Top 10 Decade Defining Music Videos of the 2010s So Far

Bruno Mars' music videos really are from another planet! The accompaniment to "Locked Out Of Heaven" is vintage-style, grainy gold, but the "Uptown Funk" short film is probably the slickest thing since sliced bread! From rock-star shades to salmon pink jacket, it's fun, fashionable, and a fairly accurate representation of exactly what's trendy in the 2010s! Even Mars' dance-moves are decade defining! Mark Ronson's role only adds to the awesomeness... Frankly, there's likely never been a music video cast that's this damn cool!

If you're not smiling at least a little bit by the end of our next video, then you must be having a very bad day! A short film as infectious as the song's sing-along lyrics, it's built around everyday people (with some celeb cameos), dancing everyday dance moves, and generally loving life! What's not to like?! But the best thing of all? The official edit is made up of various moments taken from a mammoth twenty-four hour version of the film! That was a helluva happy day!

One of the most controversial music videos of its time, "We Found Love" was shot in Northern Ireland, and boasts a typically British edginess. A hotly anticipated clip even before its release, it attracted worldwide media attention after filming permissions were withdrawn by a local farmer (who also reportedly advised Rihanna to 'be acquainted with God'), after offence was taken over the singer's significant “state of undress.” RiRi's clothing choices caused a stir upon release as well, as did the film's allusions toward domestic violence... Still won a Grammy, though!

Kanye West's collaboration with Jay Z on "Otis" would've featured today, were it not for "Runaway"! There are very few videos ever to match this effort in terms of scope, let alone during just the 2010s! Ballet has rarely looked better, nor felt more mesmerising! Whatever your opinion of the controversial star, Kanye nailed it in this clip! The basis to a thirty-five minute musical short film, there's a long and short version to this video - and both are well worth taking the time to watch!

If you've ever wondered what a dentist's nightmare looks like, then this is it! In this Katy Perry decade-definer, the US state of California is affectionately, nay confection-ately, rebranded as the sweeter sounding 'Candyfornia'... And it's a place where everyone's happy, if not that healthy! Snoop Dogg plays the 'Sugar Daddy' villain, while Perry plays leader of the ladies trying to defeat him... The candy/cupcake look is now classic Katy Perry, and the purple wig/candyfloss footage is arguably her most iconic moment of all!

A stand-out record for Sia, center stage for the "Chandelier" video, however, is taken by another, until-then less high-profile personality! Maddie Ziegler might've been a household name for anybody watching the reality TV show "Dance Moms", but for anyone else, this unbelievable routine is likely the first point of reference... And what a point of reference it is! It's basically impossible to stop watching, as Ziegler performs with an emotional range and maturity way beyond her eleven years at the time of filming! What a talent!

In terms of instantly recognisable music videos of the 2010s, this is probably the best example! A brutally beautiful break-up song, both Gotye and Kimbra artistically feature in the film, which won over critics with its intimacy. Directed by Natasha Pincus and featuring artwork of Howard Clark, and the skin illustrative skills of Emma Hack, it looks simple and it is unique, but there was a huge amount of work needed to nail this! It took almost twenty-four hours to body-paint Gotye and Kimbra... But as they say, 'genius takes time'!

Arguably the most controversial video of the decade, the problem many critics had with "Blurred Lines" was ironically clear! In the short film, frontman Robin Thicke is joined by T. I. and Pharrell.... As the men, in the view of their critics, misogynise their way through the song's entirety, alongside a trio of female models wearing nothing much at all! And, for the video's unrated cut, they're wearing even less! With over 400 million YouTube views for the clean version though, like it or loathe it, "Blurred Lines" defines the times!

Another video famous in part because of what its subject is (or isn't) wearing, when Miley Cyrus released "Wrecking Ball" she was mid-snowball in terms of her own spiralling superstardom! The singer seemed desperate to shed her "Hannah Montana" Disney child star labels, and by riding an eponymous wrecking ball naked, she went a fair way toward doing that! Parts of the short film nod toward Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U"... But really, nothing compares to it! It's a 'heart on sleeve' performance... Only, there's not a sleeve in sight!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

"Fancy" (2014)
Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX

"Shake It Off" (2014)
Taylor Swift

"Thrift Shop" (2012)
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz

"Anaconda" (2014)
Nicki Minaj

"Telephone" (2010)
Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé

"Bangarang" (2012)
Skrillex feat. Sirah

As of the late 2000s and throughout the 2010s, a music video only really makes it big if and when it goes viral... And "Gangnam Style" certainly did that! With over 2 billion YouTube views. it smashed all previous world records, and established itself as the defining video of its time! Psy's balance between suiting up and 'getting down' took the whole world by storm. So put your bowtie on and go bananas, because sometimes it's just the best possible idea!

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