Rolling Stone magazine has named Beyonce’s 2016 release ‘Formation’ as the Greatest Music Video of All-Time.
Unpacking the rationale behind the ranking, the magazine explained:
Source: Peloton, Driely S. Carter / Peloton, Peloton, Driely S. Carter
“If Beyonce’s self-titled visual album established her as one of the greatest artists of all time, her surprise-released “Formation” video (and ensuing album Lemonade) marked her as one of the most important. She partnered with directer Melina Matsoukas, who culled inspiration from the likes of Maya Angelou, Octavia Butler, and Toni Morrison in a striking commentary on significant moments in black American history. In under five minutes, Beyoncé moves from a plantation-style house where the black denizens are the masters not the slaves to the top of a sinking police car. Notably, she released the video in the first week of Black History Month 2016, the day in between what would’ve been Trayvon Martin’s and Sandra Bland’s birthdays. Days later, she would perform the song at the Super Bowl, surrounded by dancers in outfits inspired by the Black Panthers. “I wanted to show — this is black people,” Matsoukas 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.”
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
Here are the other rankings…
1. Beyonce – ‘Formation’
2. Johnny Cash – ‘Hurt’
3. Madonna – ‘Vogue’
4. Childish Gambino – ‘This Is America’
5. New Order – ‘The Perfect Kiss’
6. Beastie Boys – ‘Sabotage’
7. D’Angelo – ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel?)’
8. Peter Gabriel – ‘Sledgehammer’
9. Guns N’ Roses – ‘November Rain’
10. Michael Jackson – ‘Billie Jean’
11. George Michael – ‘Freedom ’90’
12. Beyoncé – ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)’
13. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit’
14. A-Ha – ‘Take on Me’
15. The White Stripes – ‘Fell in Love With a Girl’
16. Missy Elliott – ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’
17. Duran Duran – ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’
18. Prince – ‘Kiss’
19. Radiohead – ‘Paranoid Android’
20. DJ Shadow (ft. Run the Jewels) – ‘Nobody Speak’
21. Fatboy Slim – ‘Weapon of Choice’
22. Young Thug – ‘Wyclef Jean’
23. JAY-Z – ’99 Problems’
24. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Maps’
25. U2 – ‘One’
your thoughts?
See the entire list here
