It’s hard to believe that the 80s were almost half a century ago!
Okay, probably easy to believe if you were born in a year that begins with a twenty and not a nineteen.
But for those of us who lived through it, that era was so distinctive, unique and vibrant that it seems almost like a strange dream.
And the soundtrack was something else.
Much like many Gen-Xers like myself, music videos arose out of their infancy and “grew up” during this decade.
So like proud parents showing off their kids’ photo albums, it’s only fitting that we bring you this curated list of the best music videos from the 1980s.
The first music videos were made in the very late seventies and pretty much nobody watched them.
But with the launch of MTV in 1981 and new ways of promoting music videos, all of that changed quickly.
Few music videos make music history like Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing.”
To start with, it was 3D animated, at a time when even regular 2D animation wasn’t done on computers yet.
Computers were barely powerful enough to handle much more than word processing.
It was a full decade before Jurassic Park blew audiences away with 3D-rendered lifelike dinosaurs, and even that was with Hollywood money and a healthy appetite for CGI in cinema.
To say it was ahead of its time is an understatement.
The video was almost never made.
Frontman Mark Knopfler was a purist who hated gimmicks and fads, insisting his music speaks for itself.
However MTV, along with his girlfriend at the time, together convinced him to sign off on this ambitious music video project.
And the rest, as they say, is music history.
As an added cheeky Easter egg of sorts, the song ends with a falsetto refrain of “I want my MTV” being sung repeatedly, the unofficial slogan for the music video channel.
This one, like “Money For Nothing,” holds a special place in our hearts as an animation studio, because it’s one of the earliest examples of animation being used in a music video.
The animation for “Take on Me” is a clever blend of live-action and comic-book-style sketches, done so seamlessly it’s hard to believe they pulled this off in 1985. It looks modern even today!
Another music video that gets our attention is “Runnin' Down a Dream” by Tom Petty– because it’s animated, of course! We can’t help it, we’re biased here.
While the song is about the band on tour, exploring the great American expanse, warts and all, the music video takes a decidedly more surreal and dreamy approach.
Petty is animated as a character woken up from a dream, only to be thrust into another one, being lured by a strange character into the sky.
It’s delightfully surreal and anxious in a way that matches the song well, and the black-and-white tone only adds to the dreamy effect.
Here’s another one that’s near and dear to our hearts as animators.
Spitting Image was a 1980s-era British television show that was notorious for their scathing parodies of public figures and celebrities.
Notably, they’d use figures that resembled over-the-top caricatures– just like the ones you’d see drawn in political cartoons in newspapers– except they brought them to life with live-action mechanical puppetry.
This animation was paired with sharp writing and brutal satire. The end result was as on-point with its dissection of current world events, as it was shocking and hilarious.
The reason we’re explaining all this is because Genesis teamed up with this studio to create the music video for “Land of Confusion.”
And it was a perfect combination because the song was strongly political itself.
It was a chaotic, excited pop-rock track that was seething with existential angst and bemoaned the state of current affairs during the height of the Cold War.
There was an overwhelming sense all over the globe that our world leaders simply could not be trusted with a power as apocalyptic and unforgiving as nuclear weapons.
The music video is like a mini Spitting Image episode, with all characters portrayed with their iconic puppets, including the band themselves.
But the band are merely background characters for the cavalcade on display, featuring the likes of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, François Mitterrand, Margaret Thatcher, Ferdinand Marcos, Henry Kissinger, Benito Mussolini, Ayatollah Khomeini, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Muammar Gaddafi and many more.
In typical Spitting Image fashion, and in keeping with the spirit of the song itself, the story ends with Reagan groggily waking up from a sweaty nightmare and reaching over to press a button to call his nurse– only to miss and unwittingly press the button to launch all the nukes, comedically triggering a nuclear armageddon.
Peter Gabriel is one of those artists who, while in the world of mainstream pop, is truly an artist and visionary, constantly pushing the boundaries and innovating in new and amazing ways.
He never seems to run out of steam (pun intended).
And his music videos are no exception. “Sledgehammer” was not an easy video to make.
Because it was stop motion animation using live actors,
Gabriel had to lay under a sheet of glass for 16 hours while the video was shot, one frame at a time. “It took a lot of hard work,” Gabriel recalled.
"I was thinking at the time, 'If anyone wants to try and copy this video, good luck to them.'”
This section was animated by Nick Park of Aardman Animations, who was still refining his work in plasticine animation at the time.
Was it worth it?
Decide for yourself: “Sledgehammer” won nine MTV Video Music Awards in 1987, the most awards a single video has ever won; ranked number four on MTV’s 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made; and is often cited as MTV's number one animated video of all time.
The video was voted number seven on TMF’s Ultimate 50 Videos You Must See; ranked at number 2 on VH1’s “Top 20 Videos of the ‘80s”; won Best British Video at the 1987 Brit Awards, and was nominated for the Best Music Video category for the first annual Soul Train Music Awards in that same year.
The music video for “Road to Nowhere” by Talking Heads is a whimsical and surreal journey that perfectly captures the quirky spirit of the band.
Released in 1985, the video features David Byrne and his bandmates as they embark on a surreal road trip through a variety of bizarre landscapes.
Directed by David Byrne himself, along with Stephen R. Johnson, the video is a playful blend of live-action and stop-motion animation.
From giant heads floating in the sky to surreal desert landscapes, every frame is filled with visual surprises that keep viewers guessing.
“Road to Nowhere” became one of Talking Heads' most beloved hits, earning critical acclaim for its catchy melody and thought-provoking lyrics.
Its whimsical music video only added to its appeal, helping to solidify Talking Heads' status as one of the most innovative and influential bands of the 1980s.
Fun trivia: The music video was nominated for several awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
Its imaginative visuals and creative storytelling set a new standard for music videos at the time, inspiring countless artists to push the boundaries of creativity in visual storytelling.
Okay, we’re not cheating.
Yes, this song was released to very little attention in 1979.
But it blew up two years later as MTV hit the airwaves, and chose it as the first music video they would ever broadcast.
With a title like “Video Killed The Radio Star,” you couldn’t get a better song or video to go with it.
It’s your typical Eighties one-hit wonder: goofy, cheesy, and more than a little dated today.
But at the time, this video heralded the rise of the music video and declared to the world that there was no turning back.
The phrase “ahead of its time” gets thrown about a lot.
But when it comes to David Bowie, it’s not only accurate, it’s arguably an understatement.
When considering his impressive career, starting in the 1960s and trailblazing all the way into 2016, it’s impossible to miss how he was always on the cutting edge.
In an era where everyone was still making music for hippies, Bowie dropped Space Oddity, a song about an astronaut lost in space.
And it was released a week before man landed on the moon! Talk about being able to see the future.
Ashes to Ashes revisits his character, Major Tom, in a similarly futuristic and unconventionally funky-sounding rock anthem.
The seventies were over, and Queen had burst onto the scene to usher in the next era in rock.
Blending diverse influences and proudly sporting a style that was clearly different from the hair bands of the seventies, and a decidedly odd name for an all-male band, it was clear this was something different.
And the public loved it.
Queen also embraced the music video format, making full use of the unbridled creativity it had to offer as their fame exploded.
Frontman Freddie Mercury was a natural showman on camera, and understood the importance of a visual component to musical performance.
Fronted by Debbie Harry, Blondie was a new wave/pop-rock band that pushed the boundaries and redefined popular music with each hit.
It’s hard to overstate their innovation and influence.
They crested into transatlantic fame with their disco-infused “Heart of Glass.”
But to many serious music lovers, it was “Rapture” that really encapsulated their genre-shattering creativity, being the first number-one single in the United States to feature rap vocals– and that too, delivered by a female vocalist.
Even a year before MTV began broadcasting, Blondie took the music video format seriously, going into a high level of production and set design for “Rapture.”
Set in the trendy East Village of Manhattan, it paid homage to and featured several rap and hip-hop pioneers like Fab 5 Freddy, and prominent graffiti artists.
That scene, all shot in one take, underscored the point that Blondie wasn’t just copying the trends but setting them while understanding the roots of their diverse influences.
The evolution of the music video continues with “Physical,” a pop hit by Olivia Newton-John.
With a plot revolving around Newton-John at a gym, struggling to help several overweight men get into shape, it’s comedic and heralds a mainstay of the music video: scantily-clad good-looking people vibing to the music.
The video has a plot twist in the end, too, hinting at the potential for a music video to be an artform that can tell a story just as well as the song it’s supporting.
Notably, this single spent the most number of weeks of the 1980s at number one.
Pretty much every song on the charts, even today, is typically a love song of some sort.
But how about a love song dedicated to an entire continent?
The idea for Toto’s iconic rock anthem “Africa” was born out of the idea of a young man dreaming about what it would be like to really visit this fascinating, exotic place he’d only seen on television.
As such, the image painted of Africa isn’t based in reality, but it’s about the fantasy, wonder, and mystery of imagining a place you’ve never been to.
It’s wistful and soulful, and infectiously catchy– and enduring.
In the decades since, this is one of those songs that refuses to be forgotten in the Eighties, being truly timeless.
Hip-hop is an absolute monster of a genre today.
But it wasn’t always like that.
“The Message” by Grandmaster Flash might come off as primitive and overly simplistic by today’s slick production standards, but it was groundbreaking and paradigm-shifting at the time.
In an era that was all about vapid fun and partying, this early pioneering hip-hop track dropped heavy social commentary.
The music video paints a vivid picture of the stress of inner-city poverty, ending with the band members getting violently arrested by white police officers for no apparent reason.
Musically, the track is a kaleidoscope of funk, pop and disco, all chaotically supporting the powerful rapid-fire lyrics.
This makes our list for its historical value, and for proving the potential of music videos as a standalone art form, rather than a mere accessory to a music track.
It’s hard to imagine a song like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” being considered a feminist anthem of sorts, but it’s true.
When Cyndi Lauper sat down to cover the original song, she was disappointed at the misogynist lyrics and decided to flip it around, making the point that women also want the same experiences that men do.
She revamped the rock-and-roll track into the glamorous and goofy pop-funk of the 1980s.
“The year 1983 makes a watershed in the history of female-address video.
It is the year that certain issues and representations began to gain saliency and the textual strategies of female address began to coalesce,” says Prof. Lisa A. Lewis, Ph.D., in her paper Gender Politics and MTV: Voicing the Difference (1990).
The story of creating the music video needs a blog post of its own.
Its high production values and polished, slick look stand in stark contrast to its shoestring budget. Lauper’s contacts generously lent her state-of-the-art cameras and equipment for free, the cast were all volunteers, and Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels let her use his then-brand-new multi-million-dollar editing studio to put the footage together.
In January 2022, the video officially crossed one billion views on YouTube, a testament to its legacy in pop culture.
The Eighties were famous for their positive vibe and happy energy.
And Culture Club was one of those pop bands that exemplified the era.
“Karma Chameleon” was a huge crossover hit for Culture Club, becoming the biggest hit of their career.
The music video is suitably goofy and happy, a period piece set on a Mississippi steamboat in the 1800s full of characters in period costumes and unfolding a comical story.
It also put a spotlight on lead singer Boy George’s iconic androgynous look and style.
Every decade sets itself apart from the previous one, and Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit” was one of those changing-of-the-guard moments that declared that the seventies were over.
It would surprise many to learn that this track was composed by a jazz pianist because that’s the last thing this futuristic, heavily electronica-flavored instrumental sounds like.
It was also one of the earliest top-40 hits to prominently feature DJ record scratching, a mainstay of later rap and hip-hop style.
But it’s the music video that makes this list, and for good reason.
The song has no lyrics, and suitably, the video has no people in it.
Rather, it features disembodied robotic mannequins, mostly in parts, dancing and walking around in a truly surreal spectacle.
It all vibes perfectly with the freshly futuristic electronica-laden song, something unheard of for the time.
Let’s dive into the music video for "Alone" by i-Ten.
This iconic track, famously covered by Heart, had a music video that captured the essence of the 1980s rock scene.
Set against the backdrop of a sprawling mansion, the video follows the band as they deliver a high-energy performance.
With flashing lights, smoke machines, and tight camera angles, the video perfectly encapsulates the electric atmosphere of a live rock concert.
But it’s not all about the performance. Interspersed with shots of the band rocking out are scenes of a mysterious woman wandering the halls of the mansion.
Who is she? What is she searching for? These questions add an air of intrigue to the video, keeping viewers hooked from start to finish.
As the song builds to its epic climax, so too does the tension in the video.
Will the woman find what she’s looking for?
Will the band be able to keep the crowd on their feet?
You’ll have to watch until the end to find out.
In true 1980s fashion, the video boasts bold colors, flashy outfits, and plenty of hair metal swagger.
It’s a visual feast that perfectly complements the infectious energy of the song itself.
So whether you’re a fan of classic rock or just appreciate a good music video, "Alone" by i-Ten is a must-watch.
Strap in, turn up the volume and get ready to rock out like it’s 1983 all over again.
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” really needs no introduction.
This music video is an undisputed masterpiece that defined, even redefined, the whole genre.
Released in 1983, this iconic video revolutionized the way we perceive music videos, transforming them into cinematic experiences.
Directed by John Landis, “Thriller” is a 14-minute short film filled with horror, suspense, and electrifying dance sequences.
Set in a spooky graveyard, the video follows Jackson as he transforms into a werewolf and leads a group of zombies in a mesmerizing dance routine.
With groundbreaking special effects and choreography, "Thriller" became an instant cultural phenomenon, earning widespread acclaim and numerous awards.
Beyond its entertainment value, “Thriller” also broke racial barriers, becoming one of the first music videos by a black artist to receive heavy rotation on MTV.
Its impact on popular culture is undeniable, cementing Michael Jackson’s status as the King of Pop and inspiring countless artists to push the boundaries of creativity in music videos.
The eighties were all glam and color, full of happy energy.
And in the midst of all this, Sting and The Police dropped something that went in the opposite direction: “Every Breath You Take.”
One of the most misunderstood songs in pop history, this is no love song, but rather a glimpse into the mind of a love-crazed obsessive stalker slowly losing his mind.
Sting regularly expresses surprise that people think this song is romantic.
Similarly, the music video makes this list for going so fearlessly contrary to the trends of the time.
It’s brooding, shot in black-and-white, and full of moody shadows.
The shots are slow and patient, seething with depression and melancholy.
And by doing this, paired with an unforgettably haunting song, this video stood the test of time and remains in the public consciousness even today.
Few songs better embody the energy of the eighties than Van Halen’s “Jump”, and its music video is a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s rock scene.
Released in 1984 and directed by frontman David Lee Roth himself, this energetic video features the band performing against a backdrop of colorful geometric shapes and flashing lights.
With its catchy keyboard riff and infectious chorus, “Jump” quickly became one of Van Halen’s signature hits.
Fun trivia: “Jump” was a departure from Van Halen’s traditional guitar-driven sound, featuring Eddie Van Halen on keyboards instead.
Despite initial skepticism from the band’s fans, the song became their only number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Its success marked a turning point in Van Halen’s career and solidified their status as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1980s.
In the 2011 book MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video by Greg Prato, Angelus discussed the video:
‘’Jump’ really was just about personality, really. It was a very simple video. We shot it for nothing. David wanted to incorporate his karate-flipping - that he loved so much - into the whole thing. The initial concept was just to film them in a very simple live setting, and let the personalities show through. We did it very quickly. Seriously, I think that we probably spent more money on pizza delivery than we did on the video itself. But that was the intention - make it a very intimate, personal feeling, with a very big band.”
While male rockers in the eighties were famous for gyrating in tights and fishnets, sporting huge hair and women’s makeup, we should note that the gender-bending fad wasn’t exclusively for men.
Frontwoman Annie Lennox made a powerful visual impact in this video, in short-cropped bright orange hair and a severe dark men’s suit, flanked by surreal and avant-garde imagery.
The bold, unsettling visuals are lock-in-step with the dramatic, pounding song.
Directed by Chris Ashbrook, the video showcases Lennox’s intimidating, androgynous style and Stewart's enigmatic presence as they navigate through a series of bizarre scenarios.
Every frame of the video is a work of art in its own right.
Frontwoman Annie Lennox said:
“We wanted our visual statements to be strong and powerful, because we knew they’d be there forever. I wore a suit in the video with my cropped hair. I was trying to be the opposite of the cliché of the female singer. I wanted to be as strong as a man, equal to Dave, and perceived that way.”
To say the video is iconic would be an understatement, and it looks modern, dramatic, and attention-grabbing even today.
“When Doves Cry” by Prince is not just a song but a visual experience that encapsulates the enigmatic genius of the artist.
Released in 1984, the music video for “When Doves Cry” is a minimalist yet captivating exploration of love, loss, and longing.
Directed by Prince himself under his pseudonym, ‘Christopher,’ the video features stark black-and-white imagery and surreal symbolism.
From the haunting shots of doves in flight to Prince's emotive performance against a stark backdrop, every frame is infused with raw emotion and intensity.
With its haunting melody and thought-provoking lyrics, “When Doves Cry” became one of Prince's most iconic songs.
Its groundbreaking music video further solidified Prince’s status as a visionary artist and cultural icon of the 1980s and beyond.
The video was nominated for Best Choreography at 1985’s MTV Video Music Awards, but originally sparked controversy among network executives who felt its sexual nature was too explicit for television.
And speaking of controversy, Queen were no stranger to shocking the public either.
"I Want to Break Free" by Queen is not just a song but a bold statement of liberation that resonated with audiences around the world.
Released in 1984, the music video for "I Want to Break Free" is a whimsical and iconic piece of visual storytelling.
Directed by David Mallet, the video features the members of Queen dressed in drag, parodying characters from the long-running British television soap opera “Coronation Street.”
From Freddie Mercury's portrayal of a housewife to Brian May's transformation into a schoolgirl, the video is a riotous celebration of gender-bending and self-expression.
As Roger Taylor reflects: “We had done some really serious, epic videos in the past, and we just thought we'd have some fun.
We wanted people to know that we didn't take ourselves too seriously, that we could still laugh at ourselves. I think we proved that.”
Despite its lighthearted tone, "I Want to Break Free" sparked controversy upon its release, particularly in the United States, where it was met with backlash from conservative audiences.
However, the song's catchy melody and infectious chorus ultimately propelled it to commercial success, becoming one of Queen's most beloved hits.
Fun trivia: “I Want to Break Free” was inspired by bassist John Deacon's desire to break away from the constraints of his personal life.
The song's anthemic message of empowerment and defiance struck a chord with listeners, cementing its place in the pantheon of Queen's greatest songs and making it a cultural touchstone of the 1980s.
We all fondly remember the iconic Ghostbusters franchise.
Along with the many reasons this movie series is legendary and groundbreaking, is its use of a hit pop song in the soundtrack and score, one of the first Hollywood productions to take music this seriously for a film that isn’t a musical.
The eponymous theme song for Ghostbusters was a number-one Billboard hit in 1984 and drew more publicity to the movie as a bonus.
Ray Parker, Jr. was approached by the film’s producers and given only a few days to come up with the theme song.
He didn’t think he could really pull it off.
However, while channel-surfing late that night, he came across a jingle in a cheap commercial for a small business and realized the movie similarly featured a cheap late-night TV ad spot advertising ghost-hunting like a pest control business, and an idea took shape.
And the rest is history.
Trivia: The theme is estimated to have added $20 million to the film's box-office gross.
Directed by Ivan Reitman, the “Ghostbusters” music video was No. 1 on MTV and features cameos by celebrities Chevy Chase, Irene Cara, John Candy, Melissa Gilbert, Ollie E. Brown, Jeffrey Tambor, George Wendt, Al Franken, Danny DeVito, Carly Simon, Peter Falk, and Teri Garr.
None of the actors were paid for participating but did so as a personal favor to Reitman.
You know you’ve got a hit when it becomes an enduring meme, years and even decades later.
Everyone knows that familiar catchy saxophone riff, even if it was on the radio airwaves a decade before you were even born!
“Careless Whisper” by George Michael is a timeless ballad that has captivated audiences for decades.
Released in 1984, the music video for “Careless Whisper” is a poignant exploration of love, betrayal, and heartbreak.
Directed by Duncan Gibbins, the video features George Michael as he navigates through a series of romantic encounters, interspersed with scenes of him performing the song on saxophone.
With its sultry saxophone riff and haunting melody, the song perfectly captures the bittersweet emotions of lost love.
Fun trivia: “Careless Whisper” was written by George Michael when he was just 17 years old, making it one of his earliest compositions.
The song's iconic saxophone riff was famously played by Steve Gregory, a session musician who improvised the melody during the recording session.
This impromptu riff would go on to become one of the most recognizable hooks in music history.
Along with Sting and The Police’s “Every Breath You Take,” “Born in the USA” tops the list of the most widely misunderstood song lyrics.
That’s not just our opinion, it’s been pointed out by NPR and the BBC among many others.
Often hailed as a proud patriotic anthem, even a casual listen to the lyrics would make it obvious that it is anything but.
A blunt and tragic portrayal of the anguish of working-class life in 1980s America, it’s hardly the song you would pick to celebrate your patriotism and wave flags at.
As Alanis Morisette would put it best: isn’t it ironic?
It’s set to a minimalist, pounding beat and bellowing, impassioned lyrics that sound as though Springsteen is struggling to be heard while slowly drowning in a void of despair.
It’s not so much “pump you up” as it is haunting and melancholy, despite sounding like a fairly typical rock track on the surface.
The music video reflects the song like a mirror, juxtaposing images of the American Dream with unemployment lines and poverty; of wholesome American children playing in an arcade with young soldiers in the Vietnam War; all interspersed with Springsteen’s passionate, powerful live performance of the song.
It’s a classic for good reasons.
It’s not unusual today for a hit song to go along with a new movie release.
But back in the eighties, this wasn’t a thing that anyone bothered to do.
The seminal “The Breakfast Club” is a staple favorite among cinema snobs, and the subject of no small modern philosophy and social commentary even today, making it a timeless tale despite being a very eighties teen movie.
The heartfelt and catchy “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds serves as the film’s unofficial theme song.
And in fact, according to filmmaker John Hughes, served as his inspiration for The Breakfast Club.
The music video for “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer is a timeless classic that epitomizes the sleek and stylish aesthetic of the 1980s.
Directed by Terence Donovan, the video showcases Palmer and his “backing band” of models as they strike poses and play instruments with icy detachment.
With its stark black-and-white cinematography and minimalist set design, the video perfectly captures the cool sophistication of Palmer's signature sound.
Released in 1986, the video features Palmer and a bevy of identically dressed female models performing the song with robotic precision.
The look of the models was inspired by Patrick Nagel’s iconic paintings, which were wildly popular in the 1980s, and the make-up department used them as a reference.
The overall look and feel of this video was such a hit that Palmer used the same idea for several more of his music videos that followed.
“Addicted to Love” became one of Robert Palmer’s biggest hits, topping the charts around the world and earning critical acclaim for its infectious groove and catchy chorus.
Its iconic music video only added to its success, helping to solidify Palmer’s status as one of the most stylish and enigmatic performers of the 1980s.
The nineties saw an explosion in nu-metal, a distinctive fusion of rap and hard rock.
But the truth is, this wasn’t nearly as groundbreaking and innovative as GenXers thought.
As Linkin Park themselves said it best: “And rapping over rock doesn't make you a pioneer / ‘cause rock and hip hop have collaborated for years.”
And they’re not wrong. Rockers Aerosmith and rappers Run DMC formed the most unlikely team-up in pop music history when they joined forces to revamp “Walk This Way.”
And it wasn’t the usual gimmick of throwing in a rap verse near the end of an otherwise normal pop song: It was more like a proper rap-battle-style back-and-forth between wailing guitars and rapid-fire rapping, flavored with Steven Tyler’s unique rock screech.
The music video deployed plenty of comedy, with Aerosmith rehearsing next door to Run DMC, each turning up the volume to drown out the other.
This leads to a climax where they break the wall down and start battling each other musically, in a pretty heavy-handed metaphor for the blending of seemingly incongruous genres.
It was a bold risk at the time, but it paid off.
The song and video were both breakout hits, revitalizing Aerosmith’s stalling momentum at the time, bringing rap further into the mainstream of pop music, and going down in music history.
The music video for "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins is a high-flying adventure that perfectly captures the adrenaline-fueled excitement of the 1980s action film era.
Released in 1986 as the theme song for the film "Top Gun", the video features Loggins belting out the song against a backdrop of explosive aerial footage.
Directed by Tony Scott, the video is a thrilling montage of fighter jets soaring through the sky, interspersed with shots of Loggins performing on a stage set against a fiery sunset.
With its fast-paced editing and pulse-pounding visuals, the video perfectly complements the song's anthemic chorus and driving rhythm.
"Danger Zone" became one of Kenny Loggins' most iconic hits, topping the charts and earning widespread acclaim for its infectious energy and catchy melody.
Its electrifying music video only added to its success, helping to solidify Loggins' status as one of the most celebrated artists of the 1980s.
Fun trivia: The music video for "Danger Zone" features footage from the film "Top Gun," including scenes of Tom Cruise piloting an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet.
The video's seamless integration of live-action footage and Loggins' performance helped to further cement its status as a classic of 1980s music video culture.
The music video for "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" by the Beastie Boys is a raucous celebration of rebellion and youthful exuberance.
Released in 1987, the video features the Beastie Boys wreaking havoc at a house party, causing chaos and mayhem wherever they go.
Directed by Ric Menello and Adam Dubin, the video is a tongue-in-cheek homage to teenage rebellion and rock 'n' roll excess.
From smashing guitars to spraying beer on unsuspecting partygoers, the video perfectly captures the anarchic spirit of the Beastie Boys' music.
"(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" became one of the Beastie Boys' most iconic hits, topping the charts and earning widespread acclaim for its infectious energy and rebellious attitude.
Its irreverent music video only added to its success, helping to solidify the Beastie Boys' status as cultural icons of the 1980s.
Fun trivia: The music video for "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" features cameo appearances from several notable figures, including members of the punk band Murphy's Law and hip-hop group Run-D.M.C.
The video's playful blend of rock and hip-hop influences helped to bridge the gap between different musical genres and appeal to a diverse audience.
The music video for "It's a Sin" by the Pet Shop Boys is a provocative and visually stunning exploration of guilt, sin, and redemption.
Released in 1987, the video features Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe as they navigate through a series of surreal and symbolic scenarios.
Directed by Derek Jarman, the video is a bold and unapologetic commentary on the social and political issues of the time.
From religious iconography to scenes of sexual liberation, the video pushes the boundaries of artistic expression while challenging societal norms.
"It's a Sin" became one of the Pet Shop Boys' most iconic hits, topping the charts and earning critical acclaim for its infectious melody and thought-provoking lyrics.
Its visually striking music video only added to its success, helping to solidify the Pet Shop Boys' status as pioneers of 1980s pop music.
The music video for "It's a Sin" was banned by the BBC upon its release due to its controversial themes and imagery.
However, this only served to increase the song's popularity and cement its status as a classic of 1980s pop culture.
The music video for "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil is a powerful and politically charged call to action.
Released in 1987, the video features the band performing against a backdrop of stark desert landscapes and scenes of environmental devastation.
Directed by Willy White, the video is a stirring visual representation of the song's message about indigenous land rights and environmental activism.
From shots of burning beds to images of indigenous Australian communities, the video shines a spotlight on the urgent issues facing indigenous peoples around the world.
The music video for "Beds Are Burning" was filmed in the Australian outback, including scenes shot at the Pintubi Anmatjere Warlpiri (PAW) Indigenous Protected Area.
The band's decision to use their platform to raise awareness about indigenous land rights helped to elevate the song's message and inspire action among fans around the world.
"Beds Are Burning" became one of Midnight Oil's most iconic hits, topping the charts and earning critical acclaim for its impassioned vocals and socially conscious lyrics.
Its thought-provoking music video only added to its impact, helping to raise awareness about indigenous rights and environmental conservation efforts.
Frontman Peter Garrett went on to serve as a politician in the Australian government for nine years.
He continues to be an environmental activist, speaking out about nuclear disarmament and the rights of indigenous people.
Few rock bands in history have had the kind of legacy and story as Def Leppard.
1987’s “Hysteria” was a special album for the band, marking a distinct change in their sound.
Their drummer, Rick Allen, had been in a catastrophic car crash that severed his left arm completely.
This was a devastating setback, and Allen was ready to hang up his drumsticks and told the band to find a new drummer.
However, the band refused to give up on him, even going on hiatus until they could figure things out.
Through a long period of trial-and-error, experimenting with prosthetics and even backup drummers to provide support, Allen found a way to drum using a system of custom electronic pedals so his foot could play the parts normally played by his missing arm.
The result was a powerful, thick drum sound in “Hysteria” that was as unique as it was infectious and came to define their music in the coming eras.
That denim. That leather jacket. Those huge aviators. That deliberate unshaven stubble. That fluffy big hair.
Could there be a more definitive video for the 1980s than “Faith” by George Michael?
Like a lot of surprise hits, this song was almost not released as a single.
Minimalistic and catchy, Michael says it was only going to be a supplementary track on the next album and was concerned that it was too short.
But everyone he showed it to loved it, so he extended it by adding a catchy bluesy guitar solo and released it.
The video was similarly minimalistic, with quick cuts of close-ups of Michael performing with an acoustic guitar beside an old jukebox. The look was iconic and often imitated in popular fashion, a testament to its massive impact on 1980s pop culture.
Does this one even need an introduction?
A beloved but forgotten pop hit, and then resurrected by the internet in the form of meme marketing entire decades later.
“Never Gonna Give You Up” might be one of the most popular songs in recent history, even if much of that is attributed to internet pranking.
But it’s no joke.
The music video has racked up an incredible 1.5 billion views to date. Even Rick Astley himself has said he’s befuddled at its success and resonance with the public and has decided to simply shrug and cheerfully accept it.
The music video itself is pretty typical 1980s pop fodder, in style, fashion, dancing, and of course the catchy upbeat song itself.
So with that in mind, how could we NOT put this on our list?
Eighties music is largely two things: the energetic, colorful slickly-produced pop; and big-haired rock bands.
And Guns N’ Roses were probably the biggest and loudest of the latter, their sound creeping more into hard rock and metal, than mainstream happy pop.
But in this era, even hard rock had a distinctly happier vibe and feel to it, especially when compared to the brooding grunge of the 1990s.
And you don’t get more “sing-along-out-loud” energy than “Sweet Child O’Mine.”
The music video features the band rehearsing with all their real-life then-girlfriends present, and even a band member’s pet dog.
It’s rife with nostalgia and a youthful passion that only a song like “Sweet Child O’Mine” could capture.
Trivia: According to frontman Axl Rose, the original concept for the video was much, much darker, on the themes of drug trafficking and deaths by overdosing.
Fortunately, this was rejected by the record label, which we think was a good call.
The 1980s saw not only the rise of rap and hip-hop into mainstream pop music but also its more hardcore roots of gangster rap.
While this is all pretty mainstream today, it was shocking and controversial at the time, with frequent calls by pearl-clutching suburban parents to control, censor, or even ban it, alarmed at its supposed negative influence on youth.
The music video eschews the glam and slick production of its contemporaries in pop, instead staying true to the streets, with the band members walking through the roughest parts of Compton, chased by police, and arrested.
It ran counter to the usual happy bright colorful pop fare of the times and made a bold statement about what the roots of rap and hip-hop are really all about, and took it to a shocked and amazed mainstream audience.
The music video for “Dr. Feelgood” by Mötley Crüe is a gritty and explosive depiction of rock 'n' roll excess.
Released in 1989, the video features the band performing against a backdrop of seedy urban landscapes and concert scenes.
Directed by Wayne Isham, the video tells the story of a drug dealer in LA who eventually gains everything he wants but is still left hollow and empty inside, able to make everyone “feel good” except himself.
The video is hellish and apocalyptic, matching the pounding dark tone of the song, with plenty of flame and allusions/homages to the movie Scarface.
We forget today that pop diva Madonna was consistently provocative, shocking, and outraging the conservative 1980s, but always emerging victorious because her music was just that good.
There’s a reason modern stars like Lady Gaga today enthusiastically cite her as an inspiration and role model.
“Like A Prayer” was emblematic of her journey as an artist, boldly taking on themes like religion and sex, and offending nearly everyone in the process.
Madonna reportedly fought tooth and nail against her label which pressured her to change the lyrics, and wanted more control over the production of the album.
The song (and video) both press pretty much every hot topic button you could imagine, from sexuality to interracial relationships, racism, and even more. And all this for a mainstream pop song!
The video for “Like a Prayer,” depicts Madonna witnessing a white woman being assaulted and killed by a group of white men.
While a black man is arrested for the crime, Madonna hides in a church for safety, seeking strength to go forth as a witness.
The video is rife with religious imagery, from burning crosses to the KKK to the stigmata, which outraged the Catholic Church and led to calls for boycotts.
But people tend to forget that controversy is just free marketing, and some would say there’s no such thing as bad PR.
Whether this was deliberate or not, there’s no denying the power of this song and the accompanying music video, which made a lasting impact on pop culture’s psyche that lasts to this day.
Critics hailed it as “as close to art as pop culture can get.” And rewatching the video even today, two decades later, we’re inclined to agree.
And that was the eighties as summed up in its most iconic music videos. What an era!
And we hope you enjoyed this write-up as much as we enjoyed our trip down memory lane while doing the research for it!
If you liked this post, do check out our entry on the best animated music videos of all time.
What did you think? Are there any memorable music videos we missed? Let us know in the comments!
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