This is one of the best-known of They Might Be Giants’s songs. Though the song was released first, it also appeared on their 1990 album, Flood.
Director Adam Bernstein was a frequent They Might Be Giants collaborator. He also directed music videos for everyone from Public Enemy to Dead Milkmen to BareNaked Ladies and Sir Mix-A-Lot. He’s also a television director, having won an Emmy for his work on Fargo.
Enjoy!
This is a historically-important video. It’s the final Whitesnake video to feature Tawny Kitaen. After the video, it was all downhill for Whitesnake as far as much videos were concerned. It turns out that people weren’t watching them because they wanted to see David Coverdale’s hair.
Marty Callner should be a familiar name by now. He was one of those music video directors who worked with everyone who was anyone.
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Originally, this video was going to feature Claudia Schiffer but, when Schiffer had to withdraw at the last minute, director Marty Callner suggested using David Coverdale’s then-girlfriend, Tawny Kitaean, instead. This was the first of four Whitesnake videos that would feature Kitaen. It’s also one of the reasons why my generation has a weakness for redheads.
Marty Callner was one of those directors who worked with everyone who was anyone. If you had a successful band in the 80s, there’s a good chance that Marty Callner directed at least one of your videos. Unfortunately, you weren’t dating Tawny Kitaen so your video was not a hit on MTV.
Enjoy!
Back in the early 90s, underwater music videos were very popular. So, of course, INXS had to do one. This is actually one of my favorite INXS songs. No matter what else you might want to say about the band, they never had any problem being clear about exactly what they were singing about.
This video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh, who has done videos for just about everyone. His video for So Alive by Love & Rockets is a personal favorite of mine.
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This song and video were both a part of Duran Duran’s early 90s comeback. Backing vocalist Tessa Niles is both heard in the song and seen in the video as she struggles to escape from the underwater chains that bind her. The majority of this video was shot in Los Angeles but the giant aquarium scenes were filmed at the London Zoo.
Director Julien Temple needs no introduction. He is, of course, best known for his work with the Sex Pistols.
Enjoy!
Mr. T has a message for everyone.
This originally premiered as a part of Mr. T’s motivational video, Be Somebody … Or Be Somebody’s Fool! Director Jeff Margolis was an Emmy-winning director who worked with Carol Burnett, Julie Andrews, and Richard Pryor.
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In this video, Megadeth takes on the 1990s mortgage crisis with a song that feels just as relevant today as when it was first released. It’s hard to imagine Metallica ever doing a song like this.
Director Jeff Richter has also worked with everyone from Michael Jackson to Faith Hill to John Fogerty and Nine Inch Nails.
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The Breeders did more than just Cannonball. Their entire first album was full of excellent songs, like this one. This video shows that the band was just as cool in the snow as they were at a carnival.
Director Frank Sacramento also worked with Blondie, Everlast, Dru Hill, Hootie and the Blowfish, and House of Pain.
Enjoy!
One of the best songs of the 80s, Tempted was also one of the few Squeeze songs to feature the band’s then-keyboardist Paul Carrack on vocals. The song was originally recorded with Glenn Tilbrook as the lead singer but when producer Elvis Costello heard Carrack singing a slowed-down version of the song, he suggested that it should be re-recorded with Carrack. Tilbrook admitted that, though his ego was “bruised initially,” the song became a hit with Carrack’s vocals.
The video is typical of the early 80s, with the emphasis being put on the band performing as opposed to any sort of visual gimmickry.
Enjoy!
Through the Shattered Lens