Unforgettable Music Movies by Girls Artists from the ’80s and ’90s

“Women Simply Wanna Have Enjoyable” by Cyndi Lauper (1983)

The 1983 single “Women Simply Wanna Have Enjoyable” launched Cyndi Lauper into huge mainstream success and cemented her as a legit pop star, however sarcastically sufficient, it was by no means her tune to start with—with just a few (monumental) tweaks to the songwriting and instrumentals, Lauper made a breakthrough hit out of Robert Hazard‘s demo, which was initially written from a male perspective. The monitor was not a lament over the narrator’s incapability to draw a girl; it had been remodeled right into a vibrant, danceable feminist anthem.

If that wasn’t already iconic sufficient, the tune’s music video sealed the deal. Lauper dances exuberantly round her mother and father, within the metropolis, and with different girls, fashionably accessorized and dressed to social gathering. The video screams confidence, independence, and a carefree perspective because the social gathering floods into Lauper’s residence, offering a visualizer for girls to not solely have enjoyable, however to be the enjoyable. Passivity was out, and taking management of the narrative was in. In January of 2022, the video crossed a billion views on YouTube—a testomony to a cultural staple that has soundtracked girls having enjoyable for over 4 a long time.

“Candy Desires (Are Product of This)” by Eurythmics (1983)

Earlier this yr, the “Candy Desires” music video hit one billion views on YouTube—an unexpectedly late milestone, occurring greater than a decade and a half after the long-lasting video’s premiere on the video-sharing platform. In 1983, on the time of its launch, “Candy Desires” was thought-about a traditional on early MTV; it helped Eurythmics break by to American audiences and subsequently spun the duo into international superstars.

The music video itself, directed by Chris Ashbrook, encompasses a weird but mesmeric fusion of company workplace styling and a naturalistic setting, impressed by surrealist artists like Salvador Dalí and Luis Bunuel. Much more impactful than the presence of reside cows in a boardroom, nevertheless, was Annie Lennox‘s hanging, gender-nonconforming look; together with her close-cropped orange hair, males’s go well with and cane, and unflinching gaze, she pioneered a groundbreaking picture for feminine artists. The recognition of the music video not solely helped the pop duo obtain widespread mainstream success, but additionally helped break the mould of expectations for girls in music, and made Lennox immediately recognizable as a pop star.

“Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson (1989)

With its post-apocalyptic warehouse setting, dance crew costumed in unisex army uniforms, and black-and-white colour grade, the music video for “Rhythm Nation” stands as a landmark of late-80s R&B and dance-pop. Directed by Dominic Sena (identified for movies like Kalifornia, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Swordfish), the video options eye-catching choreography in addition to visible results and modifying to accompany the monitor’s catchy beat. Every body oozes drama and elegance, cementing Janet Jackson as a pop star in a league of her personal.

Whereas her label was reluctant to help both the album’s idea or the premise of the music video, Jackson solid forward, decided to make highly effective political statements about points that moved her. Not solely did the music video go on to win a number of awards—together with a Grammy Award and MTV’s Greatest Choreography and Greatest Dance Video—however its singularity within the tradition additionally made ripples within the music trade lengthy after its launch. Artists like Beyoncé have paid homage to the video’s style, whereas others like Mickey Avalon and even movie choreographers have referenced its dance sequences. One factor is for sure: “Rhythm Nation” remains to be (metaphorically) breaking laptops.

“Like A Prayer” by Madonna (1989)

Stirring up international debates round music, artwork, race, intercourse, and faith, the music video for “Like A Prayer” is undoubtedly, to this present day, one of popular culture’s most iconic moments. Following a girl who witnesses a misattributed murder, the video featured and commented on a plethora of topics that have been thought-about deeply controversial on the time: systemic racism and injustice, cross burning, and spiritual blasphemy, together with Madonna‘s provocative styling and a scene through which she kisses a Black saint. The controversy grew to such heights that it led to worldwide boycotts from Christian teams, each of her music and of Pepsi-Cola and its subsidiaries, which had partnered with Madonna only a day prior for a TV business and deliberate to sponsor her upcoming world tour. Even Pope John Paul II himself known as for Catholics to boycott Madonna in Italy.

This controversy solely bolstered its reputation, nevertheless, and greater than forty years later, the music video for “Like A Prayer” stays an icon of popular culture. Its gorgeous visuals, daring social commentary, and profound international affect on the time have solely aged like wine, and proceed to resonate as a touchstone of provocation in artwork and cultural affect in pop music.

“Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor (1990)

It is no query that Sinead O’Connor‘s heartbreaking rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U” completely eclipsed the unique by Prince, however few may be accustomed to the truth that its widespread success largely stemmed from the discharge of its music video, directed by John Maybury. After dwelling on the low ends of the High 40 and being dropped from BBC playlists, the monitor was teetering on the sting of public consciousness.

The music video, nevertheless, with O’Connor’s piercing expression and two real tears down every cheek, fully upended the tune’s standing; after its late-night premiere on MTV, gross sales skyrocketed, and the world wept in unison over her devastating efficiency. The video obtained quite a few accolades, together with MTV’s Video of the 12 months, of which O’Connor was the primary feminine recipient. To this present day, the music video continues to the touch the hearts of followers worldwide—with greater than half a billion views on YouTube and counting.

“Waterfalls” by TLC (1995)

Addressing each the unlawful drug commerce and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, “Waterfalls” was already set to make a splash; the million-dollar-budget music video simply ensured it. The video follows two tales: in a single, a teen ignores the pleas of his mom to give up promoting medicine earlier than getting killed by a rival seller. His spirit tries in useless to embrace his mom afterwards, however he’s unable to succeed in her. In one other, a younger couple eschews safety throughout intercourse, and the person’s face slowly begins displaying signs of AIDS. Clips of TLC singing whereas standing on the ocean are woven in between.

The monitor was the primary number-one tune to consult with AIDS, and its music video, directed by F. Gary Grey (Friday, Straight Outta Compton), made TLC the primary African-American act to obtain the MTV Video of the 12 months Award. TLC’s socially acutely aware messaging and willingness to visually showcase and open discussions about stigmatized matters was revolutionary—and nonetheless deeply related and iconic at the moment. On the time, HIV was wrongfully believed to solely have an effect on homosexual males, who additionally usually confronted victim-blaming. TLC not solely created a global hit, but additionally a deeply delicate music video that challenged these misconceptions head-on.

“Legal” by Fiona Apple (1997)

Directed by Mark Romanek (One Hour Picture, By no means Let Me Go), the music video for “Legal” is about in a gritty, voyeuristic universe—the dirty inexperienced carpet, remnants of late-night debauchery, vignette pictures, and Fiona Apple‘s sensual sulk all set up the sensation that the viewer is intruding upon one thing. All through the video, a younger, scantily clad Apple lounges about on flooring, counter tops, and different our bodies, locking eyes with the digital camera as if making an attempt to straight attain the viewers. This specific, unabashed present of sexuality, pleasure, and the guilt that comes with it made waves for Apple as a feminine singer-songwriter, cementing her as a moody, sensual, but confrontational performer within the various house.

Frightening additional dialogue about sexual company was Apple’s twin function as each the viewer, snapping pictures of one other lady, and the article, posing provocatively for the viewers. Her waifish look additionally sparked debates in regards to the “heroin stylish” fashion that had been popularized within the early ’90s—an aesthetic characterised by traits related to drug abuse. All in all, the video’s themes of intercourse, voyeurism, adolescence, and physique picture, together with its cinematography, stay iconic and recognizable to this present day.

“Doo Wop (That Factor)” by Lauryn Hill (1998)

With the split-screen music video for “Doo Wop (That Factor),” Lauryn Hill embodied an icon of two totally different eras in New York; the left facet, which featured a Sixties Hill paying homage to Aretha Franklin, paying homage to traditional rhythm and blues and doo-wop, and the appropriate facet, showcasing a late ’90s Hill doing the identical with hip-hop. Though the 2 sides show totally different eras, types, and genres, they work in tandem to ascertain a story about neighborhood, identification, feminine empowerment and egalitarianism between the sexes. In each eras, we see comparable shows of neighborhood and battle, and Hill addresses each women and men of their relationships with one another, warning towards getting caught up in superficial and materials issues.

The visuals and style are undeniably iconic, and the candid cultural commentary is timeless. “Doo Wop” turned the primary hip-hop tune to win the Video of the 12 months Award, and Hill made historical past as the primary solo Black artist winner. Since its launch, the video has appeared on quite a few “biggest of all time” lists, together with these of VH1 and Slant Journal.

“All is Stuffed with Love” by Björk (1999)

The video for “All is Stuffed with Love” just isn’t solely considered a masterpiece within the music world, however within the artwork world as nicely; together with receiving a plethora of awards, it has additionally been featured in quite a few artwork exhibitions and museums, together with in a everlasting exhibition on the Museum of Trendy Artwork. Concurrently sterile and sensual, the video follows two humanoid robots, each resembling Björk, in a surrealist cyborg world stuffed with black wires, automated machines, and white counter tops. The repeated drilling mechanisms, mysterious white fluid, and scenes of the 2 androids in a passionate embrace all set up a transparent erotic undertone, taking part in with the uneasy steadiness between the backyard and the machine.

Above all, the video serves as a technological feat of pc graphics and digital design—director Chris Cunningham relied closely on post-production processes, and most of the video’s visuals have been created utilizing computer-generated imagery or by skilfully mixing a number of shot frames. Trying again, it is clear that “All is Stuffed with Love” was a long time forward of its time. Even with fashionable technological developments, the video’s idea, aesthetics, and total execution stay totally distinctive.

“Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks (2000)

Homicide ballads have been round for hundreds of years, however the Chicks stirred up a hayload of controversy in 1999 once they launched “Goodbye Earl,” a rustic tune a couple of lady who kills her abusive husband together with her finest good friend. The music video solely exacerbated the impact; it was vibrant, comedic, and had a contented ending, with the 2 women opening up a roadside stand and the city celebrating Earl’s dying. Upon its launch, many radio stations refused to play the monitor, whereas others offered violence prevention hotline numbers. The trio was accused of selling and trivializing violence, and there was even discourse over the shortage of penalties for fictional characters Mary Anne and Wanda.

Regardless of the controversy, nevertheless, the general public had spoken: “Goodbye Earl” was successful. Its darkish humor and lighthearted music video turned a crowd favourite, and in 2000, it gained the Video of the 12 months Award from the Academy of Nation Music and the Nation Music Affiliation. Because the flip of the century, numerous parodies have been made by different music artists and web personalities alike—proof that we’re by no means saying goodbye to “Goodbye Earl.”