Secrets and Mysteries of The MTV Top 100 Music Video Countdown of 1985

Before we dive into the top ten, I think this is a good time to peek behind the curtain, if you will.  Let us examine this glorious cultural artifact that was presented to the world on December 31, 1985.  Of course, we are talking about The MTV Top 100 Video Countdown of 1985.  The greatest videos of 1985, ranked in order from 1 to 100.  A brilliant and inspired idea.

I have somewhat of an affinity, or some might say an obsession, with this list.  Just in case profiling 90+ videos didn't make that clear enough.

My main point of curiosity is the ranking itself.  With 100 spots available, very often there will be an awesome song that seems to be ranked much too low.  It also works the other way, with an unspectacular song attaining a high chart position.

But this ranking, this "countdown" if you will....how was the placement of each video determined?  Oh, can't anyone explain how?

If there's anyone I would trust to provide the real story, it would be original MTV VJ Martha Quinn.  Who is a better authority than someone who was actually there, one of the hosts of the countdown on that New Year's Eve day in 1985?

I have studied the original videotape from that day.  (As you can see above, I purchased my prize from rockadelicdave).  Martha contributes witty banter in between videos, relating all kinds of fun facts about the artists.  But in the midst of the light-hearted anecdotes, we can discern a serious clue.  After detailing all the awards won by Don Henley's "The Boys Of Summer" video (criminally low at #65, by the way), she faces the camera and states the following:

"The Top 100 Countdown of '85 was calibrated by how long the video stayed on our weekly countdown show and by the highest position it reached in its duration on the countdown."

Whoa!!  Say what now?!?!  Carve that into a stone tablet!!

There is method to the madness!  "Calibration" is involved!  And not only that, her revelation includes three very important components:

1) "our weekly countdown show".  Each week, MTV aired the Top 20 Video Countdown, which broadcast the most popular videos of the week in descending order from 20 to 1.  This was broadcast every Friday night, as I recall.  Possibly, the weekly countdown rankings were also somehow calibrated.

2)  "how long the video stayed".  A video debuts on the countdown, and if it is popular, it returns the following week, possibly with a higher ranking.  Over time, it declines in popularity, tumbling back down the countdown and exiting from whence it came.

3) "the highest position it reached".  Pretty self-explanatory.  Somewhere between 1 and 20.

So perhaps this "calibration" involves steps 2 and 3 above.  Or the rankings are decided through a series of shady backroom deals.  But I'm choosing not to believe that.  Martha has spoken.

Then the implication is that a formula, an algorithm if you will, has been applied to each video's chart performance, factoring in peak ranking and duration.  Whereas we have Song A, which appeared on the countdown for a short amount of time and peaked at a low position (say #14), and Song B, which appeared on the countdown for a long period of time and peaked at a higher position (#8, let's say).  Maybe Song B achieved a higher ranking on the Top 100 countdown by virtue of its greater peak position and staying power.  Right?

Fair enough, but then the question becomes how to differentiate those videos that have a similar peak and duration?  How would that be calibrated?

It shouldn't be difficult to reconstruct this formula and find out how the top 100 countdown was built.  All we need is the raw data, that is, each weekly top 20 countdown list from 1985.  That would give us all kinds if valuable information.

Look, we know there were more than 100 videos made in 1985.  I have already detailed two huge hits (link) which missed the countdown completely.   Shouldn't we also know which videos ranked 101-120, for example?  Don't those videos also deserve to be profiled in a blog that focuses exclusively on music videos from 1985?  Of course they do.
Now, about that raw data.  I have scoured the interwebs, and the greatest intelligence I’ve found on the subject was in a chat room thread on a music community website called UKMix.  A few inspired folks have provided several Top 20 weekly video countdown charts from 1985. 

These honorable scholars had to derive the MTV charts from old Rolling Stone magazines, where the countdown results were published on a semi-weekly basis.  But alas, the publications did not begin until sometime in mid-1985, so no countdowns exist prior to May 1985.  Other than these postings, there is apparently not a shred of evidence regarding the weekly countdowns of 1985.

There's got to be some intern that worked at MTV in the mid-80's who can provide the missing documents, or even just bread crumbs that might lead to the missing documents.  How else might we learn the secrets and mysteries of the MTV Top 100 Music Video Countdown of 1985?

Look, if Martha said there was calibration, I believe her.  But I sure would like to do the math myself to verify.

The UKMix chat room posters have given me hope that the answers are out there.

One day, perhaps the secrets and mysteries of the MTV Top 100 Music Video Countdown of 1985 will be no more.

#11 - Shout

Artist: Tears For Fears

Album: Songs From The Big Chair
Video: From DailyMotion.

According to the singers, “Shout” is an urging for people to speak out about social injustices.  But it can also be interpreted as a direct expression of the primal scream, a form of psychotherapy created by Arthur Janov.  The band’s name was inspired by Janov’s work.

I was always a fan of this song.  Of course, it feels good to shout and let it all out.  With a simple yet powerful message, the song became an anthem of sorts.  Yes, its lofty chart position in this countdown is well deserved.

One of the most popular songs of its time, “Shout” reigned on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks.  The tune reached #1 in 8 different countries, but oddly stalled at #4 in the band’s home country of England.

In more recent times, Tears For Fears has been featured on the television show Psych.  The main characters give their tribute to “Shout” here.

I always imagined that this video was filmed at the Grand Canyon.  Upon closer examination, the setting doesn't look anything like that.  Perhaps it was because the band members' mouths appeared to be as big as the Grand Canyon when they sang.  It was actually filmed at Durdle Door, along the Jurassic Coast of Southern England. 

We're not done with Tears For Fears yet.  We'll see them again before this blog is all said and done.

#12 - Just Another Night

Artist: Mick Jagger

Album: She's The Boss
Video: From YouTube.

The lofty position of "Just Another Night" on the MTV countdown is quite baffling to me.  Was this seriously one of the top 12 songs or videos of 1985?  Not from my perspective.

It's not a terrible song, it's just that it hardly made an impression on me.  While I had a vague awareness of its existence, I don't remember ever hearing it on the radio, or seeing this video.  It had moderate chart success, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.  But I'd think that at the height of its success, the twelfth greatest song of the year might rank higher than, well, twelve.

As for the song itself, it's a catchy tune.  Lyrically, "Just Another Night" is strikingly similar to Phil Collins' recently-blogged-about "One More Night".  Both songs request another night in the company of an ex-lover.  But Jagger's plea has a desperate and unhinged quality, leaving one to wonder what will become of him if the sought after evening does not materialize.

Several elements of the video are intriguing.  It co-stars a delighted Rae Dawn Chong, daughter of Cheech & Chong's Tommy.  We also see Mick participate in a bizarre succession of antics: sweating and in great distress in the jungle, displaying impressive acrobatics with his tongue, just generally doing Mick Jagger things.

But there is something else, something about this video that seems familiar.  I know, it's the riverboat casino scenes!  We've seen this before!  Yes, we are once again treated to the maniacally entertaining poker chips spilling incident.  Since this song came first, was "Lucky In Love" a sequel video expanding on these elements?  Why has no one studied this?

#13 - Would I Lie To You?

Artist: Eurythmics

Album: Be Yourself Tonight
Video: From YouTube.

I don't remember being a fan of Eurythmics, but I did buy "Be Yourself Tonight" on cassette tape while it was popular.  There must have been some reason.  I doubt that it was because of this song.  Good song, just not really my taste.

"Would I Lie To You?" opens with a foreboding rumbling bass, and features some interesting sound combinations overall, most prominently the frequent joyous explosions of horns.  The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Eurythmics, of course, is the duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.  Both have maintained successful music careers since the band split up in 1990, Lennox as a solo artist and Stewart in a myriad of projects.  Stewart worked with several artists in 1985, most notably Tom Petty in this classic video.

The beginning of the "Would I Lie To You?" video features an argument between Annie Lennox and her motorcycle-riding boyfriend.  The beau is played by Steven Bauer, best known as Tony Montana’s pal Manolo in the classic “Scarface”.   Post-fight, Dave Stewart consoles her by telling her to just “be yourself tonight” (the album title).

The pep talk works, as the band performs enthusiastically before a vibrant crowd of a couple hundred people in a smallish club.  There seems to be about twenty musicians on stage, several dancing in scarcely controlled chaos.  Towards the end, Bauer returns and confronts Annie on stage, whereupon he is hurled into the crowd and leaves in shame.

#14 - One More Night

Artist: Phil Collins

Album: No Jacket Required
Video: From YouTube.

It is appropriate that "One More Night" follows "Sussudio" immediately on this countdown, because these two songs are forever linked.  Not only are they from the same album, but both songs also soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985.

"One More Night" is a beautiful slow song, a plaintive plea for another chance with a lover.  It is the soft, understated yin to the bold, dominant yang of "Sussudio".  I was surprised to learn that it was actually the first single released from the "No Jacket Required" album.  To go with a ballad right out of the gate, it shows there must have been a really strong feeling about it.

Phil Collins is the most prolific artist on the MTV Top 100 Music Video Countdown, with five videos.  Three solo efforts and two duets.  In that aspect he stands alone.  He was truly a hit machine in 1985.

I distinctly remember this song played during a montage of college basketball highlights around NCAA tournament time.  The idea was that any team losing a game would be eliminated from further competition, so they just wanted to play again, "one more night".  It was odd to hear a slow song as the backdrop to sports highlights.

The video represents yet another linkage with "Sussudio", as both videos appear to take place in the same bar.  He appears to be wearing the same suit and tie, only now it is after closing time.  The scene is dimly lit, encouraging quiet reflection.

And yeah, I used practically the same picture for both songs.  You try finding different pictures representing those two.

#15 - Sussudio

Artist: Phil Collins

Album: No Jacket Required
Video: From YouTube.

This is "Sussudio".  A great, great song.  A personal favorite.  4 out of 5 serial killers agree.

The opening and most memorable hit from the "No Jacket Required" album, this song established Phil Collins as a one of the pre-eminent solo artists of his generation.  It was the second of his three #1 hits in 1985.

Many have wondered who or what Sussudio was (or "Su-su-ssudio", as the actual lyric is sung).  It's just a nonsense word Collins made up that fit the music of the song.  The lyrics are about a schoolboy crush.  The music is positive and uplifting, characterized by crisp drumbeats and enthusiastic horns.

In the video, Collins is performing in a bar before a small crowd where no one is paying any attention to him.  But as the song progresses, the audience slowly starts to become more interested, until the end when everyone is totally into it.

And so, here we have the fourth Phil Collins video in the 1985 MTV Top 100 Video Countdown.  No individual has more songs in the countdown than this man.  You might think we've seen the last of Phil Collins in this countdown.  But oh, you would be oh so wrong.

#16 - Alive And Kicking

Artist: Simple Minds

Album: Once Upon A Time
Video: From YouTube.

In 1985, Simple Minds released "Once Upon A Time", their most successful album ever.  "Alive And Kicking" was the biggest hit from that album.  And yet, it was NOT the most successful Simple Minds song of 1985!  How can that be?? 

You'll just have to wait to find out.  Or use Google.  Or your BRAIN.  For you see, while this is the first appearance by Simple Minds in this countdown, it will not be the last.

I wasn’t a fan of “Alive And Kicking” while it was popular, but it did reach #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It sounded "New Wave" to me and that just wasn't my bag, baby.  But over the years I grew an appreciation for the song, and the album is also actually pretty good. 

As for Simple Minds, they have been making music since 1977, although the mid-80’s was their only period of commercial success.  They are a Scottish rock band, possibly the best Scottish rock band of all-time.  At least they give Belle & Sebastian a pretty good run for their money.

The video is difficult to understand, but it does include some groovy scenery.  I particularly enjoy the rushing waterfall.  They appear to be in some sort of national park, and there is lots of greenery.  At the end a crane shot reveals the band is on an island, which is odd because earlier they were playing on the edge of a cliff.  They are messing with my simple mind!  See what I did there?!  And…scene.