Five songs about VIDEO from the 1980s

With Youtube, TikTok, streaming wars and smart phones, video is as ubiquitous today as air is to breath. Yet, at one time, video was an exciting new medium. With the launch of MTV and the proliferation of VHS, the 1980s were preoccupied with all things “video” and the music of this decade reflected this obsession. From New Wave to Rock, here are five songs about VIDEO from the 1980s.

“Video Killed the Radio Star”, The Buggles

Technically, “Video Killed the Radio Star”, by The Buggles, came out in the 70s as it was released on their first album, “The Age of Plastic”, in September 1979. However, this song not only deserves to be on this list, but it is absolutely essential for two reasons: Firstly, this number is as 80s as it gets, employing inventive electronic sounds to a catchy, synthpop tune without sounding like disco. Secondly, the corresponding music video was the very first played on MTV, ringing in the 80s on August 1, 1981.

The tune was written by Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes and Bruce Woolley in just one hour at Downes' London apartment in 1978. Like many tracks on “The Age of Plastic” album, the ditty is inspired by nostalgia, and both the excitement and fear of new technological mediums. In this regard, the music is just as relevant today as it was in the early 80s. In fact, The Limousines produced an unofficial sequel in 2010 called "Internet Killed the Video Star” after forming their electropop duo online and collaborating over the internet without even meeting face-to-face.

I wonder what’s going to kill the internet star in 2040?

“Living on Video”, Trans-X

The song "Living on Video", by Canadian synth-pop band Trans-X, popped up in different capacities throughout the 80s. It was originally published in 1982, but not released as a single until 1983. It was then remixed in 1985 where it finally found success as a world-wide hit. Then, the band re-recorded the ambient ditty in 1986 for a 12" maxi single release. There’s also a French version called "Vivre sur Vidéo". The song has since become a staple for samples, covers and remixes.

This cosmic tune is inspired by technology both in style and lyrics. The verses of the song deal with computer generated fantasies, questioning of reality, and apprises the lister to, “Stop! living on video.” The original music video is a trip: The band performs in a room with several televisions, VCRs and early-80s computers operated by male bandmembers dressed as robots. Front man Pascal Languirand sings while playing a Roland SH-101 keytar. He’s accompanied by female backup singer Laurie Ann Gill dancing in a rheumatic, android-like way. The video is a must-watch for any early MTV aficionados.

Pascal’s Trans-X continues to produce electronic music and tours to this day.

“Video!”, Jeff Lynne

On an episode of The 80s and 90s Overlooked, we reviewed the 1984 romcom, “Electric Dreams”. One of the upbeat, sanguine songs on the film’s fully-loaded soundtrack was “Video!” by Jeff Lynne. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Lynne co-founded the rock band Electric Light Orchestra in the 1970s, and later co-founded supergroup Traveling Wilburys in the 1980s. In the 1990s, he worked with the surviving Beatles on the Anthology album series. Since the 2000s, he’s been inducted into multiple halls of fame.

Jeff Lynne is a pretty big deal, and with all of his accomplishments, “Video!” is often overlooked along with the movie it was in. The buoyant pop-rock song is extremely catchy and great montage music for the film’s main character while he sets up his home computer system. In fact, if you have any type of arduous or redundant task to complete, I would recommend this tune to get you started.

Interestingly, sections of the chorus and melody of this fun ditty came from an unreleased ELO song called “Beatles Forever”.

“Seen Your Video”, The Replacements

Initially a punk band, The Replacements were formed in Minneapolis in 1979 and pioneered alternative rock, subsequently influencing many alt-rock bands that followed. The song “Seen Your Video” was released on their album, “Let It Be” in 1984. Tracks on this post-punk album often antagonized their audience. For the most part, “Seen Your Video” is an instrumental rock piece, only ending in the lyrics:

All day, all night, all music video
Seen your video, the phony rock 'n' roll
We don't want to know, seen your video

Incidentally, The Replacements were part of the club of acts that were banned from Saturday Night Live following their guest act on SNL in 1986 where they performed live completely hammered. They would not give a live television performance again until appearing on Jimmy Falon in 2014 following their reunion.

They were quite a bit more sober that time.

“Video Crime”, Tin Machine

Did you know there was a five-year period where David Bowie was the front man of a band? Tin Machine was said band, formed in 1988 with David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels, Tony Fox Sales and Hunt Sales. According to Bowie, he and the other members started the band "to make the kind of music that we enjoyed listening to". Bowie utilized the endeavor to resuscitate himself artistically and revitalize his career.

One of the outputs of the band was a track called “Video Crime” from their first self-titled album. It holds the distinction of being the only song the band never performed live. The song’s lyrics deal with the prominence of violence in film and other media which was an increasing concern among many in the late 1980s.

After two albums and a number of live shows, the band dissolved in 1992.

Do you remember these tunes about video from the 1980s? Contact me and let me know or get with me on Twitter. Check out more articles or listen to our podcast episodes about music. With that, I leave you with this quote:

“A picture is worth a thousand words... and a video is worth a million pictures.”

— Ankala Subbarao