[-]

tearlock@reddit

Lol, this scene lead to the sexual awakening of many tween and teen girls.

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Bud72@reddit

True, it was a girl that brought the movie for us to watch in my 1st grade class.

It was an intimidatingly sexualized Goblin King gleefully stealing that little baby brother after one moment of weakness from Jennifer Connelly’s character that terrified this older brother…

[-]

NTA_Shawn@reddit

David Bowie in Labyrinth.

My other half has a shirt of him in the movie and wears it just to get on my nerves. One day that shirt will get most in the wash

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c17usaf@reddit

She was a fighter pilot in “Shadows of the Night.”

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hoopermanish@reddit

Andy Partridge, for no reason other than the camerawork on Senses Working Overtime. Insert

[-]

pseudo_su3@reddit

I must have dreamed a thousand dreams
Been haunted by a million screams

Yes, me too. :(

[-]

Horrible!! I'm glad I've never seen this, or it would have scared the shit out of me. But there was a Robitussen commercial like this. A bunch of puppet news anchors whose faces would fucken explode when they coughed. My dad called the TV station and got them to stop playing it because it scared me so much. Somehow we even got sent some free Robitussen!

But for music videos, mine is similar: George Harrisson's I Got My Mind Set On You, with the stop motion puppets.

gif

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pseudo_su3@reddit

Our childhood was a cursed fever dream.

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werdnurd@reddit

The lip flipping down always gave me the creeps!

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

yeah this and maybe only this

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bashturd@reddit

Spitting Image! My dad had an episode on VHS of the show made by the same people, we used to watch the hell out of it.

[-]

Kid_Kameleon@reddit

This is my earliest memory of a music video, creeps me out too, but then Genesis ended up being my favorite band when I was a toddler

[-]

Practical-Ad-8492@reddit

They gave me nightmares to this day. Creepy looking things.

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82ndGameHead@reddit

Oh Superman, where are you now?

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KillRobotsSuperior@reddit

gif

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Weak_Radish966@reddit

Saw this new year's eve 1986, late at night, by myself, all the other kids were asleep and all the adults were hanging out in another part of the house. Scared the living crap out of me.

[-]

Boetheus@reddit

The Phil Collins one looks way too much like the Crypt Keeper

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twirlybird11@reddit

Our generation has not made it right...

...yet

[-]

ScottClam42@reddit

Haha my all time favorite video

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Brave_Nerve_6871@reddit

I saw Michael Jackson's Thriller video as a 3-year old with my siblings who were 10+ years older than me.

Also, I remember seeing Gene Simmons in his Kiss mask spitting blood on the cover of a magazine.

So those two.

[-]

Psychological-Cry221@reddit

I can’t believe this is so far down. I was probably about the same age and it scared the bejesus out of me.

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Sunnydaytripper@reddit

Thriller and this. Legit scared me! 😂

gif

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Much-Diet1423@reddit

Yup, the extended version of Thriller, when he grows whiskers and transforms into the wolf or whatever, fucked me up

[-]

TheObviousChild@reddit

Yep. I think I was about 6 when that full video premiered on prime time. The transformation scene fucked me up pretty bad.

[-]

SlackerDS5@reddit

Yeah, the thriller video freaked me out for a while. Especially with the face reveal and Vincent Price’s dialogue and laughter, made it worse for my young brain.

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danger_bears@reddit

I used to check out the "Making of Thriller" video from the library and watch it all the time. I need to hunt that down.

[-]

Hot-Significance-462@reddit

Thriller-era MJ, in general, scared me as a kid. I remember having a poster in my bedroom whose eyes looked like they followed you around the room.

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Mountain_Chard_6704@reddit

I was around the same age when Thriller came out and could only watch the video while hiding behind the couch and peeking over the back.

[-]

ptatersptate@reddit

The Thriller video came out when I was an infant and it took until I was probably 4 to understand the scope of it. Still creeps me out a bit ngl

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Sunnydaytripper@reddit

gif

This legit scared me. 😂

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CurlSagan@reddit

Here, we see Pat Benatar employing dazzle camouflage to confuse enemy ships. This makes it difficult to estimate Pat Benatar's range, speed, and heading.

[-]

sbammers@reddit

Benatar famously penned "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" as a musical taunt to enemy fleets...

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ScreenTricky4257@reddit

So it's not, "Hit me with your pet shark"?

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

chomping awayyy

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ItalianBeefCurtains@reddit

For after all, love is a battlefield.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

and the enemy will never hit shadows of the night.

[-]

kennyofthegulch@reddit

If Lemmy is God, God is love, and love is a battlefield. then by the transitive property, Lemmy is a battlefield.

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chechcal@reddit

The three comments above belong in the Louvre

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TealTemptress@reddit

gif

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Shep9882@reddit

"Benatar could not afford to be innocent, using her deceptive camouflage she stood up and faced the enemy. Always finding her self in naval do or die situations, she found herself invincible"

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5ubatomix@reddit

As it was with so many of us, as no one could us we’re wrong

[-]

risker1980@reddit

This one-two response reply made me majorly giggle. Not after upvotes, just wanted to say well done on being funny!

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CokBlockinWinger@reddit

I love Joan Jett!

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Shep9882@reddit

So put another quarter in the payphone, maybe

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Double_Distribution8@reddit

Razzle-Dazzle was the official name for it in the Navy.

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Accio_Diet_Coke@reddit

I’ll take any chance I get to say razzle dazzle in real life. Why would you ever just say the dazzle?

The navy guys got it right.

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Double_Distribution8@reddit

Yeah and you gotta do the jazz hands when you say it, to really drive the point home.

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JoeSpic01@reddit

"You sunk my battle ship" - words Pat Benatar has never spoken.

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maggie320@reddit

Grace Jones

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unseeliefae_@reddit

Me too! Aha! 😂

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ornery_epidexipteryx@reddit

Bitch was FIERCE!

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Beginning_Vehicle_16@reddit

Still is.

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ornery_epidexipteryx@reddit

Absolutely!

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

Yep. A View to a Kill.

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maggie320@reddit

My dad loved Bond movies watched all the portrayers up until he died. Even the original Casino Royale with Peter Sellers and David Niven. A View to a Kill was the only one he wouldn’t watch because of Grace Jones.

[-]

DecemberPaladin@reddit

She was one of the only good parts of Conan the Destroyer, and she was an absolute delight.

“You GRAB HIM. You grab him, and TAKE HIM.”

[-]

maggie320@reddit

Wow I completely forgot about that movie. That was the perfect part for her though.

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NuTrumpism@reddit

She is the demolition man.

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maggie320@reddit

That song is great, but that video is nightmare inducing.

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AmputeeHandModel@reddit

I was just trying to think of her last name.

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CharmyLah@reddit

Grace Jones as Strangè is my favorite!

Boomerang is a pretty underrated movie, as a matter of fact.

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namastewitches@reddit

Good soundtrack, too. Remember back in the day when a movie would come out with a killer soundtrack and we would buy the CD? I still listen to music from Reality Bites & Clueless!

Watch me go by the Boomerang soundtrack now – I really don’t like buying music in 2 different formats, btw. I already paid for this music. It’s bullshit.

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Block444Universe@reddit

I’m still scared of her

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getdownmakelooove@reddit

Not really a pop star, but my dad had News of the World by Queen and the album cover used to scare me when I was little. Kinda like Stewie Griffin lol. But now it's one of all time favorites.

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tearlock@reddit

gif

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portraitframe810@reddit

I liked Cyndi Lauper’s music but her seemingly chaotic energy was a lot for me to take in.

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LoganJamesMusic@reddit

Michael Jackson...I hadn't even seen the Thriller video (still haven't watched it, to be honest). Was just something about him that scared me.

Taco...again hadn't seen the video but just something about the music made me uneasy.

KISS definitely creeped me out...no explanation needed.

Double...Captain Of Her Heart - the music to that one gave me creepy vibes. The first time I heard the song was in a movie theater. Movie theaters alone creeped me out, so that probably didn't help LOL

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karaloveskate@reddit

I have never heard of anyone being scared of a pop star before.

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FireBug77@reddit (OP)

I'm from '77 so very young when this came out

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hellocousinlarry@reddit

Your title cracked me up. I understood the fear immediately.

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HarleyJestaaaaaah@reddit

I was scared of Michael Jackson until I heard his music. Then I was happy.

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karaloveskate@reddit

Why were you scared of him?

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gilligan1050@reddit

Did you ever see thriller? That shit was a little scary as a kid.

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karaloveskate@reddit

He was made to look that way.

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Pleasant-Ticket3217@reddit

I think he’s talking about the Thriller video. That gave me nightmares as a kid. I always had zombie dreams, even though I liked the video.

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Krazylegz1485@reddit

Why were you not? Haha.

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karaloveskate@reddit

No. I was scared of the library ghost in ghostbusters.

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Pheeline@reddit

SAME. No pop star scared me but that library ghost freaked me out.

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HarleyJestaaaaaah@reddit

I don't know. He felt so mysterious.

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thesonggirl@reddit

When I was really little, my mum played so much Prince that I thought he lived in the CD player. When it was on I thought he was singing just for us, but when it was off I thought he was just...watching. So I used to wave at it. Just in case.

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atomicsnark@reddit

I thought this same thing about Indiana Jones lmao! Like he was putting on a performance every time they played the tape for me, and I was always very worried that poor Indie must be so very tired. 🥺

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global_peasant@reddit

But not worried enough to stop watching the tape over and over, I assume...

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thesonggirl@reddit

Poor Indie deserved a union break

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PickledPixie83@reddit

I just laughed so hard at this.

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tomchuk@reddit

Prince is always watching

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Jo_MamaSo@reddit

This is hilarious

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thesonggirl@reddit

Right?! I was fully convinced he was just chilling there in the dark until we pressed play

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FreddyNoodles@reddit

I remember thinking all the tv show characters were really fucking tiny people living inside the set. I kept checking the back and trying to catch them leaving the set. I was like 3 but I was very convinced, not sure why I did not ask anyone.

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thesonggirl@reddit

Honestly, as a theory, it kinda holds up. I respect your dedication to catching them in the act 😂. Glad to know I wasn't alone in this

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dufflebag7@reddit

gif

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thesonggirl@reddit

YES. That's 100% what I pictured 👀

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Redlady0227@reddit

I never cared for Pat Benatar either. It’s good to know that i am not the only one.

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LunaSea1206@reddit

I think it's funny you mention Grace Jones as being scary. I was probably 5 or 6 years old when I first saw the Conan movies and I remember thinking she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I told this to my husband early in our relationship and he thought I was crazy. I liked the sharpness of her features. I didn't know what androgynous was back then, but now I realize I have always thought androgynous models were striking. But like you, hubby also thinks she looks scary.

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Glass_Maven@reddit

Yes! So striking! Her style, her music, her whole aesthetic, body and clothing-- everything about her is living art.

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PollyDarton11@reddit

gif

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Surlyllama23@reddit

Michael Jackson in the Thriller video. I was 3 when it came out, and it scared me so badly, my sisters had to take turns sleeping in my room for months.

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_Internet_Hugs_@reddit

Gene Simmons. That tongue was just too much.

Also, I don't know if this really counts, but the California Raisins kinda freaked me out.

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NoDirectionFromMe@reddit

Toni Basil. She terrified me in that Micky video

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Pleasant-Ticket3217@reddit

Now that’s understandable. The makeup and her plastic surgery was weird.

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punktualPorcupine@reddit

None of the pop stars freaked me out but Mac Tonight and Max Headroom were the first characters that introduced me to the uncanny valley.

You were supposed to think they were cool and likable but I found them unsettling and creepy.

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OppositeRun6503@reddit

Max headroom was an icon back in the day....kinda wish they'd bring the character back.... I could definitely do without the creepy moon guy from McDonald's though.

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BoboliBurt@reddit

What the hell was up with Max headroom. Were adults watching that?

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pseudo_su3@reddit

Mac Tonight was terrifying!

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cluttersky@reddit

Mac Tonight was played by Doug Jones, who played the creature in The Shape of Water and Saru in Star Trek: Discovery.

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nights_noon_time@reddit

Core horror memory unlocked.

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om11011shanti11011om@reddit

In their 1991 song "Get in the Ring", Axl Rose sings, and I quote:

"What you pissed off 'cause your dad gets more pussy than you?
Fuck you! suck my fuckin' dick!You be rippin' off the fuckin' kids
While they be payin' their hard earned money to read about the bands they want to know about
Printin' lies, startin' controversy
You want to antagonize me? antagonize me motherfucker!
Get in the ring motherfucker! and I'll kick your bitchy little ass! punk!!I don't like you, I just hate you
I'm gonna kick your ass, oh yeah! oh yeah!"

And that was no good bad news for me! No class!

Also, not a popstar but a star at the time: Jeffrey Jones. Especially when he transformed into a monster at the end of Howard the Duck.

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fidgetypenguin123@reddit

Talk about Jeffrey Jones he scared me/creeped me out in Ferris Bueller. I was conflicted in Beetlejuice because I liked the movie and he wasn't a bad guy necessarily in it, but I still didn't like him even in that.

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Pleasant-Ticket3217@reddit

I really liked him growing up as an actor because of Ferris, Beetlejuice and Howard the Duck. Now his transformation in Howard the Duck was creepy for me, because he usually played nice guys or in Ferris a guy trying to prove himself.

Sad to find out what he was

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LaLa_820@reddit

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fidgetypenguin123@reddit

Omg I loved that movie and totally forgot he was in it since I haven't seen it in forever. That probably also kept the dislike of him in my mind lol

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OppositeRun6503@reddit

I totally forgot about stay tuned, even though it's an early 90s film it was still pretty good.

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Neonlikebjork@reddit

That entire movie wasn’t right. I still remember John Ritter’s character saying, “I Warship satin?”

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LaLa_820@reddit

I warship satin pillows for soft hair and smooth skin!

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om11011shanti11011om@reddit

When I found out about his CP convictions, I had mixed feelings. It was simultaneously really tragic and also like, duh.

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incredibleninja@reddit

That last part! It genuinely traumatized me. I figured it had to be a case of a kid just overreacting so I rented it again and watched it but NOPE! STILL TERRIFYING!

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om11011shanti11011om@reddit

No it’s really bad. Especially when he starts sweating and slurring, no one could do that slimey growl speech like Jeffrey Jones!

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incredibleninja@reddit

It says a lot to be in a movie with duck tits, duck sex, and still be the most unsettling thing by a far margin

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om11011shanti11011om@reddit

Good point 😂

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danger_bears@reddit

You unlocked a memory for me!

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edie_the_egg_lady@reddit

He got busted for child porn later, so really he was a monster the whole time

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Low_Fig9237@reddit

All those hair monsters from those hair metal bands. Clownish things creeped me out as a child and these people seemed like alien clowns sent to abduct me. I swear. I watched a Nightmare on Elm Street music video (Dream Warriors) where a bunch of them scared Freddy with their singing and I was like…. Freddy you and me both.

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Navonod_Semaj@reddit

Boy George. Something just off about that one...

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Pleasant-Ticket3217@reddit

Yes. Honestly gave me the heebie-jeebies.

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After_Match_5165@reddit

I had a very strange and confusing crush on him when I was about 5 years old.

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moeru_gumi@reddit

It’s not his fault! He’s British!

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AmputeeHandModel@reddit

https://youtu.be/ENtSF3uwjbs?si=RnFn0l4I4xNLe28V

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One_Bullfrog9382@reddit

Not a pop star but a crack head - Lady Elaine Fairchild

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Captain_murphyy@reddit

Anyway, I used to keep this poster hung on the inside of the door to my room when the first movie came out. It looked badass, however my cousin younger cousin was terrified of the poster and I had to take it down when he came over.

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FinalF137@reddit

Elvira

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w0lfgangpuck@reddit

Grace Jones

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Burlington-bloke@reddit

I was terrified of the Kiss album. I wouldn't go I to the spare room because I knew it was in there.

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ChaucersDuchess@reddit

Herbie Hancock’s Rock It video freaked me the eff out as a kid:

https://youtu.be/GHhD4PD75zY?si=bCS5DqfhIgxbWjOF

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yall_cray@reddit

I still shudder when I hear that song

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ChaucersDuchess@reddit

Someone else gets me! 😭

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cellrdoor2@reddit

Tom Petty because the video for Don’t Come Around Here No More was so creepy to me. I got over it though. Wildflowers was one of my favorite albums in middle school.

gif

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pit_of_despair666@reddit

He creeped me out too.

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lazylazylemons@reddit

Yes! Scared me too! Tom Petty is one of my all time favorite artists now though.

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Brave_Nerve_6871@reddit

The video is stuck in my psyche as well

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cellrdoor2@reddit

It was the part with the cake that really freaked me out but I couldn’t easily fjnd a gif for it.

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GrahamicusRex@reddit

Yeah, me too. The cake bit where they are cutting into her and she screams (part of the song) and they all start eating.

That shit was messed up.

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OppositeRun6503@reddit

Free falling was my favorite probably for the skateboarding sequence near the end of the video.

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vivahermione@reddit

There's something creepy about him. See also: Last Dance with Mary Jane.

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cellrdoor2@reddit

Oh man, I saw that video for the first time late night babysitting after the kids had gone to bed. I was seriously creeped out

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Ricky_Prikles@reddit

Yes! I was very young and the cake part scared the hell out of me.

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Ricky_Prikles@reddit

Yes! I was very young and the cake part scared the hell out of me.

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Affectionate_Yak8519@reddit

Michael Jackson didn't scare me but the Thriller video did

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naturallyselectedfor@reddit

David Bowie in the labyrinth

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HereWeFuckingGooo@reddit

Roland Gift from Fine Young Cannibals. The whole video for She Drives Me Crazy used to freak me out. I love the song now but something about the cushion girl and his high voice just gave me the heebie-jeebies when I was 6.

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SneedyK@reddit

One of my online pals lived across from his folks! She said they were super nice people.

I still like to listen to Raw & the Cooked sometimes

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mzamour@reddit

It seemed like all the 80s music had that creepy tone and sound haha

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Warring_Angel@reddit

He's got a Cheshire grin even when he being serious which makes it even more weird. My friend and I hopped down the sidewalk once to emulate the video.

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gutens@reddit

Agreed. He had some Private Pile eyes from Full Metal Jacket.

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LockPleasant8026@reddit

Lita Ford always terrified me a little bit.

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pickoneforme@reddit

david bowie in the labyrinth. i thought he was going to abduct me in my sleep.

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-piso_mojado-@reddit

I know people love it, but that movie still scares me. And I love David Bowie.

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slypmpkn19@reddit

That movie is creepy as fuck, but somehow I love it. The scene with the fires kept me up at night when I was a kid.

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Ginger_Snaps_Back@reddit

I thought about him abducting me, too, but for different reasons.

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aytchdave@reddit

The bulge was… intentional.

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dragonbornsqrl@reddit

Nah he was just there to smack a baby and set him free

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Yankee_Jane@reddit

David Bowie period, that creepy ass heterochromat.

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fitsofhappyness@reddit

David Bowie didnt have hetrochromia. He actually had anisocoria, where pupils are different sizes.

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OppositeRun6503@reddit

Legend has it this occurred as the result of a fight with bullies he'd engaged in as a teenager.

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zorandzam@reddit

It was actually good friend of his who hit him, George Underwood, and not only did they get over the fight, Bowie worked with Underwood musically for ages. George was wearing a ring and punched David in his left eye, leaving the pupil paralyzed open. He had blue eyes and it made the injured eye's iris compressed, which turned it greenish.

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Yankee_Jane@reddit

I did not know this; thank you TIL. Not sure if that makes his affect any more or less creepy, though.

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KietTheBun@reddit

For some reason the baby freaked me out in that film. I dunno man.

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closhedbb80@reddit

The babe with the power?

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KietTheBun@reddit

What power?

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closhedbb80@reddit

The power of voodoo!

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chaddymac1980@reddit

Who do?

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KietTheBun@reddit

You do!

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ScreenTricky4257@reddit

Do what?

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KietTheBun@reddit

Remind me of the Babe!

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OppositeRun6503@reddit

Ohh great, now I've got the song "dance magic" stuck in my head again LOL!!

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ObiWan-Shinoobi@reddit

What power?

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Frosty_Cloud_2888@reddit

I was going to say this

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Manck0@reddit

Herbie Hancock. The one with the robot legs. Nope.

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disc0kr0ger@reddit

Annie Lennox when she and Eurythmics first launched in the U.S. That 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' video made 12 year-old me feel confusing, scary things.

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cardie82@reddit

I remember thinking she was gorgeous and wanting to look like her. My mom told me that nice girls don’t have their hair that short or wear men’s suits.

Guess who has super short hair and loves wearing suits (though I do wear women’s because men’s pants just don’t fit right).

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LunaSea1206@reddit

I lived in Germany when I was 5, 6 and almost 7 (dad was stationed there). My baby sitter had super short punk rock hair and I thought she was so cool. My parents let me get it cut super short (it was more acceptable for girls in Europe at the time). I was also a huge fan of Eurythmics at such a young age...that record was my 6th birthday present. And I definitely wanted to look just like Annie Lennox. I didn't start growing my hair out again until I was 13. When we moved back to the states, I had problems because of the short hair. Other kids were always coming up to me to ask if I was a boy or a girl - never had that problem in Germany.

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

I was attracted to my ex-wife because she had short hair when I met her and an androgynous figure. Terrifying and enchanting at the same time.

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namastewitches@reddit

I bet you’re out there inspiring other little girls to be baddies, too!

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cardie82@reddit

I do have a younger coworker who asks for style tips. I don’t wear exclusively suits or anything and my day to day wear leans more what my kids describe as hippy teacher

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No_Interest1616@reddit

Sweet Dreams was always spooky to me, but the Don't Ask Me Why video is burned into my brain as having the scariest death glare I've ever seen.

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OppositeRun6503@reddit

Never seen the video for that one myself.

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No_Interest1616@reddit

I had to do some googling to figure it out. All I could remember was a makeup brush followed by that piercing scowl.

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Bindlestiff34@reddit

Yes! Thank you. And No More I Love Yous.

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LogicalSpirit9744@reddit

Rod Stewart. My dad used to pull out the Blondes Have More Fun vinyl album to reveal a large size pic of Rod. I’ll instantly cry.

Maybe it’s the hair?

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Demolished-Manhole@reddit

I’m not sure if scared is the right word, but Prince was definitely intimidating because he was so fucking cool.

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bammbamkam@reddit

michael

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TheVexingRose@reddit

I thought Tom Jones was a murderer.

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spyder7723@reddit

Micheal Jackson. Turns out beyond afraid of him was the right choice.

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Interesting-Rain6137@reddit

David Bowie of course. Labyrinth

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Ok_Researcher_9796@reddit

Pat Benetar is awesome.

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mzamour@reddit

It's crazy you brought up this up but Weird Al creeped me out haha but also the 70s music used to creep me out at night when I'd listen to it on the radio haha

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anchises868@reddit

My cousin was soooo into David Bowie and had posters everywhere. Just his face scared the crap out of me as a little kid.

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snortwheeze@reddit

This album cover. I was pretty sure it was a witch.

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NEbodyWantAPNut@reddit

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No_Effective_7495@reddit

Holy shit, this video scared me sooooooooooooooooo much. Land of Confusion! I had nightmares of my family being puppets like this and they were on a Wheel of Fortune like game show and had to spin the wheel, which was a black and white swirl, and they had black and white swirls for eyes. It was terrifying.

[-]

Scherzkeks@reddit

If you’re frightened of puppets, boy do I have a movie for you: Dark Crystal

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No_Effective_7495@reddit

Love it! Such a good movie! Definitely scary, too, as a kid. Augra(spelling?) is terrifying, but cool. I’m 46, so I grew up will all that stuff!

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NEbodyWantAPNut@reddit

Yeah I hadn't thought about it in y3ats but when I saw the OP it was immediately memory unlocked. I imagine with the political subject matter it is about due for a resurgence and can scare a whole new generation.

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No_Effective_7495@reddit

That’s a good way to look at it! So true! I’m still stuck on the fact that a guy eats his own tongue on a bun like a hotdog.

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NEbodyWantAPNut@reddit

Not so much the actual person but this video had me terrified

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twirlybird11@reddit

It terrifies me because it seems to be more relevant today.

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NEbodyWantAPNut@reddit

Seriously. Except with all the plastic surgery currently in politics the puppets would be so lifelike. Lol.

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twirlybird11@reddit

TRUTH

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Skitzafranik@reddit

Grace Jones

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Skitzafranik@reddit

Grace Jones

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agentmkultra666@reddit

Some of the Peter Gabriel videos were really freaky to me, though not really Peter Gabriel himself. What’s funny is that Wayne White, who worked on Peewee’s Playhouse, did them. And I loooooved PeeWee.

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Dire_Hulk@reddit

Dee Snider

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Scherzkeks@reddit

Micheal Jackson made me do the same on Moonwalker!!! He turned Alex Mack shiny chrome and then into a transformer or something

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AmputeeHandModel@reddit

Oh, those crazy conservative boys. /s

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fitsofhappyness@reddit

That tracks. The blush placement and blending is terrifying.

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namastewitches@reddit

💀🤣

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_buffy_summers@reddit

I loved him. My childhood was so weird. I went from Saturday morning cartoons to MTV, so like... from Muppet Babies to bands like Twisted Sister, Faith No More, and Poison.

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ObiWan-Shinoobi@reddit

My brother had a cassette with him like, holding a bone or something? I’d have to look it up but it really weirded me out too. Freaky dude.

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AHollyS@reddit

These boy were terrifying in The Muppet Movie

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CapyCouch@reddit

Not a pop star necessarily but my parents had the “love it to death” 8 track with a green-faced Alice cooper on it and that thing scared the HELL out of me

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cdgman@reddit

Their not pop but the Metallica "One" video scared the bejezus out of me as a kid.

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

Annie Lennox.

Her androgynous look and her songs—both lyrical content and tone.

And then to have her basically become my wholesome grandmother was kind of ironic.

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FoppyDidNothingWrong@reddit

A lot of the 80s looked downright sus. Grunge saved us.

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LafayetteEsq1@reddit

The comedian Sam Kinison. He was always yelling and he was really intense.

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its_raining_scotch@reddit

The singer from Fine Young Cannibals. He always looked angry to me. My mom had some magazine with him on the front and he looked like he was glaring at me angrily so I turned the magazine over. I also don’t like their music.

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aconsul73@reddit

The Grateful Dead. Or rather the posters my stoner neighbor had 💀 🎻

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bulakenyo1980@reddit

Tina Turner. Too intense for me. Borderline crazy I thought. Once I got older, I appreciated her better.

Boy George was super creepy for me. I felt mullets, big hair and spandex was weird enough even for masculine pop stars, but Boy George was another tier up.

Kinda liked him better after watching his A-Team guest episode though.

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Spiritual_Regular557@reddit

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Grace jones

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PickledPixie83@reddit

David Bowie

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GladosPrime@reddit

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TheRealUmbrafox@reddit

Oh! I swear I read it as “Which 80s pornstar” at first

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SnorkBorkGnork@reddit

I don't think I was scared of a popstar. I loved watching music videos. I was absolutely terrified as a child of people dressed up in animal costumes, like as Disney figures. It still makes me feel uncomfortable.

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TheSlitheryDee@reddit

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SnorkBorkGnork@reddit

They creeped me out so much as kids. Same with Bigbird. Never trusted him.

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AmputeeHandModel@reddit

Just a precursor to being freaked out by furries.

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SnorkBorkGnork@reddit

Yeah totally.

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AlwaysSleepingBeauty@reddit

Boy George

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martapap@reddit

Max headroom. I still don't get the appeal.

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incredibleninja@reddit

There was a time when a computer generated person was a wildly outlandish concept

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SpectrumWoes@reddit

Lee Ann Marie. When this girl looks at the camera wide eyed in the Can’t Hold Back music video and the light shines in her face it looks terrifying

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raikougal@reddit

In the words of my Grandad: "Damn that girl's North eye is lookin' south!" 🤨

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cardie82@reddit

Grandparents and Special Olympics athletes have the best digs.

I have a son who does Special Olympics and one of his friends asked me my name. I told him and he said that was his girlfriend’s name too. He thought about it a second and then told me I wasn’t nearly as pretty as his girlfriend.

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raikougal@reddit

😂😂😂 Damn, let me get my keys and rush you to the burn unit 🤣

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cardie82@reddit

The complete innocence it was said with was what really sold it. He wasn’t being mean or trying to hurt my feelings, he was just being matter of fact with his opinion.

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raikougal@reddit

Awwww!!!! 😂

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OppositeRun6503@reddit

Was in special Olympics back in 2010 myself.

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Quatapus@reddit

Billy Idol. Thought he was a vampire or something

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xtlhogciao@reddit

I thought Taco (puttin’ on the ritz) was a vampire

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incredibleninja@reddit

That's not on you. Anyone who's seen the video understands

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namastewitches@reddit

Dude, I thought that song was scary when I was a kid, too!!!! I don’t remember seeing the video, just the sound of it was giving haunted for me.

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marbotty@reddit

I always thought that was Buster Pointdexter. TIL

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marbotty@reddit

Whoa, I also just discovered he’s the same guy from the New York Dolls

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xtlhogciao@reddit

He’s also the main villain w/the metal head in Mr. Nanny, w/Hulk Hogan (and of course the ghost of Xmas past in Scrooged)

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LvlHeadThoroughbred@reddit

Yep and he just passed recently. Hell of a ghost of Christmas past too…

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punktualPorcupine@reddit

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“OBBAH - DOO-BA!”

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eloutro@reddit

Well youre not wrong

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marcos_MN@reddit

Not a pop star, but I hated the Ernest 7Up commercials where he’d get his fingers slammed in the window. I cried every time he screamed in pain.

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LameSaucePanda@reddit

Could NOT listen to this song. Scared the crap out of me.

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Tacos_Rock@reddit

Miles Davis scared the shit out of me whenever I saw him on TV doing interviews. Between his raspy voice and old deranged look, that was one scary guy.

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NICD4DDY@reddit

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BigDaddyUKW@reddit

Madonna's cone covered breasts scared me.

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BlacksmithThink9494@reddit

Omg this is so random but I was desperately trying to find an outfit like this for Halloween last year 🤣🤣🤣

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rsmsm@reddit

Harpo, although I guess that‘s more 70s. I thought he was terrifying.

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beatfreak47@reddit

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096624@reddit

Tim curry in rocky horror picture show

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closhedbb80@reddit

Time Curry in _______.

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WhoStoleMyJacket@reddit

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discountErasmus@reddit

I was playing this YouTube on the TV just a couple years ago and my nephew said, "Uncle, why are you listening to skeleton music?" https://youtu.be/LWz0JC7afNQ?si=Ozppjs5EOYEnWy_R

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Lostinthestarscape@reddit

Lol I had a (not Christian, not North American) co worker ask me why I was listening to Christmas music in July.

It was the album Body Riddle by Clark and made me really question what their interpretation of Christmas was ... or if their only exposure to it was "The Nighmare Before...."

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Farewellandadieu@reddit

I used to be afraid of these guys

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laSeekr@reddit

Grace Jones

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Aggravating-Try1222@reddit

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Cricklewoodchick81@reddit

Sssshhhhh!

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Cricklewoodchick81@reddit

Sssshhhh this](https://youtu.be/BHkhIjG0DKc?si=5YyI8Tlr4e-Hsqvj)

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SandraVirginia@reddit

I was terrified of Meatloaf. No idea why.

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KreskinsESP@reddit

This video, on cable at Granny’s house:

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ScreenTricky4257@reddit

That guy in The Clash who wore the gas mask for "Should I Stay or Should I Go." Gas masks are scary.

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Any-Video4464@reddit

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Any-Video4464@reddit

Love her now though!

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ImUrHuckellBerry@reddit

Kid George - just weird

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nashake@reddit

Boy George

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mlgbt1985@reddit

Annie Lennox in Sweet Dreams scared the hell out of me. Looked like the devil

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5uck3rpunch@reddit

Michael Jackson's Thriller video.

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Smokeythemagickamodo@reddit

If you go in that room you may not come back. I’ll be the first volunteer

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Adrasteia-One@reddit

Pete Burns from Dead or Alive. He looked like a woman in the You Spin Me Round video, but his voice was clearly a man's. That, and the menacing look he gave the camera, freaked me out!

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Siphoneder@reddit

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Fair_Blood3176@reddit

Prince

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Edgarmustavas@reddit

Joan Jett is a bad bitch (she'd probably appreciate that), and she scared the shit out of me back then. She looked like she would kick the crap outta you if she wanted.

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cardie82@reddit

Wasn’t scared of her but I adored her as a kid. I wanted to be that badass.

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twirlybird11@reddit

Pretty sure she still would, she's a legend!

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Edgarmustavas@reddit

Yeah, she's pretty rad.

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Designer-Effort-1426@reddit

Sir Bob Geldof. Not really a pop star, more rock but he’s always had an unsettling presence. I know he had good intentions in life with LiveAid etc but he’s given me the ick since early 80’s. (sorry Bob)

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wolamute@reddit

ET, not a popstar, but still.

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fewerifyouplease@reddit

Slightly later than 80s but I was remembering last night about how the Michael Jackson video for Do You Remember the Time inexplicably gave 11 year old me nightmares

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AmandaMarsh@reddit

Gary Numan, particularly in "Cars," scared me. As an adult, I realize it's just Sheldon Cooper in eye makeup, and it isn't so scary anymore.

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Low_Basket_9986@reddit

I absolutely could not handle the video for Berlin’s Take My Breath Away. I had nightmares about it.

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CrowJane13@reddit

Grace Jones terrified me. Now I think she’s cool.

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dufflebag7@reddit

Not the artist - but the talking taxidermy heads in the George Harrison video for “I Got My Mind Set on You” used to freak me out as a kid.

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mike_stifle@reddit

Phil Collins didn't scare me, but the video for In the Air Tonight terrified me.

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citizenbunny@reddit

Dr Frank n furter

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kokujinzeta@reddit

Hall and Oats! I saw Jaws and Alien the same time Man-eater came out. When it came on the radio, I thought they were singing about the shark and the xenomorph.

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QuoVadimusDana@reddit

Michael Jackson

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Nice-Neighborhood975@reddit

Shaka Khan scared me and turned me on at the same time. That's the reason I am the way I am now.

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pismobeachdisaster@reddit

Hulk Hogan. My mom had a poster of him in her closet, and I used to think he was watching me get dressed.

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kendriannna@reddit

David Bowie.

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aphex978@reddit

The Bowie “Ashes to Ashes” video scared the hell out of me.

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AbbreviationsBorn276@reddit

Wham scared me with their gore song, “Last Christmas”. I heard … last christmas, i gave u my heart and i just played in my head, some dude ripping his heart and giving it to some girl, still pumping. Only for the girl to give his still pumping bloody heart away the very next day.

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SergeantPsycho@reddit

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PhoneJazz@reddit

Not Billy Idol per se, but “Eyes Without a Face” creeped me out because it made me think of this:

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Bal-lax@reddit

Gary Glitter

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FireBug77@reddit (OP)

Oh yeah... exactly...brrrrr

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Bal-lax@reddit

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darthduder666@reddit

One of my cousins used to have a Twisted Sister “Stay Hungry” poster up on his bedroom wall. I remember seeing it when we would walk into the house and being afraid of it.

I know they’re not a pop act, but man did that album cover scare me.

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KatuahCareAVan@reddit

There was a time that Michael Jackson’s look kinda scared and confused me as a kid because I couldn’t process what gender he was and something in his music videos felt creepy . Sometimes androgynous MJ would seep into my nightmares. By the early 90’s however I had got over it and came to appreciate his music, but the way the media spotlighted accusations against him and Pee Wee Herman really was a gut punch.

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NEbodyWantAPNut@reddit

* Not so much the actual person but this video had me terrified

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joy3r@reddit

Fuckn cher

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edie_the_egg_lady@reddit

There was a part in this Frankie Goes to Hollywood album where it's all quiet with birds chirping and then has this build up and eventually he goes "THE WORLD...IS MY OYSTER! HAHAHAHAHA!" and my brother and I would be in the back of the car just screaming and holding our ears we hated it so much. Of course my parents thought this was hilarious and would play it all the time. I love that song now, though.

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Wendy-Windbag@reddit

This poster was on the door of my uncle's room at my grandma's house. So my answer is Ozzy.

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edie_the_egg_lady@reddit

That's hilarious, I literally just gave my husband that exact sticker probably right as you were making this comment! How weird!

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WeAreNotAmused2112@reddit

Honestly, the 80s were so odd, I just kind of accepted it and moved on. I was a child and processed it late.

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Puzzled-Bet-383@reddit

Annie Lennox should be on this list

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TechnicianLegal1120@reddit

Eurythmics Annie Lennox It's raining again spooked me as a kid

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fidgetypenguin123@reddit

As a kid that was fearful of a lot of people, I get what you're saying lol.

While Benatar wasn't scary per se to me, she did have a strange, non-traditional look about her in my eyes.

Some that I remember being creeped out by include:

Cyndi Lauper - Especially when she was apart of that whole wrestling thing. Besides her looks and quirkiness, I didn't know what was all an act/character or genuinely her. It wasn't until the 90s and beyond and she seemed a bit more "regular"/less charactery was I ok with her.

Annie Lennox - Especially her Sweet Dreams era, but even beyond that a bit. It was her eyes or something lol.

Taco - I don't get why he had to be so creepy. Someone had mentioned in a comment not too long ago that they knew him irl and he's a nice person and that's great and all, but why did he have to be creepy back then lol

David Lee Roth, especially when he went solo - Maybe it was more of an ick thing than scared but feeling the ick about someone can be scary to a kid lol. He just gave off weird pervy old man vibes to me as a kid. He was another one where I didn't know where the person was or where the character (if there was one) began.

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Taupenbeige@reddit

Billy Idol… I get that it was persona and all, but the erratic energy that dude brought always disturbed me.

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letsgococonut@reddit

I remember seeing a re-run of the Muppet Show with special guest Alice Cooper. I had to go hide.

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thesonggirl@reddit

When I was really little, my mum played Prince so much, that I thought he lived in the CD player. I thought he'd sing just for us when we turned it on, and when it was off, he'd just be watching. So I used to wave at it. Just in case.

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elkniodaphs@reddit

Grace Jones, but she was supposed to, as Solene Solux, the antagonist of Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller.

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_meestir_@reddit

KISS .. I would run in my bedroom and hide lol

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scifithighs@reddit

Grace Jones scared me, but in a way that made me want to be her when I grew up. Pat Benetar didn't scare me at all, but this photo here is what I call High 80s, as in it represents peak 80s aesthetic opulence; Terry Richardson's entire career is based on this single image, imo.

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PrestigiousGlove585@reddit

Pete Burns!