Photo: AFP
With MTV celebrating its 40th anniversary this Sunday, August 1st, 1981, Rolling Stone has compiled a list of the "100 Greatest Music Videos" and Billboard narrowed it down the "40 Best Music Videos of 1981."
Topping the Rolling Stone list is "Formation" by Beyonce followed by "Hurt" from Johnny Cash, and "Vogue" by Madonna at three.
The classic acts that cracked the Top 10 are Peter Gabriel with "Sledgehammer" at eight, and Guns N' Roses with "November Rain" at nine.
And scattered throughout the Rolling Stone list are:
- Nirvana- "Smells Like Teen Spirit" -13
- U2- "One" -25
- ZZ Top- "Gimme All Your Lovin'" -35
- Metallica- "One" -42
- David Bowie- "Ashes to Ashes" -44
- Aerosmith- "Janie's Got a Gun" -49
- Van Halen- "Jump" -58
- R.E.M.- "Losing My Religion" -63
- Queen- "Bohemian Rhapsody" -64
- Motley Crue- "Home Sweet Home" -72
- Twisted Sister- "We're Not Gonna Take It" -77
- Talking Heads- "Once in a Lifetime" -81
- Neil Young- "This Note's For You" -86
- Soundgarden- "Blow Up the Outside World" -87
- The Buggles- "Video Killed the Radio Star" -100(First video played on MTV)
And according to Billboard, the "40 Best Music Videos of 1981" included:
- Blondie- "Rapture" -1
- Talking Heads- "Once in a Lifetime" -2
- The Human League- "Don't You Want Me" -3
- Phil Collins- "In the Air Tonight" -6
- Rod Stewart- "Young Turks" -10
- The Rolling Stones- "Waiting on a Friend" -11
- Queen & David Bowie- "Under Pressure" -16
- Elton John- "Elton's Song" -18
- J. Geils Band- "Centerfold" -19
- Devo- "Whip It" -20
- Rick Springfield- "Jessie's Girl" -21
- The Stray Cats- "Rock This Town" -23
- Daryl Hall & John Oates- "Private Eyes" -26
- Electric Light Orchestra- "Hold on Tight" -27
- Van Halen- "(Oh) Pretty Woman" -29
- The Cars- "Shake It Up" -30
- Styx- "Too Much Time on My Hands" -36
- Tommy Tutone- "867-5309/Jenny" -37
- Tubes- "Talk to Ya Later" -38
- Loverboy- Workin' For the Weekend" -40