MTV Top 20 Videos of 1984

[Woops]

MTV Top 20 Videos of 1984



Back when MTV meant 'Music Television' not 'Moronic Television' with spoiled rich kids and car makeover shows

Suprisingly, no Madonna, Tina Turner, Duran Duran, Twisted Sister "We're Not Gonna Take It", and Van Halen "Hot For Teacher"


Video links and commentary from a person from Platypus Comix site on link


20. "The Runner" Manfred Mann
19. "The Warrior" Scandal
18. "Round & Round" Ratt
17. "We Belong" Pat Benatar
16. "Let's Go Crazy" Prince
15. "Legs" ZZ Top
14. "Magic" The Cars
13. "Rock Me Tonight" Billy Squier
12. "Eyes Without A Face" Billy Idol
11. "Time After Time" Cyndi Lauper
10. "The Heart of Rock n' Roll" Huey Lewis & The News
9. "Sister Christian" Night Ranger
8. "Blue Jean" David Bowie
7. "When Doves Cry" Prince
6. "Drive" The Cars

I agree with the person's list of stuff that were/annoying from the '80's, '90's, and this decade. Though I disagree with some of the author's comments since I actually like songs and videos from Prince & Billy Idol. Not into Pat Benatar, but most of her videos I've seen are horrible.

5. "You Might Think" The Cars (1st video to win "Video of the Year" on the first VMAs)
4. "Against All Odds" Phil Collins
3. "Footloose" Kenny Loggins
2. "Jump" Van Halen

(drum roll)

1. "Missing You" John Waite

Bonus Video:
Back when they had world premier music videos

Pat Benatar "Ooh Ooh Song"  

[PaSquall]

Very subjective top 20. I remember quite well Jump's video and it really has nothing special IMO...

[Woops]

 John Waite's  "Missing You" is an average video.

[Woops]

I would update the list, though would take me a while...

1984 was a great year of music. 

[Woops]

Top 40 Music Videos  of 1984 (mostly based on favorites... even some are cheesy, I enjoy watching them)


40. World's Famous Supreme Team "Hey DJ"
39. Honeymoon Suite "New Girl Now"
38. Autograph "Turn Up The Radio"
37. INXS "Oirginal Sin"
36. Yes "Owner Of A Lonely Heart"
35. Huey Lewis & The News "I Want A New Drug"
34. Daryl Hall & John Oates "Out Of Touch"
33. Peter Wolf "Lights Out"
32. Scorpions "Rock You Like A Hurricane"
31. New Edition "Cool It Now"
30. Talk Talk "It's My Life"
29. The Cure "The Caterpillar"
28. Billy Idol "Rebel Yell"
27. Run DMC "Rock Box"
26. Echo & The Bunnymen "Seven Seas"
25. The Go-Go's "Head Over Heels"
24. Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band "Born In The USA"
23. Cyndi Lauper "She Bop"
22. Billy Idol "Flesh For Fantasy"
21. Elton John "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"
20. Huey Lewis & The News "If This Is It"
19. Ratt "Back For More"
18. Madonna "Like A Virgin"
17. Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time"
16. Ratt "Round & Round"
15. Prince "When Doves Cry"
14. Night Ranger "Sister Christian"
13. ZZ Top "Sharp Dressed Man"
12. The Cars "Hello Again"
11. Madonna "Lucky Star"
10. Bananarama "Cruel Summer"
9. Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas"
8. Tina Turner "What's Love Got To Do With This"
7. The Cars "You Might Think"
6  Duran Duran "The Reflex"
5. The Cars "Drive"
4. Madonna "Borderline"
3. Twisted Sister "We're Not Gonna Take It"
2. Van Halen "Hot For Teacher"
1. ZZ Top "Legs"

[Woops]

First Annual MTV Video Music Awards

Hosted by Dan Ackroyd & Bette Midler

1984 VMA recap at MTV.com

Several winners:

Video of the Year: The Cars "You Might Think"
Viewer's Choice: Michael Jackson "Thriller"
Best Male Video: David Bowie "China Girl"
Best Female Video: Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"
Best Group Video: ZZ Top "Legs"
Best New Artist: Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)"
Best Concept Video: Herbie Hancock "Rockit"

Most: Herbie Hancock with 4... MJ "Thriller" won 3


Notable performance: Madonna performing "Like A Virgin" wearing a wedding dress

[Out of the Blue]

There were some good songs in 1984.  My favorite years for music were 1984, 1987, and 1988.

[Woops]

Recap of the Top 20 by Mark Goodman

According to the clip, "Missing You" from John Waite spent 7 weeks #1 on the MTV Top 20 countdown...which the countdown made it's debut during March of 1984.

The video wasn't anything spectacular (then again, same with Van Halen's "Jump", which was omnipresent on many "greatest videos" lists)


It kind of makes sense, though the song was only #1 for a week on the Billboard Hot 100. Still doesn't explain about the omissions from Tina Turner, Duran Duran, and Madonna.
 
The song at #20  is absent on Billboard's Top 100 year end list... which I've never heard of until reading this list.

Doubt that  Manfred Mann's Earth Band's "The Runner" was a big hit, especially to be ranked among the Top 20 on the year end list.



According to Wiki, it peaked at #22.
 

From the recap, it's supposedly based on the "Top 20 Countdown" that started in Spring of '84.

Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It" was a major comeback and earned her 3 Grammy Awards (also a VMA for "Best Female Video" in 1985). Also wasn't Duran Duran an MTV favorite?

Though wouldn't be the last considering glaring omissions from MTV's other lists. Technically, Billboard was based on overall sales & radio airplay.

[Woops]

From MTV's Top 100 Music Videos from the '80's (1989)

bold, ranked on Top 20

Obiviously since MTV tends to favor more on the latest in music, the list is more focused on the second part of the decade with only 31 videos  before 1985.

Though the videos from the 1980's & 1990's from  "MTV's 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made" (1999) were about even.

97. “What's Love Got To Do With It” Tina Turner (1984)
74. “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” Yes (1983)
69. “I Want A New Drug” Huey Lewis & The News (1984)
68. “Run To You” Bryan Adams (1984)
59. “Borderline” Madonna (1984)
53. “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” Cyndi Lauper (1983)
33. “You Might Think” The Cars (1984) 5
29. “Dancing In The Dark” Bruce Springsteen (1984)
24. “Jump” Van Halen (1984) 2
17. “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” U2 (1984)
8. “Born In The USA” Bruce Springsteen (1984)
6. “Legs” ZZ Top (1984) 15
1. “Thriller” - Michael Jackson (1983)