Rihanna VIDEOS: Singer's Top 5 Best Music Videos Ahead Of Vanguard Award
Rihanna is set to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs on Sunday, so let's take a look back at some of her most memorable videos.
There's little denying that Rihanna has put out some shocking, visually stunning music videos throughout her career, so it's fitting that she is receiving the Video Vanguard Award, honoring those who have made a lasting impact on music videos and MTV.
The Barbados singer has gone through all sorts of looks and styles in her career, creating some of the more memorable music videos in the history of the medium. In honor of Rihanna's achievement, let's count down our ranking of her top 5 music videos of all time.
5. "Rude Boy" (2010)
Rihanna's music video for "Rude Boy" represents the seemingly endless creativity of the singer and her visual collaborators. The video is a kaleidoscope of bright colors, with Rihanna dancing in various costumes like a "Jamaican dance-hall-queen", as she said at the time. Considering the singer is known for her darker, edgier videos, this is a welcome change of pace.
4. "S&M" (2011)
When "S&M" was played on radio stations in 2011, many were shocked by Rihanna's blatantly sexual lyrics, singing of how "chains and whips excite me." The video itself lived up to the promise of the song's lyrics, but it also provided a fascinating tongue-in-cheek commentary on the negative media coverage she has received, proving she's more than just some brainless pop star.
3. "What's My Name?" feat. Drake (2010)
Rihanna's "What's My Name?" video, which featured frequent collaborator Drake, is a decidedly laid-back experience compared to her usually outrageous or dramatic videos. The video tells a simple story of two lovers experiencing the joys of a nice day together, and features Rihanna sporting what may be her best red-haired look. Rihanna and Drake's chemistry is electric, and gives this video an extra kick of authenticity.
2. "Umbrella" feat. Jay-Z (2007)
The music video for "Umbrella" really put Rihanna on the map as a mainstream artist who was here to stay. Featuring some excellent umbrella choreography, some iconic looks (fishnets, silver body paint) and some major confident attitude, this is Rihanna proving herself as an artist from early in her career. The video won the VMA for Video of the Year in 2007.
1. "We Found Love" feat. Calvin Harris (2011)
The "We Found Love" music video features all of the best elements of Rihanna's videos in one. The video depicts Rihanna and her love interest (Dudley O'Shaughnessy) falling madly in love, the exhilaration heightened with imagery of drug use. The intensity then boils over as the couple starts to fight and become toxic towards each other. The video takes the experience of falling in love from "What's My Name?" and brings it to new heights (and lows), using the same type of artistic, cinematic flair as "Umbrella", "Disturbia" and many other videos in her repertoire. There's no wonder "We Found Love" won the VMA for Video of the Year and the Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
