History of Music Videos: Examples

The following videos show music videos which have been milestones or landmarks in the music industry/ They have either been influential, had  huge impact on society or have been the first to break the mold.

• 1975- Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was the first ever music video to be recorded on a video tape. At this time music videos were known as promo videos and it was only after the success of "Bohemian Rhapsody" that it became regular practice for record companies to produce promo videos for artists' single releases. This video has been hailed as launching the MTV age.

• 1981- The Buggles 'Video Killed The Radio Star' was the first ever music video to be aired on MTV. This launched the 'MTV Era' and changed popular culture for ever.

• 1983- Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' was the most expensive video ever made at the time of its production. It was regularly quoted as the 'Most Influential' video of all time and helped pave the way for more Black American artists to be treated equally and get more airtime on MTV. It followed a long narrative struscture with elements of performimg. There is a dance sequence in near the end which would go on to become one of the most recognised dance routines of all time.

• 1986- This video marked the birth of a new hybrid genre Rock Rap. The song originally recorded by Aerosmith in the 70s but was then revived in the 80's when rap group RUN DMC produced a mash up of the song. The highly popular video was the first hip hop hybrid video ever played in heavy rotation on MTV and is regarded as a classic of the medium.

• 1990- Madonna's 'Vogue' started a new dance craze. And is an influenetial video in terms of fashion in the world today. Madonna is most infamous for the banning of several of her videos. Her videos "Papa Don't Preach" "Like A Prayer" and Like A Virgin" were all banned for heavy critcisms for story lines such as teeange pregnancy in "Papa Don't Preach". "Like a Prayer was banned for its religious, sexual, and racially-oriented imagery

• 1998- Britney Spears' debut single 'Baby One More Time' launched the Disney Star's tumultuous career. It was the biggest hit of that year and the begining of a sparkling run for the Pop Princess. Britney would go on to become one of the most successful artists of the 21st century.
  
  

• 2009- Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' has been regarded as an artform. Her video contained various outifits by Alexander Mcqueen which set the video apart from other genral videos and instead it became more of a fashion video/ film.

• 2013- This marks the recent trend of music labels releasing short films rather than standard music videos. Other artists who have released short films are Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake. This shows a correlation between big successful artists releasing short films because they can fund it.