Favorite music video?

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This was inspired by the topic about favorite 80’s and 70’s love songs.

Well, though I was pretty sheltered growing up, I do remember seeing music videos in the 1980s and 1990s, when they were treated as a Very Big Deal – some of Michael Jackson’s videos were even given much-hyped premieres on broadcast TV.

However, while music videos continue to be made, they seem to have faded in terms of overall popularity. MTV and VH1 don’t even show videos anymore, for the most part – when they do, it’s mostly in the wee night and morning hours. Same for other music channels such as CMT. UP TV actually started as a Christian music channel, then switched to a “family friendly” format.

Part of that might be because it’s easy to see videos on YouTube, “artist” webpages, etc. But it seems the idea of a music video as a big deal has gone away in general.

Anyway, one of my favorite 1980s songs is Cyndi Lauper’s “Time after Time” and one reason is the music video.

While I guess it’s a little borderline in terms of appropriateness since it implies the couple is cohabitating, there is no sexual content. The idea seems to be that Lauper’s character is a small town girl going on a journey, looking to make it big in the city. And while she leaves her boyfriend behind, the song lyrics indicate she is planning on coming back to him eventually.

I guess some really conservative Christians might also find it troubling that it’s the woman who’s doing this, as opposed to the man. But it’s still really sweet.
 
I’m not sure if it’s my all time favorite, but one that’s way up there is David Bowie’s twentysome-minute video for “Blue Jean.” I like the song but I think what got me most about the video was the hype around it leading up to its release. That’s back when MTV would hype new videos by big artists. Although my memory of it may be conflated, I remember the hype around Jazzin’ for Blue Jean being huge and I was extremely excited to see it the night it premiered. I even remember making plans to watch the replays over the following week or so. Honestly, I might have my old VHS copy of it stored in a box around here somewhere. If I had a working VCR I’d try digging them out to see what other videos I recorded at the time.
 
ToeInTheWater said:
But it seems the idea of a music video as a big deal has gone away in general.
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Well, when there’s a good music video, it’s a REALLY good video. I think the video for “Blank Check” by Taylor Swift is funny funny funny – oh how postal she goes on that guy and that’s every guy’s worst nightmare. I would rank that video alongside Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (either version) and a-Ha’s “Take On Me” as classic. No question.

I also like the video for “We Are Young” by fun., that part where the piano explodes.
 
As for the adult stuff, I can only remember “50 ways to say Goodbye” by train — lol
 
I was a college freshman when MTV premiered and I fondly recall many of the videos. So, in no particular order:

Fleetwood Mac, Gypsy: Just a stunningly beautiful video.

Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer and Big Time, for the fun animation.

Men Without Hats: The Safety Dance.

Huey Lewis and the News: If this is It and The Power of Love mainly but also The Power of Love, Working for a Livin’ and Do you Believe in Love.

Styx: Too Much Time on My Hands for the comic factor and I had a crush on Dennis DeYoung

and Finally…

Weird Al Yankovic: Any and all of them. I remember when Eat It first aired, the next school day everyone on campus was talking about it.
 
I was an addict for music videos. I still like to watch them but we don’t have music channels right now. I liked Whitney’s music videos and Michael Jackson’s and Madonna’s, Beyonce’s, TLC’s, Rap videos - so many!!!
 
Oh, 1980’s … “cherish”, Maddona … Love the mermen and the little boy! I sometimes find myself sing this song to Jesus in the adoration chapel. I must fancy the black & white juxtoposition and meanings in music videos.

1990’s … She’s so high - Tal Balcman… Again, almost black & white … Is it called septic?
 
Van Halen Dreams

Not my favorite song by a longshot. I just love the Blues…no not the musical genre or feelings of melancholy. 😉 Watch the video to discover who the real Blues are!

Peace, Mark
 
randomuser said:
Well, when there’s a good music video, it’s a REALLY good video. I think the video for “Blank Check” by Taylor Swift is funny funny funny – oh how postal she goes on that guy and that’s every guy’s worst nightmare. I would rank that video alongside Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (either version) and a-Ha’s “Take On Me” as classic. No question.

I also like the video for “We Are Young” by fun., that part where the piano explodes.
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“Take on me” was classic. I also loved–albeit edged–Hungry Life the Wolf. Love Shack was pretty darn fun too!
 
Truth be told…almost anything in the 80’s especially if their front men were hunks…like Simon LeBon or Sting. Jon Bon Jovi…not so much because I was a Jersey girl and heard way too much of his music. His kid goes to my alma mater, so I have to like him.

Oh…I LOVED The Reflex video:

youtube.com/watch?v=oDnNF5cHCdo

Yes, I will be going to confession tomorrow! 😊
 
Gimme Shelter also ranks as one of the best music videos, even though it was shot on film and the phrase “music video” didn’t exist at the time. Of course, the meaning of the Stone’s title track was clear and to the point - give me shelter to support my drug abuse - but the film itself is actually somewhat more telling. Plus, it’s fun to watch.
 
The video for “Pipes of Peace” by Paul McCartney reinacts a brief peaceful moment from World War I. One of my favorite videos of all time.

DGB
 
I can’t even come close to narrowing it down to one. Instead here’s my list.

Wait for Me - Bob Seger
It’s a Mistake - Men at Work
Don’t Come Around Here No More - Tom Petty
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
Wild Wild Life - Talking Heads
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now - Meat Loaf
Lonely and Gone - Montgomery Gentry
Small Town Saturday Night - Hal Ketchum
Between Raising Hell and Amazing grace - Big & Rich.
 
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