From a prolonged pandemic to the KimYe breakup, 2021 has been quite a rollercoaster. Luckily for us, the ride was accompanied by an amazing soundtrack and equally lit music videos, to help us cut through all the noise.
Listen to the biggest songs of the year on Audacy's Bop Of The Year Exclusive Station
This past year, artists like Lil Nas X, BTS and Olivia Rodrigo have used their music videos to ignite conversations, make us smile/cry, all while looking cool as hell. And we're thankful for it, because LBR, there's no better feeling than getting lost in their imaginative worlds. That being said, let's not prolong this any further — Here are the Top 21 Pop music videos of 2021.
21.The Weeknd feat. Ariana Grande - Save Your Tears (Remix) - Over 171 Million Views
In true Ariana and The Weeknd style, the frequent collaborators find themselves once again singing about a romance that hasn't gone as planned. And although the music video doesn't feature either star IRL, their animated characters steal the show. The Weekend (very on brand) is represented by a red-jacketed character, who spends the entire course of the music video making some type of beautiful femme bot lady (Ariana, of course), so that he could dance with it in the end. Yeah, we'd rather have seen their actual faces in the visual, but we're not mad about it and clearly many of you aren't either.
20.BTS - Film out - Over 179 Million Views
While the song itself is riddled with complex, heartbreaking emotions. The "Film out" music video is filled with symbolism and potential theories that left fans trying to decipher the layered meanings behind it. No wonder it was viewed so many times.
19.Olivia Rodrigo - deja vu - Over 192 Million Views
Before you could even think she'd be a one-hit wonder, Rodrigo unveiled another deliciously savage flavor of breakup song. Frustrated that her ex seems to have wholly replaced her, and gone as far as copy-pasting the quirky things they shared as a couple with his new relationship, Olivia becomes a bit obsessed, and frankly so have we. Also, strawberry ice cream, anyone?
18.Adele - Easy On Me - Over 196 Million Views
Classic Adele. Plus she's finally back with new music. Not sure what else needs to be said.
17.Cardi B - Up - Over 203 Million Views
From Cardi B standing over a tombstone that reads "RIP 2020," and talking barbie doll heads in her hair, to Cardi being an actual hood ornament and lounging on a clear translucent chair with a naked man trapped inside, this music video is packed with lively sets and sexy outfits that clearly had more than one of us needing to watch this video more than once.
16.Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow - INDUSTRY BABY - Over 238 Million Views
If jail has pink outfits, a Jason Momoa look-a-like, choreographed dance routines, Jack Harlow, and an eventual breakout plan from Lil Nas X – lock us up and throw away the key! It's not like we're gonna need it anyway. With a full-on jury case prequel, "Industry Baby" sees Nas sent to jail for the chaos he created in his previous video for "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" - which you'll also find lower down, closer to the top of the list.
15.ROSÉ - On The Ground - Over 252 Million Views
If you couldn't get enough of BLACKPINK in late 2020, Rosé was here to serve in early 2021 — and she did it with substance on her first solo single. For the music video she chose to cinematically showcase a "past version of me and a present version of me." At one point in the visual that present version of herself even takes a trip down memory lane to her childhood home, looking back at how she grew up and how the dreams she had then are coming true now. Literal chills.
14.Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits - Over 255 Million Views
Quite the departure for our favorite British ginger's usually casual pub vibes. Ed's "Bad Habits" visual sees him donning a pink suit and heavy eyeshadow, dressed as a vampire for a wild night out with some ghouls. And who doesn't love vamp vibes? That was rhetorical… everyone loves vamp vibes.
13.Doja Cat feat. SZA - Kiss Me More - Over 263 Million Views
Arguably the song of Summer 2021, "Kiss Me More" saw Doja Cat team up with SZA for an infectious bop that everyone was vibing to and not just on TikTok. In the sassy vid, Doj and Sizz rendezvous with the astronaut on what we're guessing is Planet Her. If you make it to the video's cheeky conclusion, which clearly hundreds of millions did, you'll see the encounter is not as it seems to first appear. Hooked you... didn't we?
12.Olivia Rodrigo - good 4 u - Over 308 Million Views
Despite it's controversy, there's no getting around it 'good 4 u' is a bop and the music video is honestly kind of EVERYTHING, just for teenage angst alone. With references to movies like The Princess Diaries, Bring It On and Jennifer's Body, plus Olivia Rodrigo's facial expressions (and at times lack thereof) equals the perfect mix of sweet but psycho, and we mean that as the highest of compliments.
11.Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license - Over 321 Million Views
The song that started it all, "drivers license," came out at the beginning of 2021 and it took the world by storm, turning Olivia Rodrigo from "that girl on that Disney show" to a Pop superstar. Whether you watched it to sing along and cry to, or for the creatively maudlin visuals — you watched it. And that ladies and gents, is how we find ourselves here.
10.LISA - MONEY - Over 335 Million Views
Dubbed as an exclusive performance video, Lisa's visual for "Money" had us trying not to blink for a whole 2 minutes and 50 seconds in order not to miss a thing. From the impressive choreography, to the multiple fits of insane street style, Lisa could literally have us pay whatever she wanted, but luckily she gifted us the bop for free!
9.Bella Poarch - Build a B*tch - Over 341 Million Views
Set in a dystopian factory that creates men's ideal women in a similar fashion to Build-A-Bear, Bella, one of the factory's creations, calls out those who expect women to be perfect Barbie dolls by rioting to set all the other women created by the factory free. Featuring cameos from some of the internet's trendiest folk (who also happen to be Bella's friends with IRL) including; Larray, ZHC, Valkyrae, Mia Khalifa, Dina, Sub Urban, Bretman Rock and Rakhim. So basically, it's fiery and fun and where here for it.
8.LISA - LALISA - Over 371 Million Views
How do you know when you're that B!+CH? Easy, when you name a name a song after yourself and do it with confidence. Dripping in swagger and finesse, Lisa switches in and out of a multitude of outfits and sets. Giving us special agent, biker chick, and regal princess sitting on her golden throne, "LALISA" was her solo introduction to the world, and after viewing it it's clear she's here to stay — attitude and all.
7.The Kid LAROI feat. Justin Bieber - STAY - Over 383 Million Views
Judging from the view count, it's safe to say many of you already know this track is a bop. And as for the music video, well that doesn't falter. It plays with time, gravity, and rollercoaster-like shots that make you want to leap right in and join them, or at the very least watch it on repeat.
6.BTS - Permission to Dance - Over 394 Million Views
Emerging from a somewhat post-pandemic world, BTS dropped the summertime hit "Permission to Dance" alongside a colorfully cheerful music video with one inspiration in mind — to have people get up and dance. Clearly it worked, even resulting in it's very own dance challenge that had people grooving and singing "we don't need permission to dance."
5. Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) - Over 406 Million Views
Lil Nas X is unapologetically himself, and clearly people are here for it. While this one did cause quite the commotion, nabbing the #5 spot on this list just goes to show that any attention (yes - even a pole dancing fallen angel giving Satan a lap dance) is good attention.
4.Justin Bieber - Peaches feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon - Over 442 Million Views
Bieber teamed up with fellow Canadian Daniel Caesar and Giveon for this infectious pop track. And now thankfully no one ever has to wonder where the Biebs gets his "Peaches" from (spoiler: it's Georgia). As for the impressive view count, well the music video is a complete and total vibe, so there's that.
3.Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) - Leave the Door Open - Over 624 Million Views
A care-free blast from the past, set in an retro recording studio bathed in warm light. The music video for "Leave the Door Open" is basically a full four minutes of Silk Sonic vibing out to their own Motown-inspired song while girls in the booth swoon and dance along. And since we can't be one of those lovely ladies in the booth, we had to settle for just re-watching it over and over again. Obviously quite a few others had the same idea.
2.The Weekend - Save Your Tears - Over 624 Million Views
While the Remix claimed #21, the OG track's video is where it's at. Continuing his After Hour storyline, the "Save Your Tears" visual seemingly shows The Weeknd's physical injuries to be restored (outcome subjective), however mentally, he's kind of loosing it. Clearly people are into crazy. And after these last two years, we can't blame them.
1.BTS - Butter - Over 640 Million Views
Duh, it's BTS. Are we even surprised? In the "Butter" video, the superstar septet start off by appearing in black-and-white, wearing slick suits and a "superstar glow." Then once the chorus hits, everything turns technicolor. With their dancing and singing "hot like summer," and their smirking and winking, "smooth like butter," plus the power of the BTS ARMY behind them, this K-Pop bop naturally claims the #1 spot.
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