Top 5 Eighties Music Videos: Essential Viewing Guide Now

Remember when MTV launched and everything changed? Suddenly, music wasn’t just about sound; it was a wild, colorful visual party! The 1980s gave us music videos packed with neon lights, gravity-defying hairstyles, and choreography that still makes us smile. But wading through decades of iconic, silly, and sometimes confusing clips can feel overwhelming.

Trying to find the absolute best videos—the ones that truly define the decade—is tough work. Do you pick the groundbreaking visuals or the ones with the catchiest dance moves? It’s easy to get lost scrolling through endless playlists, unsure which ones deserve your precious time.

This post cuts through the clutter. We have curated the must-see, genre-defining music videos that shaped pop culture forever. You will walk away with a definitive list of essential viewing and a serious nostalgia boost.

Get ready to rewind the tape, because we are diving deep into the decade where music videos became true art forms.

The Ultimate Buying Guide for Eighties Music Videos: Relive the Glory Days

Ready to dive back into the neon, big hair, and groundbreaking visuals of 1980s music videos? Buying a collection, DVD set, or streaming package of these iconic clips can be tricky. This guide helps you find the best way to experience MTV’s golden age.

1. Key Features to Look For

When shopping for 80s music videos, certain features make the experience much better.

Video Quality & Resolution

Original Aspect Ratio: Look for videos presented in their original format (usually 4:3 standard definition). Some modern releases try to stretch them to widescreen (16:9), which distorts the original artistic vision.
Restoration Level: The best sets boast remastered or digitally restored footage. Better restoration means clearer pictures and fewer scratches or tracking lines that plague old tapes.
Content Selection: Does the package include deep cuts or just the Top 40 hits? Comprehensive sets offer more value.

Audio Quality

Remastered Sound: The audio should be clear. Poorly transferred videos often have muffled vocals or weak bass. Look for stereo or, ideally, Dolby Digital audio tracks if available on DVD/Blu-ray.

Bonus Content

Commentaries: Director commentary tracks offer fantastic behind-the-scenes stories.
Making-Of Documentaries: These give insight into the often wild production processes of the era.

2. Important Materials (Formats)

The format you choose affects quality and convenience.

DVD Collections

DVDs are common and widely compatible. They usually offer decent quality for older footage, but they cannot match high-definition clarity. Many classic compilations exist on this format.

Blu-ray Releases

If available, Blu-ray is superior. Manufacturers often use higher-quality source tapes for these transfers, resulting in sharper images. However, since the original videos were not shot in HD, the improvement might be subtle for some clips.

Streaming Services

Streaming offers instant access to huge libraries. Convenience is the main selling point. However, the quality depends entirely on the service’s current upload standards. Sometimes, these streams use lower-bitrate files.

3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

The original production quality of the video heavily influences the final product.

Improving Factors:

Professional Digitization: When a company takes the original master tapes (like 1-inch or Betacam SP) and carefully digitizes them, the result is much cleaner.
Noise Reduction: Good restoration teams remove analog noise and color bleeding effectively.

Reducing Factors:

Source Material: If the distributor only used consumer VHS copies to create the set, the quality will suffer greatly. Graininess and tracking errors will be present.
Poor Compression: Over-compressing video files to fit more content onto a disc often leads to “artifacting”—blocky or fuzzy patches in fast-moving scenes.

4. User Experience and Use Cases

How you plan to use your 80s video collection matters.

The Nostalgia Viewer

If you just want to relive memories, any standard DVD set works well. Focus less on perfect HD and more on having all your favorite artists in one place.

The Film Student/Aesthetic Enthusiast

If you study the visual style, seek out sets that explicitly mention high-definition transfers or restoration efforts. You want to see the true color palette and editing techniques directors like Russell Mulcahy employed.

Party Playback

For background entertainment at a party, streaming or a basic DVD is perfect. Simplicity and reliability are key here. Make sure your chosen format plays easily on your main TV setup.

Ten Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Buying 80s Music Videos

Q: Are 80s music videos available in true High Definition (HD)?

A: Rarely. Most videos were shot on standard definition (SD) tape formats. While they might look better on Blu-ray due to better encoding, they cannot magically become true HD like modern productions.

Q: Why do some videos look fuzzy or grainy?

A: Fuzziness often comes from the original low-light shooting conditions or the degradation of the original video tape stock over time. Good restoration helps, but it cannot fix everything.

Q: Should I buy a region-locked DVD or an import?

A: Always check the region code! If you buy a Region 1 (US/Canada) DVD, make sure your player supports it. Region-free players offer the most flexibility for international purchases.

Q: Is streaming better than buying a physical disc?

A: Streaming is more convenient and usually cheaper overall. However, a high-quality Blu-ray disc will almost always deliver better, more consistent picture quality than a compressed stream.

Q: What is the “original aspect ratio” and why does it matter?

A: The original aspect ratio is the shape of the picture when it was first broadcast, usually 4:3 (squarer). If it is “stretched” to fit modern widescreen TVs, the figures look unnaturally tall and skinny.

Q: Do all collections include videos from the very start of MTV (1981)?

A: No. Many collections focus on the mid-to-late 80s when video production budgets exploded. Check the tracklist carefully if you want those early, often simpler, clips.

Q: What is the biggest problem with old music video transfers?

A: Color bleeding and jitter. Colors often bleed outside their lines, and the picture tends to “shimmer” slightly due to analog tape issues. Good restoration minimizes this.

Q: Are official releases better than fan-made compilations?

A: Yes. Official releases use the master tapes. Fan compilations are often sourced from old TV recordings, which have much lower quality.

Q: How can I tell if a set has been properly remastered?

A: Look for descriptions that mention “digitally restored,” “remastered from original masters,” or specific year/resolution details on the packaging.

Q: Are music video box sets worth the high price sometimes?

A: If the set includes rare videos, excellent packaging, and high-quality transfers, they are often a great investment for serious fans. Basic “Greatest Hits” compilations are usually overpriced for what they offer.

Mallory Crusta

Hi, I’m Mallory Crusta, the heart and mind behind LovelyPetSpot.com.. As a passionate pet enthusiast, I created this space to share my experiences, expertise, and love for all things pets. Whether it’s helpful tips, heartfelt stories, or advice for pet parents, my mission is to make the journey of caring for your furry, feathery, or scaly friends as joyful and fulfilling as possible. Join me in celebrating the incredible bond we share with our animal companions!

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