10 80s Music Videos with Ridiculous Storylines

The ’80s brought unforgettable music—and music videos that often leaned into the bizarre. With their strange plots and theatrical styles, these videos felt like mini-movies, though sometimes they left viewers scratching their heads. Here’s a look at ten ’80s music videos with storylines so strange they’re almost surreal.

1. David Bowie – “Ashes to Ashes”

In “Ashes to Ashes,” Bowie navigates a surreal beach scene dressed as a Pierrot clown. The video’s scattered imagery includes bulldozers, outer space vibes, and unsettling neon colors. Bowie’s wild costumes and cryptic expressions make the storyline hard to follow, blending dreamlike visuals with a haunting song.

While meant to convey a mix of nostalgia and fear, the video’s chaotic visuals leave viewers guessing about Bowie’s true meaning. Its disjointed scenes make it feel more like a fever dream than a storyline, adding a strange twist to an already haunting track.

2. Duran Duran – “Wild Boys”

Duran Duran’s “Wild Boys” video looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie. With chained prisoners, fiery landscapes, and tribal costumes, it’s hard to understand what’s happening. The band performs on a giant windmill, creating a dramatic but puzzling visual that feels more like Mad Max than a music video.

Instead of a clear plot, the video relies on dystopian imagery and action scenes, making it visually intense but confusing. It’s iconic for its ambition, but the story feels lost in chaotic props and costume choices that make you wonder what they were aiming for.

3. Billy Squier – “Rock Me Tonite”

Billy Squier’s “Rock Me Tonite” became infamous for its odd dance moves and set design. The video shows Squier prancing around in a pink tank top, tearing at sheets and spinning in circles. The odd choices and lack of clear storyline became a source of mockery, overshadowing the song’s success.

While aiming to capture the rock spirit, it instead feels over-the-top and confusing. The video’s lack of direction and strange choreography didn’t age well, leaving it as a classic example of an ambitious but poorly executed ’80s music video.

4. Phil Collins – “Don’t Lose My Number”

“Don’t Lose My Number” features Phil Collins bouncing between different movie-style scenes, from Westerns to gangster films. Though entertaining, it’s hard to keep up with its disconnected storylines. Collins seems to spoof multiple genres, but the mash-up style leaves viewers guessing about what it all means.

The video’s jumps between scenes create more confusion than coherence. While it’s fun to watch Collins in different costumes, the video lacks a unifying theme, making it memorable but nonsensical as an actual storyline.

5. Queen – “Radio Ga Ga”

In “Radio Ga Ga,” Queen performs in a futuristic world with imagery inspired by the silent film Metropolis. Giant hands, robot dancers, and neon landscapes make it feel more like science fiction than a music video. While visually interesting, it’s hard to tell if there’s any actual story unfolding.

The video’s dystopian vibe and sci-fi elements mix with the band’s performance, creating a strange clash of ideas. Though meant as a critique of modern media, the video’s eccentric visuals make it more of a spectacle than a coherent narrative.

6. Bonnie Tyler – “Total Eclipse of the Heart”

This haunting video opens with a boarding school full of angelic choirboys and dancers. Tyler wanders through eerie halls as students with glowing eyes follow her. The dramatic scenes and intense emotions build up to a confusing climax, leaving viewers unsure what to make of the gothic storyline.

While memorable for its dark, theatrical style, the video’s odd mix of romance and supernatural elements makes it hard to decipher. It’s powerful visually, but the story feels like it’s missing a clear explanation, adding to its surreal appeal.

7. Hall & Oates – “Out of Touch”

“Out of Touch” features Hall & Oates performing in a giant drum, surrounded by vivid colors and quick cuts. The visuals are exciting, but there’s no clear storyline linking the scenes. The surreal set pieces and lively choreography make it feel more like an abstract art piece than a music video plot.

While visually striking, the randomness of the setting and actions makes it more confusing than cohesive. Hall & Oates bring high energy, but the video ultimately feels like a series of disconnected scenes rather than a story with purpose.

8. A-ha – “Take On Me”

A-ha’s “Take On Me” combines live action with sketch animation in a thrilling chase sequence. While visually captivating, the storyline is hard to follow, with the lead singer diving between two worlds, trying to escape villains. The cartoon-vs-reality plot feels inventive but leaves a lot unexplained.

While it’s an iconic video, the storyline lacks clarity, relying on action and animation rather than a solid plot. Though memorable, it’s one of those videos where the visuals outshine the sense of any clear narrative.

9. The Cars – “You Might Think”

This video uses early computer graphics, with lead singer Ric Ocasek popping up in strange, exaggerated ways. Ocasek’s giant face follows a woman around, at one point morphing into a fly. The storyline feels chaotic, as the video’s surreal visuals overshadow any coherent plot.

Despite its innovative effects for the time, the video’s odd visuals make the storyline hard to grasp. The absurd, humorous approach gives it a certain charm, even if the plot is barely there.

10. Michael Jackson – “Leave Me Alone”

“Leave Me Alone” is filled with quirky animation and symbolic imagery, with Jackson exploring a surreal amusement park ride. From giant MJ heads to roller coasters, the video has Jackson taking viewers on a bizarre journey through his mind, but the imagery leaves the storyline open to interpretation.

While meant to reflect Jackson’s struggles with fame, the video’s colorful effects and carnival-like atmosphere make it feel more whimsical than deep. It’s a wild ride, but the storyline remains vague, making it a fun yet puzzling piece of ’80s music video history.