He wasn’t called “the King of Pop” for nothing. Michael Jackson’s music videos, especially Thriller, was the fave music video among the respondents, with almost every other commenter, led by Reader Thomas, giving it a mention. Reader Grace noted its cultural impact (“…Thriller really changed what a music video could be. And Vincent Price’s voice at the end still gives me chills’).
Here’s Mindy’s fave (“…Running with the Night by Lionel Richie for the way it captured, portrayed, and nailed the feeling tone of an era.)
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Back in Time
Several folks mentioned how a specific music video brought them right back to a special moment. Reader Curt called this one a “top ten.” Who doesn’t love ZZ TOP?
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One of the first music video’s and probably in the top 10, was ZZ TOP ‘s big hit in 1983. Sharp Dressed Man, also in 1982 Hall and Oates Maneater. I was bartending that year in Omaha at R Bar in the Benson neighborhood. It really opened up the rock n roll world for me.
-Curt
Reader Theresa adds this vote and more for Thriller.
“Thriller” is definitely in my top 5, partly because of the memories attached to it. I was at Danceteria in NYC when it premiered, and they had it on a big screen. I have nostalgia over “Video Killed the Radio Star, ” since practically no one I knew had cable back then except for one guy. We would all cram into his tiny apartment and watch the same few videos that MTV had over and over. In more recent times, anything Lady Gaga has done is amazing, but my favorite is “Telephone.”
Other faves were “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time,” “Twilight Zone” by Golden Earring, “Freedom” by George Michael, and one I consider a sleeper by Dire Straits.
Fredrick R. tapped Dire Straits’ ‘Skateaway’ and earned kudos from Grace L and Jeffrey A.
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Reader Shari nominates “Smooth” by Santana, and who could argue with that?
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On a larger scale, several readers noted the cultural and generational landmark MTV was to us, led by Grace….
MTV really felt like a shared cultural experience. Music videos back then had emotion and storytelling that’s hard to find today.
…who really loved her MTV, since she weighed in almost every other comment! That’s the kind of reader involvement we like to see!
There are so many other music videos to include – but if we missed one of your favorites, please share it in the comments!
ORIGINAL COLUMN
At first I thought it was a joke, but it’s not. No more MTV Music Television.
Video didn’t kill the radio star – streaming did. The last vestiges of music video, worldwide, now gone.
MTV was must-see TV for decades. No house party was complete without it in the background. How many of us first encountered favorite music or grew to love a band because their music videos were so cool? And how many established stars reached new height and culture fame because of their videos? Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. (In fact any Michael Jackson video. I still get angry and sad that he’s gone.) Even Rick Astley, for heaven’s sake….people are still being Rickrolled.
TOP LISTS?
There are lots of lists about the top music videos of all time, like this one. It’s a fun walk – or dance – through time. There are a few videos that made me like the song so much that I couldn’t enjoy the song without the video – I literally can’t listen to the song without the video, like Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim, danced by Christopher Walken, at 58, the Coolest Guy ever.
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Or the warm optimism and whimsy of Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel.
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Other videos turbocharged an already great song, like Panama by Van Halen or Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper.
Of course there are plenty of other more somber music videos – Johnny Cash’s cover of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails swapped Trent Reznor’s nihilism for a profound and moving reflection on time, aging, and choices. Even Trent said “It’s not my song anymore.” The sheer poetry of the video of REM”s Losing my Religion makes it more than a song about losing a lover. And even after all this time, I don’t like Mondays by the Boomtown Rats sends chills down my spine.
YOUR TURN
But that’s me. Which music videos do you miss? Which ones would you watch over and over? Share your faves in the comments!
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; she writes frequently on Old School New York City and performs at open mic readings throughout New York City. Send Open Thread suggestions to [email protected].
Photo: monticellllo – stock.adobe.com