Fifty years since the term ‘music video’ was first coined and on the anniversary of its release, Michael Jackson’s Thriller has been voted the most influential music video of all time.
Music fans voted for Jackson’s video – directed by Hollywood filmmaker John Landis and released 27 years ago this week – in an online poll conducted by music video site www.muzu.tv. Michael also made the list with his sister Janet for the video for ‘Scream’, which at a cost of $7million also takes the title of the most expensive video ever made.
The list is dominated by classic videos from the 80s and 90s. Peter Gabriel’s iconic Sledgehammer video (number five), released in 1987, was one of the first pieces of work by Wallace & Gromit creators Aardman Studios and won a record nine MTV Video Music Awards.
The video for A-ha’s Take On Me (number two), filmed mostly in simple pencil animation, saw lead singer Morten Harket turned in to a comic book character. The video won six MTV VMAs in 1986 and reached number two in the UK singles charts in 1985.
Ok Go’s Here We Go Again, which features the band dancing on treadmills, only charted at number 36 in the UK singles chart, yet the video, which was shot in one take, is one of the most viewed on the internet (48 million views) and has been copied in numerous TV ads and even parodied on The Simpsons.
The term ‘music video’ was coined 50 years ago, in 1959, by US disc jockey J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson.
The Top Ten Music Videos That Changed the World
1. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)
Michael Jackson – Thriller on MUZU
a-ha on MUZU. 2. A-ha – Take On Me (1985)
Bjork on MUZU. 3. Bjork – All Is Full of Love (1999)
4. White Stripes – Fell In Love With A Girl (2001)
5. Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer (1986)
6. The Buggles – Video Killed The Radio Star (1979)
OK Go on MUZU. 7. OK Go – Here We Go Again (2006)
Beyonce on MUZU. 8. Beyonce – Single Ladies (2009)
Michael Jackson – Scream on MUZU. 9. Michael and Janet Jackson – Scream (1995)
Madonna – Like A Prayer on MUZU. 10. Madonna – Like A Prayer (1989)
