My Top Ten 80’s Video Picks

May 20, 2015

I was getting my hair done by my hair stylist, Jessica, the other day and we got to talking about perms and how she would never let me have one. I did have perms pretty much all through high school as that was the way to get big hair. Even now, I look at my hair sometimes and think if I add just little more hairspray I can once again achieve the proper height. My hair hasn’t been the proper height since 1991 in my opinion. 😉

Anyway we were having a good time talking about the 80’s and I thought I might do a top ten list and share with you my favorite 80’s videos. I was part of the MTV generation back when MTV was still showing videos and that’s where we learned everything about what was in and popular. So here are my picks.

Honorable Mentions

Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun

The reason I love this one so much is that this song just makes me happy. Cindy Lauper is weird, yet entertaining. Every time I hear this song, I think about my sisters and how much fun we have together on our girl vacations.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts –

I Love Rock N’ Roll

This song has inspired my tough girl side over the years. When I hear it, I just want to bang my head (can’t think of the right word but I mean nod your head in a jerking motion flipping your hair back and forth-you know what I mean), buy motorcycle boots, cake on the eye makeup, and rock out.

Bobby Brown – Every Little Step

So my sister, Linda, reminded me about this one and this was one of our favorites just because it makes you want to get up and dance. Also there are sparkle bustiers (there’s no way I could’ve rocked one of those even if my dad wouldn’t have killed me) and fly dance moves. 😉

Paula Abdul – Rush, Rush

Now the reason I chose Rush, Rush over some of Paula’s more successful songs such as, Cold Hearted Snake or Straight Up is because this one spoke to me. Not only does it have a handsome, and, at that time, pretty unknown Keanu Reeves as the love interest but it weaves a romantic story. And I’m all about the romance in case you haven’t noticed.

# 10

Madonna – Holiday

I was actually thinking this song went with the video of Lucky Star. I remember watching the Lucky Star video a lot, however, this is the song that’s important to me. When I was a pretty much friendless junior in high school, I found out I was rather good at sign language. As a result, everyone wanted me in their group since we signed to music for our midterms, etc. At the end of the school year we did a sign language performance and I did this song with a group of girls and we copied Madonna’s dance moves and everything. This was really the first time I ever enjoyed school on a social level.

https://youtu.be/lpBTNxhKln4

# 9

Kenny Loggins – Footloose

I saw the remake of Footloose and I have to say it pretty much stunk. The story was similar but the 80’s feel was gone and this movie only fits in the 80’s when teens were rocking out to portable cassette players. When they were making the remake, I heard somewhere that they were recruiting Zac Efron to play Kevin Bacon’s part (his character was named Ren, an excellent choice). If Zac had actually been cast, I probably would have liked it so much more. I remember going to a slumber party and we spent hours on the home phone calling a local radio station to request this song, each one of us taking a turn to call in. I think we got it to number 2 that night.

# 8

Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation

So back in the day, Janet Jackson was it for me. I wanted to be exactly like her. She was a chubby girl who wasn’t going to take any crap from anyone. She was my idol. But then she went and lost all her weight and changed from her tough girl persona to the kind of girl I couldn’t abide, but before that, I made myself a key earring and even created a video of me and my sisters dancing to her music, copying all her moves. Someday I might show you this video. 😉

INXS – Need You Tonight

So Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of INXS was all bare chested with long hair and a killer smile and I fell for him pretty hard. That’s all. Really nothing else. I just liked looking at him.

Whitney Houston – How Will I Know

Whitney Houston was the queen of all things poised, fun, and lovely. With an unforgettable voice, a fantastic smile, and a video full of color and movement, this was, by far, one of my favorites. And I did want to dance with somebody, somebody who loved me. Sadly, no such boy was around at that time in my life. But I liked thinking about the possibility.

Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

My love for George Michael in the 80’s is something that cannot be fully described. I had a giant poster of him on my wall that I stared at for hours on end. I think I even talked to it while imagining that my future husband would be just as good-looking or, at least, have his hair. Sadly, my husband’s hair only lasted into his 30’s. In high school home ec class I sewed a white sweatshirt and had CHOOSE LIFE ironed onto it. To this day I don’t know what that was supposed to mean.

I loved George from the top of his Aqua Net hair-sprayed gorgeous blond locks to the tiny silver hoops in his ears to the neon fingerless gloves. Then there was the Richard Simmons short shorts which nobody has ever been, nor will ever be, able to rock like George Michael. I remember in high school some of the kids were saying they thought he was gay, a thing that I vehemently denied was even possible since I had great Faith that when he sang, I’m Your Man, he was singing to me personally.

New Kids On The Block –

You Got It (The Right Stuff)

There is no other singing group that is quite as important to me and my sisters as The New Kids On The Block. They were the boy band of our generation and there was one for each of us! At one point in my life I owned all the dolls, jewelry, games, trading cards, lunch boxes, calendars, buttons, posters, license plates, cassette tapes, videotapes, t-shirts, pillowcases, throw blankets…you get the idea. If they branded it, we owned it.

Once there was a contest where you went to a certain grocery store, found the Coke display, and filled out an entry to win a cruise with them. We drove to every grocery store within the city limits and stole all the entry forms then spent hours filling them all out by hand and turning them in.

Sadly, we didn’t win. We did, however, win tickets and backstage passes to see them in concert in Phoenix during a canned food drive contest. Unfortunately, our dad wouldn’t let us go to Phoenix (a two hour trip) by ourselves and he made us give the tickets and passes away to charity. That was the hardest phone call I ever had to make.

Rock on

Our dreams went unrealized until a couple years ago, I noticed they were touring with the Backstreet Boys in Phoenix. I bought tickets and took my sisters and we had the time of our lives. We were in the second row and Joey totally smiled and waved at me.

Shara and Linda

# 3

A-Ha – Take On Me

This is really a triple threat video to me. You have a hunky guy, a great romantic story, and a dance-able, fun song to go with it. It just doesn’t get any better than this. The story telling in this video is amazing!

Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer

I have never, ever been to a Bon Jovi concert. This is wrong and I will do something about this travesty someday. I have loved this group since its inception and Jon Bon Jovi is still a hottie even at my age which I’m totally not telling you though you could probably Google it and find out. He writes his own music, isn’t afraid to write romantic lyrics, sings beautifully, and he’s gorgeous. Also he’s been married to his high school sweetheart during his entire career. What’s not to like ladies? This is my favorite of his songs. It tells a great story and it’s so fun!

Michael Jackson – Thriller

Who didn’t love Michael Jackson in the 80’s? It’s akin to dissing Star Wars, Pac-Man, Dollar Movies, Pop Rocks, and Sunglasses that you wear at Night…like totally. Did you catch that last music reference? If you’re an 80’s kid you did. There’s just no topping this video like…ever. I make my nieces and nephews watch it every Halloween. During my high school aerobics class which I loved, we learned the entire Thriller zombie dance and pranced through the halls of my school showing off our moves. Is it any wonder I wasn’t running with the popular crowd?

So there you have it. My Top Ten videos from the 80’s plus a few extra thrown in just for kicks. Did I miss any of your favorites? What were your top songs from that decade?

Colleen

This entry was posted in Top Ten Lists, Video.

Colleen Houck

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My Top Ten 80’s Video Picks

May 20, 2015

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Colleen Houck