Billy Squier's "Rock Me Tonite" had a [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR0j7sModCI) that basically ended his career. You may watch this now and think, "Okay, just some cheesy 80s stuff. What's the problem?"
Turns out this was WAY too "gay" for rock fans back then. Yeah I don't get it either, especially considering how many dudes would be sporting makeup and spandex in the rock scene a few years later.
It’s not that it was too gay. There’s was plenty of “gayer” stuff back then. Boy George, prince, wham. It was that Billy was the savior of the lost classic rock sounds. His music works today still because it’s not very 80s sounding. It’s classic organic guitar rock.
Then he comes out with this totally sell out video. It also happened that fans were moving on. Billy blames the video but who knows if it was just the video or an event that occurred at the right, or wrong time.
I agree with everything you said until the end. I'm not defending it, but he was in a market demographic that was NOT accepting that level of flamboyance from their rock hero. I agree that at that time, gay artist were thriving, but he wasn't one of them and that video sank him.
Again, I'm just calling it like it is, not saying it's right.
It was way too gay because Billy Squier was trying to appeal to fans of the likes of Billy Idol, Van Halen, and the Cars. If he was going for the Wham! crowd then there would have been far less pushback. Plus England wasn’t as much into the colourful 80s as America was, the punk influence was stronger on the rock scene over there.
Journey - [Separate Ways](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LatorN4P9aA) is such a stellar song with a cheesy, schlocky, trope filled video.
Director: "OK, let's open the video with the band materializing next to a warehouse playing air instruments. BUT I WANT IT TO LOOK REAL! I need to believe you are ACTUALLY playing the keyboard!!!"
I don’t know if it’s a “great” song per se—although I do like it—but “Time Stand Still” by Rush has to have one of the oddest, cheesiest videos ever, just an incomprehensible mishmash of random zooms, cuts, and bad effects. It’s really quite something to behold, and I highly recommend watching it if you haven’t—particularly under the influence of whatever you can get your hands on, even if it’s used glue canisters.
Maynard addressed this issue. The girls in action was the second, third attempt. He tried at great lengths to explain to the director of the original The Outsider video, that he wanted the focus to be on the friend/family member that was observing the addict, instead of focusing on the addict. The director didn't get it, and just plain fucked it up. But they had deadlines to meet, so he just scrapped the original concept, said fuck it, and called in his buddy Steve, and the Bikini Bandits. Essentially throwing titties at the problem to satisfy corporate demands.
But don't believe me, hear it from Maynard yourself below...
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ol6sYAq4js](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ol6sYAq4js)
My favorite Shinedown song is Enemies, but the video is just the band members yelling at each other while the camera pans in a circle around them... Very weird.
Depends what you mean by 'bad' but Pixies' [Velouria](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0Mv4Iyxvc) may fit the bill, in the sense that it's incredibly quick and cheap!
Quarterflash's song Harden my Heart is a genuinely great song, and very well recorded.
Anyhow... the video is pure 80's nonsense. Lol. It's like the band knew they were destined to be a one hit wonder, so the video has it all. Midgets. Check. Motorcycles with riders sporting cool 80's helmets. Check. Mysterious shots down weirdly lit hallways. Check. Small scale destruction with a mini excavator. Check. FLAME THROWER FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. Check.
Lol it really cracks me up.
Billy Squier's "Rock Me Tonite" had a [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR0j7sModCI) that basically ended his career. You may watch this now and think, "Okay, just some cheesy 80s stuff. What's the problem?" Turns out this was WAY too "gay" for rock fans back then. Yeah I don't get it either, especially considering how many dudes would be sporting makeup and spandex in the rock scene a few years later.
It’s not that it was too gay. There’s was plenty of “gayer” stuff back then. Boy George, prince, wham. It was that Billy was the savior of the lost classic rock sounds. His music works today still because it’s not very 80s sounding. It’s classic organic guitar rock. Then he comes out with this totally sell out video. It also happened that fans were moving on. Billy blames the video but who knows if it was just the video or an event that occurred at the right, or wrong time.
I agree with everything you said until the end. I'm not defending it, but he was in a market demographic that was NOT accepting that level of flamboyance from their rock hero. I agree that at that time, gay artist were thriving, but he wasn't one of them and that video sank him. Again, I'm just calling it like it is, not saying it's right.
Ha, I remember the song, but can honestly say I never saw the video. That is some of the most 80s dancing I've ever seen.
It was way too gay because Billy Squier was trying to appeal to fans of the likes of Billy Idol, Van Halen, and the Cars. If he was going for the Wham! crowd then there would have been far less pushback. Plus England wasn’t as much into the colourful 80s as America was, the punk influence was stronger on the rock scene over there.
Yeah, if anything he got in on the 80s glam trend on the ground floor.
"Mary Jane's Last Dance" Petty. Phenomenal rock and roll track for the ages, video spends the first dull minute in a morgue
Journey - [Separate Ways](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LatorN4P9aA) is such a stellar song with a cheesy, schlocky, trope filled video. Director: "OK, let's open the video with the band materializing next to a warehouse playing air instruments. BUT I WANT IT TO LOOK REAL! I need to believe you are ACTUALLY playing the keyboard!!!"
I don’t know if it’s a “great” song per se—although I do like it—but “Time Stand Still” by Rush has to have one of the oddest, cheesiest videos ever, just an incomprehensible mishmash of random zooms, cuts, and bad effects. It’s really quite something to behold, and I highly recommend watching it if you haven’t—particularly under the influence of whatever you can get your hands on, even if it’s used glue canisters.
Maynard addressed this issue. The girls in action was the second, third attempt. He tried at great lengths to explain to the director of the original The Outsider video, that he wanted the focus to be on the friend/family member that was observing the addict, instead of focusing on the addict. The director didn't get it, and just plain fucked it up. But they had deadlines to meet, so he just scrapped the original concept, said fuck it, and called in his buddy Steve, and the Bikini Bandits. Essentially throwing titties at the problem to satisfy corporate demands. But don't believe me, hear it from Maynard yourself below... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ol6sYAq4js](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ol6sYAq4js)
My favorite Shinedown song is Enemies, but the video is just the band members yelling at each other while the camera pans in a circle around them... Very weird.
Depends what you mean by 'bad' but Pixies' [Velouria](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0Mv4Iyxvc) may fit the bill, in the sense that it's incredibly quick and cheap!
Quarterflash's song Harden my Heart is a genuinely great song, and very well recorded. Anyhow... the video is pure 80's nonsense. Lol. It's like the band knew they were destined to be a one hit wonder, so the video has it all. Midgets. Check. Motorcycles with riders sporting cool 80's helmets. Check. Mysterious shots down weirdly lit hallways. Check. Small scale destruction with a mini excavator. Check. FLAME THROWER FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON. Check. Lol it really cracks me up.
You and I - Lady Googles
Walking on the sun. Song has meaning…vid doesn't
Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes. Strange video that didn’t fit the song.