Top 10 Groundbreaking Music Videos of the 80s

First up on our list of groundbreaking music videos of the 80s is Queen’s “I Want to Break Free.” In 1984, Queen gave us one of the decade’s most memorable videos when they dressed in drag, parodying the British soap opera Coronation Street.

In this music video, Freddie Mercury vacuumed in a black miniskirt while his bandmates rocked wigs and granny outfits. And somehow it just worked. Then, the video’s second half showed Mercury ditching the housewife, dancing with the Royal Ballet in a foggy cave. After that, it was followed by clips of Mercury lounging around eating grapes and crowd-surfing with ballet dancers. Because why not?

At the end of the video, he returned to his housewife duties (in the same drag from earlier). It’s exactly the kind of creative leap that made music videos of the 80s so special. While MTV banned it in America, this controversy just made the video more legendary, cementing its place in music video history.

Next on our list of music videos of the 80s is Prince’s “When Doves Cry.” Released in 1984, the video opened with a scene that also had MTV sweating—Prince emerging from a steamy bathtub. It was probably the sexiest and most daring music video intro of its time.

From there, we saw scenes from his movie Purple Rain mixed with shots of him dancing in a room full of mirrors and fancy decorations. The whole video felt like a fever dream, filled with Prince doing what he did best—mixing religious symbols with his incredible dance moves.

The video helped make “When Doves Cry” one of 1984’s biggest hits, and showed everyone else how to make a video that was both artistic and commercial.

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Another groundbreaking music videos of the 80s was Olivia Newton-John‘s most popular song, “Physical.” When this video dropped in 1981, Newton-John became known for more than just Sandy from Grease. Now, she was an aerobics queen, complete with headband, leotard, and leg warmers. The video followed Olivia in a gym, trying to whip a bunch of overweight guys into shape.

What makes this one special is its humor. After all the workout scenes, these out-of-shape dudes suddenly became hunks, only for them to leave holding hands with each other instead of her. Pretty bold stuff for the early 80s! The whole video perfectly captured the decade’s fitness craze in a sexy way that left everyone talking.

This video became so iconic that it basically invented the workout video aesthetic we continued to see everywhere throughout the 80s. And even what’s portrayed today, as it is often still sampled and covered. Plus, like both of the others so far, MTV banned it in some markets— which only made people want to watch it more.

Also Read: Most Memorable Movie Soundtracks of the 90s

Moving up our list of music videos of the 80s, we had to include Cyndi Lauper‘s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun“. This music video was shot on a tight budget in New York City. It turned Lauper’s home and neighborhood into a party that perfectly matched her quirky personality.

The video followed Cyndi waking up and dancing through her house while her dad (played by actor and wrestler Lou Albano) complained about her lifestyle choices. Then, she called up a bunch of friends in a montage. They then joined her, all singing and dancing through the streets of New York, up fire escapes, and into bedrooms. With her signature orange hair and thrifted outfit collection, Lauper created a new kind of pop star. One who looked like she actually was having fun.

This song became the ultimate girls’ anthem of the 80s. And, finally, MTV couldn’t get enough of it, and neither could anyone else.

Next, “Walk This Way” was a 1986 music video. It opened with Run-DMC in their practice space, annoyed by the rock music blasting through the wall. On the other side, Aerosmith rocked out in their own studio.

When Steven Tyler literally smashed through the wall with his mic stand, something magical happened. The barrier between hip-hop and rock literally crashed down, and we watched two legendary groups combine into one. This iconic video didn’t have crazy fancy effects or production— just the energy of two musical worlds colliding in real time.

The video made our list for showing MTV audiences something they’d never seen before: rap and rock sharing the same space as equals. In under four minutes, it changed how millions of fans thought about both genres, making it one of the most groundbreaking music videos of the 80s.

As perhaps one of the most iconic songs of the decade, we had to include “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles. The video’s director, Russell Mulcahy, crafted visuals that perfectly matched the song’s theme of technology changing music.

The video kicked off with a young girl inside an old radio, setting the stage for a wild ride. Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, the band members, wore outfits that blended 50s style with a modern space-age twist.

And, a flashy silver-wearing “video star” danced through it all, driving home the song’s message. Notably, this video also made history as the first clip ever played on MTV in 1981, marking the start of a new era in music.

Another groundbreaking music video of the 80s was Madonna’s “Like A Prayer,” which sparked controversy from the moment it debuted in 1989. The video opened with Madonna witnessing a crime and seeking refuge in a church. As she was in the church, a saint statue came to life before her eyes.

What followed was a bold mix of religious and provocative imagery. Madonna danced in a slip dress among burning crosses, kissed the saint, and joined a gospel choir in celebration. Additionally, the video caused such an uproar that Pepsi immediately canceled Madonna’s endorsement deal.

But that’s exactly why it’s on our list. It pushed the boundaries of what a music video could be, turning controversial themes into art.

Uniquely, the mid-80s saw stop-motion animation reach new heights with Peter Gabriel‘s “Sledgehammer.” The 1986 video put Gabriel’s face and body through a series of transformations— from fruit arrangements, to a moving train, dancing chickens, and claymation creatures.

Created by Aardman Animations (who later made Wallace & Gromit), the video required Gabriel to lie under a glass plate for 16 hours while animators worked on it frame by frame. Every second of footage took hours to create, but the result was unlike anything viewers had ever seen before.

“Sledgehammer” became MTV’s most played video of all time, showing how far music videos could push creative boundaries. It truly set a new standard for animation in music videos.

In 1985, a-ha‘s “Take On Me” revolutionized the way animation and live action could blend in music videos. The video opened with a young woman reading a comic book in a cafe, when suddenly the animated hero (played by singer Morten Harket) pulled her into his pencil-sketched world.

As the story unfolded, the video switched between realistic scenes and hand-drawn animation. This technique, known as rotoscoping, required animators to hand-draw tons of frames to achieve its unique look.

This marriage of innovation and storytelling helped turn an unknown Norwegian band into MTV superstars. The video’s influence can still be seen today, with its distinctive visual style often referenced and imitated.

Also Read: The Best Romance Movies of the 70s

Last but definitely not least, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is one of the most iconic music videos of the decade—if not ever. The 14-minute horror mini-movie, directed by John Landis, opened with Jackson on a date at a movie theater.

As the video continued, Jackson transformed into a werewolf and a zombie, leading the undead in the now-iconic dance sequence. The video broke new ground with its cinematic approach and Hollywood-level makeup effects. And, of course, the choreography and the zombie makeup also set new standards for music video production.

“Thriller” was so revolutionary that it became the first music video inducted into the National Film Registry. It proved that music videos could be truly as memorable as movies themselves.