When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, with “Video Killed the Radio Star,” it didn’t just play music—it reshaped culture. Suddenly, an artist’s image mattered as much as their sound, and the channel became the pulse of a generation. Nothing defines that era better than 1980s MTV: neon excess, experimental visuals, and music videos that turned pop stars into immortals.
Here are the 20 most popular 1980s MTV music videos that defined its golden era.
20. Talking Heads – Once in a Lifetime (1980)
David Byrne’s twitchy, hypnotic preacher routine, shot against surreal green-screen backdrops, was both strange and unforgettable. Though it pre-dated MTV’s launch, it quickly became a fixture on the channel’s playlists. In 2021, the video was added to the National Film Registry, securing its status as art as much as music.
19. Whitney Houston – How Will I Know (1985)
Whitney’s neon-drenched breakout introduced her to MTV viewers in style. Colourful sets, playful choreography, and her radiant charisma kept it in heavy rotation. The single went to No. 1 on Billboard, with the video helping launch one of the most successful careers of the decade.
18. Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983)
Annie Lennox’s androgynous look—a cropped orange buzzcut and sharp suit—was a shock to conservative audiences. Surreal images of office life and a cow wandering through sealed the deal. MTV played it endlessly, helping the single reach No. 1 in the U.S. and cementing Lennox as an 1980s MTV icon.
17. George Michael – Faith (1987)
With just a jukebox, leather jacket, and ripped jeans, George Michael proved that less was more. His effortless charisma turned this minimalist performance into one of MTV’s most recognisable clips. The video drove the single to four weeks at No. 1 in the U.S.
16. The Cure – Just Like Heaven (1987)
Shot on windswept cliffs, the video captured Robert Smith’s romantic, gothic charisma. Though low on spectacle, it became The Cure’s most enduring MTV staple, helping the band crack the American mainstream. It remains one of the channel’s most-requested alternative clips of the late ‘80s.
15. Dire Straits – Money for Nothing (1985)
One of the first videos to use computer animation, featuring blocky animated delivery men and Sting’s “I want my MTV” hook. The line became MTV’s unofficial slogan. Boosted by its video, the song hit No. 1 in the U.S., making it a defining MTV anthem.
14. U2 – With or Without You (1987)
Moody, shadowy, and stripped-back, Bono’s intense performance turned this video into a statement of intimacy and emotion. It was in constant MTV rotation, helping make With or Without You U2’s first U.S. No. 1 single and a turning point in their career.
13. David Bowie & Mick Jagger – Dancing in the Street (1985)
Camp, chaotic, and filmed in one night for Live Aid. Bowie and Jagger’s exaggerated street-dancing antics were broadcast simultaneously on MTV and at Live Aid, reaching an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide. Clumsy but iconic, it was one of the most-watched music videos of all time.
12. Paula Abdul – Straight Up (1989)
Sharp choreography in stylish black-and-white gave Abdul her breakout MTV moment. Directed by David Fincher (who would later make Fight Club), the video showcased Abdul as both singer and dancer. It won four VMAs in 1989 and dominated MTV airplay through the end of the decade.
11. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine (1987)
Shot cheaply in a rehearsal space, this video was pure authenticity—sweaty, raw, and magnetic. Slash’s top hat and Axl’s snake dance became trademarks replayed endlessly on MTV. The single hit No. 1 on Billboard, fuelled by constant MTV rotation.
10. Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1983)
Bright, chaotic, and bursting with personality, this anthem became one of MTV’s most-requested videos of the 1980s. Alongside Lauper’s real mother playing the nagging parent, the clip also featured WWE legend “Captain” Lou Albano as her father. That cameo wasn’t just a gag—it helped launch the Rock ’n’ Wrestling Connection, a crossover between MTV and the then-WWF that brought stars like Hulk Hogan into mainstream pop culture.
The partnership led to The Brawl to End It All airing on MTV in 1984, boosting both Lauper’s fame and professional wrestling’s popularity. The video went on to win the first-ever VMA for Best Female Video, cementing Lauper as both a pop star and a feminist icon who bridged music, television, and wrestling history.
9. The Police – Every Breath You Take (1983)
Slick black-and-white cinematography gave this obsessive ballad a noir-like quality. One of MTV’s most played clips in 1983, it won the VMA for Best Cinematography and remains one of the most recognisable minimalist videos ever made.
8. Prince – When Doves Cry (1984)
Purple hues, bathtub imagery, and Prince’s enigmatic aura made this one of the decade’s most magnetic videos. MTV played it endlessly, driving the single to five straight weeks at No. 1 in the U.S. Prince proved that intimacy and mystique could rival spectacle.
7. Duran Duran – Rio (1982)
Champagne, yachts, and pastel suits—the video embodied MTV’s glamorous fantasy. Duran Duran became “the first MTV band,” with Rio and other clips driving the album to double platinum sales in the U.S. The band’s image was as important as their music.
6. Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer (1986)
Claymation, stop-motion, and surreal effects turned Gabriel into a living work of art. The painstaking process required him to lie under glass for 16 hours. It won a record nine MTV VMAs in 1987 and remains the most-awarded video in the channel’s history.
5. Guns N’ Roses – Welcome to the Jungle (1987)
Dark, gritty, and anarchic, this was GNR’s MTV breakthrough. Initially rejected by the channel, fan demand forced it into rotation, where it became one of the most-requested rock videos of the decade.
4. a-ha – Take On Me (1985)
A 16-week rotoscope animation process brought this comic-book love story to life. The groundbreaking visuals won six VMAs and helped the single top charts in 27 countries. Its “pulled into the comic strip” sequence remains one of MTV’s defining images.
3. Madonna – Like a Virgin (1984)
Provocative bridal imagery, gondolas in Venice, and a fearless performance. Madonna used MTV as her personal stage, making herself the channel’s most-played female artist of the decade. The controversy only fuelled her rise.
2. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (1983)
The glowing sidewalk became MTV’s most iconic early visual. More importantly, it forced the channel to air Black artists in regular rotation. The video won two VMAs and solidified Jackson as MTV’s king.
1. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1983)
The ultimate 1980s MTV moment. Directed by John Landis, this 14-minute short film blended horror, choreography, and blockbuster spectacle. Premiering on MTV in December 1983, it became the channel’s first global event and remains the most influential music video ever made.
Why 1980s MTV Mattered
1980s MTV wasn’t just a channel—it was a cultural revolution. From Jackson’s cinematic epics to Madonna’s provocations, from Duran Duran’s yacht excess to Gabriel’s stop-motion artistry, MTV became the place where music, fashion, and film collided. These 20 videos weren’t just hits—they were the backbone of MTV’s golden age.
