Beyonce’s ‘Formation’ Named the Greatest Music Video of All-Time by Rolling Stone

Published: Friday 30th Jul 2021 by Sam

Beyonce has amassed many an accolade over the course of her illustrious career and the latest comes courtesy of Rolling Stone. 

For, the publication has named Queen Bey’s 2016 release ‘Formation’ as the Greatest Music Video of All-Time.

Full story below…

In tallying the best visuals to grace the screen, the singer’s ‘Lemonade’ leading effort ranked at #1 – besting videos from the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Prince, and Janet Jackson.

Unpacking the rationale behind the ranking, the magazine explained:

“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.”.”

Peep the top 25…

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’

[Click Here For The Full List]

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Do you agree with the pick/s?

Your thoughts?

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Comments 47

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  1. yababba July 30, 2021

    can you say umm water witch

  2. Truthteller July 30, 2021

    How much did she pay rolling stone?
    Formation better than Vogue and Thriller? Invalid list.

    • Justme July 30, 2021

      I think this list is based on how much the video moved the culture.. this list will constantly change over the years. Also if you think there have not been great videos since thriller you definitely not the person to be validating a list🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

      • Pat July 30, 2021

        The views are too low for it to have been that impactful

      • Danny Bey July 30, 2021

        But Thriller will always and forever be the best and most innovative music of all time no matter what the generation. And this is coming from a Beyoncé stan. This list list makes absolutely no sense.0

    • akathexfactor July 31, 2021

      💯

  3. Justme July 30, 2021

    Of course why wouldn’t it be, the greatest living artist, check the receipts

  4. Danyboo July 30, 2021

    Billie Jean beat out Thiller

  5. yababba July 30, 2021

    Can you say water witch

  6. Clarks0o00ñ July 30, 2021

    M.i.a- bad girls
    Rihanna- we found love
    bruno mars- uptown funk
    Michael Jackson- smooth criminal
    Lady gaga- bad romance
    Sia- Chandelier

    These videos are more iconic than formation

    • UHoesFunny July 30, 2021

      CaBloata certainly wasn’t making the list 💀

      • Clarks0o00ñ July 30, 2021

        Take ur meds u deranged psycho.

        F******* has only 1 solo song after 4 years of going solo.
        This is who u stan, are not embarrassed.

        Now shes funding her music videos herself cause the label doesnt care about her flop àss
        😂

      • UHoesFunny July 30, 2021

        Lol 😂 you sound dumb. Beyoncé
        funds her own videos too. Ur point?
        CaBloata got that big budgeted vid
        only to flop HARD. How she get out charted
        by a dead man 💀 plz explain that to me 😭

      • Clarks0o00ñ July 30, 2021

        “Beyonce funds her music video”

        Beyonce networth-400 million dollars

        F*******- 3 million dollars
        😂😂😂

        Normani stans are daft.
        Very slow people

        U girl is gonna get dropped very soon.
        RCA records dont play with their money.

      • UHoesFunny July 30, 2021

        Ur gurl getting out charted by a dead man 💀
        Shut up talking to me lmfaooo.

      • Clarks0o00ñ July 30, 2021

        A dead man (pop smoke) has released 2 whole albums before normani.

        😂😂😂

    • Meme July 30, 2021

      You have great taste. Great list. Bad girls is one of the best videos ever!

  7. UHoesFunny July 30, 2021

    QUEEN BEY 👑 That’s all, that’s the message…

    • Fancy BISH (FCK Maristench, SEWER GWORL, Danzou Thee Fool & Clarksdump 🤣) 👊🏽💎💋 July 30, 2021

      But it isn’t 1st April

    • Teetee July 31, 2021

      No honey. Janet is the greatest living artist. Beyaki is just an understudy

  8. Pat July 30, 2021

    It’s no longer 2012. Giving her these baseless accolades will not giv them clout

  9. Dan. iel July 30, 2021

    Ummmm nooooo!!

  10. Diabetes UNBOTHERED July 30, 2021

    The Formation video, The Formation Tour, Coachella, & Lion King put the Queen in LEGEND territory

    Poor Bey has ZERO competition now, even made RihScedule go into early RETIREMENT at just 33 years old

    But i think its time for bey to quit music to dominate FILM like she does Music. She needs to have a meeting with Tyler Perry & Lee Daniels and ask them for a new lead role…

    *Bey already played a Ho€ In Carmen

    *A SUPER HERO in Austin Powers

    * A jewel thief in The Pink Panther

    *An Autistic singer in Dream girls

    *A Homeless Prostitute in Cadilac Records

    *And even played a Murderer in Obsessed

    AND STILL NO OSCAR!

    So many iconic roles, when bey finally wins that OSCAR she will become the worlds first SUPER LEGEND surpassing the success of Michael Jackson, Already has 28 grammys, more than any other legend such as MJ or Prince

    • Claude Remains July 30, 2021

      And yet Taylor Swift has outsold her with every album that she has released!!!!

    • akathexfactor July 31, 2021

      If it wasn’t for the 2013 Tina Turner bump Bey would have faded by now.

  11. Hsysh July 30, 2021

    They really expect people to believe formation was that good but not even put thriller in the top 25? This list is laughable

  12. dee July 30, 2021

    So Formation was greater than Rhythm Nation! What a joke of a list.

  13. Moose’s Wig July 30, 2021

    That’s a Gotdammmn lie. People hype thick woman up way too much.

  14. Kurtis Lee Singer July 30, 2021

    I mean it’s not even her best 😂😂 and not when “Thriller” “Remember The Time” “Scream” and “Ghosts” all by MJ exist.

    Plus a million Missy Videos
    TLC “Waterfalls”

    And multiple Janet and Aaliyah videos exist.

  15. Claude Remains July 30, 2021

    The fact that Michael Jackson´s Thriller isn´t even on the list proves it´s a load of b*******!!

  16. Whiterod July 30, 2021

    Just lol.

  17. Shayla Queen™ 👑 July 30, 2021

    Yet another media outlet not to be taken seriously. Along with CNN.

  18. Mike July 30, 2021

    No Rhythm Nation?
    No Thriller?

    Really?

  19. SuxMyCockiness July 30, 2021

    Lol 😂 This list is a joke. They have the nerve to put Single Ladies on here too! Pure comedy.

  20. J July 30, 2021

    YAS BITCHH

  21. James July 30, 2021

    These below are great videos:
    Michael Jackson – Thriller
    Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation
    TLC – Waterfalls
    Janet & Michael – Scream
    Missy Elliott – Work It
    Lady Gaga – Bad Romance or Paparazzi
    Kendrick Lamar – Humble
    Rihanna – We Found Love
    Taylor Swift – Bad Blood or Blank Space

  22. Real life July 30, 2021

    TOTAL B*******

  23. Normani is Dat Bish July 30, 2021

    Go away Auntie Beyoncé. We got Queen Normani now to replace you. Motivation is more impactful than Flopmation 😂

  24. Slick July 30, 2021

    Yeah ok. Garbage ass video. Mj easily has the top 3 videos of all tome

  25. Shayla Queen™ 👑 July 31, 2021

    People are literally forgetting that MJ made THE MUSIC VIDEO what it is today.

    • Yo July 31, 2021

      Thriller is like a low budget horror movie, that means nothing. That’s not meaning behind the music video. Least formation has meaning, so that already puts it above thiller.

      • Shayla Queen™ 👑 July 31, 2021

        There was NO “music video” as it is known today before Thriller. Michael literally INVENTED the music video.

        Oh but Beyoncé talking about hot sauce in her bag and having a negro nose is “having meaning.” Sure.

  26. Unnatural July 31, 2021

    🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣yeah ok. Strong bts coercion happening these days. Cardi being called a rapper. Now beyonce formation video best of all time.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 got my Saturday morning giggles i guess.

  27. Kevon July 31, 2021

    Hahaha what a joke

  28. True Tea July 31, 2021

    Slay B***H or you get e-limin-ated!

  29. True Tea July 31, 2021

    Everyone knows the best video is by no other than Nicki Minaj with “Looking A$$”.

    Lyrics & Visuals are an absolute SLAY. Beyonce has never went this hard on anything.

  30. Kenneth Amparo August 3, 2021

    Kanye was right after all. XD

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