1. 'Born This Way,' Lady Gaga
No. 1 on our list of the best videos of 2011 so far, this dazzling, Nick Knight-directed video begins with Mother Monster giving birth and wraps with a Day of the Dead-inspired, skull-faced Gaga blowing a gum bubble at the camera. What's going on in between is anyone's guess, but with the combination of the video's awesome, 'Thriller'-esque dancing and the pulverizing dance beat, it's hard to, well ... beat.