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Music videos that define the 80s

California Girls by David Lee Roth. I know it's a Beach Boys cover but we're talking 1980s aesthetics..

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by Anonymousreply 232July 1, 2024 9:33 AM

Any and all videos by DD.

Come on!

by Anonymousreply 1June 8, 2024 7:58 PM

For me, it all comes down to "Mickey" by Toni Basil. I know many detest this song but I loved it then and still enjoy it know. I've always been fascinated by the one (ahem) rather butch blonde cheerleader. This song could never have been recorded any earlier or later than the 1980s.

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by Anonymousreply 2June 8, 2024 9:15 PM

Debhead here!

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by Anonymousreply 3June 8, 2024 9:30 PM

Devo's "That's Good" (1982)

It was one of the first videos to run into censorship problems at MTV. The band got a call saying they were banning it because of the French fry and donut. Band member, Gerard Casale explains:

[quote] "We got this call from [MTV co-founder] Les Garland, He was like, 'Look, we know what you're trying to do here.' I go, What do you mean? He goes, 'Ya know, when that cartoon French fry glides through that cartoon donut and then it's with the girl looking happy. You can have the French fry, or you can have the donut, but you can't have the French fry and the donut, Otherwise, you can't cut to the girl.' And I go, 'But what about when the French fry hits the donut and breaks in half and she's sad?' And he goes 'Alright you little smart ass.' It was horrible. Then I go, 'What about that Billy Idol video you have and the girls are in skin-tight pants and their asses are full on in the screen and his head is between her legs and then somebody slaps her ass? What about that?' He goes, 'we're talking about you, we're not talking about them.

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by Anonymousreply 4June 12, 2024 9:32 AM

Def Leppard, Photograph

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by Anonymousreply 5June 12, 2024 11:14 AM

Go-Go's "Vacation" - silly upbeat fun

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by Anonymousreply 6June 12, 2024 11:17 AM

C’mon now. This video is a damn time capsule.

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by Anonymousreply 7June 12, 2024 11:18 AM

Crowded House, Don't Dream It's Over

My BF played it for me after a bad argument. I still love him.

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by Anonymousreply 8June 12, 2024 11:20 AM

Level 42, Something About You

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by Anonymousreply 9June 12, 2024 11:22 AM

Any video that makes you ask "How much cocaine was everybody on?"

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by Anonymousreply 10June 12, 2024 12:11 PM

Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love.

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by Anonymousreply 11June 12, 2024 12:28 PM

Once in a Lifetime, Talking Heads

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by Anonymousreply 12June 12, 2024 12:29 PM

Hungry Like the Wolf, of course!

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by Anonymousreply 13June 12, 2024 12:30 PM

I set the standard for 80s videos, bitches.

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by Anonymousreply 14June 12, 2024 12:31 PM

R12, directed by Toni Basil at R2.

by Anonymousreply 15June 12, 2024 12:33 PM

Iconic.

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by Anonymousreply 16June 12, 2024 12:34 PM

Big hair, curtains blowing in the wind, running in slow motion, hot young men with tight bodies, a grainy European look - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" WAS the 1980s.

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by Anonymousreply 17June 12, 2024 12:34 PM

Donna Summer - the first black female artist to be in heavy rotation on MTV.

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by Anonymousreply 18June 12, 2024 12:41 PM

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

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by Anonymousreply 19June 12, 2024 12:50 PM

Cute little twink Corey Hart and his pouty lips wearing his sunglasses at night so he can...so he can.

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by Anonymousreply 20June 12, 2024 12:54 PM

The Monkees' Mike Nesmith, a true '80s video visionary, with "Cruisin'."

Southern California girls in rainbow socks roller skating through the streets of Hollywood meet up with a blonde bodybuilder in a Speedo. What more could you ask for?

And when I was a budding gayling, that opening shot of the Speedo being pulled up over those furry, muscley legs really turned me on.

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by Anonymousreply 21June 12, 2024 1:01 PM

A big one and pushed the production envelope of the time

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by Anonymousreply 22June 12, 2024 1:03 PM

The Girl Band also showcased the plastic 80's model look.

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by Anonymousreply 23June 12, 2024 1:10 PM

This was a really fun video.

by Anonymousreply 24June 12, 2024 3:54 PM

Laura Branigan’s Self Control:

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by Anonymousreply 25June 12, 2024 4:08 PM

Homecoming Queen's...

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by Anonymousreply 26June 12, 2024 4:36 PM

A Flock of Seagulls

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by Anonymousreply 27June 12, 2024 4:41 PM

Fish Heads

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by Anonymousreply 28June 12, 2024 4:44 PM

This is a really fun one for that SoCal vibe.

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by Anonymousreply 29June 12, 2024 6:29 PM

R29 I loved that one just for the lead singer's big cock bouncing around in his Speedo.

by Anonymousreply 30June 12, 2024 6:35 PM

Bronski Beat's Smalltown Boy - the first music video to tell the story of the pain and sorrow of being a gay youth in an unaccepting society.

Sobering and revolutionary.

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by Anonymousreply 31June 12, 2024 6:38 PM

You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

This is the 1980s:

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by Anonymousreply 32June 12, 2024 6:41 PM

I can't believe no one has mentioned this one.

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by Anonymousreply 33June 12, 2024 7:31 PM

Who can forget this banger.

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by Anonymousreply 34June 13, 2024 2:27 AM

Adam Ant's "Goody Two Shoes" ... because deep-down every (straight) guy in the 80s wanted to dress like a gay pirate who wears makeup and still gets the girl!

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by Anonymousreply 35June 13, 2024 3:13 AM

Like A Icon

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by Anonymousreply 36June 13, 2024 3:45 AM

Taylor Dayne - I'll Always Love You. What a voice!

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by Anonymousreply 37June 13, 2024 3:48 AM

Love is a stranger...

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by Anonymousreply 38June 13, 2024 3:51 AM

38 posts an no one's mentioned me yet?

Fuck you, bitches!

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by Anonymousreply 39June 13, 2024 1:12 PM

Visage Fade To Grey

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by Anonymousreply 40June 13, 2024 1:17 PM

Ultravox - Vienna

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by Anonymousreply 41June 13, 2024 1:19 PM

Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

And just how fuckable is Chris Lowe here?

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by Anonymousreply 42June 13, 2024 1:22 PM

Mr. Mister - "Broken Wings":

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by Anonymousreply 43June 13, 2024 1:27 PM

Don Henley - "Boys of Summer":

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by Anonymousreply 44June 13, 2024 1:29 PM

Men Without Hats: Safety Dance

Great song with a video that doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Very common in those days. God I miss the 80s!

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by Anonymousreply 45June 13, 2024 1:35 PM
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by Anonymousreply 46June 13, 2024 1:59 PM

One of my all time favorites R4 ...always on my playlists

by Anonymousreply 47June 13, 2024 2:29 PM

Wow, I haven't thought about MTV in a while, but it defined the era in so many ways. In late Summer 1981, my best friend and fuckbuddy excitedly called me up asking if I had this new channel which I'd not heard of, but flipped on the TV and found it; he said he'd be right over and showed up 10 minutes later. We sat there all afternoon watching the channel, mesmerized. It. was. so. cool. And I thought I was cool because I'd convinced my mother to put cable TV in when we moved into that house.

He and I spent days making up videos to all the hottest tunes. It was one of those times that had we been a few years older, and the equipment was as cheap and ubiquitous as it is today, we would have made videos ourselves. Video cameras were quite expensive and there weren't many people who would trust a couple of randy teenage boys with their multi-$thousand equipment (which was not necessarily a bad thing because we would have, without doubt, filmed ourselves fucking and suffered the multi-dimensional consequences that would have ensued in that era). Regardless, we spent hours choreographing and dreaming up videos to our constantly-updating favorites list. To this day, when I listen to some new music or just replay a favorite, I think of what I'd do if I directed its video.

The Target-like store I worked at part time had a record bar that they were trying to establish to compete with the full-on record stores in the mall. They hired a straight studmuffin to manage the department, and he tried to get them to subscribe to cable so he could show MTV in the department, but cable subscriptions for performance were prohibitively expensive, so he handed me a three-pack of videotapes and asked me to just record as many hours as would fit. Since it was a recording, we all knew what song was up next, and at night after the manager went home and in a scene out of [italic]Glee,[/italic] we (the cashiers) would start dancing to the music and get in trouble, laughing ourselves silly. The cable people were none too pleased and the store got a nasty letter from their attorney and playing home-taped MTV came to an end pretty quickly.

When Michael Jackson's [italic]Thriller[/italic] came out, it was like the world stopped to watch. I'm surprised no one here has linked it yet; it seems, to me at least, the seminal video of the era. Remember how the parents' groups got all wound up over the demonic bullshit? OMG, dancing zombies! In retrospect, how quaint.

Like R45, I miss the 80s too.

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by Anonymousreply 48June 13, 2024 2:33 PM

On the same angsty level as " Something About You” R9

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by Anonymousreply 49June 13, 2024 2:34 PM

I love when we could have fun with stereotypes. People weren't so overly sensitive. No one cried because David Lee Roth put a hairnet on the Hispanic dude or made the black guy look like a pimp. It was fun. No one cared. Everyone now is too afraid to be over the top. Everyone's so busy whining and rubbing their pussies.

by Anonymousreply 50June 13, 2024 2:39 PM

On Spring break in 1985, a couple friends and I went to LA in search of famous location shoots (among other things...) and this was when I found huge news stands thanks to DeBarge's [italic]Rhythm of the Night[/italic] which was shot in front of Drakes After Midnight on Melrose (the magazine shop, not the later restaurant). This began a long affair with LA's news stands back when magazines were how we got our porn.

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by Anonymousreply 51June 13, 2024 2:55 PM

🎼🎵Our house. . . in the middle of the street. . . 🎵🎶

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by Anonymousreply 52June 13, 2024 3:00 PM

How has this not been mentioned yet?

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by Anonymousreply 53June 13, 2024 3:36 PM

Very 80's memory for me. Phil Oakley was very handsome/pretty with all the makeup!

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by Anonymousreply 54June 13, 2024 3:41 PM

The first music video to play on MTV when it launched on August 1,1981.

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by Anonymousreply 55June 13, 2024 3:54 PM

This is late 80's but this thread shows how diverse the decade was in music. Lots of good stuff!

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by Anonymousreply 56June 13, 2024 3:54 PM

Whether or not one liked the song/Donald Fagen, this was easily one of the best videos (if not THE best) of the early MTV era:

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by Anonymousreply 57June 13, 2024 4:07 PM

Twisted Sister, "We're Not Gonna Take It"

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by Anonymousreply 58June 13, 2024 4:13 PM

One of the biggest.

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by Anonymousreply 59June 13, 2024 4:29 PM

This was the way most the of the US was introduced to Tracey Ullman.

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by Anonymousreply 60June 13, 2024 4:45 PM

[quote] "Mickey" by Toni Basil… This song could never have been recorded any earlier or later than the 1980s.

Except it was originally recorded and released as Kitty in 1979 by the band Racey

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by Anonymousreply 61June 13, 2024 5:03 PM

Back in the 80’s, dudes wore makeup and crazy hair and nobody really cared.

by Anonymousreply 62June 13, 2024 5:28 PM

While not necessarily one of the defining videos, everything about this is so early '80s.

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by Anonymousreply 63June 13, 2024 8:43 PM

Prince (featuring Sheena Easton) U Got The Look

“U got the look. U got the hook. U sho nuff to be cookin’ in my book”.

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by Anonymousreply 64June 13, 2024 8:50 PM

One of my favorites

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by Anonymousreply 65June 13, 2024 8:54 PM

Sheena Easton - Sugar Walls

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by Anonymousreply 66June 13, 2024 8:56 PM

This one

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by Anonymousreply 67June 13, 2024 8:56 PM

Relax!

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by Anonymousreply 68June 13, 2024 8:59 PM

I can still remember the first time I saw this video

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by Anonymousreply 69June 13, 2024 9:02 PM

Thank you OP! This is my new favorite thread. . The 80’s weren’t all big hair and loud clothes. We had some great music. Like this one, when Michael Stipe was still cool.

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by Anonymousreply 70June 13, 2024 9:07 PM

This was a memorable one (and we need a little INXS up in here)

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by Anonymousreply 71June 13, 2024 9:16 PM

Another classic

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by Anonymousreply 72June 13, 2024 9:28 PM

The 80’s defined

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by Anonymousreply 73June 13, 2024 9:32 PM

R48 To this day, it is impossible not to move even if you're sitting when you hear that song.

by Anonymousreply 74June 13, 2024 9:38 PM

R63, that's a GREAT song. I thought I was the only one who remembered it.

by Anonymousreply 75June 13, 2024 9:43 PM

R48, that’s a great story. Love it!

by Anonymousreply 76June 13, 2024 10:08 PM

R69 The little girl in that video always gave me the creeps.

by Anonymousreply 77June 13, 2024 10:42 PM

Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

I love early 80s videos like this one.

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by Anonymousreply 78June 13, 2024 10:50 PM

Another early 80s fave….

David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes

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by Anonymousreply 79June 13, 2024 10:52 PM

The Motels - Shame

The way lead-singer and songwriter, Martha Davis, merges with herself into a billboard captivated me as a kid.

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by Anonymousreply 80June 13, 2024 11:01 PM

This would be probably considered "problematic" nowadays. But so much fun.

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by Anonymousreply 81June 13, 2024 11:02 PM

Toyah - Don’t Fall In Love (I Said)

The UK based performer recorded this video outdoors at night, in a German forest IN NOVEMBER! She is stoic and doesn’t act like she’s freezing to death when in fact she WAS. She is so awesome. I adore this song and video.

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by Anonymousreply 82June 13, 2024 11:07 PM

Rio ftw.

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by Anonymousreply 83June 13, 2024 11:16 PM

OP doesn't understand anything about the 80s, it seems.

by Anonymousreply 84June 13, 2024 11:19 PM

Never gets old.

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by Anonymousreply 85June 13, 2024 11:42 PM

Adam Ant's Stand and Deliver, for the seamless blend of 18th century and post-punk.

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by Anonymousreply 86June 14, 2024 12:07 AM

Dude, that Clash song has got to be one of the best songs ever written. My god, its so FUCKING amazing. You can rock the hell out of it.

That Rio video defined the genre and the e tire decade.

BTW, they finally identified the girl on the Rio cover. She was an 80’s model that had her sunglasses and hat removed from her picture. It truly is a great, iconic cover and now we see the model and she’s a very pretty lady.

by Anonymousreply 87June 14, 2024 12:10 AM

Hope the link works

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by Anonymousreply 88June 14, 2024 12:12 AM

Streisand's "Left In The Dark" video is the winner. Streisand produced the video as a 'movie short', using the best video equipment available to give it a 1950's "film noir" style. She teamed up with Kris Kristofferson and shot the 'mini-film' over three days in September, and released it a month later. The heavily-promoted premiere was on 'Entertainment Tonight' , and there was talk back then that Streisand also wanted to show it on the big screen in LA and NY movie theaters over the weekend, for Oscar consideration (seriously), but that didn't pan out for her. (She tried the same thing a year later with her 'Somewhere' video).

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by Anonymousreply 89June 14, 2024 12:17 AM

R89 that sucks ass

by Anonymousreply 90June 14, 2024 12:20 AM

R90 I agree - but she thought it was Oscar worthy for a 'film short' (or whatever the category was called back then ).

by Anonymousreply 91June 14, 2024 12:23 AM

Oh, honey, no. Read the thread title again, R89.

I had no idea that video existed. It doesn’t matter if it had the best video equipment known to man at that time.

by Anonymousreply 92June 14, 2024 12:26 AM

This one cracks me up.

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by Anonymousreply 93June 14, 2024 12:26 AM

Roy Orbison - California Blue

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by Anonymousreply 94June 14, 2024 12:27 AM

Men at Work - Down Under

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by Anonymousreply 95June 14, 2024 12:30 AM

For me it's this video that was released right at the beginning of the decade when the song was at the top of the UK charts and eventually in heavy MTV rotation. It was also shown in movie theaters back then as a short before the feature.

R29, I lived right up the street from where that video was shot.

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by Anonymousreply 96June 14, 2024 2:22 AM

DIre Straits "Money for Nothing" (1985) with its memorable animation. The recognizable drum intro leads into the famous guitar riff, and listen for Sting singing "I want my MTV" at the beginning and end.

It also became controversial for using the word "faggot" in the lyrics (replaced elsewhere with the word "queenie"). Songwriter Knopfler explained that the character speaking the lines is meant to be an ignoramus, and taken in context, he says that he's mocking the jealous and homophobic nature of the antagonist and adopting a third-person point of view to show the irony, bigotry, and ignorance of the character.

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by Anonymousreply 97June 14, 2024 2:58 AM

Loving this. I don't think I've ever W&W'd this many posts in a single thread before!

by Anonymousreply 98June 14, 2024 4:42 AM

Vanity Six, Nasty Girl. Prince had his greatest reign during the 80s

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by Anonymousreply 99June 14, 2024 8:08 AM

Pebbles, Mercedes Boy

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by Anonymousreply 100June 14, 2024 8:21 AM

R19

I actually remember seeing that video for the first time - Annie Lennox was mesmerizing.

by Anonymousreply 101June 14, 2024 8:24 AM

Wham, Wake Me Up Before Go Go

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by Anonymousreply 102June 14, 2024 8:28 AM

Whenever I think of Toni Basil's "Mickey," I also think of Weird Al.

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by Anonymousreply 103June 14, 2024 8:30 AM

Nu Shooz, I Can't Wait

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by Anonymousreply 104June 14, 2024 8:32 AM

David Bowie, Let's Dance

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by Anonymousreply 105June 14, 2024 8:34 AM

Yazoo Don't Go.

Alison Moyet & Vince Clarke.

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by Anonymousreply 106June 14, 2024 8:35 AM

We can't exclude her. Madonna, Into the Groove

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by Anonymousreply 107June 14, 2024 8:40 AM

Talk Talk, It's My Life

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by Anonymousreply 108June 14, 2024 8:44 AM

New Order - Blue Monday

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by Anonymousreply 109June 14, 2024 1:00 PM

R9 A great song and a great video. I always thought the member of the group who's featured starting at 1:41 was so handsome.

by Anonymousreply 110June 14, 2024 1:22 PM

R107, I posted Material Girl in this thread.

by Anonymousreply 111June 14, 2024 1:36 PM

This is very 80's to me. The multiple images were an early use of this now trite device. Jim Kerr was cute back then. I can see what Chrissie Hynde (the Pretenders) might have seen in him.

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by Anonymousreply 112June 14, 2024 6:34 PM

Owner of a Lonely Heart -- Yes

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by Anonymousreply 113June 14, 2024 7:00 PM

Fleetwood Mac—Hold Me. This was in heavy rotation when I first started watching MTV and it established a (somewhat surrealist) aesthetic for me.

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by Anonymousreply 114June 14, 2024 7:11 PM

🎵🎧All that scratchin' is makin' me itch....

(featuring The World's Famous Supreme Team, who were awesome)

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by Anonymousreply 115June 14, 2024 7:24 PM

The World Famous Supreme Team, "Hey DJ". This was one of my favorite songs/videos of 1984 (my junior year of high school).

"You see, we're living in a time of Rock 'n' Roll, Hip-hop, New Wave, and Classical....."

Danced me out my doggone shoes.

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by Anonymousreply 116June 14, 2024 7:43 PM

Pat Benatar's "Love Is A Battlefield" is the most craptastic 80s video ever.

30 year-old Pat is a "teenage" runaway. She looks as old as the actors playing her parents. Her "brother" looks like her son.

Pat walks the mean streets of 80s Times Square clutching her giant purse.

Pat becomes a whore.

The pimp's horrified reaction when Pat busts a move 80s style.

Pat and the other whores shaking their tits on the overpass.

Pat and the other whores high-fiving each other like "we are SO badass!"

It's fucking brilliant from start to finish.

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by Anonymousreply 117June 14, 2024 7:52 PM

Corey Hart was a fucking snack.

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by Anonymousreply 118June 14, 2024 7:54 PM

R117, let’s not forget the guy in the wife beater and leather pants coming up the escalator with another guy. Bumps into Pat and just ignore her.

by Anonymousreply 119June 14, 2024 8:02 PM

Chaka Khan, "I Feel for You". Everyone associated with this song & video are legends.

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by Anonymousreply 120June 14, 2024 8:05 PM

Bananarama 🍌

I really miss this era of silly, fun, low budget videos.

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by Anonymousreply 121June 14, 2024 8:21 PM

My favorite video from the 80s

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by Anonymousreply 122June 14, 2024 8:42 PM

Not as well known as others listed but this song really evokes early 80s for me - Friday Night Videos and Night Flight before we even got MTV

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by Anonymousreply 123June 14, 2024 8:43 PM

From 1983, Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." with so many of the city's cultural references from the Big 80s within. One that makes me smile is the shot of the gay boys skipping out of 1 Bar on Beverly Blvd. [3:38].. It was one of the bars in the area that wasn't on Santa Monica Blvd., and when it first opened, it soon became THE place to go. Always jam packed on the weekends.

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by Anonymousreply 124June 14, 2024 8:49 PM

R117 Benatar comes across looking like Mackenzie Phillips in that video. She should have cast Bonnie Franklin and Pat Harrington to play her parents, and Glenn Scarpelli to play her brother in that video.

by Anonymousreply 125June 14, 2024 8:55 PM

We belong...

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by Anonymousreply 126June 14, 2024 8:57 PM

A very pregnant Olivia rolling around in red satin sheets, complete with candles burning and her sexy husband showing up at the end...singing about oral sex. What more can you want in 1985 ?

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by Anonymousreply 127June 14, 2024 9:14 PM

I saw the premiere of Soul Kiss on MTV. I was in 7th grade

by Anonymousreply 128June 14, 2024 9:16 PM

I love this thread! So many videos I had forgotten about!

What a decade for great music and movies.

by Anonymousreply 129June 14, 2024 9:23 PM

Science!!

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by Anonymousreply 130June 14, 2024 10:02 PM

Anne Murray - Now and Forever (You and Me). Anne is a lonely businesslady in a hot pink power suit who bumps into a stranger and thinks he might be Mr. Right. Cut to Anne wandering around Toronto in sub-zero temperatures in a giant fur coat and she bumps into the man again, but wait! He has a girlfriend.

Anne is too sexy to resist, however, and Mr. Right apparently stalks her back to her building and jumps in the elevator with her. Thrilled, Anne sprawls in front of her fireplace (still in the giant fur coat) and Mr. Right proceeds to fuck her. THE END.

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by Anonymousreply 131June 14, 2024 11:32 PM

R114 I liked Gypsy better.

by Anonymousreply 132June 14, 2024 11:39 PM

[quote]Friday Night Videos and Night Flight before we even got MTV.

Yes! I spent so many nights trying to get a good enough picture to watch videos. And watching "Tomorrow" and "Uncle Floyd" just for the musical guests.

by Anonymousreply 133June 14, 2024 11:39 PM

I wonder if there would be a market for some form of the old MTV? Or did Streaming Kill the Video Star?

by Anonymousreply 134June 14, 2024 11:50 PM

Kim Wilde - Kids in America

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by Anonymousreply 135June 14, 2024 11:53 PM

Missing Persons - Words

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by Anonymousreply 136June 14, 2024 11:57 PM

There actually is an MTV Classic that has blocks of videos from the ‘80’s and ‘90’s and Classic Videos. They show lots of videos on those shows.

Don’t bother with any except the ‘80’s shows.

by Anonymousreply 137June 15, 2024 12:30 AM

Men At Work - Down Under

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by Anonymousreply 138June 15, 2024 12:32 AM

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody

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by Anonymousreply 139June 15, 2024 12:33 AM

I think this was also in the great Donnie Darko soundtrack, or one of the several versions of it. Perfect for the movie.

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by Anonymousreply 140June 15, 2024 12:48 AM

Before I get called out, the song Killing Moon was from 1984 but not absolutely sure about the video.

by Anonymousreply 141June 15, 2024 1:07 AM

Recorded in December 1983 and released on January 20th 1984 R141.

by Anonymousreply 142June 15, 2024 1:21 AM

Even more than "Down Under," this was the Men at Work video with the aesthetic for me.

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by Anonymousreply 143June 15, 2024 2:07 AM

Have none of you ever been....

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by Anonymousreply 144June 15, 2024 2:24 AM

Was not a huge hit at the time but seems to have grown in esteem. It sounds so, so 80s and I love how much fun the band seems to be having.

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by Anonymousreply 145June 15, 2024 2:41 AM

Here’s some country rock breaking into the 80s while still trying to cling to their 70s roots. Threat song. And their video is pure 80s with their little homage to “Dallas” and “Dynasty.” I wish there’d been more story and fewer wild horses.

Plus Julianne Phillips, Springsteen’s first wife.

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by Anonymousreply 146June 15, 2024 2:44 AM

*Great song

by Anonymousreply 147June 15, 2024 2:45 AM

Bowie/Mercury - Pressure, Bowie - Let's Dance, Madonna - Like a Virgin, Wham - Careless Whisper, The Police - Every Breath You Take, Hall and Oates - Private Eyes....

by Anonymousreply 148June 15, 2024 2:50 AM

Well, someone had to post it...

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by Anonymousreply 149June 15, 2024 9:23 AM

These are all so great. To be a downer what the fuck happened that the world is so shit now and the USA is teetering on the verge of becoming a religious right dictatorship?

Love is a Battlefield is the most 80s of all to me. It’s got all the elements. Anyway back to dumb fun.

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by Anonymousreply 150June 15, 2024 10:26 AM

R139 I read recently where Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" has been voted as the best pop song of the 1980s (song which defines the decade). Wham's "Wake Me Up" came in a close second. IIRC, Jackson's "Billie Jean" rounded out the top 3.

Meanwhile, Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" is considered the #1 song / most popular song of the decade (Billboard charting history, weeks on the charts, weeks at #1, etc. determines that ranking). Interesting that she set the bar so high as early as 1981-82.

by Anonymousreply 151June 15, 2024 2:00 PM

R131 They had this one on in heavy rotation on VH1 back in the day. I remember my brother and I watching it and cracking up at how hard they were trying to make Anne Murray into some kind of sex symbol of the soft pop genre and how uncomfortable she looked in this video from start to finish.

by Anonymousreply 152June 15, 2024 2:21 PM

R152 "Physical" was one the 80s greatest pop songs with one of the worst videos.

by Anonymousreply 153June 15, 2024 2:23 PM

R153 "Physical" had one of the most 'controversial' videos of the time. When she died two years ago, I remember music reporters were saying there were some television viewing areas which would 'block' the video from airing when it was played on VH1 or other video channels. Her single was banned in some markets, too. It didn't stop her from hitting the top of the charts.

by Anonymousreply 154June 15, 2024 2:39 PM

R149 that’s one of THE shittiest and most annoying songs in the annals of pop music history

by Anonymousreply 155June 15, 2024 5:39 PM

The unique sound of The Waitresses

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by Anonymousreply 156June 15, 2024 6:06 PM

It was the most sold single that year, wasn’t it? 1981?

by Anonymousreply 157June 15, 2024 6:07 PM

I enjoyed all of Olivia’s music videos from the 80s. Namely

Physical

Strangers Touch

Landslide (not that Fleetwood Mac shit)

Heart Attack

Twist of Fate

Livin’ In Desperate Times

Soul Kiss

Toughen Up

The Rumour

by Anonymousreply 158June 15, 2024 9:55 PM

Olivia’s movie - Xanadu was like a 90 minute music video with some dialogue thrown in after each song.

by Anonymousreply 159June 15, 2024 10:03 PM

Olivia's music videos were all pretty cheesy.

by Anonymousreply 160June 15, 2024 10:13 PM

One of Billy Idol's should be on the list.

I think "Eyes Without A Face" was his biggest hit. I believe the "Rebel Yell" video was basically just a concert typve video. The one for "White Wedding" is memorable, but I think the one I liked most was "Dancing with Myself." It came out right after MTV was launched, so got heavy airplay. It was based on the post-apocalyptic action film, "Omega Man." Pre-Thriller zombies!

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by Anonymousreply 161June 15, 2024 11:15 PM

"Eyes Without A Face" still sound fantastic. Great song.

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by Anonymousreply 162June 15, 2024 11:32 PM

Well, if this isn't '80s, I don't know what is...

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by Anonymousreply 163June 15, 2024 11:38 PM

My Boomer mom and her Boomer friends loved 80s Ladies. It was "their" song!

by Anonymousreply 164June 15, 2024 11:44 PM

Yazoo...

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by Anonymousreply 165June 15, 2024 11:46 PM

The English Beat...

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by Anonymousreply 166June 15, 2024 11:55 PM

Walk Like An Egyptian

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by Anonymousreply 167June 16, 2024 12:18 AM

This gem is very much of its time.

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by Anonymousreply 168June 16, 2024 1:59 AM

I remember this R&B crossover hit so well. It defined a good part of 1985 for me.

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by Anonymousreply 169June 16, 2024 2:11 AM

Midnight Star - Freakazoid

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by Anonymousreply 170June 16, 2024 2:58 AM

R161 Yes, Billy Idol.

by Anonymousreply 171June 16, 2024 3:05 AM

Samantha Fox

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by Anonymousreply 172June 16, 2024 3:35 AM

Pebbles, Mercedes Boy

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by Anonymousreply 173June 16, 2024 3:37 AM

Art of Noise - Moments in Love

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by Anonymousreply 174June 16, 2024 3:41 AM

More Foley

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by Anonymousreply 175June 16, 2024 3:45 AM

White limos with powder blue velour seats. Click click on the glass. La Dome. Nicky Iacona on my face.

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by Anonymousreply 176June 16, 2024 3:50 AM

Gay anthem, "It's A Sin" by Pet Shop Boys (1987).

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by Anonymousreply 177June 16, 2024 4:29 AM

Phyllis Hyman, Living All Alone

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by Anonymousreply 178June 16, 2024 4:32 AM

Phyllis Hyman was wonderful. She should've been a huge star. It's terrible that she was so troubled.

by Anonymousreply 179June 16, 2024 5:00 AM

Sade had appeared on the Adult Contemporary chart, but she had first big hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Smooth Operator" (1984). They did a second version of the accompanying music video for the extended play 12" version of the song, which is like a little 8-minute drama:

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by Anonymousreply 180June 16, 2024 5:05 AM

Billy Idol, Eyes Without a Face

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by Anonymousreply 181June 16, 2024 5:05 AM

Pat Benatar's Love Is A Battlefield video doesn’t fit the lyrics. The lyrics tell of a lovers' fight; the video shows this girl getting kicked out of the house by her dad.

[quote]You're beggin' me to go, then makin' me stay

[quote]Why do you hurt me so bad?

[quote]It would help me to know, do I stand in your way

[quote]Or am I the best thing you've had?

What does “love is a battlefield” have to do with a rebellious girl on a bus? “Heartache to heartache”? That’s a breakup song, not an I hate my parents song. But the choreo is great, the hair is great, the girls are great, the pimp is sinister. Terrific video.

by Anonymousreply 182June 16, 2024 5:19 AM

With YT views over the100 million mark, this classic song/ video is still pulling them in =

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by Anonymousreply 183June 16, 2024 6:42 AM

Erasure - A Little Respect (1988)

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by Anonymousreply 184June 16, 2024 7:21 AM

For many of us, this defined what we left behind in the 80s.

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by Anonymousreply 185June 16, 2024 8:28 AM

Danceable 80s angst

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by Anonymousreply 186June 16, 2024 8:34 AM

R169 The best part of the video is at the end. The girl's sitting out at a table in the rain and is clearly pissed off about it. She glances at someone off camera as if to say, "Bitch, get me out of this rain before my wig starts to smell!"

by Anonymousreply 187June 16, 2024 12:54 PM

R185, See R31

by Anonymousreply 188June 16, 2024 12:55 PM

Sinead O'Connor, Nothing Compares 2 U Forgive if this was already posted.

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by Anonymousreply 189June 16, 2024 2:52 PM

Tina Turner's "Typical Male".

What's interesting is that the story goes : in 1985, when Turner was looking for songs for her follow-up album to 'Private Dancer', her manager Roger Davies presented her with "Soul Kiss", "Toughen Up", and "Overnight Observation" - which he thought she'd have three hits with. She rejected all of them (and came close to splitting with Davies). He then played her 'Typical Male' - one of the songs he set aside for Olivia Newton-John's next studio album. She loved it, as well as the others he had set aside for ONJ, and convinced Davies to switch the sets (and he did). She had a top 2 single with 'Typical Male' and ONJ had a top 20 with 'Soul Kiss'.

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by Anonymousreply 190June 16, 2024 3:14 PM

R190 This video was horrible.

"Hey, guys, we need to make a video for this crappy song of Tina's. You have any props we can use?"

"All we have is this giant shoe we made for the Rose Parade."

"It'll do. We'll just have her walk around it for 3 minutes."

by Anonymousreply 191June 16, 2024 3:16 PM

You’re SO happy this thread’s doing well, OP…by the way, what’s with the hair?

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by Anonymousreply 192June 16, 2024 3:28 PM

r173 see r100

by Anonymousreply 193June 16, 2024 3:31 PM

The Tubes - She’s a Beauty

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by Anonymousreply 194June 16, 2024 4:28 PM

R189 O'Connor's cover wasn't released until 1990. Wiki points out, "the lone face of O'Connor made the video one of the most recognizable of the 1990s."

by Anonymousreply 195June 16, 2024 8:04 PM

I only watch Sheena Easton music videos. I will watch Vanessa Williams videos from her The Right Stuff album too

by Anonymousreply 196June 16, 2024 9:52 PM

I also view Jody Watley music videos from her 80s period

by Anonymousreply 197June 16, 2024 9:53 PM

I love that Anne Murray's management/record company tried to make her over into the hottest, sexiest bitch in Toronto who men lusted after. It was so ridiculous. She had all the sex appeal of a dykey gym teacher.

by Anonymousreply 198June 16, 2024 9:56 PM

I remember the premiere of this being hyped up, then nobody wanted to ever see the full version again

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by Anonymousreply 199June 16, 2024 9:58 PM

Here's the song-only version, because most us still don't want to watch the entire thing again.

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by Anonymousreply 200June 16, 2024 9:59 PM

R199 I love that song and the short single version of the music video. The longer one is way way too long.

by Anonymousreply 201June 16, 2024 10:00 PM

Agreed, R201.

I still think his makeup looks amazing, even after all these decades of seeing more expensive makeup and effects.

by Anonymousreply 202June 16, 2024 10:08 PM

Donna Summer came a long way from 1983's video ("Hard for the Money" and "Unconditional Love") when she released her video in 1989 for 'This Time I Know It's For Real'. Much more professionally done, more energetic and interesting. And cute male dancers ! One of my favorite videos from the 1980s. Released 35 years ago.

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by Anonymousreply 203June 16, 2024 10:24 PM

At the end of Summer's video, there's a close-up of Summer's (then new) album, hanging up in the background. Her face is in white make-up as she looks like a Geisha. Summer explained it was a nod to the extended vacation she had in Japan the year before. She also said she got a lot of criticism for that cover photo and for wearing 'white make-up'. Some people accused her of trying to 'erase her black heritage' by posing with white makeup. Ridiculous.

by Anonymousreply 204June 16, 2024 10:36 PM

^^It was a pretty striking cover.

by Anonymousreply 205June 16, 2024 11:05 PM

Donna's 1991 Mistaken Identity album had her in a blonde wig and blue contacts.

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by Anonymousreply 206June 16, 2024 11:06 PM

The Jacksons' "Can You Feel It?", 1981.

A harbinger of things to come. Regardless of how you feel about Michael & the Jacksons, they were making long-form "concept" videos with (then) cutting-edge special effects, before MTV debuted. (the special effects were done by the outfit that did the movie TRON)

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by Anonymousreply 207June 16, 2024 11:09 PM

This one certainly had an aesthetic of sorts (improved version).

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by Anonymousreply 208June 16, 2024 11:11 PM

lol, R187. I always felt for her sitting out in the rain while the others are luxuriating in satin sheets or chilling in a bubble bath.

by Anonymousreply 209June 16, 2024 11:26 PM

I can't believe NO ONE posted this 80s classic yet (or did they) ?

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by Anonymousreply 210June 16, 2024 11:42 PM

And then there's this masterpiece...

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by Anonymousreply 211June 16, 2024 11:44 PM

R210, yes at R17.

by Anonymousreply 212June 16, 2024 11:55 PM

David Lee Roth's video of California Girls is a fun music video. The actual music is basically a parody/goof. I used to hate hearing it on the radio, knowing how good the original Beach Boys version was, and I'm forced to keep hearing this instead.

by Anonymousreply 213June 17, 2024 12:08 AM

This is iconic if for no other reason than inspiring one of the most hilarious SNL bits of the '80s.

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by Anonymousreply 214June 17, 2024 12:25 AM

🎶🎶 it started out as Hogwarts, now it’s Lord of the Flies 🎶

Love that version, r211

by Anonymousreply 215June 17, 2024 1:20 AM

r210 They did, but it's a great one

by Anonymousreply 216June 17, 2024 11:08 AM

Laura Branigan - Gloria.

Total video budget - $15.38.

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by Anonymousreply 217June 17, 2024 11:18 AM

Life in a Northern Town

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by Anonymousreply 218June 17, 2024 2:03 PM

Billy Jean and Material Girl. Nuff said.

by Anonymousreply 219June 17, 2024 2:06 PM

The Billy Jean video used to make me laugh trying to imagine Michael Jackson impregnating a girl the old fashioned way.

by Anonymousreply 220June 17, 2024 9:58 PM

From 1983, "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

This is the second music video for the song that probably got the most airplay. It's sometimes referred to as the "laser version," because of the lighting.

The original music video that follows in the next post was subsequently banned by both the BBC and MTV.

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by Anonymousreply 221June 20, 2024 8:19 AM

The banned video.

From wiki:

[quote] The first official music video for "Relax", directed by Bernard Rose and set in an S&M themed gay nightclub at Wilton’s music hall in London it featuring the bandmembers accosted by buff leathermen, a glamorous drag queen, and an obese admirer dressed up as a Roman emperor, played by actor John Dair, was allegedly banned by MTV and the BBC, prompting the recording of a second video, directed by Godley and Creme[30] in early 1984, featuring the group performing with the help of laser beams. However, after the second video was made the song was banned completely by the BBC, meaning that neither video was ever broadcast on any BBC music programmes.

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by Anonymousreply 222June 20, 2024 8:20 AM

Oran Juice Jones

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by Anonymousreply 223July 1, 2024 3:28 AM

Lisa Stansfield, Been Around the World, Live at the Apollo

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by Anonymousreply 224July 1, 2024 3:43 AM

Culture Club, Time (Clock of the Heart)

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by Anonymousreply 225July 1, 2024 3:47 AM

Grace Jones, Pull Up to the Bumper

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by Anonymousreply 226July 1, 2024 3:52 AM

Salt N Pepa, Push It

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by Anonymousreply 227July 1, 2024 3:53 AM

Scorpions, Rock You Like a Hurricane

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by Anonymousreply 228July 1, 2024 3:59 AM

Guns N Roses, Sweet Child 'o Mine

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by Anonymousreply 229July 1, 2024 4:02 AM

Culture Club, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?

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by Anonymousreply 230July 1, 2024 4:06 AM

Prince, Raspberry Beret

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by Anonymousreply 231July 1, 2024 4:08 AM

U2's video for "Where the Streets Have No Name" shot on the roof of a liquor store in Downtown L.A.

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by Anonymousreply 232July 1, 2024 9:33 AM
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