Top 10 Music Videos from the 1980s – Part One

In my post on “silly seductions,” I mentioned how I enjoyed (preferably cheesy) music videos from the 1980s. I have been subsequently chastised for not giving examples. “I felt seduced and abandoned,” one friend wrote. “Come on! The devil’s in the details!” So I’ve decided to yield to “popular demand” and give my personal Top 10. To keep this post from being ridiculously long, I’ll do 5 this time and 5 the next. There are some rules, however:

• Each video must be on YouTube for easy viewing.
• They must be early 80's. After that, things got waaaaaay too professional.
• No Madonna, no Michael Jackson, and a minimum of mullets.
• They don't all have to be "good" – otherwise what’s the point?

So here they are… in no particular order of merit… I love all my children equally! Because they are all special!

1. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: The Waiting (1981)

This was the first music video I ever saw. It came on after a late night movie as filler to get the station to the end of the hour. At the time, it “blew my mind.” “Wow,” I thought, “You can hear the song and see a little story at the same time! What a concept!” It’s a catchy tune, don’t you think it? And Tom Petty has an adorable overbite. And the budget must’ve been $1.89 – mostly for the spilled paint and the colored ropes. And I love it when he swings his guitar and breaks through to the dimension of hidden guitar solos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMyCa35_mOg

2. Bananarama: Robert De Niro’s Waiting - Talking Italian (1984)

First off, these girls were absolutely beautiful. They also could sing – which was something of a plus. Again, the budget is … ahem… modest. It includes a ratty Italian sports car from Guido’s House of Wrecks. And the guy they hired to be “Robert de Niro” seems more like Beaver Cleaver in pinstripes. Talk about cheesy - this one even features a pizza as the big finish! And would you like pepperoni with that, Mr. De Niro?

Did I say those girls were beautiful?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDXtM8XaSKw

3. Eurhythmics: Love is a Stranger (1982)

I was going through some “heartbreak” of my own at the time and this song really touched me. Of course, I now think, “Heartbreak? What heartbreak? I was young! How could I have been heartbroken? Waking up with your hip always hurting, that’s heartbreak!” But this video brought me solace – as well as Annie Lennox, dressed in furs, wigs and black leather, playing with sharp objects and doing the robot in her Saville Row suit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6f593X6rv8

4. The Motels: Only the Lonely (1982)

Did anyone ever do anguish better than Martha Davis? I feel anguished just writing this. I can’t imagine her ever being happy - even if she ordered a bowl of soup, she’d be anguished. In fact, sometimes you’re just so anguished you can’t even keep your little black pillbox hat with the charming black veil on your head! You just have to tear it off and wave your hair around in the air-conditioned breeze! Oh, the humanity!

And is that an earthquake that happens in this one? Or is all that anguish so strong that it just moves mountains (and martini glasses)?

BTW, if they ever do a remake of this, I want to play the bartender. Love that snappy salute! Not to mention that orange bow tie/white suit combo. He looks like a human Creamsicle!

BTW2, was being a “Motel” the easiest job in the world? Just strum your guitar and let Martha sing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaPTELylZ1s

5. Fun Boy Three– Our Lips Are Sealed (1984)

I know the Go-Gos had the hit, but I preferred this version. Much to love here, including:

• Terry Hall (who co-wrote the tune) giving new meaning to the word “expressionless.”
• The incredibly hot drummer girl (who gives Terry a run for his money in the “I can be more catatonic than you” sweepstakes).
• The adorable lead guitar player with his Irish cap. He looks so self-conscious and awkward. But what a cutie pie!
• The incredibly hot cello girl sawing dutifully away even though she must’ve known no one could hear her!

So what do you think? Who put a bigger hole in the ozone layer with their hair spray? Cello girl or Terry?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqQT3oKA3v8

Well, next time, it’s Videos 6-10. Meanwhile, I’m curious… any videos you’d like to share? Let me know!