Since we are the MTV gen, What 3 videos live in ur head today?

[-]

SandpaperPeople@reddit

Wow! I had videos jumping into my head with every answer. I can't remember what I ate for dinner but I can sure picture and sing to so many videos. For me Take on Me, Thriller, Sledgehammer.

[-]

crob03@reddit

Alien Ant Farm “Smooth Criminal” Linkin Park “Faint” Britney Spears “Toxic”

[-]

Sad-Wolverine6326@reddit

Money for Nothing, Dire Straits, Thriller, MJ. Rio, Duran Duran.

[-]

cjkgt97@reddit

The first one I ever saw. It was weird one too: "You Might Think" by The Cars.

"We're Not Going To Take It" by Twisted Sister. Dee Snyder and Douglas Niedermeyer.

The day "Enter Sandman" was released as prior Metallica has eschewed videos.

[-]

attaboy_stampy@reddit

We're Not Going to Take It is a crazy fun video.

That shot of them all hanging out of the upstairs bedroom window like they're about to bust through the wall makes me laugh and laugh and laugh.

Run away train MTV unplugged gnr patience Uncle toms cabin

[-]

NoAngel815@reddit

Uncle Tom's Cabin - Warrent

Runaway Train - Soul Asylum

Wanted: Dead or Alive -Bon Jovi

[-]

0rder_66_survivor@reddit

Thriller (MJ), Money For Nothing (DS)and Jump (VH)

[-]

NPC261939@reddit

Come as You Are

Black Hole Sun

Pull Me Under

[-]

Original_DSqueeze@reddit

Metal health, I can’t drive 55, hot for teacher!

gif

Jamiroquai- Virtual Insanity

Korn- Freak on a Leash

Red Hot Chili Peppers- Under the Bridge

Beastie Boys- Fight For Your Right (To Party!)

[-]

Seabluele@reddit

Van Halen - Jump

Robert Plant - Addicted to Love

Guns N Roses - Sweet Child of Mine

face-mcsh00ty@reddit

God damn "Hold Me" by Fleetwood Mac. Eff that song.

[-]

MeNotYou733@reddit

Warrant Cherry Pie Herbie Hancock Rockit Thriller

[-]

Ms_Anne-Thrope@reddit

Major Tom

Money For Nuthin

Fight for your right

[-]

Fair-Wishbone-1190@reddit

Thriller--MJ Dire Straights-Money for Nothin. Love & Rockets-- So Alive

True Colors - Cindi Lauper, Straight Up - Paula Abdul, and Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen

[-]

zenrn1171@reddit

Money For Nothing - Dire Straits

Land of Confusion - Genesis

Gloria- U2 Tattoed Love Boys- Pretenders Citizen-Citizen

[-]

[removed]

[-]

GenX-ModTeam@reddit

Prejudices & Hostility - No speech of any form targeting anyone, including but not limited to:

Race, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, disability, or other personal attributes.
No objectification, or sexual harassment.
No threats, or advocating for violence, torture, or death.
No generation bashing.
No "anything else" that is deemed to fall under this category.

[-]

TrickMilk7892@reddit

Take Me On Drive Sister Christian

And the first video I ever saw on a brand new Mtv, I Ran by Flock of Seagulls. (Don't ask me what language they speak in What)

[-]

Livid-Technology-396@reddit

Kajagoogoo, video killed the radio star, the motels.

[-]

Minute-Frame-8060@reddit

Dexy's Midnight Runners: Come on, Eileen And all the other ones mentioned. We got the actual good MTV.

[-]

Steelergrl2310@reddit

Oh my gosh! There is no way to pick 3!

Guns N’ Roses - welcome to the jungle, sweet child o’ mine, patience, paradise city, November rain, estranged, don’t cry, yesterdays…

Metallica - One, Unforgiven, Enter Sandman

Yo MTV Raps

Headbangers Ball

ALL of Michael Jackson

The Unplugged of Nirvana and Alice In Chains

Seriously grew up with MTV from the beginning. I loved watching it.

[-]

nehibetty@reddit

Watched it so much you missed the day where everyone learned to count to three.

[-]

Steelergrl2310@reddit

Gee I wonder why I said in the first sentence I couldn’t pick 3. Guess you never learned to read.

[-]

Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

18 and Life -Skid Row

Like a Prayer - Madonna

[-]

newthinker87@reddit

Culture Club- Karma Chameleon

[-]

curiousme123456@reddit

Of course Buggles. Video killed radio start. Can say cheap pick but it does have good lyrics and best. Classic q hit wonder, timeless and video is classic.
michale J - Billie Jean and I’m not a Michael fan
Maybe human league ‘don’t u want me baby”

[-]

TheGrauWolf@reddit

Beat It - Michael Jackson

Fat - Weird Al

Don't Come Around Here - Tom Petty

[-]

JetScreamerBaby@reddit

A-Ha. Take on Me

Al Di Meola Sequencer

Men Without Hats. I Like

[-]

HikeHikeHut@reddit

We didn’t have cable growing up but mine would be

Thriller Take on me And for some reason George Harrison got my mind set on you

[-]

MediumAd3331@reddit

Legs. ZZ Top

Rockit. Herbie Hancock

Thriller. MIchael Jackson

[-]

Grease2feminist@reddit (OP)

You are so right. I rewatched Legs yesterday and earlier had watched a podcast about the death of “baddies” and I thought, those girls are total baddies.

[-]

MediumAd3331@reddit

They were the first that grabbed me when I was 7. I can remember a lot more. Was so excited for the VMA’s in 84. Then, well. I was launched into puberty by that one performance

Not for Teacher - Van Halen

Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

One - Metallica

[-]

DaGoddamnBatboy@reddit

gif

[-]

Grease2feminist@reddit (OP)

This is iconic & the moment boys and girls across the nation fell in love w/ S Hoffs. I watched her movie too.

[-]

DaGoddamnBatboy@reddit

*the world fell for her

[-]

CleverNickName-69@reddit

Chris Isaak - Wicked Game: A supermodel frolicking in the waves mostly naked in slo mo and black and white is a pretty good concept for a video.

Peter Gabriel - Shock the Monkey

J. Geils Band - Centerfold

[-]

TOW2Bguy@reddit

Na nah na nuh nah nah...

[-]

daily_cup_of_joe@reddit

Take on me.. Money for nothing.. And the bangles... Still in love with her.

[-]

nehibetty@reddit

Her? Mrs. Bangles?

[-]

TOW2Bguy@reddit

No that: was Mr. Bo-jangles and he danced for you... in worn-out shoes.

And a few years later Mike Patton as Mr. Bungle.

[-]

CharleyDawg@reddit

Good? Or Bad?

Good: Jump- Van Halen Shock the Monkey- Peter Gabriel Under Pressure- David Bowie and Queen

Bad- anything by Men at Work Dance Hall Days Come on Eileen

[-]

Jagsfan2025@reddit

Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” moved something in me as a young man.

[-]

wonderbeen@reddit

The one with Chevy Chase & Peter Gabriel

Dire Straits - Money for Nothing

Talking Heads - "Once in a Lifetime"

Altered Images - "I Could Be Happy"

Scandal - "Goodbye to You"

[-]

TOW2Bguy@reddit

"This is not my house..."

[-]

ThatguyBry42@reddit

Humpty Dance

Pour Some Sugar On Me

[-]

VicMackeyLKN@reddit

November Rain is the answer

[-]

mweisbro@reddit

Def Leopard live video - and Duran Duran!

You can dance if you want to...

[-]

GlossyBuckslip@reddit

The first video I saw on MTV: The Psychedelic Furs- Love My Way.

Run to the Hills-Iron Maiden

Wild Boys, Duran Duran One Night in Bancock, Murray Head Money for Nothing, Dire Straights

I was going to say Don't Come Around Here No More, but you already put that one out there.

[-]

BannyW22@reddit

Boys of Summer-Don Henley Don’t come around here no more-Tom Petty November Rain- Guns and Roses

[-]

SomeBlueDevil@reddit

A-Ha - Hunting High and Low / Take on Me

Peter Gabriel - Sledge Hammer

Michel Jackson - Thriller

[-]

sunny_gym@reddit

This is a really strong trio

[-]

weaselroni@reddit

120 min

[-]

RNQ852@reddit

Epic - Faith No More

[-]

Neat-Ladder8987@reddit

Hot for Teacher

gif

[-]

Fearless_Lab@reddit

Sledgehammer, Don't Come Around Here No More, and Owner of a Lonely Heart

[-]

nibletriblet@reddit

Those are definitely three that stood out in style, symbolism, and composition compared to the majority of videos at the time. 👍

[-]

Fearless_Lab@reddit

Tom Petty once said that was his favorite video ever, maybe song? I don't remember.

Take on me Money for nothing Anything from Robert Palmer

[-]

Bohica_662@reddit

VH - Hot for Teacher

[-]

ObviousIndependent76@reddit

The big ones: Thriller, November Rain, and This is America.

[-]

dae_giovanni@reddit

no notes!

[-]

SquareTowel3931@reddit

Is that the Arashikage clan tattoo shared by the 2 most famous ninjas of the mid 80's??

[-]

Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf Aha - Take On Me Bronski Beat - Small-town Boy

[-]

StudsTurkleton@reddit

Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Hungry like the Wolf

Walk like an Egyptian

gif

[-]

Aggravating_Cable_32@reddit

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

NIN - Closer

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

You Might Think - The Cars

[-]

Stunning-Flatworm612@reddit

Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel Like A Prayer by Madonna Heaven by Bryan Adams

[-]

GirlwiththeRatTattoo@reddit

Bananarama - I want candy (it was used as the theme song of Video Rock, so it's permanently in my head)

Dire Straits - Money for nothin (such an iconic video)

UKMegaGeek@reddit

You'll love the new Pretty Reckless video.

[-]

Diasies_inMyHair@reddit

Send Me an Angel - Real Life. The song was okay, but the video is still stuck in my head.

All of the ZZ Top Videos.

Take on Me - AHA

Thriller

[-]

Time-Waster25@reddit

Yeah so I know you said 3, but these are the only some of the best…

Straight Up

Sledgehammer

Walking on Broken Glass

Don’t Worry Be Happy

Cult of Personality

Give it All Away

Weapon of Choice

Old Town Road

Criminal

Too Funky

Freedom ‘90

Virtual Insanity

Milkshake

Sexy and I know It

Rio

Pretty Fly for a White Guy

For me, it’s always going to be “Once In Lifetime” by Talking Heads

[-]

mpls_big_daddy@reddit

Saved By Zero, by the Fixx

Save a Prayer - Duran Duran

For some reason they are all Tom Petty videos.

[-]

Aggressive_Power_471@reddit

Metallica- One

Eminem- The Real Slim Shady

Michael Jackson Moonwalker the movie

Michael Jackson thriller

Michael Jackson black or white😆

[-]

bigmedallas@reddit

Cue up NIN's Head Like a Hole, Faith No More's Epic and before the commercial break it's a coin flip between The Prodigy's Smack My Bitch Up or Tool's Vicarious. I had the stereo system hooked up to the TV in the 90's when it was not exactly as easy as it is today and boy would I crank it up in the dorm before "quiet hours".

[-]

dbz918@reddit

Shadows of the Night - Pat Benatar Money for Nothing - Dire Straits Papa Don't Preach - Madonna

[-]

dbz918@reddit

Oh damn ... totes forgot Billie Jean, Beat it and freaking THRILLER!!! Those 3 for sure!!

[-]

ProfileTraditional28@reddit

Karma Chameleon - Culture Club

Hungry like the Wolf - Duran Duran

Wake Me Up Before you go go - Wham!

[-]

uckluckluckl@reddit

Give it Away by RHCP. Never been a real fan of the Peppers, but the silvery effects on the skin in that black and white video in a desert - iconic. Here the video!

[-]

TelevisionKnown8463@reddit

Take on Me Thriller Addicted to Love Welcome to the Jungle

That Whitesnake song with Tawny Kitaen on the hood of a car—Is This Love maybe?

[-]

Xryanlegobob@reddit

Pretty sure TK was in multiple Whitesnake videos. Here I Go Again was another because iirc she was dating David Coverdale at the time

[-]

TelevisionKnown8463@reddit

Yeah I think you’re right, and I’m probably thinking of Here We Go Again.

[-]

Phish_2000@reddit

Evenflow

No rain

Rock of Ages

Foolin’

because Def Leppard = hottttttt.

[-]

bluerhythmstorm@reddit

November Rain - Guns N Roses
Losing My Religion - REM
Jeremy - Pearl Jam

[-]

agletsmycat@reddit

This is the answer. I’ll also throw in Scream by Michael and Janet Jackson because it was marketed harder than any other video I’ve ever seen. It was also very cool and a moment in time.

For me that always leads to a core memory of that SNL skit when Geena Davis hosted, "The Palmer Bunch". The great Phil Hartman played Palmer.

[-]

Peacherotic@reddit

Safety Dance comes to mind first. Also Madness’ Our House. But I remember absolutely HATING the video for Our Love’s in Jeopardy. That one and Owner of a Lonely Heart were always so disturbing.

[-]

ApprehensiveMode5191@reddit

Just one, "Safety Dance" by men without hats. Best vid of all time imho

[-]

zoidbert@reddit

Or sing!

[-]

DonJovar@reddit

Thriller

[-]

zoidbert@reddit

As I'm thinking of it every Halloween, it becomes a regular re-play via YouTube for myself and my kids

[-]

xiewadu@reddit

I love all of these responses! I've just been sitting here for ten minutes with my memories of all of these videos. I am relaxed and have a smile on my face. Thanks.

[-]

jdsgram72@reddit

I agree! Great memories for sure!

[-]

Significant-Dance-43@reddit

I will “ditto” this remark.

Freedom by George Michael

Lazy Eye by Silversun Pickups

Raspberry Beret by Prince

[-]

Beneficial-Serve-204@reddit

‘Freedom’- nothing defined the early 90’s better than those supermodels!

[-]

dontcallmeEarl@reddit

So very true!

[-]

Emotional_Mess261@reddit

Land of Confusion-Genesis Take On Me. a-ha Thriller

"Video Killed The Radio Star" was, appropriately, the first video every played on MTV.

[-]

reallytired-2024@reddit

Walk this way Run DMC/Aerosmith
Take on me Ah Ha.
Money for nothing Dire Straight’s.

[-]

La_Mano_Cornuta@reddit

Madness - Our House

Duran Duran - Rio

Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer

You Got Another Thing Coming - Judas Priest

Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran Mom thought we were calling for help at 3:17 and 3:24.

[-]

geekyMary@reddit

ZZ Top - Legs (I wanted to be that girl so much)

Scandal - The Warrior (Part 1 of my Lesbian awakening)

Yes - Owner of a Lonely Heart (because it freaked me out so much)

Thriller was huge, of course, especially the long version. Take on Me is a classic, and Addicted to Love is Part 2 of my Lesbian awakening, specifically the guitar player's left boob. So many good ones.

[-]

curiousleen@reddit

Take on me… FOR SURE!

[-]

issafly@reddit

It's the End of the World as We Know It - REM

Rockit - Herbie Hancock

Motley Crue - "Home Sweet Home"

Level 42 - "Something About You"

I don't mind these videos playing in my head since I love all these artists and songs! Can you tell I was glued to MTV from 1984-1988? 😀

Freedom ‘90 - George Michael

[-]

EidelonofAsgard@reddit

Anything with Michael Jackson.

[-]

LovesDeanWinchester@reddit

Thriller

Billie Jean

Thriller.... Even though I know I am in the minority when I say I never could stand the adult Michael Jackson. Even though I couldn't stand him, how can that video not be in almost every GenXer's head?

Nothing for Money - Dire Straits move those refridgerators!

Vacation - The Go-Gos - Vacation all I ever wanted...and still want

[-]

WillieGotMeStoned@reddit

Here’s the first 3 that popped in my head when I read the question:

Dancing with Myself - Billy Idol

Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer

Love is a Battlefield - Pat Benatar

[-]

mikeyfireman@reddit

I just watched the safety dance video a couple days ago.

[-]

spicolie22@reddit

Skipping the obvious, plus grew up a metal/industrial head so,

Metallica - One

Ozzy - Bark at the Moon

NIN - Closer (in the background as I rounded third base way too many times 🤣)

[-]

Commercial_Ad_5419@reddit

Definitely AHA, Take On Me. It was monumental and my daughter learned about the ground breaking tech in university.

Thriller Madonna’s Borderline was the first video I saw.

[-]

lylydazzle@reddit

14 yo me wanted to be Madonna in the Borderline video. I still think that was her best look.

[-]

Inside_Rice_2662@reddit

Have you heard the acoustic version?? I loved the original but the acoustic is unreal! Haunting and sparse and a perfect bookend to the original.

[-]

SadCrocodile762@reddit

Take on Me

Land of Confusion

Welcome to the Jungle (this one because it’s dudes smoking and drinking and whatnot which just seemed more real to my teen experience than most gimmick videos)

[-]

wishiwasyou333@reddit

Land of Confusion is such a great song and no one references it, even though right now it is so apt.

[-]

SadCrocodile762@reddit

It’s been the perfect song for the last 10+ years honestly

[-]

JingJang@reddit

Wicked Game!

I had forgotten about that one.

🥵

[-]

I go up to a terrace where I think I'm alone, but Arthur Fonzarelli has an army of clones

[-]

jstohler@reddit

Money for Nothing, Thriller and Wrapped Around Your Finger.

[-]

Rmorgeddon@reddit

I worked at Jordan marsh in the 80s in the juniors dept and they had TVs that played the same MTV videos on loop, so Tom Petty "Don't come around here no more" Katrenna and the Waves "walking on sunshine" and Annie Lennox, "Sweet Dreams are Made of This" are all SEARED into my brain. Just 100% fused like those old bicycles with the trees that grew around them.

[-]

SadCrocodile762@reddit

Retail job music in the 80s and 90s. Great memories. I worked extensively in malls across the country in the early 90s and every one had these songs on regular rotation:

Young Americans

Crocodile Rock

Peg

Sailing

Rich Girl

Uptown Girl

don’t lose my number

To name a few. Many of these songs by artists I still enjoy but man did that rotation get seared into my brain. Especially since at that time I was all in on alt rock.

[-]

Top-Tomato-2246@reddit

And We Danced- the Hooters

[-]

Equal_Trash6023@reddit

The original U2 Sunday Bloody Sunday video not the Live Aid one. I was an exchange student in South Africa during Apartheid. One day at the university of the Witzwaterstrand, there was an anniversary of some riots in the 60. Anyhow, The day ended up with riots with army, tear gas, bullets flying and people being killed. It was wild. Everytime that song comes i still smell tear gas..

"Where's the bloody IRA"

But don't tell my mom ya'll. She still thinks I wasnt in the city that day and wasn't in danger!

99 Luftlballons..

Take My Breath Away0!

[-]

JackWagg0n@reddit

Wicked Game Sledgehammer This Too Shall Pass, I know, not MTV Era, but it's stuck.

[-]

MountainLime201@reddit

Michael Jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran, etc.

But the first one that popped into my head?

Corey Hart “Sunglasses at Night”. That video awakened the teenage girl in me and began my middle school obsession with this man.

[-]

KarmaBike@reddit

Dancing With Myself - Billy Idol You’ve Got Another Thing Coming - Judas Priest Centerfold - J. Giles Band

[-]

dope_mantra@reddit

INXS - Never Tear Us Apart GnR - November Rain Ozzy and Lita Ford - Close my Eyes Forever

[-]

216life@reddit

Thriller TV Dinners Money for Nothing

[-]

yloduck1@reddit

We had MTV playing constantly in the background at our house and later when I was in college. Sooo many great ones in my head. Some early years standouts:

Everybody wants to rule the world- Tears for Fears

Jump - Van Halen

Thriller and Beat It - MJ

Borderline - Madonna

Legs - ZZ Top

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits

Sunday Bloody Sunday (live) - U2

Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer

Sister Christian - Night Ranger

Girls just wanna have fun- Cyndi Lauper

Michael jacksons smooth criminal blew me away with that lean

Janet jacksons rhythm nation

Chris isaaks wicked game

[-]

Ok-Huckleberry-6326@reddit

I have too many to mention but I recently watched a reaction channel and these Gen Z types are all marveling about how many of the videos are like 'mini movies'. If only you knew! That was the point, kids - it was about telling a story and was sometimes raised to an art form, at least back when MTV was still playing music.

[-]

nothingmeansnothing@reddit

Three Little Pigs - Green Jello

[-]

IllGetFiredForThis@reddit

I hate you. I'm about to go to bed and now this song will he stuck in my head. Going to call out Rambo on you!

[-]

nothingmeansnothing@reddit

It’s been stuck up there for 30 years.

Wicked Games-Chris Isaak

Hungry Like The Wolf-Duran Duran

Black Hole Sun-Soundgarden

[-]

SadFaithlessness8237@reddit

Voices Carry, Take on Me, Money For Nothing

[-]

cgaWolf@reddit

Take on me, Thriller & Sledge Hammer.

Peak of the bell curve, yo

[-]

Historical-Gain-1688@reddit

I think all these for their divergent artistic style The Buggles. Video killed the Radio Star. Robert Palmer. Addicted to Love A-ha. Take on Me.

[-]

PezCandyAndy@reddit

Faith No More's Epic

[-]

Dismal-Vacation-5877@reddit

Thriller - MJ Rio - DD Legs - ZZ Top

[-]

love-SRV@reddit

Sledge Hammer

Addicted to Love

[-]

oldschool_potato@reddit

Mine are random and not necessarily favorite songs, but some are.

Thriller - In was 13 and it was such an event. MTV played it every hour on top of the hour for like a week.

Sledgehammer & The one with the presidents. Creepy and fun.

Addicted to love & Bangles videos - crushes.

Genesis - Land Of Confusion

[-]

[-]

NotoldyetMaggot@reddit

I used to stay up late because some local station had a top ten video countdown at midnight... Epic broke my mind! Still listen to FNM today, one of my favorites.

[-]

DesignNormal9257@reddit

Van Halen, Jump

Billy Idol, Eyes Without a Face

Bananarama, Venus

[-]

blusins@reddit

I remember when MTV first came on tv.

I want my Mtv (I think that was the name) thought that animation was so cool.

Then there was 'Thriller', it was so dang cool at the time.

Take on Me, now that was ground breaking at the time (and really still is imo)

[-]

PeanutTimely6846@reddit

Metallica - One

ZZ Top - Legs

Iron Maiden - Wasted Years

[-]

midnight_to_midnight@reddit

MJ - Thriller

Beastie Boys - Sabotage

Weezer - Buddy Holly

[-]

Secret-Asian-Man-76@reddit

Take On Me
Thriller
Land of Confusion

[-]

threepot900@reddit

Another brick in the wall, parts 1-3.

Ashes to Ashes.

Heavy Horses.

[-]

dzbuilder@reddit

Aerosmith, Angel Motörhead, Eat the Rich Nena, 99 Luftballons

[-]

RedFishStew@reddit

Tom Petty - you got lucky

[-]

lngfellow45@reddit

save a prayer, sweet dreams, express yourself

[-]

PoorGovtDoctor@reddit

Robert Palmer: Addicted to Love & Simply Irresistible

Those music videos were totally mesmerizing for young me!

[-]

Scimmia_bianca@reddit

Thriller, Rio, Cold November Rain, Take on Me

[-]

DCar060@reddit

Thriller, Here I Go Again, Enter Sandman

[-]

sineofthetimes@reddit

Any of Weird Al's videos.

Come Dancing by The Kinks

(Keep Feeling) Fascination by The Human League

[-]

2quila@reddit

Still remember the first video I ever saw... Rock the Casbah

[-]

Important_Let8071@reddit

Van Halen - Hot For Teacher REM - It’s the End of the World as We Know It The Replacements - Bastards of Young Sinead O’Connor - Nothing Compares 2 You

The first one because I was a big, big fan of school, the middle two because they shifted my early musical tastes, and the last one because Sinead was beautiful in that video, and I’ll die on that hill.

[-]

SteakSwimming1234@reddit

we recorded REM's End of the World video onto VHS bc we wanted to copy the hand plants the guy was doing on his skateboard... good times

Tool - Sober Green Jello - Three Little Pigs Faith no More - Epic

[-]

Perfectly_i@reddit

Video Killed the Radio Star-The Buggles In the Air Tonight-Phil Collins Dancing In the Dark-Springsteen & The E Street Band

[-]

mizz_eponine@reddit

Paula Abdul, Opposites Attract (cartoon cat)

Robert Palmer, Simply Irresistible

[-]

Mk1Racer25@reddit

Right now, Ed is playing the piano!

This is quite possibly my favorite VH song. And I love it for Ed's piano playing.

[-]

Patient_Decision_164@reddit

Grateful Dead --- Touch of Grey

Van Halen -- Hot for Teacher

A-Ha -- Take on Me

New order- True Faith

Early gem of a video that you don’t hear mentioned. Fine young canibals used a lot of it for “she drives me crazy”

Peter Gabriel- Sledgehammer

Cool video at the time, even with technology advances it still holds up

REM- It’s the End of the World as We Know It

We all loved this video because the dude was doing hand plants at the end.

[-]

Sil14@reddit

Electric Avenue - Eddie Grant Rio - Duran Duran Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

[-]

marshallkrich@reddit

Danzig - Morher - live 94

Ozzy Osborne- Bark at the Moon

Guns and Rose's- Don't Cry

[-]

jdsgram72@reddit

Fight for your right - Beastie Boys Thriller - MJ Tale on me - AHA

[-]

Spiritual_Parfait_94@reddit

Every Adam Ant video. I fell in love with his music ever since I saw the Stand and Deliver video.

[-]

mite115@reddit

Fish heads

Sledgehammer

Walk this way

[-]

pragmatic_dreamer@reddit

Fish heads, fish heads, Rolly Polly fish heads. Fish heads fish heads eat them up yum.

[-]

slouchenheimer@reddit

Motley Crue - Looks That Kill

It doesn't matter how absurd Tommy Lee gets. He's that dude in the Looks That Kill video.

Van Halen - So This Is Love (live in Oakland)

Iron Maiden - Run To the Hills

[-]

hadesscion@reddit

It's hard to narrow it down to three, but I can definitely say that "Thriller" is at the top of the list. I could watch that on a loop forever.

Off the top of my head, I would probably also add "Take on Me" by A-Ha, and "Basket Case" by Green Day.

[-]

Significant-Dance-43@reddit

Beastie Boys: Sabotage
Beastie Boys: Intergalactic
Nine Inch Nails: Closer

[-]

Stillmaineiac88@reddit

Funkytown - Lipps Inc. (Teenage boy, IYKYK)

Legs - ZZ Top

Thriller - Michael Jackson

[-]

miss2jobs@reddit

George Michael- Freedom

Marksaheel@reddit

Dancing with myself

Billie Jean

Terry_Downe29@reddit

Hard to pick just three. I’d say it has to be the ones that when you hear them today, you can still see the exact scenes from the video.

Til Tuesday- Voices Carry is one for sure

[-]

Crewstage8387@reddit

Only 3?!

As soon as I read the question:

The Reflex- Duran Duran

Soul to Squeeze- RHCP

Billy Jean - Michael Jackson

MTV used to be the shit, now it’s just shit

[-]

Never_Dave_1@reddit

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - You Got Lucky

Helloween - I Want Out

Scatterbrain - Don't Call Me Dude

[-]

Affectionate_Leg5088@reddit

Thriller. When that damn video was released it was on ALL THE TIME!

Duran Duran Hungry Like The Wolf. I was in love with them but their videos were the first ones I remember being like mini movies. They went hard with their videos

Karma Chameleon . Boy George was really cool to me. Loved that video with the whole story line and it was a really pretty video

[-]

Godel_Theorem@reddit

“Take on Me” is indelible.

[-]

ThePlasticSturgeons@reddit

“Take On Me” - A-Ha

“Land of Confusion” - Genesis

“Sledge Hammer” - Peter Gabriel

Honorable mention:

“Black hole Sun” - Sound Garden

[-]

Many-Role-4271@reddit

Rock the Cradle of Love - Billy Idol

Epic - Faith No More

Hammer time - MC Hammer (don’t lie I know you had the pants)

[-]

Glum_Credit4255@reddit

Epic!!!

[-]

LordChauncyDeschamps@reddit

So many good videos. The first one that comes to mind is Touch Myself by The DiVinyls. I was 13 when that song came out and it left an impression.

She blinded me with Science - Thomas Dolby. Stray Cat Strut -Stray Cats Hungry like the wolf- Duran Duran

[-]

LordChauncyDeschamps@reddit

Stray Cat Strut is such a cool song. I had the 45 and would listen to it on my Fisher-Price turntable.

[-]

whitkenstein@reddit

Shadows of the Night - Pat Benatar

I loved this video

[-]

DragonflyMomma6671@reddit

A-Ha - Take on me (still awesome to watch)

Madonna - Lucky Star

Duran Duran - Reflex, Rio, Hungry like the wolf

[-]

sfdsquid@reddit

How could I forget Duran Duran. There are photos of me and Melinda Read at 13 on my couch freaking out about the Duran Duran rockumentary.

And Girls on Film was basically soft porn.

[-]

friendlyfire31@reddit

Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden

Sabotage - Beastie Boys

Give It Away - RHCP

[-]

pickleddresser@reddit

Robert Palmer videos. The backup girls "playing " the instruments were great. Fight for your right is classic. Land of confusion with the puppets. I wanna dance with somebody. Not sure why. I just remember that one. A David Bowie song. The whole video they are on roller skates. Bowie & Mick Jagger dancing in the streets. My dad is a huge Bowie fan so only Bowie in our house.

[-]

jrtski@reddit

Burning Down the House - Talking Heads

Big Time - Peter Gabriel

Relax - Frankie goes to Hollywood

[-]

sfdsquid@reddit

Okay lots of good ones here.

I'll add (more than 3):

Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It

Van Halen - Hot for Teacher

Ratt - Round and Round

Beastie Boys - Fight for Your Right to Party

Taco - Puttin' on the Ritz

Falco - Rock Me Amadeus

Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time

Madonna - Borderline

Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love

Sorry, I'll stop. Once I get going...

[-]

TheWarDoctor@reddit

Money for nothing

Multiple TOOL videos

Hey Mickey

[-]

Hyphum@reddit

Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel

Do You Remember the Time by Michael Jackson

Take On Me by a-ha

[-]

HotRails1277@reddit

2nd Take on Me.

Never a huge Michael Jackson fan, but his thriller video was pretty awesome.

[-]

jkh7088@reddit

Thriller by Michael Jackson

Where the Streets Have No Name by U2

Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer

[-]

Jed308613@reddit

Sledgehammer, Straight Up, Here We Go Again

[-]

mama_ste@reddit

No Rain

[-]

NoMastodon9915@reddit

I just came here to say to my fellow Xers: rewatch Toto's Africa. Song is still a banger, video is comedic ally dated. Watched it with my Gen Z kid recently and we just laughed and laughed.

[-]

CtrlAltComment@reddit

Most videos before the reality shows and commercialism still live in my head today. I was in high school and preparing my escape from home into to the world which was a myriad of change on the political global stage.

U2- Sunday Bloody Sunday Genesis-Land of Confusion Biko- Peter Gabriel

Must mention: Money for Nothing - Dire Straits ft. Sting

[-]

UnderstandingOdd679@reddit

I want my MTV. Dire Straits — Money for Nothing

A-ha — Take On Me. (I prefer the song Sun Always Shines on TV but the video was lame)

Duran Duran — Girls on Film. (This was like searching for the Holy Grail of music videos back in those days. The myth about the uncensored version was greater than the reality.)

Honorable mention to the weirdness that is Batdance by Prince.

[-]

NoMastodon9915@reddit

Your list is solid. I came here to say Girls on Film, Take on Me. Money for Nothing you could not escape for a hot minute on MTV so I got sick of it. But live in my head it does!

[-]

Rhombos@reddit

Back on the Chain Gang - Pretenders Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie Shock the Monkey - Peter Gabriel also Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads

[-]

IDrinkMyBreakfast@reddit

Jump by VanHalen. We waited for the debut video on MTV and were so excited.

I miss the old MTV

[-]

AKblueeyes@reddit

Well I guess now I’m a xennial but, I’d like to answer. There was a video in mid nineties that played on the band getting giant and. I calling through town singing. There were sexual innuendos throughout song. I remember it having a good thumping type beat.

Rock the Casbah- clash

Under the bridge - red hot chilli peppers

Just One Fix - Ministry

Rock the Cradle of Love - Billy Idol

Sober - Tool

[-]

chantierinterdit@reddit

Jane's addiction - stop.

[-]

MJM_deacs@reddit

Take on Me. Thriller. Walk like an Egyptian.

Honorable Mention: Simply Irresistible.

[-]

Big77Ben2@reddit

Right Now

[-]

FromOutoftheShadows@reddit

Mama - Genesis Don't Pay the Ferryman - Chris De Burgh Sister Christian - Night Ranger

[-]

Traditional_Fan_2655@reddit

Choosing 3 seems impossible.

Video Killed the Radio Star" will always be a favorite. Even saying the song name plays the entire video in my mind.

Thomas Dolby's "Blinded by Science" (She blinded me with science!)

Naked Eyes "Always Something there to Remind Me!" It was my first real view of London scenery. I couldn't wait to go.

Of course, Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Who could forget the hype, the excitement of waiting to watch. It surely delivered!

Missing Person's "What are words for?" Mostly because of the attire and overall aesthetic of the band. The lyrics hit even harder today with the electronic obsession we all have.

"I hate Mondays". The video was so oddly unique playing to whag you think tge storh is vs. The horrof of the reality, and the lyrics being delivered so straightforward sounding always hit me. It always struck me harder once I knew the full story that inspired it.

"Let's Dance" was my first real visual introduction to David Bowie. Of course, I had heard his music on the radio, but never tied it altogether as the same musician. His videos made me explore all his music.

Billy Idol, White Wedding. Does anything really need to be said?

Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" the video kived in my head for decades even when I could no longer recall which song played for it. There were so many odd videos in that oddly entertaining artsy style back then.

Overall, MTV introduced us to music so far beyond what played on repeat on the radio. It expanded my range well beyond all of these most memorable videos.

[-]

xturboturtlex@reddit

Enter Sandman - where the semi hits the bed

[-]

InternationalYard665@reddit

Thriller and Walk Like A Egyptian

A third doesn't come to mind

[-]

Training-Finish-2754@reddit

All of them. My grandmother lived in a metropolitan area and had cable pretty much the minute it was available- we would spend entire visits watching MTV. Our area finally got cable about 2 years later and from the moment we had cable if you weren’t watching an actual show or doing something, MTV was on, CONSTANTLY from about 1983 until 1991. I would spend whole days sitting in my living room, painting my fingernails or hanging out with friends just watching MTV. And back then, you didn’t really change the channel, because unlike now, everybody liked everything, there really wasn’t songs you wanted to skip- HOWEVER - with the introduction of VH1, you were able to flip and see if a better song was on there instead. My cable company was smart and had the 2 channels apart so it was easy- MTV 44, VH1 42 (which used to tickle me when level 42 was on- it’s the little things 🤣). Miss those days so much!!

[-]

wieldymouse@reddit

Fat - Weird Al Yankovic

By Your Side - Sade

Meet Me Half Way - Black Eyed Peas

[-]

double-A-A-ron@reddit

Land of confusion

[-]

latitude30@reddit

Mexican Radio, Electric Avenue, and Men at Work’s Down Under

[-]

tigerlilywhiskers@reddit

Dire Straits, Money for Nothing because that's what starts playing in my head when I hear MTV 😅

Duran Duran, Rio

Madonna, Into the Groove/Live to Tell (I was obsessed with Madonna and loved the movies too) Lol

[-]

caramel1110@reddit

Who's That Girl and Desperately Seeking Susan. Lmao. Obsessed!!!!

[-]

hottie-von-coolie@reddit

INXS - Don’t Change (first video I watched when we finally got cable) A-Ha -Take On Me Fleetwood Mac - Hold Me

[-]

yearsofpractice@reddit

49 year old man here. Robert Palmer’s Addicted To Love - watching that video made 10 year old me realise I was straight.

[-]

realdlc@reddit

Rock it. Herbie Hancock. Girls just wanna have fun - Cindy Lauper with captain Lou Albano Thriller. Michael Jackson

[-]

Rearrangemetilimsane@reddit

Addicted to Love Rock the Cradle of Love Cherry Pie

For all the right, or wrong, reasons.

[-]

CyberJaxWabbit-1312@reddit

Hot For Teacher - Van Halen

November Rain - G&R

Wicked Game - Chris Isaac

[-]

phlpw@reddit

Herb Ritts directed that Wicked Game video

that moody, high-contrast, black-and-white 90s minimalist is still fucking cool

“Once in a Lifetine” - Talking Heads

“Virtual Insanity” - Jamiroquai

“Hip to be Square” - Huey Lewis and the News

I come back to those three a lot.

Bonus: “Lonely Ol’ Night” by John Cougar Mellencamp. The girl who kisses her boyfriend at 2:11 looks exactly like my college girlfriend and the woman playing bingo at 2:54 could be the twin of my late neighbor. Plus the whole thing feels like the Midwest fairs we went to every year.

I have a playlist of my favorite music videos, from back in the day to current ones: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL078898619E0ABE98&ra=m

[-]

timlygrae@reddit

Duran Duran - Planet Earth

A-Ha - Take on Me

Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science

There's loads more, but these came to mind first.

[-]

House_Junkie@reddit

Rock the cradle of love (Billy Idol) every time she does the splits on the bed, 6th grade me lost it)

Until it sleeps (Metallica) wanted to **** that gold snake

Real Motherfucking G’s (Eazy E) great track, and hilarious video making fun of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg,

[-]

EyelanderSam@reddit

Jump...Van Halen

Walk this way....RUN DMC

U can't touch this....MC Hammer

[-]

sluggo4511@reddit

OK Go had some great ones.

Here It Goes Again and This Too Shall Pass were both filmed in one pass.

Couldn’t have been easy…

[-]

NYCphilliesBlunt@reddit

Jumpin Jack Flash (first video I saw on MTV)

Beat It

Black Hole sun by Sound garden.
Heart Shaped box by Nirvana.
Sleep Now in the fire, by Rage Against The Machine.

There was so many cool videos back in the 90s.

[-]

lemmingstone@reddit

Not necessarily favourite songs but videos…

Madonna - Like a Prayer
Beastie Boys - Sabotage
Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Give It Away

[-]

Living_Baby3063@reddit

Michael Jackson thriller , Tina Turner thunderdome and Beastie boys no sleep till Brooklyn .

[-]

SarahCornflake@reddit

Only 3? I remember most of the videos I've ever seen. Can't remember important dates or why I walked in this room but every video from 1984 to 2014? Yep, I can remember those! Lol.

Michael Jackson - Thriller - absolutely terrified me when I was 6 and this video was brand new 😂
Pearl Jam - Evenflow - when I fell in love with Eddie Vedder and wanted to quit school and follow them around the country.
Pat Benetar - Love Is A Battlefield - I thought those dresses they were wearing were so beautiful.

Superyear-@reddit

The first video I saw on MTV was from Scandal “the Warrior” . It stuck with me forever. I was young and this video seriously impressed me.

The singer changes to a warrior face and the special effects were flawless for those days.

[-]

ascii122@reddit

I didn't have cable growing up or even electricity but I remember seeing this at my buddy's house

RELAX - Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Open Your Heart - Madonna

kingrat1@reddit

Why should I care (Nothing bad ever happens to me) - Oingo Boingo

Angel Eyes - Jeff Healey Band (First GF song)

Pour some sugar on me - Def Leppard

Wanna dance with somebody (who loves me) - Whitney Houston - just upbeat and takes my mind off stuff.

Of course Aha Take on Me

Pick a Cindy Lauper like Time After Time, She Bop, etc. For some reason I always enjoyed watching her videos.

Gotta have MJ so Thriller (Beat It as a second)

[-]

Trixie--Belden@reddit

Rain - Dragon I want to break free - Queen Right Now - Van Halen

[-]

JaninthePan@reddit

Art of Noise - Close (To The Edit) It’s the one with the little punk rock girl and friends taking chainsaws and grinders to classical instruments. The little girl blew our minds

[-]

DianaSironi@reddit

Holy moly, I love this vid. Showed my kids, they were like wtttfff? It's on my playlist at home, and on the alexa thing.

[-]

mkstot@reddit

Frankie Goes to Hollywood-Relax especially in today’s political climate

Duran Duran-Rio

We didn't really have MTV in England unless we got satellite TV which didn't really take off till the 90's.

I remember Money for Nothing, Dire Straights

Max Headroom.

gif

Prince - When Doves Cry

A-ha - Take On me

Ah-Ha - “Take On Me”

Wu-Tang Clan - “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’”

Faith No More - “Epic”

Tool - stink fist

[-]

kmdeeze@reddit

Processing img 30q6qash9xsg1...

[-]

Silver_Draig@reddit

Fish heads, black hole sun, and ren and stimpy.

[-]

RespecMyAuthority@reddit

Bauhaus Ziggy Stardust. It was always great but seeing it in Beavis and Butthead followed by “oh. He’s in a body bag. He was injured stage diving”

[-]

PirateJim68@reddit

ZZ Top Eliminator & Sharp Dressed Man

Money for Nothing- Dire Straits

Take On Me - Aha

Land of Confusion - Genesis

[-]

Peachy-Queen-12358@reddit

The video for Land of Confusion is absolute gold!

[-]

Turbulent_Tale6497@reddit

Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistible

Dire Straights -- Money for Nothing and Walk of Life

Just One:

https://youtu.be/kl4wkIPiTcY

Rage Against the Machine - Sleep Now in the Fire (directed by Michael Moore)

[-]

fabled-old-man@reddit

Safety Dance - Men Without Hats

[-]

baconcheeseburgarian@reddit

Thriller

Shock the Monkey

Money for Nothing

Hungry like the Wolf Duran Duran

In the air tonight Phil Collins

Land Down Under Men at Work

[-]

HTLM22@reddit

Take on me, Money for Nothing, Thriller

[-]

audiorev@reddit

sledgehammer

[-]

COINS_THAT_SUNK_TOO@reddit

Atom Bomb by Fluke

Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet

Estranged by Guns N' Roses (really any of the videos from Use Your Illusion I & II but if I had to choose)

[-]

IRingTwyce@reddit

I didn't watch much MTV, but the ones I can mostly remember would be

Dreams Land of Confusion Cult of Personality

Okkk. I’m gonna tube it. I better not regret it

[-]

TiltonRiverToker@reddit

Stop Dragging My Heart Around...Tom Petty.and Stevie Nicks

Sledhammer...Peter Gabriel

Give It Away...Redhot Peppers ( not one of my fave bands..but bad ass video)

Handle With Care...Traveling Wilburys ( George Harrison so badass...and ROY F'N ORIBISON)

Sensitive-Question42@reddit

Money for nothing for me too. It popped into my head instantly!

[-]

Batman_From_Dions@reddit

Faith No More: Epic

Public Enemy: Fight the Power

Digital Underground: Humpty Dance

[-]

SaintStephen77@reddit

The Humpty Dance!

First I limp to the side like my legs was broken Shaking and twitching kind of like I was smoking Crazy, whack, funky People say, "You look like MC Hammer on crack, Humpty"

gif

Video killed the radio star.

Addicted to love (Robert Palmer)

Purple Rain

[-]

dis690640450cc@reddit

Can’t believe I had to scroll this far to get to Purple Rain.

[-]

SolidBook7762@reddit

Love Stinks - J Geils Band

You Got Lucky- Tom Petty

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

[-]

thisistestingme@reddit

Hungry Like the Wolf stirred feelings in me that exist to this day.

[-]

Friscogonewild@reddit

Like a Prayer for me

That’s really some OG videos.

I had a favorite one - about Come Dancing but I don’t remember the band and too lazy to look it up.

Walk like an Egyptian, pour some sugar on me, Money for Nothing

seren88@reddit

The Box - Orbital Institutionalized - Suicidal Tendencies Punk Rock Girl - Dead Milkmen

[-]

dis690640450cc@reddit

I never saw a video for The Box. I might have to look that up. I like your wide variety of choices.

[-]

AntheaBrainhooke@reddit

Talking Heads — Once In A Lifetime (my favourite song since it came out)

A-Ha — Take On Me

Pass The Dutchie!!

[-]

dis690640450cc@reddit

The Max Headroom one was The Art of Noise, so was Paranoimia. They also have a great cover of Price’s song Kiss, with lyrics by Tom Jones.

[-]

freebenvita@reddit

Father Figure- George Michael (the song too)

Here's Comes The Rain Again- Eurythmics

Missy Elliott's first song (with the "garbage bag" suit)

[-]

TifCreatesAgain@reddit

Nothing Compares 2 U/Sinéad O'Connor

[-]

Grease2feminist@reddit (OP)

Iconic

[-]

edwoodjrjr@reddit

Rock Me Tonite by Billy Squier

Why Me by Planet P

Video Nasty by The Damned (on The Young Ones)

[-]

cre8majik@reddit

[-]

theonetruegrinch@reddit

The Tubes were a top tier live act.

[-]

Exciting-West9205@reddit

Talk Talk -- LIfe's What You Make It

Madonna -- Like A Prayer

LL Cool J -- Mama Said Knock You Out

[-]

SubstanceNo1544@reddit

[-]

ixnine@reddit

3? I’ve got dozens! Here’s a handful…

Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer

Tears For Fears Shout

Michael Jackson Thriller

Dire Straits Money For Nothing

Prince When Doves Cry

Cyndi Lauper Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

a-ha Take On Me

Devo Whip It

The fish flopping at tje end of Epic by Faith No More is what turned me vegan 36 years ago. Still vegan.

Ashes to Ashes was Bowie reinventing himself yet again in such an iconically artful way. A true legend.

Have you seen this?

https://wantmymtv.xyz/player.html?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

[-]

Bartvader75@reddit

Green Day - Basket Case Weezer - Buddy Holly Michael Jackson - Thriller

[-]

Confident-Silver-271@reddit

Our House --Madness

Major Tom-- Peter Schilling

Let's Dance-- David Bowie

[-]

c_r_a_s_i_a_n@reddit

gif

[-]

Grease2feminist@reddit (OP)

Oh that look.

[-]

K6PUD@reddit

Oh yea, that side glance!

[-]

paula924@reddit

Wild Boys - Duran Duran

Rock Me Amadeus - Falco

Karma Chameleon - Culture Club

[-]

Grease2feminist@reddit (OP)

As I read these, I kinda sang them reaching my head

[-]

Wiser_Owl99@reddit

Tom Petty Don't Come Around Here No More. The band earing Alice in Wonderland with a human head and body made of cake.

November Rain. Guns N Rose's

Dear God XTC. We would stop off at the house of the kid in the neighborhood who had MTV an parents who were both at work on our way home from the school bus stop. We would try to watch 3 videos and then go home to not make our mom suspicious. I think this video was played at the same time for weeks.

[-]

Toby_O_Notoby@reddit

The band earing Alice in Wonderland with a human head and body made of cake.

It's because when they were recording it one of the guys in the band doing the sitar bit said, "I feel like I should be sitting on a mushroom smoking a hooka playing this" and they took that to heart.

[-]

Divide_and_concur@reddit

Cold shot- Stevie Ray Vaughn, An Englishman in New York- Godley and Creme, and the bizarro Peek A Boo- Devo.. I saw this once when it first come out, and it kind of freaked me out a bit. Didn’t think of it again until a couple of years ago when I heard it on the radio and remembered it, now I love it and its on high rotation on my playlists

[-]

Dramatic-Elk4181@reddit

Compulawyer@reddit

Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

[-]

CriscoCamping@reddit

Hmm, this is weighted by my preference for scantily clad women when I was that age.

Those 3 would be Lita Ford Kiss me Deadly, Madonna Open your Heart, and Whitesnake Here I go Again.

For normal, Run DMC Aerosmith walk this way, Living Colour Cult of Personality, and Epic Faith no More

[-]

rdnkgrrl18@reddit

Rite now by Van Halen cause that shiii was scary AF

Jeremy by Pearl Jam cause it was so in your face

Take on Me by Ah-Ha I def agree with

Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai (because that video was insaneeeee)

Now, two videos I would run out of the room if they came on because they creeped me TF out were “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell and “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” by The Eurythmics

You can call me Al - Paul Simon

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits

Land of Confusion - Genesis

[-]

the_little_way@reddit

You Might Think - The Cars Dancing With Myself - Billy Idol Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

[-]

thrudvangr@reddit

klf 3am eternal white zombie thunderkiss 65 nin head like a hole

[-]

HoochShippe@reddit

Whip It ~ DEVO playing music somewhere out west while cowboys drank and the singer cracked a whip at a model.

[-]

No_Growth_7802@reddit

Jeremy and Do the Evolution by Pearl Jam

It was a good one and got a lot of play back in the day

[-]

lantana98@reddit

Rio

[-]

Mulliganasty@reddit

This doesn't reflect my taste in the music but the best videos, that I might still watch right now (that caveat is meant to exclude Thriller ngl):

Freedom by George Michael
Vogue by Madonna

(Yes both directed by David Fincher)

Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue.

[-]

SaintStephen77@reddit

Vogue was good but Like A Prayer was super controversial when it came out and I tend to remember that one more as a result.

[-]

Mulliganasty@reddit

Yeah, 100% it was definitely a big deal. I just don't find it that interesting of a video to rewatch.

It's a great song though so as a result, I will queue up its appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine right this second!

[-]

doppelgangland1@reddit

Sabotage, Beastie Boys

[-]

witchofpain@reddit

Anything by Michael Jackson

Anything by Duran Duran

Anything by Bon Jovi.

[-]

tallmantim@reddit

I came to say Wild Boys and Girls on Film

[-]

BetMyLastKrispyKreme@reddit

It’s “The Reflex” for me. I watched it so many times, when I hear the song, I can see which parts of the video match the lyrics in my mind’s eye.

[-]

witchofpain@reddit

They didn’t make a bad video.

And there are a good dozen or two more that live in my head.

[-]

Livid-Ad-6439@reddit

OP, you were close :) Mexican radio, I ran or space age love song, the original girls on film, because.......

[-]

Status6xForever@reddit

Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics Legs - ZZ Top

[-]

cerjac871@reddit

Video Killed the Radio Star, Our House, and Don’t Come Around Here No More

[-]

SoUpInYa@reddit

Don't Come Around Here No More.

This Corrision

[-]

MatRicher@reddit

We built this city

[-]

Djknymx@reddit

Epic - Faith No More

It’s a Sin - Pet Shop Boys

Dire Straits - Money for Nothing (I want my MTV)

November Rain

Smells Like Teen Spirit

[-]

Turbogato@reddit

1979 - Smashing Pumpkins

Don’t Come Around Here no More - Tom Petty

[-]

snakepliskinLA@reddit

Play your guitar on the MTV.

[-]

Practical_Two_4725@reddit

Madonna, like a prayer

[-]

Fossa_Aeldrix@reddit

Take On Me- AH-HA

Mickey-Toni Basil

[-]

Feeling-Phoney81@reddit

Since I already saw Take on Me and Don’t Come Around Here No More listed I’ll name the 3 that resonated most with me the exact era when I started watching MTV.

Father Figure- George Michaels

Glamour Boys-Living Colour

One-Metallica

Bonus: 3 from the 90’s when I spent entire summer vacations watching MTV 12 hours every day.

Fade Into You-Mazzy Star

Tomorrow-Silverchair

XennialToothFairy@reddit

A-HA: Take On Me

Duran Duran: Rio

Madonna: Material Girl

[-]

blootereddragon@reddit

Oh snap forgot those Duran Duran crazy makeup vids

[-]

Cowboy_Buddha@reddit

Nothing really. Other than Sledgehammer.

[-]

kissys_grits@reddit

Ugh. It’s probably because of that video that I can’t stand that song or Peter Gabriel

[-]

November Rain, but specifically the scene when the guy jumps through the wedding cake because it started to rain.

Aha “take on me”.

[-]

subibrat85@reddit

Processing img k90bi8domwsg1...

[-]

bringonthekoolaid@reddit

Rock Me Amadeus- Falco

She Blinded Me With Science- Thomas Dolby

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

Genesis - Land of Confusion

Headbanger's Ball

[-]

skipper_jonas_grumby@reddit

"Smooth Criminal" Michael Jackson

"Express Yourself" Madonna

"Fat" Weird Al Yankovic

[-]

Specialist_Stop8572@reddit

I Ran, Flock of Seagulls Money for Nothing, Dire Straits Land of Confusion, Genesis.

First 3 to come to mind

[-]

Video Killed the Radio Star, Take on Me, and Billie Jean

Sabotage

[-]

IloveMe80@reddit

Genesis-Land of confusion, sound garden-black hole sun, Peter Gabriel- sledge hammer

[-]

5050logic@reddit

You could be mine - Guns and Roses Enter Sandman - Metallica Land of Confusion - Sir Phil Collins

[-]

Worth_Fondant3883@reddit

Godley and Creme, Cry Tom Petty, Don't come around here no more Peter Gabriel, Digging in the dirt

[-]

MundaneHuckleberry58@reddit

Take on me -A Ha

Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer

[-]

hellhouseblonde@reddit

Twilight Zone by Golden Earring

Screaming in the Night by Krokus

White Wedding by Billy Idol

The first two were kinda scary, I was 8yo when MTV started. White Wedding made me want to do bad things I didn’t quite understand yet.

[-]

TheQueenKhaleesiMoD@reddit

Say, say, say what you want, but don’t play games with my affection…

Girls wanna have fun

Personal Jesus

I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now!

[-]

rundabrun@reddit

Video killed the radio star, owner of a lonely heart, and beat it where the first 3 to pop in my head.

[-]

viken1976@reddit

Can’t believe no one has mentioned Here I Go Again by Tawney Kittain.

[-]

IdyllwildGal@reddit

Sledgehammer!!

[-]

TIPtone13@reddit

Public Image Ltd: Rise

is one...

[-]

pandemicmanic@reddit

Hey Mickey Vogue Nothing compares to you

[-]

MasterBeanCounter@reddit

Thriller

Dancing on the Ceiling

We built this city

[-]

TrickQuiet9630@reddit

i was a vj for a college bar when thriller came out...every hour someone would request. i can still do the zombie dance...

[-]

BreakerBoy6@reddit

That's easy:

Take On Me - A-ha
Like a Prayer - Madonna
Love and Anger - Kate Bush

[-]

fatnuts_mcgee@reddit

Sabotage

Winona’s Big Brown Beaver

Buddy Holly

[-]

Green-Minimum-2401@reddit

Take on Me (A-Ha)

Rio (Duran Duran)

Faith (George Michael)

[-]

maxwellgrounds@reddit

Here are some more obscure ones that stick with me because they had heavy rotation in the early days of MTV:

Billy Joel - Pressure

Greg Kihn - Jeopardy

Toni Basil - Mickey

[-]

Boring-Rub-3570@reddit

Tom Petty - Last Dance with Mary Jane

[-]

Sea_Voice_404@reddit

Money For Nothing

Sledgehammer

Take on Me

I’ll add Where the Streets Have No Name and Livin’ on a Prayer as my bonuses.

Rio - Duran Duran Animal - Def Leppard Everybody Wants to Rule the World- Tears for Fears

Remember when MTV would stop at midnight or so? I also like Friday night videos on NBC? I think?

[-]

P440CPJ@reddit

I Ran / Flock of Seagulls. I always thought it was neat I could see the camera in the mirror.

Straight Up / Paula Abdul. Man, I crushed on her hard when I was younger.

Easy Lover / Phil Collins. Don’t know why, but I remember that video playing a lot, and it sticks in my head.

[-]

Paula Abdul Straight Up

[-]

Enjoy the silence depdeche mode

[-]

Ok_Bar_7711@reddit

Ah Ha Take On Me

Robert Palmer Addicted to Love

George Michael Freedom

[-]

Grease2feminist@reddit (OP)

Herbie Hancock Rockit

[-]

CursorTN@reddit

Safety Dance, Take On Me, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Sledgehammer, Learning to Fly, and the intro to Friday Night Videos—because for a long time we didn’t have cable tv.

[-]

vistaculo@reddit

Sledgehammer

Hot For Teacher

Boys Of Summer

[-]

samuellbroncowitz@reddit

Money For Nothing

Thriller

Sledgehammer