85/100 Video - "Planet Claire" – The B52s (1979)

From the opening alien synth notes of "Planet Claire", The B52s remind us on this early single that they are gifts from another galaxy. 

What's extraordinary about this song is that it takes almost two minutes until the first vocals appear: that is unless you count Kate Pierson's lip sync of the intro synth line.

Meanwhile, vocalist Fred Schneider plays a mean cowb...I mean walkie-talkie?!

The eccentric gals and guys of this unique band have always taken fun seriously with silly lyrics, antics and outfits.

It still blows my that two important alternative artists emerged from the college town of Athens, Georgia (population: approx. 125,000).

86/100 Video - "Separate Ways" - Journey (1983)

Tightly surrounding vocalist Steve Perry in a display of unity, "Separate Ways" was one of the first videos to show the "air band" technique.

Journey also hated making videos, which may explain why this one feels it cost under $20 to shoot. 

Shot on a wharf in New Orleans, the video features the band members in your face with awkwardly close close-up shots. 

"Separate Ways" by Journey is one intense tune. It was written during a turbulent time for the band as two members were going through divorces during the middle of a tour.

87/100 Video - "A View to a Kill" - Duran Duran (1985)

A band known for its hooks and looks, "A View to a Kill" by Duran Duran was just another grand video to add to its growing repertoire

Recorded as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name, the clip is stylish and slick, featuring the boys playing roles as spies and assassins while lurking around the Eiffel Tour.

I love the low budget 80's cheese of the clip, especially the "flying camera getting shot out of the sky" effect.

And at the end of the video, Le Bon does a parody of James Bond, smarmily introducing himself as "Bon. Simon Le Bon."

According to Wikipedia, Duran Duran was chosen to do the song after bassist John Taylor a lifelong Bond fan, approached producer Albert Broccoli at a party, and somewhat drunkenly asked "When are you going to get someone decent to do one of your theme songs?

"A View to a Kill" was the last song recorded by the original five-member lineup until the band reunited in 2001.

88/100 Video - "Crystal" – New Order (2001)

New Order had been dormant for almost a decade, its members off doing solo projects since they had split up circa 1993.

"Crystal" was a solid choice for their comeback single, showcasing the band's trademark dance-rock sound.

The concert style video doesn't show the actual band members, but rather a much younger indie group lip-synching to the track. 

Brandon Flowers of The Killers was so enamored with the tune's video that he stole the name painted on the drum kit for his own group.

89/100 Video - "Buffalo Stance" - Neneh Cherry (1988)

The video for "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry oozes energy and flow, colour and motion.

Everyone's a star in this catchy clip with the sick synth hook and fat chorus.

Starting with the foreground, sassy singer Neneh Cherry captures our attention with her cheeky prances and buffalo stances.

In charge of the synths and scratchin', there's Mushroom, who was part of the Wild Bunch DJ collective before joining Massive Attack.

And the two animated back-up female vocalists bob, dart and weave in and off the screen throughout the clip.

Although the song was released in 1988; it oozes an early 90s vibe to the style. 

The 80s are sometimes remembered as being all about image or excess. But here we have Neneh Cherry rhyming about how 'no money man can win her love'. 

The vocal line "Know what I mean" flashing down the screen in four languages is a cute scene. 

I'll always associate this track with clubbing at Secretaries in downtown Halifax. Good times.