Top 10 Hottest '80s Music Videos

The music video may run with the G-rated meaning of the title, but the adult interpretation is heavily alluded to, like in the way Olivia Newton-John eyes the camera and all the sweat-sheened muscles. The singer takes on the persona of a personal trainer, which leads to some over-the-top scenes that are a lot more humorous than sexy. Still, the titillation is impossible to miss with Newton-John’s quintessential ‘80s activewear and the intercut shower shots. In the – is saying a ‘cheeky’ ending too on the nose? In the end, the trainer is able to find herself a… tennis partner.

Cher is forever iconic and performances like this prove exactly why. She put on a concert for the crew of the USS Missouri, wearing a fishnet outfit that covers pretty much only what it needs to – if that. It was considered so scandalous at the time that quite a few networks said no to broadcasting the video, with MTV outright banning it. Cher commands the attention of all as she parades across the ship’s stage, and it’s a miracle we’re able to focus on her voice at all. Everyone say: thank you, Cher.

Rana Kennedy is undoubtedly the centerpiece of this video, even with Alice Cooper himself commanding his usual scope of attention. Much of the video was clearly inspired by the lyric “I don’t wanna break these chains”, which certainly ups the heat. Two versions of the video were actually filmed, with the original having to be censored due to nudity. In that initial cut, the chains played an even bigger role, tying down Cooper to some sort of odd mechanism. That’s not to take away from the safer version, which still calls for a glass of cold water

Credit where it’s due: 95% of the allure comes from Lita Ford alone. Sure, the lighting and camera are doing a little work but it’s pretty much all Ford, her skin-tight leather pants, and her guitar. She moves with effortless sensuality – not to mention all the time she spends on her knees or otherwise crawling. It’s not too overt and you get the sense that there wasn’t a ton of intense staging – it’s just Ford rocking out and being hot. The music video also made it onto the New York Times’ list of the 15 Essential Hair-Metal Videos, which, how could it not?

Many point to “Here I Go Again” as Whitesnake’s most lascivious video. Who can resist Tawny Kitaen rolling around on the hoods of cars, after all? Well, we raise you “Is This Love”. Tawny Kitaen is back and this time she’s swaying around in heels and well-fitting garments. The scenes with her and then-boyfriend David Coverdale are especially steamy, whether she’s dancing for him in front of the bed or he’s holding her close in the mist. It’s so passionate, it almost feels like we’re intruding on a private moment – or several.

This is the kind of video you dissect in your college film class. Nearly every shot calls something salacious to mind – the black silk sheets, the blindfold, the body parts sprayed with water – and it all paints a vivid story for a song whose message is perfectly unambiguous. Timing its cuts with the music and alternating between black-and-white and color, this visual accompaniment fits right in with popular editing techniques of the time. With lacy lingerie, legs tangled in bedsheets together, and words written in lipstick, this is definitely a shift away from the sappiness of “Careless Whisper”.

Where do we even begin with a song and video so legendary? From the sets to the choreography to the outfits – one of which slowly but surely comes off – sex appeal drips from every corner of the frame. Prince is as perfectly flamboyant as always, and he absolutely commits to every flair and finish. He’s helped along by Monique Mannen, in the sheer veil and sunglasses, and Wendy Melvoin, the guitarist, each who bring rather different energies to the overall ambience. If the word ‘tease’ could be enveloped in just under four minutes, it would be this video.

“Like a Virgin” is up there with provocative videos but the Queen of Pop really has no shortage of seductiveness. If we have to pick just one Madonna music video, we’re giving it to “Express Yourself”. It actually had the highest budget ever for a music video at the time of its creation and its cool effects, dynamic sets, and fun props really reflect that. Full of rippling muscles, tempting silhouettes, and some especially potent imagery, the video for “Express Yourself” is definitely a step up above your average promo. We especially love Madonna in that power suit. The end is a knockout, too, with the singer and her partner expressing themselves indeed.

“Tastefully hot” is a tricky line to toe but Paula Abdul does it wonderfully. The first half of the video is exactly that: fascinating and sexy, but restrained. That is, until the blinds go down. The dance moves become full-on simulations of what should only be seen behind closed doors. Beyond the way the performers are dressed, the routine seems to tout a lesson about the power of dance and playing to people’s most baseline impulses – if that one guy’s fogged glasses are anything to go by. It doesn’t sound like the executives had any notes either.

While you might know the song from 1990’s “Wild at Heart”, you’re missing out on a whole lot of sultriness if you skip the music video. Kisses, close-ups, and soft touches – among some other things – all make for staggering intimacy between Chris Isaak and supermodel Helena Christensen. The video has been ranked on a few other lists, including VH1’s “50 Sexiest Video Moments” where it nabbed fourth place. It also got number one on Rolling Stone’s “The 30 Sexiest Music Videos of All Time” and on Fuse’s 2010 “40 Sexiest Videos”. It’s all indisputably well-deserved as few other music promos come close to the ardent visuals in “Wicked Game”.

Which scandalous ‘80s music videos did we miss? Let us know in the comments!