My mother was a kind-hearted, cautious Catholic woman who raised us alone after my father passed. I grew up during a transformative period in music—when MTV launched its wild, provocative music videos paired with catchy tunes. I was mesmerized, spending hours glued to the screen. Without that exposure, I wouldn’t have expanded my musical horizons beyond the mainstream. One day, I accidentally stumbled upon a Heart concert video, and from that moment, I was hooked!
During a visit to my cousins’ home, we learned they were banned from watching MTV. However, my mom allowed it. This was the same woman who embarrassed me by forbidding me to see the movie Fame with my cousins at a family gathering because of its R rating (she was blissfully unaware of Irene Cara’s topless scene!). Yet, she never stayed in the room while MTV played, as we cleverly switched channels during the more risqué videos. The moment she walked in, it was a quick click to change the video.
I recently asked her why she let us watch MTV. “I thought it was just like listening to the radio,” she replied. But, Mom, did you really see Madonna rolling around on the floor in that sheer lace wedding dress, singing “Like a Virgin”? No, we were far too quick with that bulky cable box!
Here are a few 1980s music videos my mother definitely would have prohibited if she had known:
The J. Geils Band, ‘Centerfold’
The narrator’s ex-girlfriend appears naked in a “girly” magazine. What is a centerfold, I wondered? The video features girls transitioning from modest schoolgirls to sultry calendar models, singing and cheering. Were they aware they were part of a video that would lead to guest spots on shows like The Love Boat, or did they think only Tawny Kitaen would gain from her vixen status?
Madonna, ‘Like a Virgin’
This wasn’t the innocent Madonna adorned in rubber bracelets and unkempt hair. She was singing about her latest sexual escapade, claiming it felt like the first time. While being rowed through Venice, she draped herself in sheer fabric, her heavy-lidded gaze locked on the camera. How many kids must have asked their parents what “virgin” meant after hearing that tune?!
Culture Club, ‘Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?’
I’ll never forget watching this for the first time, sipping hot chocolate with my sister from Snoopy mugs, debating whether Boy George was male or female. How do you explain a gender-bending figure to sheltered suburban kids like us?
Van Halen, ‘Hot for Teacher’ / The Police, ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’
These catchy songs featured one of my favorite guitarists and one of my top bands. The Van Halen video had some eye-popping moments, and David Lee Roth’s solo work? Wow! What lesson were the students really learning from that teacher? As for Sting, his brooding charm and raspy voice could make anyone contemplate accepting a ride, regardless of the questionable circumstances. Sure, it was about not talking to strangers (great advice from Rick Springfield), but how could anyone resist?
Glenn Frey, ‘Smuggler’s Blues’
This video, drenched in drug imagery likely inspired by Miami Vice, tells the tale of a smuggler with his risky dealings and inevitable betrayal. While I had no understanding of cocaine, I couldn’t help but watch this supposedly cautionary tale that glamorized drug dealing. Growing up during the “Just Say No” campaign, I wasn’t interested in drugs, just the captivating video. Was it a “gateway” film?!
The Tubes, ‘She’s a Beauty’
This nearly forgotten video features circus performers and women in black latex—were they the same? Luckily, I didn’t grasp the full meaning and simply enjoyed the catchy tune. Without the visuals, it might have faded into obscurity. Fun fact: The Tubes made their mark with the famously banned video “Mondo Bondage,” which left parents speechless everywhere!
So, what scandalous music videos did you sneak a peek at when your parents weren’t watching? For those interested in further exploring topics related to parenting, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination. If you’re curious about home insemination techniques, you can also learn more about our featured home insemination kit here. And for expert insights on reproductive health, visit this authoritative source.
Summary:
This piece reflects on the wild music videos of the 1980s that many parents, including the author’s mother, would have frowned upon. From Madonna’s provocative performances to the gender-bending looks of Boy George, these iconic videos left a lasting impression on young viewers.