Remember when you saw your first music video? It might have
been on MTV, BET, Friday Night Videos or even The Box. Music videos have always
drawn people closer to an artist and made a song more popular. They have also
been instrumental in displaying the styles and trends that have influenced the
Hip-Hop/R&B generation. If we look back twenty years and look at music
videos today, you see how music has evolved and how important they have become
in developing artists. I’ve taken the liberty to choose three of my favorite
videos from 1988, 1998 and. Let’s REWIND back and look at how far we’ve come.
1988 – Al B Sure “Nite-N-Day”
Al B. Sure single-handedly made light skinned brothers a big
deal in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. This video made the ladies go wild! He
had the build of a football player, soft curly hair, a nice smile and a voice
that could charm the pants off his biggest fan. When “Nite-N-Day” hit, the song
was an instant classic. Women thought his unibrow was sexy and while he sang in
his denim suit on the rooftop, I just remember how many of my friends
pronounced their love for him day in and day out. This video helped make Al B
Sure’s career. Yes, there were other hot videos in ‘88, but none quite as
memorable for me as this one.Al B. Sure! – Nite And Day
Honorable Mention:
Michael Jackson – “Bad”
Prince – “U Got The Look”
Janet Jackson – “Pleasure Principle”
Michael Jackson – “The Way You Make Me Feel”
1998 – Usher “Nice N Slow”
Usher Raymond has grown up in the spotlight. And while some
of us tend to forget that his career extends back to the early ‘90s, we have to
acknowledge that he’s had some hits along the way. The video for “Nice N Slow”
was something along the lines of a mini-movie. It was dope and used the Peep
Hole effect that was popular at that time amongst video directors. This song
and video were part of the transitional period of Usher evolving from being a
young adult into a man. Nice & Slow – Usher
Honorable Mention:
Brandy & Monica – “The Boy Is Mine”
Puff Daddy and The Family – “It’s All About the
Benjamins”
Mariah Carey f/
Puff Daddy and The Family – “Honey” (Remix)
“Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See”
Usher –
“You Make Me Wanna”
2008 – Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
I’ve seen a lot of great videos in 2008. Some were very
creative and had very large budgets behind them, but sometimes less is more.
Let’s take for example Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies”. This video has some of the
best choreography that I’ve seen in a while.
But the video doesn’t consist of anything else more than
that dancing. And there isn’t some large ensemble, just Beyoncé and two other
dancers. It’s shot in black and white and women oh yeah and a few fellas all
over the world are still trying to this very minute to get the routine
memorized. Now that’s a classic video. I remember the first time I saw it, I
was in awe. And I don’t think there is any other video that’s getting watched
over and over again right now like “Singe Ladies” is. So you have to give it
up! “Single Ladies” is one you’ll remember for years to come.Single Ladies – Beyonce
Honorable Mention:
T Pain – “Can’t Believe It”
Rihanna – “Take a Bow”
Usher – “Love In This Club”
Kanye West – “Heartless”
Keri Hilson f/Lil Wayne – “Turning Me On”
Ashanti – “The Way That You Love Me”