Craft

The Top 34 Music Videos Ever According to the VMAs

Ever music video that has won Music Video of the Year at the MTV Music Video Awards from 1984 to the present day.

by shots on 29^th August 2017

This article was created before we re-designed shots – it may look a little strange or not have the same features as new articles. If you see something particularly wacky, please let us know on shots@extremereach.com

As the VMAs awarded their latest VMA Moonman for Music Video of the Year to Kendrick Lamar's Humble on Sunday, the rapper's music video become the 34th winner of the prize.

As some of the previous winners include all-time great promos like Virtual Insanity, Sledgehammer and Losing My Religioni, we thought it was a perfect time to take a trip back through music video history to find every video that took the prize home. See them all below.

1984 - The Cars: You Might Think

Directors: Charlie Levi, Alex Weil and Jeff Stein

1985 - Don Henley: The Boys of Summer

Director: Jean-Baptiste Mondino

1986 - Dire Straits: Money for Nothing

Director: Steve Barron

1987 - Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer

Director: Stephen R. Johnson

1988 - INXS: Need You Tonight

1989 - Neil Young: This Note's For You

Director: Julien Temple

1990 - Sinéad O'Connor: Nothing Compares 2 U

Director: John Maybury

1991 - R.E.M.: Losing My Religion

Director: Tarsem Singh

1992 - Van Halen: Right Now

Director: Mark Fenske

1993 - Pearl Jam: Jeremy

Director: Mark Pellington

1994 - Aerosmith: Cryin'

Director: Marty Callner

1995 - TLC: Waterfalls

Director: F. Gary Gray

1996 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Tonight, Tonight

Directors: Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton

1997 - Jamiroquai: Virtual Insanity

Director: Jonathan Glazer

1998 - Madonna: Ray of Light

Director: Jonas Åkerlund

1999 - Lauryn Hill: Doo Wop (That Thing)

Director: Big TV!

2000 - Eminem: The Real Slim Shady

Director: Dr. Dre and Philip G. Atwell

2001 - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa and P!nk: Lady Marmalade

Director: Paul Hunter

2002 - Eminem: Without Me

Director: Joseph Kahn

2003 - Missy Elliott: Work It

Director: Dave Meyers

2004 - OutKast: Hey Ya!

Director: Bryan Barber

2005 - Green Day: Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Director: Samuel Bayer

2006 - Panic! at the Disco: I Write Sins Not Tragedies

Director: Shane Drake

2007 - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z: Umbrella

Director: Chris Applebaum

2008 - Britney Spears: Piece of Me

Director: Wayne Isham

2009 - Beyoncé: Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)

Director: Jake Nava

2010 - Lady Gaga: Bad Romance

Director: Francis Lawrence

2011 - Katy Perry: Firework

Director: Dave Meyers

2012 - Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris: We Found Love

Director: Melina Matsoukas

2013 - Justin Timberlake: Mirrors

Director: Floria Sigismondi

2014 - Miley Cyrus: Wrecking Ball

Director: Terry Richardson

2015 - Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar: Bad Blood

Director: Joseph Kahn

2016 - Beyoncé: Formation

Director: Melina Matsoukas

2017 - Kendrick Lamar: HUMBLE.

Director: Dave Meyers

Click here for the full list of winners from this year's VMAs.

Connections

Unlock this information and more with a Source membership.

Learn More

Share

See full credits for all work featured and have instant access to the world's most powerful and comprehensive advertising database.

+ membership

Access the world's largest advertising database. With an intuitive toolset that helps you explore, present and collaborate more effectively.

Your work looks flawless on all devices.

Custom-built for the advertising industry, with extensive showreel options and powerful streaming software.

Upgrade your showreels today.

Taking you to

To access full credit, contact, company and people information, you'll need a Source membership. Click below to find out how to super-charge your shots experience with the world's most comprehensive advertising database.

Learn About Membership Or Log In