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Unforgettable (Nat King Cole song)

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1951 popular song

"Unforgettable"

Early-1950s sheet music

Single byNat King Cole

from the albumUnforgettable

B-side

"My First and My Last Love"
"Because of Rain" (UK)

Released

October 1951

Recorded

August 17, 1951^[1]

Studio

Capitol, 5515 Melrose Ave, Hollywood^[2]

Length

3:13

Nat King Cole singles chronology

"Mona Lisa"
(1950)

"Unforgettable"
(1952)

"Pretend"
(1953)

Dinah Washington singles chronology

"What a Diff'rence a Day Made"
(1959)

"Unforgettable'"
(1959)

"Baby (You've Got What It Takes)"
(1960)

"Unforgettable"

Natalie Cole andNat King Cole's "Unforgettable" duet fromUnforgettable... with Love

"Unforgettable"

Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable"

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"Unforgettable" is a popular song written byIrving Gordon. The song's original working title was "Uncomparable", however, the music publishing company asked Gordon to change it to "Unforgettable". The song was published in 1951.

Nat King Cole version

[edit]

The most popular version of the song was recorded byNat King Cole, in 1951, from his album,Unforgettable (1952), with an arrangement written byNelson Riddle.^[3] A non-orchestrated version of the song, recorded in 1952, is featured as one of the seven bonus tracks on Cole's 1998 CD reissue of 1955's otherwise completely instrumental album,Penthouse Serenade. On March 30, 1961, Nat King Cole recorded the tune anew, in a stereo version (with Ralph Carmichael and his Orchestra) of the Riddle arrangement, for the albumThe Nat King Cole Story (1961).

Natalie Cole had been performing this duet using a recorded track in her live show through the 1980s,^[4] then in 1991, afterElvis Presley's musical director Joe Guercio had the idea, Cole's original 1951 recording of the song was edited and reworked to create a duet with his daughter,Natalie. The remixed version reached number 14 on theHot 100, matching the peak position of the original version on theBillboard Best-Selling Pop Singles chart, and also number three on theBillboardAdult Contemporary chart.^[5] The song also won three awards at the34th Annual Grammy Awards (1992):Song of the Year,Record of the Year andBest Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.^[6]

Nat Cole's original recording was inducted into theGrammy Hall of Fame in 2000.^[7]

Charts

[edit]

Chart (1951–1952)	Peak position
USBillboard Best-Selling Pop Singles^[8]	14
USBillboard Best-Selling Sheet Music^[9]	15
USBillboard Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys^[10]	12

Chart (1988)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)^[11]	84

Certifications

[edit]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[12]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole version

[edit]

"Unforgettable"

Single byNatalie Cole withNat King Cole

from the albumUnforgettable... with Love

B-side

"Cottage for Sale"

Released

June 10, 1991 (1991-06-10)

Length

3:29

Natalie Cole singles chronology

"Wild Women Do"
(1990)

"Unforgettable"
(1991)

"The Christmas Song"
(1991)

Nat King Cole singles chronology

"When I Fall in Love"
(1987)

"Unforgettable"
(1991)

"The Christmas Song"
(1991)

Audio

"Unforgettable" onYouTube

American singerNatalie Cole included a cover of the song on her twelfth album,Unforgettable... with Love (1991). The song, produced byDavid Foster and reworked as a "virtual duet" with her father,Nat King Cole,^[13] reached number three on the USBillboardAdult Contemporary chart, number one on the CanadianRPM 40AC (Adult Contemporary) chart, and number two on theAustralian Singles Chart. The performance of the song at the1992 Grammy Awards was released on the 1994 albumGrammy's Greatest Moments Volume I.^[14]

Critical reception

[edit]

Billboard magazine commented, "Through the magic of digital technology father and daughter duet on this timeless song that swells with lush orchestration and moving harmonies."^[15]

Charts

[edit]

Weekly charts

[edit]

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[16]	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[17]	5
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[18]	15
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[19]	1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[20]	40
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[21]	20
France (SNEP)^[22]	36
Germany (GfK)^[23]	78
Ireland (IRMA)^[24]	10
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)^[25]	9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26]	20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27]	15
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[28]	7
UK Singles (OCC)^[29]	19
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[30]	17
USBillboard Hot 100^[31]	14
USAdult Contemporary (Billboard)^[32]	3
USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[33]	10
USCash Box Top 100^[34]	23

Year-end charts

[edit]

Chart (1991)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[35]	12
Belgium (Ultratop)^[36]	32
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[37]	2
New Zealand (RIANZ)^[38]	50
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[39]	56
US (Joel Whitburn'sPop Annual)^[40]	119

Certifications and sales

[edit]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[35]	Gold	35,000^{^}
France	—	40,000^[41]
United States (RIAA)^[42]	Gold	500,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[43] Video single	Platinum	50,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	June 10, 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD	Elektra	^[44]
Australia	July 15, 1991	CD cassette		^[45]
Japan	July 25, 1991	Mini-CD		^[46]

Other cover versions

[edit]

Semprini with Rhythm Acc. recorded it in London on March 26, 1952, as the third melody of the medley "Dancing to the piano (No. 14) – Part 1. Hit Medley of Foxtrots" along with "Slow Coach" and "Cry". It was released byEMI on theHis Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10263.

Other cover versions were performed or recorded by:

Acoustix (1998)
George Benson – Inspiration (A Tribute to Nat King Cole) (2013)
Andrea Bocelli andLisa Kelly (2010)
Captain & Tennille (2001)
Roberto Carlos –Live at Jerusalem (2011)
Vikki Carr (1997)
Jackie Chan w/Ani DiFranco (2002)^[47]
Sammy Davis Jr. on his tribute album to Cole, who died in 1965,The Nat King Cole Songbook, (1965)
Roberta Flack –Set the Night to Music (1991)
Aretha Franklin for her albumUnforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington (1964); (1976)
Marvin Gaye (1965)
Yvette Giraud (1953, in French under the title "Inoubliable")
Earl Grant (1960)
Merle Haggard (2004)
Engelbert Humperdinck (1980)
Bradley Joseph (2006)
Teddi King –All the King's Songs (1959)
Peggy Lee (1963)
Leo Masliah of the discTextualmente 1 (2001)
Johnny Mathis (1983)
Masaya Matsuura on his solo album "Beyooond!!!" (2013)
Megan Mullally andSean Hayes (2006) (Will & Grace finale asJack McFarland andKaren Walker)
Nicole C. Mullen (2018)
Peter Nero (1997)
Nianell and Dozi –It Takes Two (2009)^[48]
Pepper Adams Quintet (1957)
Oscar Peterson –Pastel Moods (1956) andWith Respect to Nat (1965)
Esther Phillips (1976)
Lou Rawls (1977)
Kenny Rogers (1998)
Diane Schuur (1991)
Marlena Shaw (1986)
Sia –Finding Dory soundtrack (2016)
Ricky Vallen (2009)
Dinah Washington –Unforgettable (1959) (was inducted into theGrammy Hall of Fame in 2001)

Sampled by song

[edit]

Nas on "Can't Forget About You" (2006)

References

[edit]

^ Nat King Cole discography, jazz disco.org
^Cogan, Jim; Clark, William (2003).Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios. San Francisco, California, USA: Chronicle Books. p. 20.ISBN 0-8118-3394-1.
^Nelson Riddle & Nat King Cole interviewed on thePop Chronicles (1969)
^"Natalie Cole Live In Vegas 1988".youtube.com. Retrieved2 January 2025.
^Whitburn, Joel (1993).Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 54.
^"Rock On The Net: 34th Annual Grammy Awards - 1992".Rockonthenet.com. Retrieved3 May 2021.
^"GRAMMY Hall Of Fame".Grammy.org. Archived fromthe original on 2011-02-19. Retrieved2011-04-25.
^"The Billboard Music Popularity Charts – Best-Selling Pop Singles"(PDF).The Billboard. November 24, 1951. p. 34. RetrievedMarch 16, 2020.
^"The Billboard Music Popularity Charts – Best-Selling Sheet Music"(PDF).The Billboard. January 12, 1952. p. 30. RetrievedMarch 16, 2020.
^"The Billboard Music Popularity Charts – Records Most Played by Disk Jockeys"(PDF).The Billboard. February 2, 1952. p. 28. RetrievedMarch 16, 2020.
^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.
^"British single certifications – Nat King Cole – Unforgettable".British Phonographic Industry. RetrievedNovember 17, 2023.
^Maura, Johnston (January 1, 2016)."Natalie Cole: 10 Essential Songs".Rolling Stone. RetrievedApril 22, 2018.
^"Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume 1: Various Artists". Amazon.com. 1994. RetrievedNovember 21, 2011.
^"Single Reviews"(PDF).Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 23. June 8, 1991. p. 75. RetrievedFebruary 13, 2020.
^"Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole – Unforgettable".ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole – Unforgettable" (in Dutch).Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Top RPM Singles: Issue 1618."RPM.Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1571."RPM.Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles"(PDF).Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 30. July 27, 1991. p. 21. RetrievedJuly 13, 2020.
^"European Hit Radio"(PDF).Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 36. September 7, 1991. p. 31. RetrievedNovember 17, 2025. SeeLW column.
^"Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole – Unforgettable" (in French).Le classement de singles. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole – Unforgettable" (in German).GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Unforgettable".Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
^Radio Luxembourg Singles. July 14, 1991.
^"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1991" (in Dutch).Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole – Unforgettable" (in Dutch).Single Top 100. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole – Unforgettable".Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Playlist Chart"(PDF).Music Week. July 13, 1991. p. 14. RetrievedOctober 14, 2025.
^"Natalie Cole Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Natalie Cole Chart History (Adult Contemporary)".Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Natalie Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^"Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996"(PDF).popmusichistory.co.uk. RetrievedNovember 20, 2025.
^^a ^b"1991 ARIA Singles Chart".ARIA. RetrievedApril 13, 2019.
^"Jaaroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch).Ultratop. RetrievedApril 13, 2019.
^"RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991".RPM. RetrievedApril 13, 2019 – viaLibrary and Archives Canada.
^"End of Year Charts 1991".Recorded Music NZ. RetrievedApril 28, 2020.
^"Top Adult Contemporary Songs of 1991 ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts".Musicvf.com. Retrieved3 May 2021.
^Whitburn, Joel (1999).Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc.ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
^J. R. Reynolds (August 31, 1996)."Future Bright For Cole's "Star Dust"".Billboard. No. 28. p. 9. RetrievedMay 30, 2021 – via Google Books.
^"American single certifications – Natalie Cole – Unforgettable".Recording Industry Association of America. RetrievedDecember 10, 2023.
^"American videosingle certifications – Natalie Cole – Unforgettable".Recording Industry Association of America. RetrievedDecember 10, 2023.
^"New Releases: Singles".Music Week. June 8, 1991. p. 21.
^"New Release Summary – Product Available from : 15/07/91: Singles".The ARIA Report. No. 77. July 14, 1991. p. 18.
^"ナタリー・コール | アンフォーゲッタブル" [Natalie Cole | Unforgettable] (in Japanese).Oricon. RetrievedSeptember 18, 2025.
^Spencer McCormick."When Pigs Fly".
^"It Takes Two, Dozi & Nianell, Album Music - kalahari.com". Archived fromthe original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved2016-07-16.

v t e Nat King Cole
Discography
Studio albums	The King Cole Trio Nat King Cole at the Piano King Cole for Kids Penthouse Serenade Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love The Piano Style of Nat King Cole After Midnight Just One of Those Things Love Is the Thing Cole Español St. Louis Blues The Very Thought of You To Whom It May Concern Welcome to the Club A Mis Amigos Tell Me All About Yourself Every Time I Feel the Spirit Wild Is Love The Magic of Christmas The Nat King Cole Story The Touch of Your Lips Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays Ramblin' Rose Dear Lonely Hearts More Cole Español Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer Where Did Everyone Go? Nat King Cole Sings My Fair Lady Let's Face the Music! I Don't Want to Be Hurt Anymore L-O-V-E
Compilation albums	Harvest of Hits Top Pops Unforgettable 10th Anniversary Album Ballads of the Day This Is Nat King Cole The Beautiful Ballads 20 Golden Greats For Sentimental Reasons Love Songs
Tribute albums	All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio Dear Mr. Cole Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole The Nat King Cole Songbook P.S. Mr. Cole A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole With Respect to Nat You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) Nat King Cole & Me
Songs	"That Ain't Right "All for You" "Straighten Up and Fly Right" "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" "It's Only a Paper Moon" "The Frim-Fram Sauce" "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)" "What'll I Do" "Nature Boy" "Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon, and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea" "Don't Blame Me" "For You My Love" "I Almost Lost My Mind" "Mona Lisa" "Orange Colored Sky" "Frosty the Snowman" "Too Young" "Red Sails in the Sunset" "Unforgettable" "Somewhere Along the Way" "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" "Because You're Mine" "Pretend" "I Am in Love" "Lover, Come Back to Me" "Answer Me, My Love" "Tenderly" "Smile" "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" "A Blossom Fell" "That's All There Is to That" "Night Lights" "To the Ends of the Earth" "Ballerina" "When I Fall in Love" "Stardust" "Send for Me" "Looking Back" "Acércate Más (Come Closer to Me)" "Non Dimenticar" "You Made Me Love You" "Just as Much as Ever" "Let There Be Love" "Ramblin' Rose" "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" "That Sunday, That Summer" "People" "L-O-V-E" "Let's Face the Music and Dance"
Family	Maria Cole(wife) Carole Cole(daughter) Natalie Cole(daughter) Eddie Cole(brother) Ike Cole(brother) Freddy Cole(brother) Lionel Cole(nephew)

v t e Natalie Cole
Discography
Studio albums	Inseparable (1975) Natalie (1976) Unpredictable (1977) Thankful (1977) I Love You So (1979) We're the Best of Friends (1979) Don't Look Back (1980) Happy Love (1981) I'm Ready (1983) Dangerous (1985) Everlasting (1987) Good to Be Back (1989) Unforgettable... with Love (1991) Take a Look (1993) Holly & Ivy (1994) Stardust (1996) Snowfall on the Sahara (1999) The Magic of Christmas (1999) Ask a Woman Who Knows (2002) Leavin' (2006) Still Unforgettable (2008) Caroling, Caroling: Christmas with Natalie Cole (2008) Natalie Cole en Español (2013)
Compilation albums	The Natalie Cole Collection (1987)
Live albums	Natalie Live! (1978) Unforgettable – A Musical Tribute to Nat King Cole (1983)
Singles	"This Will Be" "Inseparable" "Sophisticated Lady (She's a Different Lady)" "I've Got Love on My Mind" "Our Love" "Someone That I Used to Love" "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds "What You Won't Do for Love" (with Peabo Bryson) "I Live for Your Love" "Pink Cadillac" "When I Fall in Love" "Miss You Like Crazy" "Starting Over Again" "Wild Women Do" "Unforgettable" (withNat King Cole) "A Smile Like Yours" "Day Dreaming"
Tours	Soul Divas Tour
Family	Marvin Yancy (ex-husband) Nat King Cole (father) Maria Cole (mother) Carole Cole (sister) Eddie Cole (uncle) Ike Cole (uncle) Freddy Cole (uncle) Lionel Cole (cousin) Charlotte Hawkins Brown (great-aunt)

Awards for "Unforgettable"

v t e Grammy Award for Record of the Year
1950s	"Nel blu, dipinto di blu" –Domenico Modugno (May 1959) "Mack the Knife" –Bobby Darin (November 1959)
1960s	"Theme fromA Summer Place" –Percy Faith (1961) "Moon River" –Henry Mancini (1962) "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" –Tony Bennett (1963) "Days of Wine and Roses" –Henry Mancini (1964) "The Girl from Ipanema" –Astrud Gilberto &Stan Getz (1965) "A Taste of Honey" –Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (1966) "Strangers in the Night" –Frank Sinatra (1967) "Up, Up and Away" –The 5th Dimension (1968) "Mrs. Robinson" –Simon & Garfunkel (1969)
1970s	"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" –The 5th Dimension (1970) "Bridge over Troubled Water" –Simon & Garfunkel (1971) "It's Too Late" –Carole King (1972) "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" –Roberta Flack (1973) "Killing Me Softly with His Song" –Roberta Flack (1974) "I Honestly Love You" –Olivia Newton-John (1975) "Love Will Keep Us Together" –Captain & Tennille (1976) "This Masquerade" –George Benson (1977) "Hotel California" –Eagles (1978) "Just the Way You Are" –Billy Joel (1979)
1980s	"What a Fool Believes" –The Doobie Brothers (1980) "Sailing" –Christopher Cross (1981) "Bette Davis Eyes" –Kim Carnes (1982) "Rosanna" –Toto (1983) "Beat It" –Michael Jackson (1984) "What's Love Got to Do with It" –Tina Turner (1985) "We Are the World" –USA for Africa (1986) "Higher Love" –Steve Winwood (1987) "Graceland" –Paul Simon (1988) "Don't Worry, Be Happy" –Bobby McFerrin (1989)
1990s	"Wind Beneath My Wings" –Bette Midler (1990) "Another Day in Paradise" –Phil Collins (1991) "Unforgettable" –Natalie Cole withNat King Cole (1992) "Tears in Heaven" –Eric Clapton (1993) "I Will Always Love You" –Whitney Houston (1994) "All I Wanna Do" –Sheryl Crow (1995) "Kiss from a Rose" –Seal (1996) "Change the World" –Eric Clapton (1997) "Sunny Came Home" –Shawn Colvin (1998) "My Heart Will Go On" –Celine Dion (1998)
2000s	"Smooth" –Santana featuringRob Thomas (2000) "Beautiful Day" –U2 (2001) "Walk On" –U2 (2002) "Don't Know Why" –Norah Jones (2003) "Clocks" –Coldplay (2004) "Here We Go Again" –Ray Charles &Norah Jones (2005) "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" –Green Day (2006) "Not Ready to Make Nice" –Dixie Chicks (2007) "Rehab" –Amy Winehouse (2008) "Please Read the Letter" –Alison Krauss &Robert Plant (2009)
2010s	"Use Somebody" –Kings of Leon (2010) "Need You Now" –Lady Antebellum (2011) "Rolling in the Deep" –Adele (2012) "Somebody That I Used to Know" –Gotye featuringKimbra (2013) "Get Lucky" –Daft Punk featuringPharrell Williams &Nile Rodgers (2014) "Stay with Me" (Darkchild version) –Sam Smith (2015) "Uptown Funk" –Mark Ronson featuringBruno Mars (2016) "Hello" –Adele (2017) "24K Magic" –Bruno Mars (2018) "This Is America" –Childish Gambino (2019)
2020s	"Bad Guy" –Billie Eilish (2020) "Everything I Wanted" –Billie Eilish (2021) "Leave the Door Open" –Silk Sonic (2022) "About Damn Time" byLizzo (2023) "Flowers" –Miley Cyrus (2024) "Not Like Us" –Kendrick Lamar (2025)

v t e Grammy Award for Song of the Year
Awarded to songwriters
1950s	"Nel blu, dipinto di blu" –Domenico Modugno (1959)
1960s	"The Battle of New Orleans" –Jimmy Driftwood (1960) "Theme ofExodus" –Ernest Gold (1961) "Moon River" –Johnny Mercer &Henry Mancini (1962) "What Kind of Fool Am I?" –Leslie Bricusse &Anthony Newley (1963) "Days of Wine and Roses" –Johnny Mercer &Henry Mancini (1964) "Hello, Dolly!" –Jerry Herman (1965) "The Shadow of Your Smile" –Paul Francis Webster &Johnny Mandel (1966) "Michelle" –John Lennon &Paul McCartney (1967) "Up, Up, and Away" –Jimmy Webb (1968) "Little Green Apples" –Bobby Russell (1969)
1970s	"Games People Play" –Joe South (1970) "Bridge over Troubled Water" –Paul Simon (1971) "You've Got a Friend" –Carole King (1972) "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" –Ewan MacColl (1973) "Killing Me Softly with His Song" –Norman Gimbel &Charles Fox (1974) "The Way We Were" –Alan and Marilyn Bergman &Marvin Hamlisch (1975) "Send In the Clowns" –Stephen Sondheim (1976) "I Write the Songs" –Bruce Johnston (1977) "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" –Barbra Streisand &Paul Williams / "You Light Up My Life" –Joe Brooks (1978) "Just the Way You Are" –Billy Joel (1979)
1980s	"What a Fool Believes" –Kenny Loggins &Michael McDonald (1980) "Sailing" –Christopher Cross (1981) "Bette Davis Eyes" –Donna Weiss &Jackie DeShannon (1982) "Always on My Mind" –Johnny Christopher,Mark James &Wayne Carson (1983) "Every Breath You Take" –Sting (1984) "What's Love Got to Do with It" –Graham Lyle &Terry Britten (1985) "We Are the World" –Michael Jackson &Lionel Richie (1986) "That's What Friends Are For" –Burt Bacharach &Carole Bayer Sager (1987) "Somewhere Out There" –James Horner,Barry Mann &Cynthia Weil (1988) "Don't Worry, Be Happy" –Bobby McFerrin (1989)
1990s	"Wind Beneath My Wings" –Larry Henley &Jeff Silbar (1990) "From a Distance" –Julie Gold (1991) "Unforgettable" –Irving Gordon (1992) "Tears in Heaven" –Eric Clapton &Will Jennings (1993) "A Whole New World" –Alan Menken &Tim Rice (1994) "Streets of Philadelphia" –Bruce Springsteen (1995) "Kiss from a Rose" –Seal (1996) "Change the World" –Gordon Kennedy,Wayne Kirkpatrick &Tommy Sims (1997) "Sunny Came Home" –Shawn Colvin &John Leventhal (1998) "My Heart Will Go On" –James Horner &Will Jennings (1999)
2000s	"Smooth" –Itaal Shur &Rob Thomas (2000) "Beautiful Day" –Adam Clayton,David Evans,Laurence Mullen &Paul Hewson (2001) "Fallin'" –Alicia Keys (2002) "Don't Know Why" –Jesse Harris (2003) "Dance with My Father" –Richard Marx &Luther Vandross (2004) "Daughters" –John Mayer (2005) "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" –Adam Clayton,David Evans,Laurence Mullen &Paul Hewson (2006) "Not Ready to Make Nice" –Emily Burns Erwin,Martha Maguire,Natalie Maines Pasdar &Dan Wilson (2007) "Rehab" –Amy Winehouse (2008) "Viva la Vida" –Guy Berryman,Jonathan Buckland,William Champion &Christopher Martin (2009)
2010s	"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" –Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell,Beyoncé Knowles,Terius Nash &Christopher Stewart (2010) "Need You Now" –Dave Haywood,Josh Kear,Charles Kelley &Hillary Scott (2011) "Rolling in the Deep" –Adele Adkins &Paul Epworth (2012) "We Are Young" –Jack Antonoff,Jeff Bhasker,Andrew Dost &Nate Ruess (2013) "Royals" –Joel Little &Ella Yelich O'Connor (2014) "Stay with Me" (Darkchild version) –James Napier,William Phillips &Sam Smith (2015) "Thinking Out Loud" –Ed Sheeran &Amy Wadge (2016) "Hello" –Adele Adkins &Greg Kurstin (2017) "That's What I Like" –Christopher Brody Brown,James Fauntleroy,Philip Lawrence,Bruno Mars,Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip (2018) "This Is America" –Donald Glover,Ludwig Göransson &Jeffery Lamar Williams (2019)
2020s	"Bad Guy" –Billie Eilish O'Connell &Finneas O'Connell (2020) "I Can't Breathe" –Dernst Emile II,H.E.R. &Tiara Thomas (2021) "Leave the Door Open" –Brandon Anderson,Christopher Brody Brown,Dernst Emile II &Bruno Mars (2022) "Just Like That" –Bonnie Raitt (2023) "What Was I Made For?" –Billie Eilish O'Connell &Finneas O'Connell (2024) "Not Like Us" –Kendrick Lamar (2025)

v t e NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video
1990s	"Unforgettable" –Natalie Cole (1991) "Black or White" –Michael Jackson (1992) "I'm Every Woman" –Whitney Houston (1993) No Award (1994) "Waterfalls" –TLC (1995) "I Believe I Can Fly" –R. Kelly (1996) "Stomp" –God's Property (1997) "Just the Two of Us" –Will Smith (1998) "Wild Wild West" –Will Smith (1999)
2000s	"I Wish" –R. Kelly (2000) "You Rock My World" –Michael Jackson (2001) "Little Things" –India Arie (2002) "Dance with My Father" –Luther Vandross (2003) "If I Ain't Got You" –Alicia Keys (2004) "Unbreakable" –Alicia Keys (2005) "Be Without You" –Mary J. Blige (2006) "Like You'll Never See Me Again" –Alicia Keys (2007) "Yes We Can" –will.i.am (2008) "I Look to You" –Whitney Houston (2009)
2010s	"Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" –Alicia Keys (2010) "Where You At?" –Jennifer Hudson (2011) "Girl on Fire" –Alicia Keys (2012) "Q.U.E.E.N." –Janelle Monáe featuringErykah Badu (2013) "You & I (Nobody in the World)" –John Legend (2014) "Shame" –Tyrese Gibson (2015) "Formation" –Beyoncé (2016) "That's What I Like" –Bruno Mars (2017) "This Is America" –Childish Gambino (2018) "Juice" –Lizzo (2019)
2020s	"Brown Skin Girl" –Beyoncé,Saint Jhn, andWizkid featuringBlue Ivy Carter (2020) "Essence" –Wizkid featuringTems (2021) "Lift Me Up" –Rihanna (2022) "Sensational" –Chris Brown featuringDavido &Lojay (2023) "Not Like Us" –Kendrick Lamar (2024)