This Might Be How Video Killed Radio

First there was the radio. Next was the television changing the way we receive news and entertainment forever.

And then there were the music videos. They started out as simple "musical shorts". From the 1920's - 1940's, these "musical shorts" were often played before the start of a feature film. Overtime, that simplicity evolved into something more and they ended up changing the music industry drastically over the decades.

Here are some of the most iconic and memorable music videos in music history:

Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) - Queen

Consisting of six minutes of choreography brilliance, from the very beginning, Bohemian Rhapsody is nothing short of a visual masterpiece. As anyone who has ever listened to it even once knows, the range of the song is very dramatic. It starts out mellow and somber like. By mid song, the tempo grows in heavy rock intensity before reverting back to a calm and mellow tone to end.

The kaleidoscope effect you see throughout the song reflects the dramatically diverse range of the song.

The iconic opening shot features the band members arranged in a simple yet eye catching diamond shape as they sing in synchronized harmony.

Originally a way to promote their single, the music video was created under lack of time and financial limits. It cost the band a low budget of £3,500 ($4,700) to make and was shot in 4 hours.

That is truly remarkable knowing how iconic the song itself has become. And even more so with the doubt that surrounded the song initially. Record labels were hesitant to play it believing that it might be too long and unusual of a song to play on the radio.

Bohemian Rhapsody hit number 1 on the UK charts where it stayed there for 9 weeks.

Video Killed the Radio Star (1979) - The Buggles

This song is not only a fun 80's tune to vibe to, it is an accurate representation of how we receive entertainment has changed over time.

The shift from radio to video.

This music video is iconic because it's the first music video to air on MTV in the U.S.

The music video has a futuristic 80's style vibe to it.

The song is as accurate today as it was then. Except maybe if it debuted today, it would be about how audio streaming killed the Radio DJ.

Thriller (1982) -Michael Jackson

This wasn't just a music video. This was more like a short film. Practically a mini movie!

The music video to Thriller was unlike any music video before its time. While the average song and thus music video lasts 3 to 4 minutes, this one lasted an impressive 14 minutes and had the same elements of a full feature film.

It consisted of a short horror film involving zombies and a choreography that would become a huge dance craze.

Thus far, it is the only music video to be inducted into the National Film Registry per the Library of Congress.

The music video was directed by John Landis who also directed "An American Werewolf in London".

Take on Me (1985) - Aha!

Not only is this the most recognizable 80's synth-pop songs, the music video to Take on Me is one of the most recognizable.

What's so iconic about this music video is how it combines live action with pencil sketched animation. this process is called rotoscoping. Such a blend of animation had never been done before so this was truly groundbreaking at the time.

Rotoscoping is the process in which live action film frames are hand traced.

The music video consists of 2,000 sketches that took four months to draw and tells a story of a comic book character pursuing a love interest.

Money for Nothing (1985) - Dire Straits

This music video is iconic because it is the first to feature 3D animation alongside live action scenes of the band's performances. At the time of its release in 1985, this was truly groundbreaking!

When we considering the blocky computer animated characters of the music video for Money for Nothing and compare that to the life-like CGI animation we have today, we realize just how far we've come with graphic design technology!

Money for Nothing hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts and held there for 3 weeks.

Each of these music videos were iconic and groundbreaking in their own way. Am I missing any other iconic music videos?

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