The best music video dance routines of ALL time
Busting moves, throwing shapes and getting down have always been what makes a good music video great. But there are some dance routines from music videos that we'll never be able to forget, for all the right and wrong reasons...
From masterpieces like Sia's Chandelier to Beyonce's Single Ladies routine and wedding favourites we'd all rather forget (we're looking at you, La Macarena), here's the choreography from music videos that STILL has us talking today...
Sire Warner Bros via YoutubeMadonna - Vogue (1990)
We've all 'vogued' at some point in our lives, but it was Madonna's 1990 hit that brought the Harlem dance hall move into the mainstream. Released as the first single from her second album, I'm Breathless (1990), the video for Vogue is centred around the pose-like moves after Madonna was taught them in a New York nightclub by choreographers Jose Gutierez Xtravaganza and Luis Xtravaganza. The easy moves coupled with the catchy tune made for a generation-spanning dance floor favourite.
Watch it here.
Young Money Cash Money Republic via YoutubeNicki Minaj - Anaconda (2014)
For a modern day music video dancing sensation, just hit up Nicki Minaj's Anaconda on YouTube. From the jungle scenes with the twerking, to the bit on the chairs with the excessive grinding and the 'gym' part where Nicki works out in underwear.
Watch it here.
Inertia / Monkey Puzzle / RCA via YoutubeSia - Chandelier (2014)
Sia's number one hit Chandelier not only catapulted the Australian singer into the spotlight, but also the star of the music video, now-14 Maddie Ziegler. The video featured the Dance Moms star - who donned only a peroxide wig and a nude leotard - as she catapulted herself around a beaten up apartment. The young star apparently learnt the routine in three hours after Sia approached her on Twitter and flew her out to LA. Skills.
Watch it here.
Columbia via YoutubeBeyoncé - Single Ladies (2008)
Beyoncé's Single Ladies is proof that the best dance routines in music videos need little accompaniment. Featuring just Beyonce, two backing dancers, three black leotards, a weird metal glove thing and some killer dance moves, the black and white music video became an anthem for single ladies, married ladies, divorced ladies and just about everyone else.
Watch it here.
Jive via YoutubeBritney Spears - I'm A Slave 4 U (2001)
Britney's I'm A Slave 4 U was arguably Brit's big departure from the good girl days of Oops... I Did it Again! , and the dance moves from the music video were a lot to do with it. The video saw Brit get up close and personal with a plethora of male dancers doused in oil, grinding aplenty.
Watch it here. And can we all take a moment to appreciate Britney's body in this?
Epic Records via YoutubeMichael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
It was hard to pick just one music video from the King of Pop's repertoire which was our favourite for the dancing. His gravity-defying bending in Smooth Criminal, his crotch-grabbing pops in Billie Jean and his inimitable moonwalk have always been things of beauty, but our favourite of his dance routines comes from Thriller. The shimmies and air grabs are still copied on Halloween to this day.
Watch it here.
Asylum Atlantic via YoutubeEd Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud (2014)
Ed Sheeran is the perfect man in many ways, but when Thinking Out Loud was released we just knew it he'd ticked every box. Not only is he kind, charitable and plays the guitar like no other, THE BOY CAN DANCE. For the video, the singer shocked fans by hitting the dance floor for a ballroom dance with professional Brittany Cherry.
Watch it here.
Streamline / Kon Live / Cherrytree / Interscope via YoutubeLady Gaga - Bad Romance (2009)
The dancing in Lady Gaga's Bad Romance was every bit as weird as the costumes, from being thrown on the floor, to being force-fed water and a whole lot of crotch-grabbing, Gaga was put through the wringer in the routine. A metaphor for a toxic relationship, perhaps?
Watch it here.
Epic Records via YoutubeShakira - Hips Don't Lie (2005)
Men (and women) everywhere were hypnotised by Colombian Shakira's liquid hips when the appropriately titled Hips Don't Lie was released in 2005. We ALL wanted to be able to dance like Shakira - and boy did we practice.
Watch it here.
Arista via YoutubeUsher - Yeah! (2004)
Apart from Yeah! being a - technically put - TUNEEEEEEEE, the video saw Usher impress the world with his dance moves in a (very noughties) laser-lit club. Peace up, A Town!
Watch it here.
Goldmind / Atlantic via YoutubeMissy Elliot - Lose Control (2005)
This video is a choreography treat from start-to-finish. The video, which rung in the era of pop-n-lock in spectacular fashion, sees Missy and her troupe in various settings. P.s. we forgot how good this tune was.
Watch it here.
RCA via YoutubeLos Del Rio - La Macarena (1995)
We're not saying every dance in this list is memorable for being technically impressive, but La Macarena by Los Del Rio gets a feature for its staying power alone. The dance routine - which involves repeating some simple moves and moving 90 degrees around at a time - is still a favourite at school discos and cheesy weddings.
Watch it here.
Jive via YoutubeJustin Timberlake - Like I Love You (2002)
A baby-faced Justin Timberlake stole teenage hearts everywhere when the video for Like I Love You was released. In the video, JT busts some serious moves in a carpark with his homies. We all wanted to be the girl that he follows at the beginning.
Watch it here.
RCA via YoutubeChristina Aguilera - Dirrty (2002)
Sometimes dance routines from music videos are memorable purely for their PG-boundary pushing moves, and Christina Aguilera's Dirrty is definitely one of them. The video sees Xtina in a boxing ring surrounded by several shirtless, sweaty men before she proceeds to get down. Of the dance moves includes the earliest known rendition of the slut drop.
Watch it here.
YG Entertainment Universal Republic School Boy via YoutubePsy - Gangnam Style (2012)
The dance routine from Psy's 2012 hit Gangnam Style was so well loved it became a viral sensation. People across the world filmed themselves doing the 'Gangnam Style' dance and the first few seconds of the song still initiates the crazy jumping and hopping motions to this day.
Watch it here.
