I remember when VH1 still made music countdowns, and they made the Top 100 Sexiest Music Videos, and they put Justify My Love by Madonna very high on the list.

And to my knowledge, that's the only reason why people went out of their way to listen to that song. Because every single radio/TV staion at the time would just talk about how sexy the music video was, and they wouldn't talk about the song itself... because the song is barely even a song.

Comments

faceisamapoftheworld t1_jef8fbh wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:05 PM

Everything by Ok Go

Street_Following6911 t1_jefck07 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:32 PM

Yeah you're right but none of their songs are bad.

SourPuss6969 t1_jefhbmb wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:02 PM

Easily one of the most talented group of our generation. It's not just music, every single one of their videos is an art performance

Rick-T t1_jef9819 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:10 PM

DJ Eric Prydz - Call On Me

iamthunderthief t1_jefj644 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:14 PM

This is America - Childish Gambino

He has amazing music and this song rules without the video, but i think the video took him to a whole new level

IzzyTheIceCreamFairy t1_jegmad6 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 9:35 PM

The song is nothing without the shock value of the video.

The song itself says nothing, the video does all the talking.

iamthunderthief t1_jegn6k6 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 9:42 PM

The lyrics do a great job too

Certain_Yam_110 t1_jeferod wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:46 PM

Take On Me by a-Ha

Dvinc1_yt t1_jefi12t wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:07 PM

Thriller by Michael Jackson. It’s a great song but it wasn’t that popular and wasn’t really a single until after the video came out. If you were buying Thriller it was because of Billie Jean, Beat It, WBSS, etc. You could argue that the video is more popular than the song itself, so much so that they’ll overlook the lyrics and it’s place in MJ’s discography and creative evolution.

Thetimmybaby t1_jefbumv wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:27 PM

Three Little Pigs by Green Jelloy

EuphoricMoose8232 t1_jegf75t wrote on March 31, 2023 at 8:47 PM

Green Jellö sucks!

Fox042 t1_jef9s7y wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:14 PM

Fountains of Wayne Stacy's Mom

simmypom t1_jeg9h91 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 8:09 PM

Any Whitesnake video with Tawny Kitaen

patronsaintpizza t1_jefjjzk wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:17 PM

Gagnam Style

GerritT t1_jefy48y wrote on March 31, 2023 at 6:53 PM

AHA - Take on me

Music was excellent also, but memorable because of the video at the time.

wAsh1967 t1_jegde2j wrote on March 31, 2023 at 8:35 PM

It bombed in the uk when it was released originally in 84. Don't think it even made the top 40. Re-released in 85 to coincide with the video and the rest is history.

BrazilianAtlantis t1_jegm66i wrote on March 31, 2023 at 9:35 PM

Pretty much everything in the early MTV era was very video-driven.

FullRollingBoil t1_jef9z22 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:15 PM

I’m a jam band guy who loves Justify My Love.

DTNSFN1 t1_jefm2hy wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:34 PM

One of the reasons had to do with Justify My Love being banned from MTV at the time for subject matter in the video. S&M, Voyuerism, and Bi-sexuality were very taboo back in 1990. It was released as a short video single and went platinum.

Kind_Broker t1_jefsfvf wrote on March 31, 2023 at 6:15 PM

I want your sex was huge

Like a prayer

i touch myself

HarlanCedeno t1_jefdzjt wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:41 PM

Let Forever Be by The Chemical Brothers

yeusk t1_jefjk3f wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:17 PM

Smack my bitch up

[deleted] t1_jeflq9z wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:31 PM

[removed]

detox665 t1_jefoi1z wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:50 PM

Fish Heads by Barnes & Barnes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn73Wtem0No

UncontrolableUrge t1_jefxeee wrote on March 31, 2023 at 6:48 PM

Getting their first two videos banned by the BBC helped Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Rub_Expensive t1_jeh2poq wrote on March 31, 2023 at 11:37 PM

The one where Emily Ratajkowski was appearing for the first time

Ok_Pomelo8230 t1_jeh3wrv wrote on March 31, 2023 at 11:46 PM

Europe The Final Countdown

MrStayPuft245 t1_jefdg1k wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:37 PM

Not video, but MIA and Paper Planes only got big due to the Pineapple Express trailer. The song didn’t even make it into the movie in any way shape or form.

Justlooksnowords t1_jefghr0 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:57 PM

Pretty sure it got big because of Slumdog Millionaire.

MyNameThru t1_jefjntk wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:18 PM

IIRC I heard it a ton on the radio before either of those movies were made, so idk.

Justlooksnowords t1_jegff9i wrote on March 31, 2023 at 8:48 PM

Interesting! I never heard it before Slumdog.

NOT000 t1_jefr126 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 6:06 PM

probably this 80 crap hit

https://youtu.be/WyF8RHM1OCg

obik501 t1_jefecpp wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:43 PM

Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home ---- The music video made that song a hit. It would have been a widely panned, throw-away, waste of space if not for the MV.

HeywoodPeace t1_jefd37m wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:35 PM

Pretty much everything on MTV in the early 80s. Tainted Love, She Blinded Me With Science, Take On Me, Whip It, Beat It, Madonna's entire catalog....particularly the new wave stuff would have never made any money if not for the videos. Like West End Girls. Has anyone ever listened to the 1st Pet Shop Boys album? It sounds like a poorly made demo. Drum machine, synth bass, vocal, and one keyboard that either plays chords or melodic lines, but never both, and never any overdubs. Very sparse. Very cheap. Most of this new wave stuff was garbage, but it sold because of the video