Top 10 Britney Spears Music Videos

Top 10 Britney Spears Music Videos

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The Princess of Pop and her iconic visual inventions. Join MsMojo as we count down our picks for Top 10 Britney Spears Music Videos. For this list, we’re focusing on stand-alone Britney videos, which means we’ll only be including the videos for songs that appeared on one of her own albums.

Looking back on Brit’s history with the paparazzi, this video may seem a bit childish, yet it still represents a stark change in the public’s opinion of the emerging icon. It’s the classic pop culture-friendly transition video, one that shows off Spears’ obvious sex appeal while letting everybody know that media can easily misinterpret the most basic of scenarios. Of course, Britney has faced heavy scrutiny over the years, however “Overprotected” emphasizes her initial willingness to confront paparazzi manipulation head-on, thus creating her own narrative rather submitting to one.

#9: "Work Bitch” Britney Jean (2013)

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Nearly 15 years after arriving on the scene, Brit put all the BS aside and went old school on us. The title alone could easily come across as a gimmick, but when you watch this video, it’s clear that Brit has no qualms about showing off her “bad mommy” side. First of all, her body’s on point, and while that may be a PC topic today, it’s certainly not something you can ignore in “Work Bitch.” And then you have the actual form of the video, a combination of visuals that place Brit as one bad ass, dominating woman rather than a delicate cookie-cutter pop star. Brit came at us hard with this one, and the name of this track speaks volumes.

#8: “Stronger” Oops!... I Did It Again (2000)

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By the time Britney Spears asked Joseph Kahn to direct this motivational production, she was already a legitimate pop star in the same vein as NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. With “Stronger,” Brit channels one of her idols in Janet Jackson by referencing her iconic chair-dance sequence. Although Britney hadn’t yet started to lash out at the media that propped her up on a pedestal, she did, in fact, have something to say for her vast fan base. The aesthetics aren’t quite brain tingling from a modern perspective, yet the overall vibe aligns the singer with her fans rather than fueling her sex symbol status, even if the inherent sexuality is there.

Truly a deeply touching music video directed by David LaChapelle, and undoubtedly a polarizing production, “Everytime” highlights a woman all too familiar with the natural sorrow that comes from being mislabeled and misunderstood. With paparazzi once again at the forefront, Brit’s hushed vocals are heightened by the chaotic narrative unfolding, which ultimately leads to a taboo topic, and one that she bravely acknowledges as being part of her story. Topless in the final seconds, surely a nod to her pop culture image, this video’s darker tone conveys Britney’s ability to experiment in her art and her willingness to take a risk that surely paid off.

Directed by the man behind “Stronger,” and a sequel to one of our entries yet to be named, this video has Brit fighting back against clichéd male behavior. In the clip, she displays the very essence of what pop culture pundits both love and critique– not the form and content of Brit’s music, but her natural physique. She is shown naked in a sauna and working in an office as she follows her boyfriend around in a variety of disguises to prove his womanizing ways. Britney lets us know that she can manipulate our minds any time she damn well pleases, and most importantly, she reinforces the idea that females should embrace their womanhood in all aspects of life.

#5: “Me Against the Music” feat. Madonna In the Zone (2003)

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At an age when many young females are just discovering themselves as women, BritneySpears found herself anointed by a goddess of pop, aka the Material Girl, Madonna. Directed by Paul Hunter, “Me Against the Music” has the two icons imitating a cat-and-mouse chase, with Britney ultimately taking control as the video progresses. Just the appearance of Madonna carries enormous weight, yet the spotlight is most certainly on the heightened sexuality of Ms. Spears, albeit with a most cryptic finale as Madonna exemplifies that she’s either untouchable or ready to pass the torch. Maybe both.

Who could forget the iconic red leather jumpsuit and the blue diamond Titanic references? Directed by Nigel Dick, this intergalactic production represents all the glory of the MTV “Total Request Live” era at its prime. Big concepts. Bold Outfits. The distinct Britney intonations. All of these together can easily make one forget what she’s even singing about, which is, of course, her blossoming sexuality – if you didn’t notice. If Brit’s early music videos display her natural charm, this one capitalizes on the same idea while reminding us of one simple fact: “I’m not that innocent.” [play clip]

#3: “...Baby One More Time” … Baby One More Time (1999)

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Filmed at Venice High School in California, this is the video that kicked off Brit’s career while causing a stir thanks to her saucy schoolgirl outfit. Then again, this is nothing in today’s world, yet it’s not a stretch to say that late 90s parents freaked out, especially since she was known for her role as a mouseketeer on Disney’s “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club.” It’s an innocent production, a platform for Spears to establish her pop star persona, and despite the flack that director Nigel Dick initially received, both he and his subject beautifully walk a thin line, which ultimately propelled Spears into superstardom.

#2: “I’m a Slave 4 U” Britney (2001)

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After “Hit Me Baby One More” and “Oops, I Did It Again,” we all knew that Brit was on a Madonna-like path, but she had yet to release the music video of her career. And when she delivered that iconic VMA live performance, this video only seemed inevitable. With the help of future “Hunger Games” director Francis Lawrence, Britney contrasts the PG-13 lyrics by revealing a little more skin and steaming up the dance sequence, all the while exuding her natural femininity. Once “I’m a Slave 4 U” hit the airwaves, Britney had reached full womanhood, forever letting go of the pop star girly aesthetic that she had innovated not long before. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. • “My Prerogative” Greatest Hits: My Prerogative” (2004) • “Circus” Circus (2008) • “Boys” Britney (2001) • “Hold It Against Me” Femme Fatale (2011) • “Someday (I Will Understand)” Britney & Kevin: Chaotic (2005)

#1: “Toxic” In the Zone (2003)

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A natural progression into full-on pop diva mode, this Joseph Kahn video gave us Brit a modern day femme fatale, a Bond girl of sorts, and one that’s out for blood after a breakup with Justin Timberlake. It’s a multi-layered, hypnotizing music video where you’ve got Brit dressed as a seductive flight attendant interwoven with clips of her essentially covered in only diamonds and seducing her prey. “Toxic” represents individually, sexuality, artistic freedom and certainly a willingness to cement herself as the preeminent pop star sex symbol of the 2000s. So, do you agree with our selections? What is your favorite Britney Spears music video? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.