Beyoncé Earns No. 1 Spot On Greatest Music Videos Of All Time With "Formation"

BY Erika Marie 3.5K Views
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Beyoncé, Formation
"Rolling Stone" shared their 100 Greatest Music Videos list and Bey took the top spot as some believed it should have gone to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Since the inception of music videos, there have been some major moments in music history. Many top tier visuals have included several Michael Jackson hits as well as videos from Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Biggie, Run-DMC, Kendrick Lamar, Weezer, Janet Jackson, Radiohead, Lady Gaga, and dozens of others, and in a recent article, Rolling Stone revealed their choices for the 100 Greatest Music Videos of all time.

This list, like many of the other "top" discussions in the industry, is an arguable one at best, but Beyoncé snagging the No. 1 spot with "Formation" has critics and fans debating her position.

Rolling Stone placed Bey's "Formation" in the coveted spot and the BeyHive couldn't be happier. The track is pulled from the singer's massive hit record Lemonade released in 2016 and was written by Mike WiLL Made-It, Swae Lee, and Pluss. The visual was directed by Melina Matsoukas who was inspired by Beyoncé's familial heritage as well as the works of other famous Black women who inspired the culture.

The music video for "Formation" was filmed in two days between Beyoncé's rehearsals for the Super Bowl. “I wanted to show—this is black people,” Matsoukas previously told The New Yorker. “We triumph, we suffer, we’re drowning, we’re being beaten, we’re dancing, we’re eating, and we’re still here." 

Do you think this video deserves the top spot? If not, what music video do you think deserves to be No. 1? Check out "Formation" below along with a few reactions.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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