# 80's music - still rocks. 80's videos - not so much... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845 "2008-06-13T19:24:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/21 "2008-06-14T06:12:27Z")
The video for [Radar Love](http://youtube.com/watch?v=nIA4gcrk-50&feature=related) makes me wince. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/22 "2008-06-14T06:30:09Z")
I always like the video for Genesis’ [Land of Confusion](http://youtube.com/watch?v=yt6R6sTwsa4). That’s one heck of a nurse! ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/23 "2008-06-14T06:36:43Z")
I always liked the J. Geils Band video of [Centerfold.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea8fOOwfBEs) What’s not to like, cute girls dancing in sexy scanty outifits and the classic drum head that is actually milk? Plus this video has Martha Quinn introducing it, who I always had a crush on. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/24 "2008-06-14T08:22:56Z")
[Poison Arrow](http://youtube.com/watch?v=LE3APnmMmAQ&feature=related) [Don’t Change Shabooh Shabooh!](http://youtube.com/watch?v=iMrL_4NyQr0) [Someone Like You](http://youtube.com/watch?v=1hMYniDANpw) [I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight](http://youtube.com/watch?v=hQx1dA5qclc) And maybe, the most hilarious. [Hips Don’t Lie](http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZHv3qO_Y8kk)… Shakira featuring **DANZIG** ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/25 "2008-06-14T16:28:00Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] Easily the best two 80s music videos. Well, okay, Smooth Criminal and Thriller too. But that’s Michael. [/QUOTE] There were lots and lots of great 80’s videos. This one stands up with anything made since: [Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms](http://youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs&feature=related) [Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer](http://youtube.com/watch?v=hqyc37aOqT0) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/26 "2008-06-14T16:37:46Z")
Holds up very well: Pet Shop Boys, [It’s a Sin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iszy6_NMOD0&feature=related). Doesn’t hurt that it was produced by Derek Jarman. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/27 "2008-06-14T17:27:06Z")
[More Than This,](http://youtube.com/watch?v=OfgU4iQr8PU) with Bryan Ferry as what seems to be a lovelorn valet parking attendant. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/28 "2008-06-14T17:55:08Z")
The video for [Road to Nowhere](http://youtube.com/watch?v=sQXsuAey-NE) by Talking Heads is still pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/29 "2008-06-14T18:50:29Z")
Hasn’t held up very well: [Super Bowl Shuffle](http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=fJNC3dgreaU). Still quite entertaining: [Lou Reed, “No Money Down”](http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=BMIgZmmO1c4). ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/30 "2008-06-14T19:32:36Z")
Duran Duran/Rio is still fun…wardrobe dates it but who cares? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q7VjrW5zgqQ/hqdefault.jpg "DURAN DURAN RIO") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7VjrW5zgqQ) Paula Abdul/Straight up. The photography is great. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uYJX5T_sYjE/hqdefault.jpg "Straight up- Paula Abdul") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYJX5T_sYjE) Rickroll yourself…popup video style: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3HrSN7176XI/hqdefault.jpg "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (1987)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HrSN7176XI) ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/31 "2008-06-14T20:00:28Z")
[Sabrina - Boys (Summertime Love)](http://youtube.com/watch?v=YvstDQIG5Kk) is still the second sexiest music video ever made. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/32 "2008-06-14T20:08:23Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] [Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer](http://youtube.com/watch?v=hqyc37aOqT0) [/QUOTE] Loved it, but I would give [Big Time](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0FBi5Rv1ho) the advantage; more creative image that also relates to the song better. I’ve always had a soft spot for [Bowie in a clown suit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r44OFO-MNPo). ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/33 "2008-06-14T20:20:42Z")
Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer is a classic. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M3geoXOdnJQ/hqdefault.jpg "Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistible") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3geoXOdnJQ) ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/34 "2008-06-14T21:01:43Z")
At the time, people thought it was the [other way around.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMT41Li_mjg) ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/35 "2008-06-14T21:15:53Z")
My brother and I started recording music videos since MTV started. We have about eight VSH EP (six hours) tapes full of videos that span the history of what MTV and VH1 played at the time. First video on MTV tape 1 "Der Kommissar: by Falco. Other selections from Tape 1, Berlin’s Metro, Joe Jackson’s Stepping Out & Real Men, Joan Jett’s I Love Rock and Roll, Kim Wilde’s Kids in America. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/36 "2008-06-14T21:45:39Z")
[QUOTE=Agnostic Pagan] I agree that is was iconic, just not good. It seems to be a love it or hate it video. But really, Ivan was great in front of a mike, but dont let him in front of a camera. Check out the video for [Pop Goes The World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjIrrL8gaNQ). I can listen to them forever, but I cant watch 'em. [/QUOTE] Kraft wishes its Macaroni and Cheese Dinner was this cheesy! Literally putting the “pop” in Pop Music. Damn, if I saw that video when the song was popular, my brain actively repressed the memory as a measure of self-preservation. Thank you, brain! I do agree with the others who say that there was much variety of video styles in the '80’s. There may have been a few clunkers (see above), but they weren’t all the same half-second cuts interspersing almost naked, gym-toned synchronized dancers and close-ups of the singer or band in concert that seem to make up so many of the videos today. Yeah, I’m so old I remember when MTV actually played only music videos. Get off my lawn you darned kids! ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/37 "2008-06-14T21:50:44Z")
[QUOTE=Koxinga] Hasn’t held up very well: [Super Bowl Shuffle](http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=fJNC3dgreaU). [/QUOTE] :eek: Who ever could have thought that this was a good idea? I couldn’t even make it through a minute of this crap, and it goes on for _seven_?! I had to clear my head with this: > [@Sam Stone](#): > > This one stands up with anything made since: Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms Awesome song, awesome video. I was going to nominate [Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udQcrUY515A) for the terrible video category (90% of the video is close-ups of his face, a horrible idea because he looks like a freaking _ghoul_) until I learned that that song actually didn’t come out until 1990. In a way, that makes it even worse… ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/38 "2008-06-14T22:25:14Z")
[QUOTE=HelloKitty] No rickroll here, but I would submit that most of the **Police** videos hold up well. Sorry, no links, but surely you remember: _Wrapped Around My Finger_ - Sting dancing around all the candles in slow motion - I still love this one! _Every Breath You Take_ - Black & white, cigarette in ashtray, Sting playing bass _Syncronicity II_ - Sting in his red leather suit… [/QUOTE] Godley & Creme! Great video directors who also gave us the immortal [“Cry”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx251nc6hPE). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/39 "2008-06-15T00:41:47Z")
[QUOTE=gaffa] Godley & Creme! Great video directors who also gave us the immortal [“Cry”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx251nc6hPE). [/QUOTE] Another case in which the video is better than the song. There were a lot of those in the 80s, so I’m not in much agreement with the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845/40 "2008-06-15T03:04:54Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyJbIOZjS8) No love for Thriller? [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqxo1SKB0z8) Or for that matter, Beat It? Marc [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-music-still-rocks-80s-videos-not-so-much/452845.md?page=3)