This decade has been revolutionary for music, with the rise of new stars such as The Weeknd, Lil Uzi Vert, and Travis Scott alongside the continued success of music icons like Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Drake. New CGI technology, paired with the ever-increasing creativity of directors and artists, paved the way for the 2010s to see some of the most provoking, emotional, and impressive music videos of all time. Here is a  breakdown of four of the best music videos of the decade. 

“The Zone” by The Weeknd, featuring Drake, makes the top of the list. “The Zone” was directed by The Weeknd himself, and although the music video did not have a huge impact on the wider music world, it did have beautiful cinematography. The Weeknd’s use of lighting and innovative camera angles, paired with smoke, uncanny settings, and seemingly random clips of a happy woman create a dark, eerie aura in his music video that perfectly reflect upon his lyrics. 

Another banger whose music video lived up to its song was “Welcome to the World of Plastic Beach” by Gorillaz and Snoop Dogg. This music video is a personal favorite of junior Jamie Granato, and he explained, “The whole point of this video is to sit back, vibe, and let Snoop Dogg serenade you with his words. It’s an excellent introduction to one of Gorillaz’s best albums, and it sets the stage for even more bangers later on in the album.”

Another creative music video and is “A Boy Is a Gun*” by Tyler, The Creator. Directed by Wolf Haley, the music video uses film techniques that junior Carl Coetzee found to be “inspiring, as a music fan and as a young filmmaker.” The music video incorporates classic camera positioning and character-following elements that make it as much of a short drama film as it is a music video.

Perhaps more influential than the other videos on this list, “Congratulations” by Post Malone was also arguably one of the best music videos of the decade. Senior Eric Leung stated, “I think [the video for Congratulations] was [so great] because it was so colorful and expressive with all of the confetti. It also helped that I really vibe with the song.” Post Malone brings a variety of celebrities into the frame and alternates between large group raves and individual rap sessions, giving the song a personal yet also classic rap video feel.