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Music videos (killed the radio star?)
I don’t think video killed the radio star, but instead added another dimension to the music experience.
I remember in the 1970s records/cassettes and the radio were the primary sources of music whenever new songs came out, but then in the 80s’s music videos were all the rave. When a new song came out, seeing the latest video of it was just as big as getting the record. Suddenly there was MTV and Much Music in Canada that played videos 7 X 24. MTV officially launched Aug 1st 1981 that would change the way music would be experienced for decades. MTV is still broadcasting today, but it has toned down its focus on music in favor of original reality programming targeting teenagers and young adults. There were live performance videos of songs before the 80s, but with MTV came the “official” packaged video for every single endorsed by the artist. It felt like new music times were here. Watching some of those videos now may look dated, especially with the those 80’s fashions, but there were many that were well done, timeless classics, that stand as great today.
What were some of you favorite music videos from those times that stand out in your memory today?
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53 Replies
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Here is my favourite that always stand out in my memory from those days.
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I didn’t really care for the song, but it was hard not to watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJWJE0x7T4Q
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Awesome videos David! That iconic Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer video I remember well. The other ones are new to me but that Weird Al Yankovich one is hilarious! and so is the the Genesis one with the Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher characters. That nerdy one is cool , funny hairdos, and they play good.
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Speaking of a time machine music can be, this one evokes volumes. 1984, after a bad year at uni, I took a year off that extended to 2.5 years. Me and a friend went down to Palm Springs for 2 weeks. Imagine two 21 year olds on their first big vacation any where. We flew to LA, rented a Nissan 300ZX, and drove, flew was more like it to Palm Springs. Neither of us were experienced drivers and we’re lucky we didn’t kill ourselves in that car, but it was fun. I was really into the hard rock like AC DC at that time, but my friend liked Tears for Fears and this song in particular was playing everywhere and this video. I always remember the mystique of the desert around Palm Springs and that crazy vacation with this video.
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Hey Jung,
I think video did kill the radio star and changes everything. But I like your choices Tear for Fears. What was that other one they had Everyone wants to rule the world. All they are good nice going guys
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Being a Durannie in the 80s-mid 90s and becoming a lifelong Glass Tiger fan, videos from these 2 groups stand out the most for me in the 80s…lol…I loked many other videos but these 2 bands , my faves…
Speaking of MuchMusic, it was in early 80s when my parents finally got cable tv, and the highlight was catching the free Preview Weekneds of MuchMusic, other channels before they became part of Cable Channel pigs back in day, eventually I got my parents to get a cable pkg that included MuchMusic in it…lol … Also loved watching Good Rockin Tonight and Video Huts tv shows for watching videos, and they both emphasized Canadian content but also other big hitmakers of the day at the time…lol?
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Jacki, I remember this one by Duran Duran you mentioned previously. One of the huge videos of the 80s, and from what I recall from my little sister was a sensation with all the girls at high school. I liked this song of theirs.
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Joe, ahh the Cars! Another favorite from those times.
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Anything by the Police was awesome. Here is a monumental 80s video.
OMG, a cello!
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