This was the first best-of list posted on the DMDB Facebook page back on February 5, 2010. It has been updated to include an aggregate of more than 70 lists in addition to various video awards and YouTube plays. See sources at bottom of page.
You can also check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast focused on the 40th anniversary of MTV and this list. It premieres August 3, 2021.
1. Michael Jackson “Thriller” (1983)
2. Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” (1986)
3. Aha “Take on Me” (1985)
4. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
5. Beastie Boys “Sabotage” (1994)
6. Fatboy Slim “Weapon of Choice” (2001)
7. Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985)
8. Madonna “Like a Prayer” (1989)
9. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1992)
10. Johnny Cash “Hurt” (2003)
11. Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1993)
12. Jamiroquai “Virtual Insanity” (1997)
13. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1983)
14. Smashing Pumpkins “Tonight, Tonight” (1996)
15. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee “Despacito” (2017)
16. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
17. Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way” (1986)
18. Foo Fighters “Learn to Fly” (1999)
19. Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)
20. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1981)
21. Beyoncé “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) ” (2008)
22. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991)
23. Madonna “Vogue” (1990)
24. Weezer “Buddy Holly” (1995)
25. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
26. Nine Inch Nails “Closer” (1994)
27. OK Go “Here It Goes Again” (2006)
28. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)
29. Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1983)
30. Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1983)
31. Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” (1999)
32. Fatboy Slim “Praise You” (1999)
33. OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2004)
34. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983)
35. Robert Palmer “Addicted to Love” (1986)
36. Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” (2009)
37. Metallica “One” (1989)
38. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers “Don’t Come Around Here No More” (1985)
39. Psy “Gangnam Style” (2012)
40. The Cars “You Might Think” (1984)
41. Blur “Coffee + TV” (1999)
42. The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” (1979)
43. Herbie Hancock “Rock-It” (1983)
44. Chris Isaak “Wicked Game” (1991)
45. Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017)
46. The White Stripes “Fell in Love with a Girl” (2002)
47. Korn “Freak on a Leash” (1999)
48. Marc Ronson & Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (2014)
49. Michael Jackson with Janet Jackson “Scream” (1995)
50. New Order “True Faith” (1987)
51. Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth “See You Again” (2015)
52. Aerosmith “Janie’s Got a Gun” (1990)
53. Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box” (1993)
54. George Michael “Freedom ’90” (1990)
55. The Replacements “Bastards of Young” (1985)
56. Madonna “Express Yourself” (1989)
57. Justin Bieber “Sorry” (2015)
58. TLC “Waterfalls” (1995)
59. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Californication” (2000)
60. Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” (1984)
61. Eminem “Without Me” (2002)
62. Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” (1994)
63. Radiohead “Just” (1995)
64. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988)
65. Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
66. Van Halen “Right Now” (1992)
67. Madonna “Ray of Light” (1998)
68. R.E.M. “Everybody Hurts” (1993)
69. David Bowie “Ashes to Ashes” (1980)
70. Camila Cabello with Young Thug “Havana” (2017)
71. Taylor Swft “Blank Space” (2014)
72. The Prodigy “Smack My Bitch Up” (1997)
73. Maroon 5 “Sugar” (2014)
74. Van Halen “Hot for Teacher” (1984)
75. Justin Timberlake “Cry Me a River” (2003)
76. Duran Duran “Girls on Film” (1981)
77. Tupac Shakur (2pac) & Dr. Dre “California Love” (1996)
78. Adele “Rolling in the Deep” (2010)
79. Adele “Hello” (2015)
80. Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud” (2014)
81. Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1967)
82. Maroon 5 with Cardi B “Girls Like You” (2017)
83. Madonna “Justify My Love” (1990)
84. Alanis Morissette “Ironic” (1996)
85. Genesis “Land of Confusion” (1986)
86. Katy Perry & Juicy J “Dark Horse” (2013)
87. Van Halen “Jump” (1984)
88. Aerosmith “Cryin’” (1994)
89. Madonna “Material Girl” (1985)
90. INXS “Need You Tonight/Mediate” (1988)
91. Pharrell Williams “Happy” (2013)
92. Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (2011)
93. Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar “Bad Blood” (2014)
94. Christina Aguilera with Redman “Dirrty” (2002)
95. Katy Perry “Roar” (2013)
96. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991)
97. The Verve “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (1997)
98. Kendrick Lamar “Humble” (2017)
99. Michael Jackson “Black or White” (1991)
100. Justin Bieber with Ludacris “Baby” (2010)
Annual Awards:
Other Resources/Related Links:
First posted 2/5/2010; last updated 7/28/2021. | 
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