10 Most Revolutionary Rock Music Videos
6. Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
A curious group with a curious legacy, The Buggles, who formed in London in 1977, were a short-lived affair, releasing just two albums in the early '80s before disbanding. Although their debut record, The Age Of Plastic, is fondly remembered by fans of early electro-music, The Buggles are best known for their hit single from that album, Video Killed The Radio Star.
That song is undeniably a great slice of pop, and reached number one in multiple countries thanks to its quirky, sing-along chorus and timeless theme, but the track also earns its place in music history thanks to the accompanying video, which was the first ever played on MTV, in 1981.
That video, it must be said, is anything but high-brow or polished. Therein lies its charm, however. What we have here is an important part of music video history and the visuals, whilst far from sophisticated, display a trashy glamour and thrown-together ethos which fits the music very well. Expect cardboard scenery, many shots of the band, naive effects and a woman in sparkly spandex floating inside a plastic tube. Trevor Horn and Geoffrey Downes, the men behind The Buggles, individually went on to work with big-name bands including Asia, Yes, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Art Of Noise.