Good questions all around. Performances in the 50s and 60s were more 'live'; like something you'd see on the Tonight Show/Conan/Arsenio, etc. They were live performances of one song, 2 if you were lucky; but not something made with the intent of being played in constant rotation. I wasn't alive then so I can't judge on the replay of it, but how many times was the same performance of, say, Bye Bye Love by the Everly Brothers, or Ooby Dooby by Roy Orbison constantly replayed?
That doesn't diminish the importance of the music or the performance; don't get me wrong. In fact, to the contrary; the rarity of different performances made finding them that more unique and soughtafter.
That's one of the reasons I chose that timeframe. At that time, not only was there a dedicated channel to music and music videos, but the music was still the forerunner in the bulk of the videos; I omitted everything that was still in constant rotation, because it was current, plus highlighted more of the performance in the video than the music in the video.
Now, don't get me wrong again; there's art in the video, especially in matching the concept of the video to the music, which you get some really wonderful pieces;
Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House,
Only The Lonely by the Motels, and
Take on Me by A-ha are great examples of concept in the video. At that time you didn't just have someone or a band standing in one position and playing (common back in the 50s/60s), or choreographed group dancing (common and a dime a dozen now). There was the chance to add something original to the music.
Now, I admit that it took a hell of a lot more talent in the 50s and 60s to make music than it did anytime after 1980, but also keep in mind that in 1990, I was 16, and missing the music I heard 10 years prior, when I was 6!
So I guess that was it; highlight the concept in the clip along with the music, plus the the fact of those that were created when I was alive to see it. That basically made what I had. Finally, what truly was happening musically in my childhood up to that point. A lot of changes were happening, and to be honest, I was rather young at that time to want to relive those days as a child. I can see doing that in my 40s or 50s, but at 16 is unusual.
Good concept videos? here you go.
YouTube:
video
YouTube:
video
I'll even throw in a more serious one, especially since a friend of mine went through it when he was younger.
YouTube:
video
BL.
