R&B Rewind: ’88, ’98, ’08

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)

Busta Rhymes –

“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”