Top Five Iconic Retro Music Videos That Changed MTV Forever

When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, it didn’t just play music—it reshaped pop culture. Suddenly, visuals mattered as much as the sound. Hair got bigger, dance moves got sharper, and artists became icons not just through radio waves, but through our TV screens.

Here are five music videos from the golden age of MTV that didn’t just dominate the airwaves—they rewired what it meant to be a star:

5. Peter Gabriel – “Sledgehammer” (1986)

Why It Changed MTV: Stop-motion claymation weirdness that shouldn't have worked—but absolutely did.

This video was like watching an art school fever dream. With mind-bending animation from Aardman (later known for Wallace & Gromit), Gabriel turned a song about desire into a kaleidoscopic masterpiece. It won a then-record nine MTV VMAs and proved that experimental visuals could be mainstream.

4. Duran Duran – “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)

Why It Changed MTV: Made music videos feel like exotic mini-movies.

Shot like an Indiana Jones knock-off in the jungles of Sri Lanka, this video set a new standard for budget and ambition. MTV played it on heavy rotation, catapulting Duran Duran to global fame and proving that looks and location were as powerful as lyrics.

3. Michael Jackson – “Thriller” (1983)

Why It Changed MTV: Redefined the music video as a cinematic event.

Directed by John Landis (of An American Werewolf in London fame), this wasn’t just a video—it was a 14-minute horror musical with choreography, zombies, and a budget bigger than most indie films. "Thriller" made the music video an event, not just a promotional tool.

2. Madonna – “Like a Prayer” (1989)

Why It Changed MTV: Sparked controversy and conversation.

Blending racial imagery, burning crosses, and religious symbolism, Madonna’s video was unapologetically provocative. It got banned by the Vatican, dropped by Pepsi, and talked about everywhere. MTV stood its ground—and the video became a blueprint for the pop provocateur playbook.

1. A-Ha – “Take On Me” (1985)

Why It Changed MTV: Merged live-action and animation like magic.

That rotoscope sketch-animation style? Instantly iconic. The “Take On Me” video turned a Norwegian synthpop band into global stars overnight. Its high-concept, romantic visuals made it a permanent resident on MTV and an enduring symbol of the 1980s.