MTV burst on the scene in 1981 playing the now infamous "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles and this introduction of a 24/7 music video channel would quickly change the dynamics with how we would regard popular music going forward.
But to put a twist on things.. let's think of 80's music videos that actually 'made' the Radio Star .. what I mean is: What music videos were so cool or fun to watch that they actually enhanced your enjoyment of the tune. Do you still think of the music video when you hear the song? Would you like it as much if not for the music video?
Here are a few from me:
a-Ha "Take On Me"
Robert Palmer "Addicted To Love"
ZZ Top "Sharp Dressed Man"
[ 14. May 2010, 12:27: Message edited by: Valley ]
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
Half the Duran vids are stuck in my head. Ditto Wham! and Tears for Fears. The best videos seemed to underscore the persona the artist was projecting.
Posted by TKO (Member # 1471) on :
quote:Originally posted by Valley: What music videos were so cool or fun to watch that they actually enhanced your enjoyment of the tune. Do you still think of the music video when you hear the song?
Superb choices already: ZZ Top, Duran Duran, Robert Palmer... they all had a bunch of good music video's. Here are a few that I can't listen to without playing the music video in my mind.
The Alan Parsons Project - Don't Answer Me
Don Henley - The Boys of Summer
Alexander O'Neal - Criticize
Huey Lewis & The News - Stuck with You
The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian Posted by Pyromantic (Member # 7658) on :
here's my list of some of the most memorable music videos that I liked that I can remember, and yes...I still think of the videos everytime I hear these songs:
Herbie Hanc0ck - Rockit Duran Duran - Wild Boys Metallica - One Faith No More - Epic Ozzy Osbourne - Shot in the Dark The Bangles - Manic Monday The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian Whitesnake - Here I Go Again Whitesnake - Is this Love Warrant - Cherry Pie Skid Row - Slave to the Grind Skid Row - 18 & Life AC/DC - You Shook Me all night long Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood Motley Crue - Girls, Girls, Girls George Michael - Father Figure Twisted Sister - I Wanna Rock Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take it A-ha - Take On Me Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time Lionel Richie - Hello The Cars - You Might Think The Cars - Drive Lita Ford - Kiss Me Deadly Lita Ford - Playing with Fire Michael Jackson - Thriller The Jacksons - Torture Bruce Springstein - Dancing in the Dark Aerosmith - Janie's Got a Gun Devo - Whip It Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives me Crazy Tom Petty - Don't Come Around Here No more Missing Persons - Destination Unknown Blondie - Rapture Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself Rick James - Superfreak David Bowie - China Girl Billy Ocean - Loverboy Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters George Harrison - Got My Mind Set on You Gary Numan - Cars Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are made of this) Berlin - No More Words Adam Ant - Strip
..k...I could probably list a ton more if I really sat here and thought about it..But I'll stop there.
...and here's a link to a random 80's music video site I found if anyone Is having trouble remembering some.
[ 15. May 2010, 18:11: Message edited by: Pyromantic ]
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
TKO .. awesome presentation of your choices! Huey Lewis & The News, The Bangles, and Don Henley had great music videos back then.
Pryomantic.. where to start with your incredible list. Still the best Metallica song ever.. Tawny Kitaen on a car hood... Neidermeyer from "Animal House.. Lita Ford the contortionist in acid wash jeans.. Sledgehammer was beyond vibrant.. Bowie was Blue Jean.. Adam Ant was the true Little General of MTV.. and I love The Cars videos, the odd couple that has last all these years!
Posted by Two Lost Souls (Member # 8863) on :
I completely agree with "Take On Me". I enjoy the song because I love the video. It was so innovative for its time.
Also, "Thriller". I don't think it's the best song, but the video is so great, it made the song better. You can't listen to "Thriller" without playing the video in your head.
In the same sense, I'd say "Bille Jean" to, though I think that's a great song on its own. When I hear the song, I see sidewalks lighting up in my head...it makes the song even more fun.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
What about the mindtrip that was Duran Duran's "Girls On Film"?
I never quite understood the video though it was extremely memorable even if I later learned it had been heavily edited just to be able to air on MTV. Still one of my fav Duran Duran tunes influenced by the entertaining music video.
Posted by Pyromantic (Member # 7658) on :
quote:Originally posted by Valley: What about the mindtrip that was Duran Duran's "Girls On Film"?
I never quite understood the video though it was extremely memorable even if I later learned it had been heavily edited just to be able to air on MTV. Still one of my fav Duran Duran tunes influenced by the entertaining music video.
I don't think I've ever seen the uncensored version of "Girls on Film." But in all honesty, even if I did I don't think it could top "Wild boys" on my list.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:TKO .. awesome presentation of your choices!
TKO - how did you do them?
Even though he's been mentioned solo, I want to repeat for emphasis:
ADAM AND THE ANTS!
Posted by TKO (Member # 1471) on :
Logan,
VLC Media Player has a tool to take snapshots of the content you're playing. I added the film strip afterwards.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:Originally posted by TKO: Logan,
VLC Media Player has a tool to take snapshots of the content you're playing. I added the film strip afterwards.
What did you add the filmstrip with?
Posted by TKO (Member # 1471) on :
I made it in Inkscape.
If you like I can send it to you. But in order to open/use it, you'll have to install Inkscape. It's open source thus free.
[ 17. May 2010, 05:14: Message edited by: TKO ]
Posted by TKO (Member # 1471) on :
I also remember how much I always liked the Madness video's. They weren't really flashy or spectacular, but they sure were fun to watch.
I recently bought 'Total Madness', which contains their biggest hits and music video's. As well as a couple of new songs.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:If you like I can send it to you. But in order to open/use it, you'll have to install Inkscape. It's open source thus free.
Free?! I'll take it!
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
The first thing to pop into my head was AHAs Take On Me
Some of my favoriets were DURAN DURANs. They were beautifully made, and lets face it, those guys were a joy to look at! Hot hot hot!
VAN HALEN and then DAVID LEE ROTH solo had some great videos. My favorite -and its probably my favorite video of all time - was Hot for Teacher. By the timee Dave was solo and doing stuff like Just A Gigilo and Yankee Rose I saw an interview show with him where he explained he was very hands on in the video-making process. He didnt like directors coming in and telling him what to do. He liked to pick stuff from his own crazy imagination.
Tom Petty has some gems. Last Dance With Mary Jane is sickly gorgeous and Dont Come Around Here is bizarre and funny too.
The Cars You Might Think is a good one. Still funny after all these years.
Im glad someone mentioned Dont Answer Me by ALAN PARSONS PROJECT. That was a nice one. Good song too.
Does anyone remember Cry by GODLEY AND CREME? That one was beautiful in its own weird way. Its like an early blueprint for the Michael Jackson video Black Or White: peoples faces morphing into other peoples faces.
Speaking of Michael Jackson his were always good cuz hes a joy to watch dance. Smooth Criminal was an impressive one.
Posted by TKO (Member # 1471) on :
quote:Originally posted by mamamiasweetpeaches: Does anyone remember Cry by GODLEY AND CREME? That one was beautiful in its own weird way. Its like an early blueprint for the Michael Jackson video Black Or White: peoples faces morphing into other peoples faces.
I don't think I ever saw the music video, but I LOVE this song so much! Whenever I hear it, I immediately associate it with Miami Vice.. and that episode with Ted Nugent.
I think of it as Crockett's Theme (part 2)
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
Look up the video on YOU TUBE. Its really good. Its sort of moving too (as most of the people in it actually DO cry!)
Posted by kevdugp73 (Member # 5978) on :
A Criminal Mind by Gowan
We're Not gonna Take It by Twisted Sister
Posted by Pyromantic (Member # 7658) on :
Tom Petty has some gems. Last Dance With Mary Jane is sickly gorgeous.
I love the "Last Dance with Mary Jane" video too. Though it came out in the 90's...it's still very good...And I kidd you not when I say that video is one of Kim Basinger's most memorable roles. She's a natural at playing a corpse and so much better of an actress when she's not speaking.=)
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
Great thread! I have to agree with A-Ha at the top, that's still the most innovative music vid ever. Madonna gets a nod for La Isla Bonita, George Michael's Faith, Jacko gets major props for taking the concept to new heights with Thriller,
Berlin's Take My Breath Away which gets in just because it isn't trying at all---All right, just stand on that plane over there--is that it? yes, we'll just be playing clips of the movie anyway! Duran Duran's Wild Boys always seemed like it could've been a prelude to the next Mad Max movie.
