Yahoo! Music's Top 10 Videos of 2008

Yahoo! Music tallied up all of its music video plays this year and compiled the Top 10. It’s interesting to note that half of Yahoo! Music’s list of videos comes from new artists including Leona Lewis, Colbie Caillat and OneRepublic. Of course, favorite established artists—Mariah, Alicia Keys, Rihanna alsosecured spots on the list.

1) Alicia Keys “No One”

This Grammy Award winning song spent five weeks at Number One on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Because this single was so successful, her album As I Am entered the charts at Number One, selling more than 700,000—the second highest selling debut of 2007, and the highest for a female artist. The video performance features Alicia in some of her more glamorous looks as she plays the piano in various settings.

2) Mariah Carey “Touch My Body”

Mariah Carey scored her 18th Number One hit with this song from her album, E=MC2. Her video should be considered most entertaining on this Top 10 list, if not most comedic, as Mariah playfully created her own version—and in music video form—of the nerd romance. 

3) Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love”

This new artist broke into the US scene last year after winning the reality show X Factor, the British version of American Idol. While the song was first released in the UK, her label felt the need to make a different video for her US fan base. So they taped her singing in the middle of New York’s Time Square about a guy who has repeatedly broken her heart. The record was the biggest single in her home country in 2007, not to mention, it topped the charts of 30 other countries.

4) Rihanna “Don’t Stop The Music”

For the “Don’t Stop The Music” video, the Barbados beauty adds viewers to the party’s guest list, taking them with her to the hottest club in the city.

5) Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown “No Air”

“No Air” came on the heels of talk of Idols failing to achieve the success of their predecessor Kelly Clarkson; namely, Taylor Hicks, Katherine McPhee and Ruben Studdard who reportedly lost their record deals. With her second single “No Air,” she came strong, especially as she got paired with young pop superstar Chris Brown. “No Air” led to a remake by a country singer.

6) Lil Wayne f/Static Major “Lollipop”

“Lollipop” is the lead single from Lil’ Wayne’s Tha Carter III album, the year’s highest selling debut that entered the charts with platinum sales. What made this video extra interesting was that the New Orleans rapper was already in celebratory mode, as if knowing the success it was going to bring.

7) Colbie Caillat “Bubbly”

The romantic video finds the singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat at a beach house with her male companion, gazing at him dreamily while playing her guitar at a bonfire. “Bubbly” at times felt like the lone true love song in a sea on records about heartache. Caillat’s following picked up its most momentum online and eventually lead to her record deal with Universal. She is also blessed to have the support of her father, Ken Caillat, who co-produced two Fleetwood Mac albums and Colbie’s featured hit.

8) One Republic “Apologize”

Everything happens for a reason. Before linking with super power Timbaland, OneRepublic was already signed to Columbia Records. But two months before their album was scheduled to be released in 2006, they were dropped from the label. Fortunately for the Colorado band, they had already began creating a buzz online and interest from other labels intensified, culminating with Timbaland’s Interscope distributed Mosley Music successfully signing the group. OneRepublic became the first rock band on the label roster. Their song “Apologize” first gained exposure on Timbaland’s Shock Value album and also appears on their 2007 debut Dreaming Out Loud. The video tracks a love triangle, adding additional layers to the song that tells a remorseful girlfriend that “it’s too late to apologize” for her wrongdoing.

9) Sara Bareilles “Love Song”

Singers don’t come much cuter than Eureka, California hometown girl Sara Bareilles, one of 2007’s most refreshing breakout artists. For this Number One hit, the UCLA alum delivers a video to match. Bareilles’ brings life to a vaudeville bar as she plays the piano while singing about her refusal to write some guy a love song on demand.

10) Rihanna “Take A Bow”

If the candid camera show Cheaters ever started an award special, Rihanna’s “Take A Bow” could be the theme song. On the track Rihanna digs her claws in deep on the male subject who has apologized for being unfaithful. She tells him not to pretend that he’s sorry, but to instead “take a bow” for his performance at convincing her that he was committed. If Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” was 2007’s female breakup anthem of the year, this track was 2008’s equivalent. It is befitting that both power ballads benefited from the song writing talents of Ne-Yo. “Take A Bow” reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and drew attention for its video that captures striking shots of Rihanna dressed in simply a black tank top, jeans and hills. Even a guy can’t help but laugh at the scene of the boyfriend running alongside Rihanna car, begging for another chance.