For several years now, people have been claiming since there is no outlet for them like there used to be, the music video was not relevant anymore and not really necessary to get exposure and to have a hit record. And with BET, VH1 and MTV not putting their concentration on music any longer, some folks were saying, other than places like youtube, people really didn't care much about music videos any more and music sales were not as dependent on them like they used to be.

And then comes along Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" music video. The music video caused a media frenzy and turned an R&B singer many people had never heard of into a Pop Superstar. No one said a thing about Robin's vocal performance on the song. And, really, it's not a great vocal performance. Just a song with a really catchy beat and a controversial video to really bring it over the top.


So, my question is, would "Blurred Lines" have been the block-buster, crossover hit that it turned out to be without the music video and is this an example of how music videos are still relevant and are still capable of exposing music to the massess?

kitbradley said:

So, my question is, would "Blurred Lines" have been the block-buster, crossover hit that it turned out to be without the music video and is this an example of how music videos are still relevant and are still capable of exposing music to the massess?

I think you make really good points about the state of the music video, but I also think that Blurred Lines is an outlier.

I think the video was a viral sensation, and when combined with the catchy hook and the social and legal controversies over the song, made Thicke a superstar (or superstar-du-jour).

I must agree. Maybe MTV is not as relevant as the channel in which one views music videos, but yes, they have proven to be relevant.

His VMA co-performer Miley Cyrus has also done her part in releasing the "Wrecking Ball" clip to record view counts.

kitbradley said:

For several years now, people have been claiming since there is no outlet for them like there used to be, the music video was not relevant anymore and not really necessary to get exposure and to have a hit record. And with BET, VH1 and MTV not putting their concentration on music any longer, some folks were saying, other than places like youtube, people really didn't care much about music videos any more and music sales were not as dependent on them like they used to be.

And then comes along Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" music video. The music video caused a media frenzy and turned an R&B singer many people had never heard of into a Pop Superstar. No one said a thing about Robin's vocal performance on the song. And, really, it's not a great vocal performance. Just a song with a really catchy beat and a controversial video to really bring it over the top.


So, my question is, would "Blurred Lines" have been the block-buster, crossover hit that it turned out to be without the music video and is this an example of how music videos are still relevant and are still capable of exposing music to the massess?

People say that because music videos are not as relevant like they once was. Even with youtube, music videos do not carry the same impact. Its not required that pop stars have a popular music video in order to achieve a hit. In alot of cases its the other way around. I think you are over exaggerating the impact of the Blurred Lines music video. First off, alot of the controversy was media/ Robin PR generated hype. NOBODY cares about that video. The PUBLIC did not generate that hype. Nobody was talking about the video the next day after it was released. In the original version, the girls are censored but by the time they released the second uncensored version the song was already popular. The reason why "Blurred Lines" video got alot of exposure was because the song was already a number one hit.

The music video in "no shape or fashion" outshined the song or is the reason why the song is popular. The song is popular because it samples/is inspired by a classic dance song. People like the song because its catchy and it sounds like "Got to Give it Up". There is nothing groundbreaking or earthshaddering about the Blurred Lines music video. Music videos are still irrelevant. A big portion of the reason why music videos are irrelevant is because pop stars are just recycling what has already been done. There is nothing innovative being presented. Once upon a time.... eons ago....there was a time when it was almost like a ritual to sit and wait for music videos to be released. Videos do not have that same effect now. That era is deceased. The era of the massive impact of the music video is LONGGGG gone. R.I.P. music videos.

It's interesting that the "Blurred Lines" video created such a sensation.It's actually a very simple,no-frills video...probably didn't cost much to make.

I feel like Vevo and YouTube prove that videos are still relevant. Since MTv is basically dead they will always be the go to places to catch the racy and controversial moments we all use to crowd around the tv set for.

Nah, Lady Gaga and Rihanna got high views for their new vids too on Vevo.

all I know is that music videos are still relevant for me ..I love artists that can make good videoclips..

[Edited 9/25/13 7:35am]

There is nothing relevant about a 30+ year old guy dancing around in a music video.

mask said:

There is nothing relevant about a 30+ year old guy dancing around in a music video.

Wtf? I'd say there is something VERY relevant about a 30+ year old guy dancing around in a music video. Life does not end at 29, legs still function, booty still shakes.

Maybe you look silly dancing in your 30s but I still look sexy as all hell.

Is it mainly because he is male? Or does he need to be 18-23? Just to turn you on?

There goes Timberfake's career. There goes all that praise for when MJ's scrawny, drug addled carc-ass would shimmy across the stage for damn near 20 years and it was always his next huge comeback.

It is hilarious to me that alot of "stars" lie about their ages and our favorite TV shows cast folks in their late 20s to mid 30s as teenagers. God bless America. Land of the freaks and home of the depraved.

SoulAlive said:

It's interesting that the "Blurred Lines" video created such a sensation.It's actually a very simple,no-frills video...probably didn't cost much to make.

It kind of reminds me of Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" video. Very simple video. Looks like it may have cost a few hundred dollars to film. But, it's a music video everyone remembers.

namepeace said:

kitbradley said:

So, my question is, would "Blurred Lines" have been the block-buster, crossover hit that it turned out to be without the music video and is this an example of how music videos are still relevant and are still capable of exposing music to the massess?

I think you make really good points about the state of the music video, but I also think that Blurred Lines is an outlier.

I think the video was a viral sensation, and when combined with the catchy hook and the social and legal controversies over the song, made Thicke a superstar (or superstar-du-jour).

Oh and I agree with this point. The music video did not (directly) make Thicke a superstar which Se7ven pointed out as well. So its not rational to conclude the music video (alone) is what made him a superstar when there was other factors involved....

LOL, no. He showed that people will watch videos of naked girls, but I think we already knew that.

ABeautifulOne said:

I feel like Vevo and YouTube prove that videos are still relevant. Since MTv is basically dead they will always be the go to places to catch the racy and controversial moments we all use to crowd around the tv set for.

I think people go there to hear the music, not see the video. I think artists would do just fine producing lyric videos for their music.

RodeoSchro said:

LOL, no. He showed that people will watch videos of naked girls, but I think we already knew that.

Right On. And who up there said they didn't like to see 30yr olds shakin their thing. That made me laugh. 30/40 year old men are sexy as hell...and 50 years old women today are even sexier.

RodeoSchro said:

LOL, no. He showed that people will watch videos of naked girls, but I think we already knew that.

Red said:

RodeoSchro said:

LOL, no. He showed that people will watch videos of naked girls, but I think we already knew that.

Right On. And who up there said they didn't like to see 30yr olds shakin their thing. That made me laugh. 30/40 year old men are sexy as hell...and 50 years old women today are even sexier.

And I've seen some 50+ year old men who take care of themselves and they look better than the 30+ dudes.


And I'd rather see Robin shake his ass any day than to see Chris Brown shake his.

[Edited 9/25/13 14:25pm]

kitbradley said:

Red said:

Right On. And who up there said they didn't like to see 30yr olds shakin their thing. That made me laugh. 30/40 year old men are sexy as hell...and 50 years old women today are even sexier.

And I've seen some 50+ year old men who take care of themselves and they look better than the 30+ dudes.


And I'd rather see Robin shake his ass any day than to see Chris Brown shake his.

That's more to do with Race than Age!

RodeoSchro said:

jeidee said:

mask said:

There is nothing relevant about a 30+ year old guy dancing around in a music video.

Wtf? I'd say there is something VERY relevant about a 30+ year old guy dancing around in a music video. Life does not end at 29, legs still function, booty still shakes.

Maybe you look silly dancing in your 30s but I still look sexy as all hell.

Is it mainly because he is male? Or does he need to be 18-23? Just to turn you on?

There goes Timberfake's career. There goes all that praise for when MJ's scrawny, drug addled carc-ass would shimmy across the stage for damn near 20 years and it was always his next huge comeback.

It is hilarious to me that alot of "stars" lie about their ages and our favorite TV shows cast folks in their late 20s to mid 30s as teenagers. God bless America. Land of the freaks and home of the depraved.

Do you think people watch that video to see some thirtysomething year-old men? Believe me that wasn't why they watched!

[Edited 9/27/13 1:19am]

RodeoSchro said:

ABeautifulOne said:

I feel like Vevo and YouTube prove that videos are still relevant. Since MTv is basically dead they will always be the go to places to catch the racy and controversial moments we all use to crowd around the tv set for.

I think people go there to hear the music, not see the video. I think artists would do just fine producing lyric videos for their music.

Adele did quite well with the views she got for her lyric videos.

mjscarousal said:

namepeace said:

I think you make really good points about the state of the music video, but I also think that Blurred Lines is an outlier.

I think the video was a viral sensation, and when combined with the catchy hook and the social and legal controversies over the song, made Thicke a superstar (or superstar-du-jour).

Oh and I agree with this point. The music video did not (directly) make Thicke a superstar which Se7ven pointed out as well. So its not rational to conclude the music video (alone) is what made him a superstar when there was other factors involved....

Indeed.