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Video made the radio star

3/25/2010

6 Comments

 
Now here's a post whose time truly has come. We are going to create the definitive list of songs that are more popular than they would/could/should be on account of having epic videos.

Here's my list. Read, ponder, then post yours.

1. "Sledgehammer," Peter Gabriel. 
Does anyone actually like this song? They don't need to! The video gives us dancing chickens, swimming sperm and a host of other cutting-edge-for-the-time graphics to keep us entertained.

2. "Hot for Teacher," Van Halen.
This really isn't even a song. It's a series of Diamond Dave monologues punctuated by Eddie just doing what comes naturally. But have you ever heard this on the radio and not pictured Eddie walking the desktop promenade, or the band in those sweet tuxes failing to dance? Or what about the little "mini" Van Halen characters?
Sit down, Waldo! You're nervous, and your socks are too loose.

3. "Sabotage," Beastie Boys.
I really like this song, but it's not even a top-10 B-Boys tune. That said, it might be the third-best video ever made. You hear that opening, you see our favorite Jewish rappers wearing Starsky & Hutch wigs and sliding across car hoods. You will not touch the radio dial.

4. "Don't Come Around Here No More," Tom Petty.
Again, a decent song. But the Alice and Wonderland imagery is the star of the whole show. Well before Tim Burton and Johnny Depp went all 3D on us, Petty & Co. nailed the creepy, trippy Lewis Carroll experience and teamed it perfectly with that swirly guitar part.

5. "Big Me," Foo Fighters.
My vote for second-best video ever made, and I actually don't really like the Foo Fighters at all. But the Mentos send-up? Pure genius. And it elevated an utterly by-the-numbers pop song to a work of ironic artistry. Or, artistic irony. Take your pick.

Now, for your picks please.
6 Comments
Shayne Hood link
3/25/2010 06:59:08 am

I use "Sledgehammer" in my Intro to Experimental Animation class. "Big Time" is another great Peter Gabriel video. David Daniels did the amazing (and time consuming) sliced clay animation- he is now famous for the M'n'M's commercials (Red and Yellow).

But my pick would have to be the B-52s' "Love Shack." RuPaul, famous Drag Queen, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, got his big break with that video and evidently was the orchestrator of the gauntlet dance!

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Michael Scroggins
3/25/2010 07:16:27 am

Too hard to come up with only five since there are at least twenty-five that could make the list based on impact. Here are an almost random five to reflect on though:

"Once in a Lifetime"
Talking Heads

"U Can't Touch This"
M.C. Hammer

"Ashes to Ashes"
David Bowie

"Safety Dance"
Men Without Hats

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
Cyndi Lauper

...and what about Madonna, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Boy George, Pat Benatar, The Police, The Pretenders, The Cars, Devo, B-52's, The Go-Go's, The Eurythmics, and all those spandex and big hair guitar bands!

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Tina Closser
3/25/2010 08:54:59 am

Dude you forgot "Buddy Holly" by Weezer!

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Neil Schmidt
3/25/2010 10:26:34 am

I love lists like this!

A few that come to mind, all from the 80s (because I haven't seen videos in 20 years):

"Rockit" by Herbie Hancock. All those robot pieces moving around.

"Parents Just Don't Understand" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. It's a made-for-video narrative and the first song, I believe, that Will Smith ever did.

"Thriller" by Michael Jackson. The song is fun, but we all remember it for the 14-minute video.

And, of course, the first video ever aired on MTV: "Video Killed the Radio Star" by Buggles. Apropos choice for first MTV clip, by the way.

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MikeR
3/27/2010 04:42:28 am

I just want to agree about the Foo Fighters. What a snooze.

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Supra TK Society link
3/1/2011 03:53:39 pm

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors.

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