1.
Where the Streets Have No Name
U2's 1987 video, filmed as they performed a song on the rooftop of a liquor store in Los Angeles, helped gain them mass appeal and propel them to mega stardom. Interestingly, the video format served them well in the past with their live concert footage of 'Sunday, Bloody Sunday." at Red Rocks in Colorado.
Who can forget this artistically-profound video in 1985 by Norwegian band, a-ha? Director Seve Baron presented the whole story of the song through mostly black and white comic book drawings. The song was just ok, but the video was something new and incredible. 'Take on Me' was nominated for MTV's video of the year in 1986.
Herbie Hancock brought a blend of funk, disco, and early rap music together with his 1983 video, in which decapitated mannequins were dancing around. Considered hi-tech at the time, Rockit was credited as the first music video to include a DJ scratching records.
In 1986, Peter Gabriel released a astoundingly colorful, dynamic, but equally bizarre acid-trip of a music video, called Sledgehammer. Using claymation and stop action videography, it went on to win the MTV and VMA video of the year in 1987.
Another Jackson blew us away with a ground-breaking music video, but this time it was sister Janet with her 1989 hit, Rhythm Nation. Of course the song had us jumping out of our seats but it was best known for its choreography, which defined the art of modern performance dancing for decades.
In this 1982 video, Duran Duran found themselves trekking through the jungles of Sri Lanka, exploring and singing about wolves. I think only the band and director Russell Mulachy really know what was going on there, but the early 80s video electrified us, just the same.
Cyndi Lauper flipped the serious and brooding genre of music videos on their head with this insanely fun 1983 party theme song, including a famed celebrity appearance by wrestler Captain Lou Albano. I don't think the Beastie Boys 'You've Got To Fight For Your Right To Party," would ever have been made without Cyndi Lauper paving the way.
In 1979, a little-known band called the Buggles sang a song about the imminent changing of the music technology guard. Little did they know, it would become the first video aired on the brand new MTV network on August 1, 1981.
In 1986, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith kicked down coliseum doors and stepped on stage with Run DMC, the founding fathers of cross-over rap. The hit brought rap to the mainstream for the first time, blazing a trail for the rap, R & B, and urban music explosion on the mainstream charts to come.
Thriller
Of course, Michael Jackson's epic 13-minute mini-movie would be #1! Still, after all these decades, I can't think of a more significant, more theatrical, and musically superior video! But way back in 1982, it absolutely blew our minds. Everyone was talking about it, bragging about how many times they'd seen it, recreating the dance steps, and you were definitely uncool if you'd never seen it! The official YouTube video has well over 185 million hits and its been recreated in its entirety all over the globe, including in a prison in the Philippines! If you haven't clicked on any of these song links yet, do yourself a favor and get down with Michael Jackson and Thriller to celebrate the best music video of all time!
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