Top 10 Singers Who Always Go Hard on Their Choreography in Music Videos
#10: Jennifer Lopez
Top 10 Best Jennifer Lopez Music Videos
Dance has always been integral to J.Lo’s life, so it only makes sense that it plays a prominent role in her biggest hits too. And while she has many bops, there’s no denying that her moves are often the highlight of her music videos. From “If You Had My Love” and “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” to “On the Floor,” “Dinero,” and more, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t watch religiously. How else could we try to copy some of her moves? She even gave us a taste of Flamenco in “Ain’t It Funny.” In addition to being perfectly executed, Lopez’s choreography often emphasizes the power in her femininity and celebrates empowerment.
#9: Lady Gaga
Top 10 Best Lady Gaga Music Videos
When your debut single tells the world to “Just Dance,” you’d better deliver. And really, no one does quite like Lady Gaga. Although the artist has reportedly said she doesn’t consider herself “a natural dancer,” we can think of a few music videos that suggest otherwise. Not only has she graced us with numerous dance hits, but she’s also given us plenty of routines we couldn’t wait to learn. “Judas,” “Applause,” “Born This Way,” and "Rain on Me" with Ariana Grande barely scratch the surface of notable examples. Plus, we bet Little Monsters can happily break into the “Bad Romance” choreography at the drop of a hat. Lady Gaga doesn’t do anything by halves.
#8: Shakira
Top 10 Shakira Music Videos
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She told us her “Hips Don’t Lie,” and she has the receipts to prove it. Shakira can often be seen belly dancing in her music videos, a talent she reportedly says was “practically given to [her] at birth.” The artist apparently shared that she never learned these moves, saying: “they are inside me and I can call them back whenever I need them.” Well, she’s made great use of her natural talents, bringing us hypnotic choreography that never fails to steal the show. We’ve seen it time and again in “Whenever, Wherever,” “Beautiful Liar” with Beyoncé, “She Wolf,” and so many others. We could spend months trying to replicate her moves, but we’d never even get close.
#7: Britney Spears
Top 10 Best Britney Spears Music Video Dances
Spears has been showcasing her crazy dance skills since she was a kid on “The Mickey Mouse Club.” However, she proved she could go harder than most when she became pop’s princess. It speaks volumes that routines from videos like "...Baby One More Time," "Oops!... I Did It Again," and “I’m a Slave 4 U” are still considered pop culture phenomena. We’d also argue that “Stronger” marked a major breakthrough for the artist, and “Me Against the Music” left us breathless. Every Britney era comes with choreography that never fails to knock our socks off, no matter how many times we rewatch it.
#6: Usher
Top 20 Usher Songs
Usher doesn’t just have smooth vocals; he’s pretty slick on his feet too. During the height of his career, he was often compared to Michael Jackson. Talk about pretty big moonwalking shoes to fill. Based on his performances though, he certainly has what it takes. His moves in the video for “My Way” are practically unrivaled, and his epic choreo in “You Make Me Wanna... ” is second to none. Of course, no Usher music video goes quite as hard as “Yeah!” The collab between him, Lil Jon, and Ludacris practically brings the club into our living rooms — as does his later hit “OMG,” featuring will.i.am.
#5: Ciara
Over the years, Ciara has cemented herself as one of the music industry’s most prolific dancers. Her moves are iconic, she channels a unique energy into every step, and she’s not afraid to “Level Up.” She’s a dancing powerhouse, using her unparalleled skill set to break new ground and empower herself and others through movement. It’s no wonder we were all glued to the screen watching the music videos for “Goodies” and "1, 2 Step." She’s only gotten better and better, presenting us with videos like “Ride,” “Like a Boy,” “Dance Like We’re Making Love,” “Dose” and the list goes on. Just when you think Ciara’s given us everything she’s got, she comes back even harder.
#4: Beyoncé
“Crazy in Love,” “Run the World (Girls),” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” and “Formation.” Need we say more? We could! Few artists in the modern era bring it as hard as Queen Bey in terms of ultimate performance value. The singer pulls off some truly wild moves. On us, they’d likely look wild. Yet the power, confidence, and ferocity she brings are in a league of their own. Beyoncé dominates in all her music videos, always striving to hit new entertainment heights and create new ground. Of course, she honed her exceptional dancing skills alongside her bandmates in Destiny's Child. As they say, Beyoncé wasn’t built in a day.
#3: Paula Abdul
This performer was spotted by members of the Jackson 5 while she was a Laker Girl in the ‘80s. They needed someone to choreograph the “Torture” music video, and she was their pick. Now, any artist deemed worthy of coming up with the Jacksons’ moves must be exceptional, and well, just look at her go! Abdul continued choreographing but also had a successful solo career. We still think “Straight Up,” “Cold Hearted,” and “Opposites Attract” feature some of the best dance routines out there. She also earned the Best Choreography VMA for her work on an iconic video for our next artist. And let’s just say there’s nothing “Nasty” about it.
#2: Janet Jackson
Top 10 Best Janet Jackson Music Videos
Few artists have as significant or long-lasting an impact on the music biz as Janet Jackson. Indeed, countless performers cite her as one of their greatest influences. Let’s not forget this is the woman who inspired us all to dance in a military formation as we declare that “We are a part of the rhythm nation.” “If” has another music video that has us watching in awe, as do “Escapade,” “The Pleasure Principle,” “Alright,” and the aforementioned “Nasty.” We’d be here all day if we kept going, but you get the picture. Although, the choreo for her duet “Scream” with big brother Michael goes much harder than any of us deserve, too. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Missy Elliott The Rapper Knows How to “Work It” Doja Cat She’s a Multifaceted Dancer & It Always Shows Madonna No One Can “Get Into the Groove” or “Strike a Pose” Like Madonna Tinashe Bringing It in Practically Every Music Video Aaliyah She Was as Known for Her Moves as Her Voice
#1: Michael Jackson
Top 10 Michael Jackson Music Videos
You probably saw this coming. After all, he’s the artist who quite literally redefined dance standards. He also elevated our expectations of music videos by creating amazing narratives and incorporating next-level choreography. “Smooth Criminal,” “Beat It,” “Bad,” "The Way You Make Me Feel," and countless others prove no one did it quite like MJ, and we doubt anyone ever will. He’s also responsible for bringing the moonwalk into the mainstream after showcasing it in a performance of “Billie Jean.” As if that wasn’t enough, the “Thriller” video pulls out so many stops that each new generation tries to nail the choreography. What can we say? Jackson built a legacy worthy of music royalty.
