# Is this the Eightiesest song and video ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342 "2015-01-30T16:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/1 "2015-01-30T16:47:27Z")
For some unknown reason–and if there is a reason I don’t want to know it–I woke up with [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl6u2NASUzU) song in my head this morning. One of the lingering effects from working in a record store all through the 80s. So I U2Bed it, and was struck by how hilariously 80s it is. The beat, the voice, the wooden-faced model, the hair, the clothes–I think it might be the purest expression of the cliche 80s video. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/2 "2015-01-30T16:57:18Z")
Well, it’s definitely in the running. It might miss the top spot because of the lack of really big hair and neon coloured clothes (I mean fluorescent clothes 🆒). ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/3 "2015-01-30T16:58:40Z")
😃 I never heard of that band, but dang, that is a choice one! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/4 "2015-01-30T17:09:39Z")
I’ll see you that and raise you [“Automatic Man” by Michael “She’s a maniac” Sembello.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu_kBTbbulQ) ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/5 "2015-01-30T17:10:32Z")
Great song, but not enough eyeliner and inventive microphone handling. I bring you [Department S](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQUHaN8rF2U). ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/6 "2015-01-30T17:17:39Z")
And I’ll raise you a [Men Without Hats](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjPau5QYtYs). ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/7 "2015-01-30T17:19:52Z")
Needs more make-up and pretentiousness. I give you Visage, Fade to Grey: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UMPC8QJF6sI/maxresdefault.jpg "Visage - Fade To Grey") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMPC8QJF6sI) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/8 "2015-01-30T17:20:54Z")
I feel like there are sub-categories. I can’t think of exact examples right now but here is a [list](http://embed.wistia.com/deliveries/8a1ef8821c5ba2d91c03b39e932ee8fcf372cdfd.jpg) of some different genres and their specific cliches. 80’s hair metal would have some obligatory scantily clad women, spandex, hair spray and make up for miles (on both the scantily clad women as well as the band members), and perhaps some random faux meaningful slow motion things like shattering glass, or a close up of a drop of water that turns into flame when it hits the surface. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/9 "2015-01-30T17:28:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ll see you that and raise you [“Automatic Man” by Michael “She’s a maniac” Sembello.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu_kBTbbulQ) That was a spoof tune, right? Tell me that was a spoof. I know the eighties won’t go down as a golden age in music but… ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/10 "2015-01-30T17:32:24Z")
Hang on, this is still the Straight Dope yes? because we are 9 posts in and no-one has posted. [Rio by Duran Duran](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3W6yf6c-FA) ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/11 "2015-01-30T17:39:35Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7YvAYIJSSZY/maxresdefault.jpg "Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvAYIJSSZY) ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/12 "2015-01-30T17:41:47Z")
I’m enjoying all these rather more than I feel I should be. How about Flock of Seagulls’ paean to the Middle East: Iran (So Far Away) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0_Pq0xYr3L4/hqdefault.jpg "A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away) [1982]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Pq0xYr3L4) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/13 "2015-01-30T18:03:33Z")
[Total eclipse Of The Heart](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo)-Bonnie Tyler [Literal video version.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsgWUq0fdKk) _[I’m Still Standing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHwVBirqD2s)_-Elton John ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/14 "2015-01-30T18:08:39Z")
Total Eclipse or something by Heart would get my vote. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/15 "2015-01-30T18:15:50Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Total Eclipse or something by Heart would get my vote. Here’s why I didn’t nominate that one: sure it has the craziest collection of WTF images of pretty much any video I can think of, and it’s from the 80s, but it’s kind of unique, stylewise. It’s a power ballad, not an 80s synthpop dance song. it’s kind of a genre of one. So while it might be the most insanely over the top video of the 80s, it’s not the “Eightiesest.” Noamsane? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/16 "2015-01-30T18:17:49Z")
[Separate Ways](http://youtu.be/LatorN4P9aA). Slo Mo, that stick bass thing, silly track shots, zoomy camera, 80’s chick walking around for no reason, cheap location, fake instrument playing and singing. Not enough fog perhaps. But my favorite thing is Steve Perry. Everyone else seems rather subdued, then he shows up and is absolutely **killing** every scene he’s in, at like 200% intensity. He’s like the Shatner of music videos. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/17 "2015-01-30T19:14:49Z")
How about Killing Joke - Eighties? [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-JaPIq0mschttp://) If that doesn’t do it for you, [Blue Monday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYH8DsU2WCk)! (On a Friday - heh) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/18 "2015-01-30T19:30:18Z")
The one video where people are “rick rolled”. That one. Kwin-tee-sen-shul. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/19 "2015-01-30T19:33:24Z")
As embarrassing as it is to admit, the 80’s were fuckin’ good times! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342/20 "2015-01-30T20:19:16Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > I’m enjoying all these rather more than I feel I should be. > > How about Flock of Seagulls’ paean to the Middle East: Iran (So Far Away) > > [http://youtu.be/0\_Pq0xYr3L4](http://youtu.be/0_Pq0xYr3L4) I came in to say this one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-eightiesest-song-and-video-ever/711342.md?page=2)