Kids I know you'll find this hard to believe but MTV used to really be about music television. MTV was very relevant to the culture of America before it disintegrated into the reality TV fiasco it is now. Many bands broke out big because of play on MTV. People like Madonna, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Dire Straits and many others took full advantage of the visual aspect of television.
Many bands that would have been big anyway increased their following because of their wise use of MTV. Many bands who probably would have never broke out before MTV, did with the help of MTV. They were able to create the videos that captured America. I remember how excited I use to be by World Premiere Videos.
This was before the internet. So we were basically held hostage by MTV if we wanted to see a video. That is unless we had recorded it on a VHS. We just couldn't go see a video anytime, it had to wait until MTV or some other station showed it. But for the most part MTV was the only game in town.
I was a sophomore in high school when I first saw MTV. The first song ever played on MTV and also an amazing song: The Buggles "Video Killed The Radio Star":
Other songs that I probably only knew about because of MTV. Sadly I couldn't find the original video for Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Silence":
Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning":
Boom Crash Opera's "Onion Skin":
Would Til' Tuesday ever broken out without this video or would Aimee Mann be as liked today as she is?
C + C Music's Factory "Gonna Make You Sweat" (Everybody Dance Now)": The vixen who looks like she's singing the song um really isn't.
Another band that was helped a lot by MTV was The Human League. "Don't You Want Me":
"Human":
Songs that artists used to increase their following. This is the first video I think of when I think about this. Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean":
Madonna was also very clever about using MTV to increase her following. Madonna's "Live To Tell":
is
This is one conversation I don't want to have with my daughter. One of my favorite videos from the entire 80s, Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach":
Not exactly the greatest video ever, but this does capture the whole Madonna craze when it was at it's peak. This is also one of my favorite Madonna songs, "Dress You Up":
This was one of the most striking videos to appear on MTV in the 80s. The Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These":
The smart established artist took full advantage of MTV. Bruce Springsteen, already an established star with a devoted following, wisely used MTV's exposure. With a young Courtney Cox, Springsteen exploded on to MTV with "Dancing In The Dark":
U2 was a band that broke big almost in spite of their lack of presence on MTV. Of course they made videos, but not one video jumps to mind when I think of U2. That is except "Sunday Bloody Sunday". U2 went to Red Rocks in Colorado and decided to play in very cold weather. They captured lightning in a bottle and this is U2 as they headed towards international fame.
One band that might surprise you that took full advantage of MTV's reach is ZZ Top. They made a series of now iconic videos. Here are a few:
"Gimme All Your Lovin'":
I can't find the original video for "Legs", this is the best I could find:
I can't find the original video for "Sharp Dressed Man" either: (The fact that Nickelback covered this song in concert is disgraceful. Nickelback perhaps is the worst big name rock band ever.)
This isn't my favorite ZZ Top video from that era, however it's my favorite of their songs from that era.
"Stages":
Another band that took full advantage of MTV's visual capabilities is Whitesnake. They used sex in the twirling, dancing body of Tawny Kataen:
"Here I Go Again":
This song seriously kicks some butt, although it owes more than a big thanks to Led Zeppelin. "Still Of The Night":
"Is This Love":
themusicaddict
No comments:
Post a Comment