Classic 80s Michael Jackson Videos

[dremolus - solarpunk]

In light of Halloween being tomorrow and a certain song being played, I figured it's time to celebrate the very best music videos from arguable the very best at making music videos.

I know that his first music videos were actually Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock With You but the simple dancing and performing in front of psychedelic backrounds aren't the type of music videos synonymous with The King of Pop. We're here for the expensive, history-making (for both music videos and black artists!), long-form music videos from his second album and thereafter. The iconic outfits, the fantastic choreography, and just the celebration of music video creativity that is still influential to this day. 

And while I normally wouldn't consider clip shows or live concerts as music videos, for their Man in the Mirror and Dirty Diana respectively I think they're fine and make sense as visual representations of the songs.

For the previous polls:
Classic 80s Madonna Videos
Classic Janet Music Videos
Classic Katy Music Videos
Classic Gaga Music Videos
Classic Gen 1 Taylor Swift Music Videos
Classic Gen 1 Beyonce Music Videos (2003-2010)
Classic Gen 1 Rihanna Music Videos (2005-2009)
Classic Britney Music Videos
Classic Björk Music Videos
Classic 90s Mariah Music Videos

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

Billie jean
Beat It
Bad
Smooth Criminal

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Holy shit, I've never seen a four way tie for these MV polls before

[kcdawg13]

MJ has a lot of great videos but nothing can top Smooth Criminal, in my personal opinion that's the best music video ever made. Just the sheer effort of everything, from the set design, to the costumes, to the choreography. The choreography in particular is amazing, from that shot of the dudes betting, MJ with the pool ball, and that second chorus where MJ is coming down the stairs into the dining room and everyone is dancing and banging on the tables/bar. Also during the last chorus where the whole club joins together to dance, it's amazing.

I really can't get enough of this video, it fits incredibly with the song which is already a crime drama in itself, but everything about Smooth Criminal reminds me why MJ is biggest popstar of all time.

[back2blk]

Remember The Time

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Oct 31, 2021 0:33:38 GMT -5 back2blk said:

Remember The Time

I'll do 90s MJ vids another time

[jenglisbe]

Tbh the only ones of these I particularly love are "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal."

[back2blk]

Oct 31, 2021 1:58:21 GMT -5 dremolus - solarpunk said:

Oct 31, 2021 0:33:38 GMT -5 back2blk said:

Remember The Time

I'll do 90s MJ vids another time

Beat It and Bad from this list tho! Lol

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Oct 31, 2021 0:32:14 GMT -5 kcdawg13 said:

MJ has a lot of great videos but nothing can top Smooth Criminal, in my personal opinion that's the best music video ever made. Just the sheer effort of everything, from the set design, to the costumes, to the choreography. The choreography in particular is amazing, from that shot of the dudes betting, MJ with the pool ball, and that second chorus where MJ is coming down the stairs into the dining room and everyone is dancing and banging on the tables/bar. Also during the last chorus where the whole club joins together to dance, it's amazing.

I really can't get enough of this video, it fits incredibly with the song which is already a crime drama in itself, but everything about Smooth Criminal reminds me why MJ is biggest popstar of all time.

Echoed my thoughts personally and you didn't even mention spots like the anti-gravity lean or the coin toss into the juke box kicking off everything.

Thriller still holds up and everything from the choreography to Vincent Prince's narration and laugh to the twist at the end and John Landis' direction, it is a great music video.

Billie Jean would be my solid third place and is probably the most important video on this list for breaking grounds as one of the first music videos from a black artist to get attention on MTV.

I'm going back and forth between Beat It and Say Say Say as my fourth pick. The former has more iconic choreography and looks but I really like the con-man setting of the latter and seeing Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson in a music video together is just awesome.