A lot of funny music videos were made in the 80s, so what are some of your favorites?
Note: They MUST be 80s videos, so that means no mentions of videos by Denis Leary or Blink 182 or anything like that, and if you're going to mention "Weird Al" Yankovic's videos, they should be his 80s videos only (no "Smells Like Nirvana", "Amish Paradise" or "All About The Pentiums").
With that out of the way, here are some of my favorite comedic music videos of the 80s:
1.) "Love Will Show Us How" by Christine McVie. The humor is in the plot surrounding the song. Christine is talking to the director of the "video", a pompous man with artistic pretentions played by "Eating Raoul" director Paul Bartel. As she performs the song, everything that can go wrong does. Dancers trip and fall, dancers come out in the wrong order and bang into each other, and a pulley malfunctions and sends a UFO flying onto Christine's piano. The video ends with the director saying "Aren't you glad you trusted me?" and Christine breaking down into laughter.
2.) "Beast Of Burden" by Bette Midler. What's so funny is Midler arguing with Mick Jagger (as himself) about their love life and her reindition of his song. As she performs the song, she's being watched by her old lover, a sheik. The video climaxes with Midler and Jagger getting pies in the faces.
3.) "A View To A Kill" by Duran Duran. It's not a humorous video, per se, but there is one hilarious moment. At the end, a woman asks the lead singer of D2 who he is. "Bon...Simon LeBon". He then looks down and sees a bomb countdown clock about to go off. He does a take at the viewers and the screen goes to black as the bomb goes off.
So, what are some of your faves?
Sincerely,
John Kilduff
Posted by StevenHW (Member # 509) on :
I was going to mention some of Weird Al Yankovic's stuff, but that is too obvious!
So, I'll add:
* Neil Young's "This Note's For You", a devastatingly brutal satire on rock/pop stars and TV commercialism. So controversial and upsetting to sponsors and other stars, MTV didn't dare show it back in the mid-80's!
* "Just A Gigolo/Ain't Got Nobody" with David Lee Roth.
* Chevy Chase's performance in Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al".
* George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set On You". The one with him in a living room and the mounted animals come to life.
Phil Collins tries to be funny and hams it up in some of Genesis' and his solo videos...but I just find him silly instead of funny. "Silly" and "funny" is not the same thing, Phil!
Posted by rocksteadyflamethrower (Member # 1065) on :
quote:Originally posted by StevenHW:
Phil Collins tries to be funny and hams it up in some of Genesis' and his solo videos...but I just find him silly instead of funny. "Silly" and "funny" is not the same thing, Phil!
You do have to admit, though, that the video for Genesis' "Anything She Does" is funny. I think, though, that the reason why the video is funny is because of Benny Hill's appearance as his old character Fred Scuttle, put in charge of security for their concert. The episode turns into one of Hill's sketches, complete with bosomy women and a fast-motion chase scene.
Sincerely,
John Kilduff
Posted by jlp937-Sunflower Goddess (Member # 1877) on :
What about Don't Worry Be Happy? To tell you the truth I don't remember much about it, but wasn't a famous person in it? Like Robin Williams or something. Anything he is in is funny.
I like that Genesis video Land of Confusion--the puppets of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
Nobody makes videos that are as funny any more. Do you think it is because it costs to much or what?
Posted by StevenHW (Member # 509) on :
Part of Jlp937-Sunflower Goddess' post:
quote: What about "Don't Worry Be Happy"? To tell you the truth I don't remember much about it, but wasn't a famous person in it? Like Robin Williams or something. Anything he is in is funny.
I never thought about that one, mainly because I can't stand that song!
Anyways, Bobby McFerrin sang it. He and Robin Williams was definitely in that video.
The third person in the video was a guy named Bill Irwin, an actor in stage and movies and also was once a circus clown (Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus).
Posted by Stitchgroover (Member # 2895) on :
The film clip for Sabrina's "Boys Boys Boys" was unintentionally hilarious. Sabrina was a fairly well endowed Italian woman, and the clip involved her bouncing up and down in a swimming pool wearing nothing but a tiny bikini. Every few seconds she had to re adjust her bikini to stop it from falling down, and I'm sure there were a couple of pixilated moments where she was a bit too late.
Posted by Devolution (Member # 1731) on :
Devolution here,
Feet Don't Fail me now, by Todd Rundgren. And if you are going to go with Weird Al, it begins and ends with Fat.
We are DEVO
Posted by Bionic Bigfoot (Member # 2490) on :
Twisted Sister's Leader Of The Pack.
Posted by HipsterMom27 (Member # 2161) on :
Mojo Nixon: Bo-Day-Shus
~Elvis is everywhere
Posted by HeadRusch (Member # 3755) on :
I gotta go with Devolution, Feet Don't Fail Me Now (by Utopia, actually, not just TR solo) is definately freaky
I always get a chuckle watching CLOSE TO THE EDIT by Art of Noize, as the dudes stomp around and carve up instruments...I laugh at their weird look, its not per-say a comedy video.
If you want to see a bad video that will make you laugh, because its so freakin BAD, is Raven's "On and On". So bad its funny. I mean, talk about your average group of nerds trying to look tough in a metal band. Listen to the lead singers voice...oh god...you can't NOT laugh.
I dare you to watch this video and not laugh outloud...at how bad these guys look and their acting. I mean, even the first time we saw this it was like "Are these guys a GOOF?". Dont take your overweight lead singer, give him bad 70's hair in an 80's band, and stuff him into red and white spandex. Just...just dont DO IT.
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
BILLY SQUIRE's Rock Me Tonight brings new meaning to the term "Video Killed The Radio Star". His albums were great but his vidoes were just ludicrously bad. In this one he trys to up the ante as a "sex symbol" by being in a bedroom (that has its own elevator!) ripping off his shirt(twice!), and rolling around on a bed with silk sheets and on the floor. It's quite a sight!
Actually, Im surprised at how many of these I HAVENT seen. To YOU TUBE I go!
As for WEIRD AL I have always loved Ricky ( I'm sick of Fred and Ethel always coming over here - cuz Fred eats all my pretzel sticks and then he spills his beer - why dont you serve your casserole and make them dissapear, Lucy?"!)
Posted by mnaz21 (Member # 6702) on :
[ 08. April 2008, 12:18: Message edited by: jdocster04 ]
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
Okay I looked most of these up on YOU TUBE but they didnt have the CHRISTINE MCVIE one. Does anyone know a link I can click to see that one?
Posted by CrashesParties n TheValley (Member # 2903) on :
...Oh MAN that Grim Reaper video that HeadRusch posted is FUNNY As HELL!!! I did'nt realize how much Grim Reaper SUCKED untill i was watching BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD...and "See You in Hell","Rock You To HELL" & "Fear No Evil" came on. B & B made jokes about Grim Reaper the whole video. Beavis said that the lead singer looks like a Bulldog Posted by Duckie Dale Winton (Member # 3419) on :
quote:Originally posted by CrashesParties n TheValley: ...Oh MAN that Grim Reaper video that HeadRusch posted is FUNNY As HELL!!! I did'nt realize how much Grim Reaper SUCKED untill i was watching BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD...and "See You in Hell","Rock You To HELL" & "Fear No Evil" came on. B & B made jokes about Grim Reaper the whole video. Beavis said that the lead singer looks like a Bulldog
Aaaah - Grim Reaper - now THAT takes me back a few years!!!! I have that album!!!!
The poor singer who seems to have inspired the most mirth is a guy called Steve Grimett, who me and most UK metal fans will remember joined thrash legends Onslaught for one album too. I saw him live with them, way back when, and also with his next band Lionsheart, who were a kinda bluesy/Whitesnake-ish mob. In his defence, he ended up having a really strong voice, but he didn't half pile on the weight!
Me and fellow rewinder Earth Angel went to a metal show a few months back and his latest band were 2nd on the bill. We got there too late to see them, but I did spot him wandering round the bars later and the years have NOT been kind to him!!!!!!
Oh, and aside from their dodgy image and cheesy songs - Grim Reaper will always be legends for one reason.....the guitarist was called Dave Wanklin Posted by CrashesParties n TheValley (Member # 2903) on :
COOL!
Posted by Devolution (Member # 1731) on :
Devolution here,
I actually did know it was Utopia, but it's not a common group, so I simplified it. Man, this post is old. But I tend to agree with what I first said about Weird Al.
Other Cool Funny Videos.
The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun By Julie Brown.
I tend to think Karma Chameleon was funny, mostly because it was so cheesy.
WE are DEVO
Posted by 80sFan (Member # 6806) on :
I think 90% of music videos were cheesy which makes them so great!
Posted by BabyLove19781999 (Member # 2336) on :
Billy Crystal - You Look Marvelous Rodney Dangerfield - Rappin Rodney
Posted by GoldTransAM (Member # 2973) on :
Wild Thing- Sam Kinison and a bunch of rock stars from 80s hair bands.
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