What was the best music video from the 1980s? Vote here

Virgin Radio

14 Nov 2022, 11:51

Plenty of iconic music videos came out of the 1980s, but which one is the best of them all?  

When thinking back on the decade, there are plenty of memorable clips that spring to mind. How about Michael Jackson’s 14-minute video for Thriller? Or how about the animated magic of A-Ha’s Take On Me? Or Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer?

There are loads more music videos that are worth revisiting. So, we want to know what you, our listeners, think is the best music video from the 80s.

You can vote for your favourite HERE.

Out of the list of 30 that we have chosen, let us know your top three and we will compile a top ten, based on your votes.

The winner of the best music video of the 80s will then be revealed on Virgin Radio 80s Plus on Friday 25th November through the day - so make sure you get your votes in!

Included in the list is, of course, the aforementioned clip for Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which was released in 1983. Directed by John Landis, the video references numerous horror films and sees Jackson perform an incredible group dance with a horde of zombies.

A-Ha’s live-action pencil-sketch animation went on to win six awards plus two nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards.

And Sledgehammer saw Peter Gabriel lay under a sheet of glass for 16 hours while filming the video one frame at a time

Elsewhere on the list are a couple of Madonna efforts: Like a Prayer and Material Girl, and Janet Jackson’s excellent Rhythm Nation is there too.

Olivia Newton-John’s Physical is another incredible music video on our poll. Directed by Brian Grant, it went on to win a Grammy Award for Video of the Year in 1983.

Others on the list include music videos from David Bowie, Whitney Houston, The Police, Billy Idol and many more.

Vote for your top three here.

You can listen to Virgin Radio 80 Plus HERE. You can also listen on DAB+ in London and Central Scotland and on smart speakers across the UK, as well as via the Virgin Radio UK app.