Part 2 of our series highlighting low budget music videos with that perfectly endearing DIY 80’s aesthetic.

At the beginning of the 1980s, music began to pursue and present itself in a new form: the “Music Video.” This newly founded abstract media seemed to have no rules, incorporating a wide variety of video techniques ranging from animation, stop motion, effects, and beyond. But one common idea that seemed to thread them all would be that they all held the same objective, and like the music itself, they tried to define the sounds and look of “the future.” This agenda produced a bounty of wild and wacky outcomes, from insane costumes to strange video concepts, and musicians without major-label funding attempted to partake in the action and, with it, manufactured some of the most bizarre pieces of video ever.

Mostly fun and a few serious, here are some of our favorite DIY music videos. <3

Marcos Valle – Estrelar (1983)

This undeniable classic Brazilian boogie tune has a video that is just as great. Marcos can be seen riding multiple means of transportation, whether it be speeding in his sportscar, horseback-riding, or bicycling along the Brazilian coast; he’s slowly making his way to what looks like a pretty fun living room set beach party.  

Miles Davis – Tutu (1986)

We love late Miles’ style and his fashionable array of silk suits and shades on display here in this Spike Lee-directed video for “Tutu.” The best part is him spinning in circles and playing his muted horn on a rolling dolly. 

A Guy Called Gerald – Finley’s Rainbow (1995)

Finley’s Rainbow is an amazing journey into 90’s CGI from the legendary British electronic producer.

Coil – Windowpane (1991)

This lysergic downtempo classic gets an equally trippy video treatment with frontman John Balance dancing in a lake and saturated in early 90’s effects.

R. Stevie Moore – I Like to Stay Home (1986)

The king of DIY, R. Stevie Moore, has almost hundreds of bedroom-produced videos, but we love this video to the now pandemic anthem “I Like to Stay Home.” Robed lip-syncing and playing a tiny toy guitar while accompanied by a drummer with an elephant trunk nose. Ahh, the magic of Mozart.

Toni Esposito – As Tu Às (1985)

As Tu As’ video is just a jam by Esposito and his band on a Mediterranean cliff, surrounded by arcade games. The Italian artist also produced an alternative version of this video with even more effects that is worth a watch.

Arthur Brown – Busha Busha (1982)

Another idolized DIY character is Arthur Brown, who also produced a plethora of strange music videos. Here we find him climbing trees and radio towers, balancing on a tightrope, all to many effects that perfectly compliment his deranged psychedelic music. Equally worth seeking out is his live performance of “Fire,” where he wears a Viking helmet that’s literally, on fire.