December 15, 2008, - 1:07 pm

VIDEOs of the Day: Do They Stand the Test of Time?

By Debbie Schlussel
**** SCROLL DOWN FOR FOR UPDATE ****
Back in the day, I loved both of these songs, but only one of them–the second (which is on my Zune and my IPod–for my workout music)–stands the test of time for me (looove the awesome guitars in it). It’s interesting that both of these one-hit wonder videos were considered futuristic in their time. Now, they’re not even “old school,” just cheesy. Bad plot more suitable for a porn flick . . . check, girls–and guys–with big hair . . . check, loud synthesizers . . . check, never heard from again . . . check, check, check. The leopard-skin jumpsuit in the first one just doesn’t do it for me, but I do wish I had a guitar with those powers.
So, whaddya think? Did you like these songs back in the day? Do they stand the test of time for you? I’m kinda surprised by the lyrics of the first one, which I definitely didn’t pay attention to back then.



**** UPDATE: Looks like Aldo Nova’s leopardskin unitard was a hint of the future. He’s now a songwriter for Clay Aiken.






9 Responses

Not all of them, but MANY of the music videos from the ’80’s do stand the test of time, and will only become MORE popular 5 to 10 years from now as the generation at that time grows nostalgic. Unlike today, the videos back then didn’t flash a new scene/picture every 1/100th of a second. You could actually enjoy the music and the videos, and they actually tried to portray a visual message you can understand…however hokie it might’ve been, at times. The music, aside from the videos, are just as epic to the’80’s as the music from the ’50’s, ’60’s and ’70’s were to those periods. They had a distinct style, melody, and message. They will also stand the test of time.
They are GREAT!!!

Thee_Bruno on December 15, 2008 at 1:48 pm

Turn up the Radio — rules to this day! Agreed, good workout music.

ob3 on December 15, 2008 at 2:43 pm

Wow, I haven’t seen those in ages! Still as good as ever.
Video #1: Who talked him into the leopard skin leotard? I almost fell off my chair laughing.
Video #2: That robot looks a lot like the one from Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”! Cool stuff.

mplumb on December 15, 2008 at 2:49 pm

Absolutely great guitar licks … and great video memories when they were truly art!
Jimmy Lewis
SCS, Michigan
Blog: http://rougerevival.blogspot.com/

Jimmy on December 15, 2008 at 2:55 pm

IMHO, Thank God for the Seattle Grunge Scene. Glam Rock died and did me a favor. Rock is still defined by the sudden change from glam to grunge. I think I’ll stick to Linkin Park or Staind.
The cheese is oozing all over the videos. Great to watch but not my music. In the first video though at about 2:49 he sings “powder pleasure in your nose tonight” and he does this snort of his nose. CLASSIC. LOL. Second video was cheezy but song is all right for its time.

californiascreaming on December 15, 2008 at 3:39 pm

I want my MTV.

i_am_me on December 15, 2008 at 7:53 pm

As a coming of the age child of the eighties also, I gotta say, I was never much into hairbands, well maybe Night Ranger. Then again we were just coming off of disco and even crap from Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Duran Duran, etc. was better then that.
But speaking of 80’s videos, “Every Breath You Take” always takes me back to the summer of 83 and take away how young they look, the video looks like it could have been made yesterday. It really holds up.
“Every Breath You Take”

lowandslow on December 15, 2008 at 10:46 pm

That first video has a riff ripped off from Jefferson Starship’s “Jane.” It’s a good riff, but still.

Rick on December 17, 2008 at 11:13 am

I was never an Aldo Nova fan. I thought Autograph was okay for a short time, but that singer was just too ridiculous looking.
When grunge took over, that’s when rock’n’roll stopped being fun. Too much of the angst, anger, emo crap. I have liked very few rock bands since the early 90s when guitar songs with melodies stopped being popular.
Check out these on youtube for a serious reminder of how great music used to be (but remember, the videos are dated. What was cool 20 years ago is cheesey today. But the music is still great.):
Inside out by XYZ
Panama by VanHalen
Blow My Fuse by Kix
I’ll Never Let You Go by Steelheart
Heaven Tonight by Yngwie Malmsteen
Still Loving You by Scorpions
Fly to the Angels by Slaughter
You Shook ME All Night Long by AC/DC
Coming of Age by Damn Yankees
Don’t Treat Me Bad by Firehouse
Down Boys by Warrant
Edge of a Broken Heart by Vixen

Privatestock on December 19, 2008 at 9:53 am

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