Music videos originated as promotional materials for songs but became a major marketing force in the 1980s with the launch of MTV. Early music videos experimented with different styles but often did not literally illustrate the song lyrics. As the medium grew in popularity, many controversial music videos were banned by MTV or other channels due to sexually explicit or violent content, including videos by Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Garth Brooks among others. Debate over censorship of music videos has continued into the modern era with videos by Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and others facing restrictions at times for pushing boundaries.

1. Task 10: The History of the
Music Video
A music video or song video is a short video or film that accompanies a piece of music or
song. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended
to promote the sale of music recordings.
Although the origins of music videos date back much further, they came into prominence
in the 1980s, when MTV based their format around the medium. Prior to the 80s, these
works were described by various terms including "illustrated song", "filmed insert",
"promotional (promo) film", "promotional clip" or "film clip".
Music videos use a wide range of styles of film making techniques, including animation,
live action filming, documentaries, and non-narrative approaches such as abstract film.
Some music videos blend different styles, such as animation and live action. Many music
videos do not interpret images from the song's lyrics, making it less literal than
expected.

2. MUSIC VIDEOS GO MAINSTREAM
(1981-1991)
In 1981, the U.S video channel MTV launched, airing "Video Killed the Radio Star" and
beginning an era of 24-hour-a-day music on television. With this new outlet for material, the
music video would, by the mid-1980s, grow to play a central role in popular music
marketing. Many important acts of this period, most notably Adam and the Ants, Duran
Duran and Madonna, owed a great deal of their success to the skilful construction and
seductive appeal of their videos. Two key innovations in the development of the modern
music video were the development of relatively inexpensive and easy-to-use video
recording and editing equipment, and the development of visual effects created with
techniques such as image compositing. The advent of high-quality color videotape recorders
and portable video cameras coincided with the ethos of the New Wave era, enabling many
pop acts to produce promotional videos quickly and cheaply, in comparison to the relatively
high costs of using film.

3. 1980's
The first video to be banned by MTV was Queen's 1982 hit "Body Language". Due to thinly
veiled homoerotic undertones plus lots of skin and lots of sweat (apparently not enough
clothing, save that worn by the fully clothed members of Queen themselves), it was deemed
unsuitable for a television audience at the time. However, the channel did air Olivia Newton-
John's 1981 video for the hit song "Physical", which lavished camera time on male models
working out in string bikinis who spurn her advances, ultimately pairing off to walk to the
men's locker rooms holding hands, though the network ended the clip before the overt
homosexual "reveal" ending in some airings. MTV did air the video, albeit in a heavily edited
form. Laura Branigan initially protested an MTV request to edit her "Self Control" video in
1984, but relented when the network refused to air the William Friedkin-directed clip,
featuring the singer lured through an increasingly debauched, if increasingly stylized, series
of nightclubs by a masked man who ultimately takes her to bed. In 1989, Cher's "If I Could
Turn Back Time" video (where the singer performs the song in an extremely revealing body
suit surrounded by a ship full of cheering sailors) was restricted to late-night broadcasts on
MTV. The Sex Pistols' video for "God Save the Queen" was banned by the BBC for calling the
United Kingdom a fascist regime.

4. 1990's
In 1991, the dance segment of Michael Jackson's "Black or White" was cut because it
showed Michael Jackson "inappropriately" touching himself in it. Michael Jackson's most
controversial video, "They Don't Care About Us" was banned from MTV, VH1, and BBC
because of the alleged "Anti-Semitic" message in the song and the visuals in the background
of the "Prison Version" of the video. Also in 1991, emerging country music superstar Garth
Brooks found himself at the center of controversy when his video for "The Thunder Rolls"
was banned by both The Nashville Network (TNN) and Country Music Television. The video
dealt with the issue of domestic violence in stark visual terms, and featured a heavily-
costumed Brooks portraying an abusive husband. Although both Brooks and director Bud
Schaetzle publicly denied that the video was crafted specifically to foster debate, its banning
shed light on Nashville's conservative programming practices and brought attention to
Brooks' developing sense of showmanship. In the wake of the video's critical acclamation,
and with public support generated by nationwide "viewing parties" organized by
supportive radio stations, TNN and CMT reluctantly began airing it. "The Thunder Rolls"
went on to win the Video of the Year Award from the Country Music Association, and was
named by both MTV and CMT as one of the "100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made."

5. 2000's
In 2000, the music video for "Rock DJ" by Robbie Williams caused controversy due to the
graphic nature of the video which featured Robbie Williams appearing naked and peeling off
his skin to reveal flesh. The video was censored in the UK during the day, and was broadcast
unedited after 10pm. The video was banned in Dominican Republic due to allegations of
satanism. Björk's 2001 song, "Pagan Poetry", was banned from MTV for depictions of sexual
intercourse, fellatio, and body piercings. Her next single, "Cocoon", was also banned by MTV
as it featured a nude Björk. Madonna's video for "Erotica" was aired only three times (each
time after midnight) due to its sexual depictions of sadomasochism. More recently,
Madonna's "What It Feels Like for a Girl" was banned in 2001 due to its graphic depiction of
violence. She also pulled her "American Life" video because of its controversial military
imagery that seemed inappropriate once the War in Iraq began; subsequently, a new video
was made for the song.
In 2002, the video for "All The Things She Said" by Russian duo t.A.T.u. caused controversy
as it featured the young girls, Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova, embracing and eventually
kissing.

6. 2010's
In 2010, a rumour circulated that Lady Gaga's video "Telephone" was banned by MTV,;the
rumour claimed that the video content could not be shown within their programming. MTV
denied the ban and showed the video frequently on European MTV programming. Lady
Gaga's previous videos have also attracted criticism for their sexually suggestive content;
the video for "LoveGame" was refused play on the Australian video music program Video
Hits, however, other Australian programs aired the video uncensored.
Ciara's video for "Ride" was banned by BET, with the network citing that the video was too
sexually charged. The video was also subsequently banned by all UK television channels.
Rihanna's video "S&M" was banned in 11 countries and was flagged as inappropriate for
viewers that are under 18 on YouTube.