Ahhh, we miss the 80s. On August 1, 1981, the debut of music television powerhouse MTV changed the music video game forever. The debut of a television channel devoted entirely to music videos upped the ante for artists. Music videos became an art form, an expectation, the determining factor if an album was going to go platinum or broke.
It was a small and simple cable network devoted to the art of music video. As the destination for all things cool, MTV targeted teenagers as its core audience. The concept was simple yet brilliant: Play music videos 24/7. Teenagers wanted their MTV.
Because MTV was solely dedicated to playing music videos, artists began to create music videos en masse. Thanks to the MTV model, music videos quickly became a lucrative business. It made the music video a true commodity. Teenagers everywhere were screaming, “I want my MTV!” Thank you, MTV, for making the music video a thing.
“Video Killed The Radio Star” was the very first music video to play on the newly minted MTV network. The Buggles will go down in history as the first music video to play on MTV, the little-known cable channel that could.
THE BUGGLES: VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR (1981)
BLONDIE: RAPTURE (1982)
BILLY IDOL: WHITE WEDDING (1982)
GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS 5: THE MESSAGE (1982)
CYNDI LAUPER: GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN (1983)
EURYTHMICS: SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS) (1983)
MICHAEL JACKSON: THRILLER (1983)
The “Thriller” music video helped the Thriller album become the best-selling album in HISTORY (in 2020, “The Eagles Greatest Hits” album knocked “Thriller” to the #2 spot). Thriller was not just a music video. It was a visceral experience. It represented a moment in time. The pop culture phenomenon transfixed, amazed, and thrilled audiences. It was not only an iconic piece of pop culture history but a collective pop culture moment. Thriller was so influential that it became the ONLY music video to ever be included in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry.
POLICE: EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE (1983)
VAN HALEN: JUMP (1983)
Beloved founding member and guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away of throat cancer in October 2020.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: BORN IN THE U.S.A. (1984)
PRINCE: WHEN DOVES CRY (1984)
TINA TURNER: WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT (1984)
MADONNA: MATERIAL GIRL (1985)
A-HA: TAKE ON ME (1986)
This ’80s classic music video incorporates art with real life – and its success is still evident. To date, it has been viewed over 1.25 billion times on YouTube. Not too shabby.
BON JOVI: LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER (1986)
THE BANGLES: WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN (1986)
THE BEASTIE BOYS: (YOU GOTTA) FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT (TO PARTY) (1986)
PETER GABRIEL: SLEDGEHAMMER (1986)
ROBERT PALMER: ADDICTED TO LOVE (1986)
RUN DMC FT. AEROSMITH: WALK THIS WAY (1986)
DEF LEPPARD: POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME (1987)
INXS: NEED YOU TONIGHT (1987)
GEORGE MICHAEL: FAITH (1987)
RUN DMC: IT’S TRICKY (1987)
RICK ASTLEY: NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP (1987)
We’ve been Rick Rolled! No disrespect to Rick Astley. Not only did he sing one of the most iconic 80s pop songs, but he also sang one of the best “can-never-get out-of-your-head” songs that, once you hear it…well, you know the drill. Is it dancing around in your head yet? You’re welcome.