Top 10 Decade Defining Music Videos of the 1980s
In the decade that saw the creation of MTV, these were the records that really made the most of the new-fangled music video format! Join as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Decade Defining Music Videos: 1980s! For this list, we’ve ranked the most popular, most iconic music videos, and those that best represent the 1980s in general. Click here to subscribe: or visit our channel page here: Also, check out our interactive Suggestion Tool at 🙂
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What's my favorite? Take On Me.
My top ten defining music videos of the 80's.
The 80's saw the music video emerge as an art form, and evolve from little more than films of bands playing.
I also have a criteria of one video per artist. Not going to look everything up, so if I make a slight mistake, the title isn't quite right, or I misspelled the artist's name, hey, I made a mistake.
10.) View to a Kill -Duran Duran
Interesting mixture of the movie and band acting like they are interacting with the scenes from the movie.
9). Take on Me – Ah ha
I find this song to be bland pop song, but the fascinating combination of live video, animation and story earned this video a spot on the list.
8.) Oh Mickey – Toni Basil
"Oh Mickey you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind…" You're starting to sing it now. 🙂
7.) Shock the Monkey – Peter Gabriel
Another video with a story being told like "Take on Me", but this one also has a good song.
6.) Whip It – Devo
One of the stand out "gimmick" bands of the 80's, they made this fun video that goes along with a fun song.
5.) Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cindi Lauper
A catchy (if annoying) song, Cindi's anthem and bright red dress helped to make professional wrestling part of 80's culure.
4.) Money for Nothing – Dire Straights
Insightful social commentary set to a snappy tune with interesting animation.
3.) Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer
This stylish video is parodied to this day.
2.) Down Under – Men at Work
Hate to use the word "quirky" but…this quirky video helped start the Australian Invasion.
1. Thriller – Michael Jackson
He's the main reason I limited the list to one mention per artist. This video stands out with its theme, dance routines and great for the times effects and make up.
Hot for Teacher should have been #2
so no rhythm nation by janet jackson???? i swear yall seem to have forgotten of her existence and her legacy
TAKE ON ME BY A-HA IS MY FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO OF ALL TIME
Sex and The City ruined walk this way. That show ruined a lot of good music.
Lol oh no Rick Roll!
seems like music videos on 1984 are great while there is no entry from 1981 which means that year sucked on music videos
Wheres N.W.A
Never mind… 😀
RICKROLLED!!!!!!!
rick astley rules!!!!
I thought that We Built This City would be on here. But now that I think about these really beat it out.
Omg that Rick roll was the best I've ever seen
You could argue smooth criminal
where is THRILLER in this list
Videos kill the radio's star.. Intent killed Videos (tv) star
where is the cure
Dirty Dancin', Flashdance, Breakdance and Footloose (the original, not the remake version)
The 80s were the definition of iconic music videos. They were more creative, funny, & inspiring than any other era
At least Robert Palmer got Honorable Mention, but most unforgivable is the omission of ZZ Top — Sharp Dressed Man may certainly be the best music video of the 80's! Then of course overlooked, as absolutely seminal of the 80's: The Cars and Flock of Seagulls were iconic 80's bands and videos. How in the hell could they have put Cher and George Michael in the top 10???
One Metallica? anyone?
do the 70's
God dammit
Did I just get Rick Rolled!!!! FUUUUUUCCKKKKK YOUUUUUUU!!!
OMG I ALMOST FLIPPED MY TABLE GETTING RICK ROLLED!!! hahaha
Blondie Rapture (technically the first rap song) & ZZTop She's Got Legs and I can name a few others. Not A-HA (maybe an honorable mention).
I like your videos, but some times you guys miss the mark. Nobody exemplified 1980s everyman like Bruce Springsteen. He really should have been in the countdown. And where's ZZ Top? They're pretty iconic. And not one hair metal group? Twisted Sister, being one of the first hair metal bands to have a music video, should have been considered. Other than that, pretty decent video of an overall look at 1980s videos.
Rick Rolling was intense
WHAT ABOUT GENIUS OF LOVE ????
Fucking Rick Roll.
I'm not a fan of Michael Jackson, but if Thriller wasn't number 1… we would had some problems..
well played Mojo….you got me
What about Aerosmith's "Janie's Got A Gun" music vid?????
30 years later, I just see a "The Coneheads" reference un Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
The best Madonna's 80s video was Like a Prayer. Good joke with number 1
"Sledgehammer" is great but I think "Take On Me" was more decade-defining. And it's just cruel to put "Once in a Lifetime" in the opening but not in the actual list.
Thanks for the Rick Roll Mojo! We all know "Thriller" by MJ should have been #1!
I agree with Duran Duran being on the list. But it should have been "Wild Boys".
And how could "I want to break free" only be an honourable mention?
I just got rickrolled in 2017. LOL.
Not funny how you switched from "Never Gonna Give You Up" to "Thriller" for #1.
I just went to the Triller music video, and it has 100,000 dislikes. Therefore, 100,000 people COMBINED have the intellect of a REFRIGERATOR!!!!!!!!
If Take on Me isn't #1, someone dun fucked up