10 ‘80s Lady Rockers in Their Most Legendary Music Videos
We wanna dance with somebody!
Published 6 months ago in Wow
Though the '50s may have invented the music video, the '80s perfected it. Driven by rock-loving teens wanting their MTV, the music video became the art form of choice for any major artist, including several iconic women whose visuals still resonate with fans four decades later.
From one of Whitney Houston's most iconic hits to Kate Bush dancing up that hill, here are 10 '80s lady rockers in their most legendary music videos.
1
Tina Turner — “What's Love Got to Do with It”
Filmed in 1984 in New York City, Tina Turner’s music video is full of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos, including Bruce Springsteen’s sister, Pamela Springsteen, and actress Vanessa Bell Calloway, who would later go on to star in Turner’s 1993 biopic, also entitled “What’s Love Got To Do with It.” The now-iconic track swept the 1985 Grammy Awards, with Turner winning Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
3
Eurythmics — “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”
“We wanted our visual statements to be strong and powerful because we knew they’d be there forever,” Annie Lennox said of the “Sweet Dreams” music video, which skyrocketed her and Eurythmics bandmate Dave Stewart to MTV stardom. “I wore a suit in the video with my cropped hair. I was trying to be the opposite of the cliché of the female singer. I wanted to be as strong as a man, equal to Dave and perceived that way.”
4
Kate Bush — “Running Up That Hill”
As Kate Bush felt frustrated with how dance was used “quite trivially” in music videos — “It was being exploited: haphazard images, busy, lots of dances, without really the serious expression, and wonderful expression, that dance can give,” she said — she opted to create a "serious piece of dance" for her 1985 single, “Running Up That Hill.” The video ultimately reached 100 million views on YouTube in July 2022, thanks, in part, to the song’s usage in the fourth season of “Stranger Things.”
6
Bonnie Tyler — “Total Eclipse of the Heart (Turn Around)”
After decades of rumors claiming that Italian soccer star Gianfranco Zola appeared as a child in Bonnie Tyler’s music video for “Total Eclipse of the Heart (Turn Around),” the athlete set the record straight in 2012, clarifying that he had nothing to do with the work. But even without his appearance, the video still made its mark, surpassing one billion views on YouTube in September 2023.
9
Blondie — “Heart of Glass”
“Heart of Glass” may be one of Blondie’s most iconic music videos, but frontwoman Debbie Harry originally had a much different vision for the song. “I wanted to dance around but they told us to remain static, while the cameras moved around. God only knows why,” she told The Guardian back in 2013. “Maybe we were too clumsy. I wore an asymmetrical dress designed by Steve Sprouse, made the boys’ T-shirts myself, and probably did my own hair. Everyone says I look iconic and in control, but I prefer our other videos.”
10
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts — "I Love Rock 'n Roll"
While initially filmed in color, the final cut of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts' now-iconic music video for "I Love Rock 'n Roll" was in black and white, as the legendary front woman allegedly disliked the way her red jumpsuit looked on screen. Fortunately, Jett got a redo, releasing a different video for the song in 1993 to coincide with the release of “Wayne’s World 2.”
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