circus-based video for this tremendous song. It is all quite beautiful and memorable but does veer from time to time into murky schmaltz. The video still doesn't match Aguilera's stunning live performance from the MTV Video Music Awards.
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4. U2 and Green Day - The Saints are Coming
U2 and Green Day bring back heroism to rock in this benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The end of this video in which the military brought back from Iraq fades from the screen is probably the single most wrenching video moment of the year.
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5. OK Go - Here It Goes Again
This little film is proof that music videos can be inspired and still consist of simple, straightforward fun. You will never look at your treadmill the same way again.
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6. Weird Al Yankovic - White & Nerdy
Did you need an update on what the life of a nerd is like in the year 2006? Watch Weird Al and be instructed. This is possibly the best of Weird Al Yankovic's long, and, uh, illustrious career in music video.
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7. Beyonce - Ring the Alarm
Yes, it's rather jarring at first...the meltdown, the sirens, etc, but, after it sinks in, Beyonce's Sharon Stone homage is addictive.
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8. My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade
The rock concept album returns in grand fashion with My Chemical Romance's album The Black Parade. This video, directed by Samuel Bayer, brings the parade to life in glorious fashion.
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9. Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - Hips Don't Lie
For much of spring and early summer 2006 Shakira and this mega-hit were inescapable. The video still possesses great charm in its breezy, sexy, inclusive party atmosphere.
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10. James Blunt - You're Beautiful
The music video that introduced James Blunt to pop music fans is just as distinctive and memorable as his song. It was easy to poke fun at it, but that is also an indication of its visceral impact.
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