Not for the reason that introduction of radio had there been such a robust software to make or break artists’ careers than music tv. The 80s noticed MTV and VH1 grow to be the brand new jukebox for a complete era of music followers, the place music movies had been now not simply an add-in, however integral to an artist’s picture. With the medium not but refined, there have been no conventions to interrupt; it was the wild west, each musically and visually, and allowed for limitless experimentation. Even when the expertise was crude, it simply led to much more artistic innovation. Let’s flashback to a extra radical time when everybody was just a little bit extra tanned; a bit richer, dealer, madder, and wilder, in the perfect of the decade-defining 80s music movies.
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30: Madonna: Materials Lady (1984)
Madonna channeled Marilyn Monroe within the iconic video to “Material Girl,” the Nile Rodgers’ produced tune that topped her the queen of pop in 1984. Taking its inspiration from the well-known scene within the 1953 film Gents Desire Blondes the place Monroe sings “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend,” the video’s storyline depicts Madonna being pursued by a movie director who unsuccessfully tries to woo her by flaunting his wealth. The video’s shock denouement – the place romance triumphs over materialism – reveals that “Material Girl” isn’t as emblematic of 80s avarice as many wish to assume.
29: Pat Benatar: Love Is A Battlefield (1983)
Brooklyn-born Pat Benatar’s feisty rock anthem “Love Is A Battlefield” impressed a Bob Giraldi video whose theme was empowerment and searching for liberation from oppressive forces. It exhibits Benatar leaving residence after an offended confrontation along with her controlling father and journeying to an enormous metropolis the place she finally ends up as a taxi dancer in a seedy membership the place ladies are exploited by a bullying pimp. Unleashing her anger, Benatar initiates a rise up that culminates in a tense dance battle with the membership proprietor who’s shortly despatched packing.
28: Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Someone (Who Loves Me) (1987)
The illustration of actuality and fantasy by the contrasting use of monochrome and colour movie is a cinematic trick that was popularized by the 1939 film, The Wizard Of Oz. Director Brian Grant used the approach to good impact in his dazzling video for this Whitney Houston Grammy-winning hit, which contrasts the singer’s lonely life as a performer with an imagined fantasy sequence the place she dances with a succession of male companions. Choreographed by famous British dancer Arlene Phillips, this vibrant dance spectacle encapsulates the 80s in all its gaudy glory.
27: The Buggles: Video Killed the Radio Star (1979)
Earlier than he turned an influential file producer, Trevor Horn was one half of the British duo The Buggles, whose debut single “Video Killed The Radio Star” got here out in late 1979 and was accompanied by a groundbreaking video which set the tone for a way pop was visually represented within the subsequent decade. It was shot by Australian director Russell Mulcahy, whose use of slow-motion sequences, razor-sharp enhancing and neon lighting turned staples of 80s pop movies. “Video Killed The Radio Star” was the primary ever video to air on MTV when the channel launched on August 1, 1981.
26: David Bowie & Mick Jagger: Dancing In The Road (1985)
Martha & The Vandellas’ evergreen 60s Motown hit “Dancing In The Street” was revived as a duet by British rock titans Bowie and Jagger as a charity single to lift funds for Stay Help. They shot a no-frills video beneath the course of David Mallet in London which sizzles with a manic vitality, primarily because of a mullet-sporting Jagger, who jumps across the (comparatively) cooler Bowie.
25: Eurythmics: Candy Goals (Are Made Of This) (1983)
Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart’s synth-pop traditional concerning the advanced nature of human want put Eurythmics on the map as a world act; their fame was accelerated by the tune’s accompanying Chris Ashbrook-directed video, which was an MTV staple within the pioneering music channel’s early days. The video was well-known for Lennox’s placing androgynous look – cropped, punky orange hair juxtaposed with a proper go well with and tie – and likewise used surreal, mind-bending imagery to emphasise the distinction between expertise and the pure world.
24: Ray Parker Jr.: Ghostbusters (1984)
One of many massive blockbuster films of the 80s, the supernatural comedy Ghostbusters boasted a title tune from R&B musician, Ray Parker Jr., whose catchy quantity haunted pop charts and dance flooring world wide. Within the tune’s spooky video, director Ivan Reitman depicted Parker as a spectral determine and used footage from the precise film alongside CGI animation. The video additionally featured fleeting cameos from a number of celebrities, together with actor Danny DeVito and comic John Sweet.
23: Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Two Tribes (1984)
Liverpool’s Frankie Goes To Hollywood brought about a furor within the UK with their debut single, “Relax,” which was banned by the BBC for its purported sexual content material. Their second single, a febrile hymn to nuclear Armageddon referred to as “Two Tribes,” stoked controversy with its Chilly Conflict-inspired video, which depicted the US President Ronald Reagan and his USSR counterpart Konstantin Chernenko settling their variations in a wrestling ring. The video was conceived by ex-10cc members Kevin Godley & Lol Creme, and stands as one of many strangest 80s music movies.
22: Propaganda: Dr. Mabuse (1984)
This 80s music video feels extra like a Twenties music video. A nefarious felony mastermind with hypnotic powers, Dr. Mabuse was a fictional character who impressed German movie director Fritz Lang to make three films about him. He additionally influenced German synth pop group Propaganda’s debut single, “Dr. Mabuse,” whose dramatic video filmed at night time by the Dutch rock photographer Anton Corbijn channeled Lang’s visible aptitude with its evocative black and white imagery. Utilizing mild and shadow as highly effective visible metaphors for good and evil, Corbijn crafted a mesmerizing video whose efficiency was aided by the presence of the famous Polish actor Vladek Sheybal because the titular villain.
21: Herbie Hancock: Rockit (1983)
As a musician, jazz pianist Herbie Hancock has at all times embraced technological innovation so it was no shock when “Rockit,” his groundbreaking hip-hop-meets-techno-funk single launched maybe probably the most futuristic 80s music video. The principle focus of the video isn’t Hancock – whose head and palms are sometimes glimpsed on a TV set – however a manic array of crash check dummies, mutilated mannequins and bizarre technological entities whose physique components twitch and thrash in time to the music’s stuttering beats. Directed by Godley & Creme, the “Rockit” video deservedly snatched 5 MTV video awards in 1984.
20: Paula Abdul: Opposites Entice (1988)
Earlier than it turned the societal norm to lust after cartoons in Cool World, Paula Abdul shared display screen time with a cartoon cat named MC Skat Cat (who additionally has a solo album?!) in her music video for “Opposites Attract.” The tune is a scrumptious slice of late 80s pop and options Abdul’s signature dance strikes, however, although it’s top-of-the-line 80s music movies, would we ship it into area as a doc of mankind’s contribution to tradition? In all probability not.
19: Olivia Newton-John: Bodily (1981)
Earlier than the times of athleisure, Olivia Newton-John inspired us all to don our best sweats and “get physical”. Seizing upon the 80s health craze, John took her sexually suggestive single and turned it right into a exercise mantra. She whips all of the boys into the form and transforms them into beefcakes. The one energy you’ll discover listed here are within the cheese.
18: The Police: Each Breath You Take (1983)
Famously misinterpreted as a romantic ballad, Sting particulars all of the purple flags of a stalker relationship set to a hypnotic guitar riff whereas he stares intently into the digicam. As the remainder of The Police and a string quartet performs behind him, he takes out his unresolved feelings on his poor upright bass with a smouldering look in his eye.
17: Billy Idol: White Marriage ceremony (1982)
Like Madonna, Billy Idol can’t resist a very good church motif, and his gothic-wedding fantasy for “White Wedding” is equally button-pushing. Helmed by legendary director David Mallet, who would go on to direct a number of of Idol’s 80s music movies, the “White Wedding” clip put Idol’s pretty-boy snarl on full show and featured extra latex than a Trojan advert. As soon as slotted into MTV’s common rotation, Billy Idol turned a fixture on the community and canonised into 80s tradition.
16: Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Don’t Come Round Right here No Extra (1985)
To the informal observer, Tom Petty was not thought of edgy. Petty and The Heartbreakers didn’t court docket traits or cutting-edge haircuts, however they did end up some really subversive music movies. Working example, the delightfully psychedelic video to “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” which casts Petty because the Mad Hatter from Alice In Wonderland who eats Alice after she suffers the unlucky destiny of turning into a sheet cake.
15: Dire Straits: Cash For Nothing (1985)
When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, they in all probability didn’t think about this. Regardless of notoriously hating music movies, Dire Straits made one of many nice meta-music movies. The promo for his or her crossover single depicts two CGI-animated blue-collar males (the likes of which additionally impressed the tune’s lyrics) resenting the band’s rock’n’roll way of life. The result’s one other live-action/animated hybrid, courtesy of director Steve Barron, the person behind a-ha’s “Take On Me” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Naturally, the video took off and made Dire Straits worldwide stars.
14: Run-DMC And Aerosmith: Stroll This Approach (1986)
This pioneering collaboration between Aerosmith and Run-DMC confirmed the partitions of hip-hop and rock tumbling down in probably the most literal sense, with Steven Tyler busting by way of a studio wall just like the Kool-Help man. The unlikely joint effort was masterminded by Rick Rubin and each introduced Aerosmith again into the fray and launched hip-hop to each child out within the suburbs. As the primary rap-rock hybrid hit, collaboration paved the best way for others prefer it, together with Anthrax and Public Enemy’s “Bring The Noise.”
13: NWA: Straight Outta Compton (1988)
Whereas the vast majority of 80s music movies had been a phosphorescent fantasy, in hip-hop movies the tide was turning, because of NWA’s groundbreaking “Straight Outta Compton.” The gangster-rap pioneers used their video to rep their hometown, capturing all through numerous components of Compton and introducing the remainder of the nation (and world) to LA road life.
12: Cyndi Lauper: Women Simply Need To Have Enjoyable (1983)
Along with her rallying name for joie de vivre, Cyndi Lauper basically created the unique woman gang and have become one in all MTV’s first breakout stars – and a nationwide sensation. Within the video, Lauper rebels towards her dad and mom (performed by her real-life mom {and professional} wrestler Captain Lou Albano). The visuals are only a buoyant because the music: it makes you need to skip down the streets of the Decrease East Facet identical to Lauper herself.
11: Duran Duran: Hungry Like The Wolf (1983)
A tough alternative between this and “Rio,” however “Hungry Like the Wolf” is one thing additional particular. In an effort to interrupt into the US market, Duran Duran satisfied their label to ship them off to Sri Lanka and movie an extravagant music video that may launch that careers – and shortly be a staple for a lot of 80s music movies. We’re not going to get into the exoticism pitfalls at play right here, however this video did shift the needle from efficiency movies to a extra cinematic course. Come for the Indiana Jones cosplay and keep for the literal “page-turning” transitions.
10: Genesis: Land Of Confusion (1986)
80s music movies had their very own set of tropes: over-acted skits, animation, stay efficiency and puppets? Genesis’ five-minute lengthy opus is like being inside one in all Ronald Regan’s fever goals, with loads of cameos alongside the best way. Whereas the political message was loud and clear, the puppets, taken from the UK TV sequence Spitting Picture, had been extra terrifying than satirical to the youngsters watching again residence. That stated, it was enormously in style on MTV and there are numerous Easter Eggs to look out for.
9: Prince: Raspberry Beret (1985)
It’s nearly unimaginable to select only one Prince video. Between “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry,” the Purple One was a grasp of the shape. However we selected “Raspberry Beret,” not least for the puffy-shirt psychedelia on this animated video mash-up. Clad in a cloud go well with and sporting a freshly-shorn haircut (and letting out a goofy cough simply earlier than singing: (“I did it just to be sick, to do something no one else would do”), Prince And The Revolution carry out to a merry band of dancers. Because the story goes, Prince directed a complete video for the only, but additionally commissioned Japanese animator Drew Takahashi to create a complete separate promo, ensuing on this surrealistic mash-up. Look carefully and you may see a dreadlocked Pat Smear from Nirvana, standing in as an additional.
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8: Madonna: Like A Prayer (1989)
Life is a thriller, however the success of Madonna’s controversial tackle Catholicism isn’t. It’s bought all of it: burning crosses, stigmata and seduction of a saint. Naturally, all people was outraged: from Pepsi executives (who sponsored her tour) to the Pope himself. However Madonna is the grasp of the music video and is aware of precisely how one can harness it as a medium to advertise her newest incarnation, utilizing MTV has a springboard for her personal profession all through the a long time.
7: Speaking Heads: As soon as In A Lifetime (1980)
Speaking Heads’ postmodernist promo proved that you would nonetheless make revolutionary movies on a restricted finances. Co-directed by famed choreographer Toni Basil (of “Mickey” fame), the video contains a bespectacled David Byrne taking over the avatar of proselytising preacher to African tribe members as he strikes about like a digital marionette. Speaking Heads additionally represented the wild-eyed creativity that flourished throughout the period.
6: Grace Jones: Slave To The Rhythm (1985)
For a posh, layered monitor comparable to Grace Jones’ “Slave To The Rhythm” you want one thing visually difficult to accompany it. Enter Jean-Paul Goude’s carnival funhouse of excessive artwork, photographic trickery and trend. As Jones’ former associate and frequent collaborator, the 2 labored collectively to create a visually gorgeous and socially aware entry amongst 80s music movies.
5: Weapons N’ Roses: Welcome To The Jungle (1987)
Regardless of their made-for-TV-swagger, Weapons N’ Roses weren’t at all times MTV darlings. After Urge for food For Destruction was launched, it was crickets elsewhere world wide. It wasn’t till the fateful airing of their video for “Welcome To The Jungle” that the band blew up in a single day, the clip turning into some of the iconic 80s music movies within the course of. The video itself provided a triptych of scenes: there’s fresh-off-the-bus Axl, rock star Axl and nervous-breakdown Axl, who’s subjected to an onslaught of broadcast information à la A Clockwork Orange – in any other case often called at this time’s information cycle.
4: a-ha: Take On Me (1985)
The music video for a-ha’s synth-pop traditional isn’t solely memorable for its spectacular particular results but additionally the falsetto heights hit within the tune. This video is the Nineteen Eighties personified: Rick Astley hair, romantic capers and comic-book-inspired pop artwork. It was additionally a labour of affection, with illustrator Mike Patterson reportedly arising with greater than 3,000 sketches for the clip. The video was a smash success and kicked off the animation pattern in 80s music movies that may final a decade.
3: Janet Jackson: Rhythm Nation (1989)
After Janet Jackson unleashed this video upon the unsuspecting lots, all of us wished to be recruits in her Rhythm Nation. Directed by Domenic Sena, who helmed the video to “Let’s Wait Awhile” two years earlier, it depicted a dystopian dance imaginative and prescient – one wherein Janet leads an attractive paramilitary troupe to their fashionable future, oozing perspective and razor-sharp choreography that set the usual for all dance movies that adopted.
2: Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer (1986)
Impressionable youths keep in mind this video for its eye-boggling claymation and Peter Gabriel starring in his personal Pee Wee’s playhouse, however the adults recall the not-so-subtle animated innuendo that kicks off from the very starting. Both means, “Sledgehammer” stands as a very groundbreaking promo and MTV’s most-played music video of all time.
1: Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983)
Having some other music video apart from “Thriller’ as No.1 in our record of probably the most iconic 80s music movies could be heresy. Tapping the director of An American Werewolf In London, Michael Jackson single-handedly turned promo movies into quick films. The previous cherub-faced child from Motown wished to discover his darker aspect – and had the finances to take action. Michael Jackson basically preserve the lights on on the community and “Thriller’ turned the primary music video to be inducted into the Library Of Congress’ Nationwide Movie Registry.
With such a prolific variety of promo movies popping out of the last decade, it’s laborious to restrict ourselves to simply 30 80s music movies. Beastie Boys had already begun their artistic takeover with music video parodies the likes of “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” Heavy metallic entered the mainstream within the 80s, and the greatest metallic movies proceed to shock and shock. Some music movies (irrespective of how influential or infamous) are, nevertheless, simply NSFW, comparable to Comfortable Cell’s weird “Sex Dwarf.” After which there have been the 80s music movies that not solely influenced the last decade, they dominated it. See “She Drives Me Crazy” by High quality Younger Cannibals and “Karma Chameleon” by Tradition Membership. Good luck getting these out of your head.
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