Help! I’m trapped in Peter Gabriel’s award-winning 1986 music video for Sledgehammer!
This is possibly the most influential short film of the last 40 years.
Not in terms of its aesthetic or techniques, but how in moving the music video beyond “live concert performance” or even “the band directly acts out the lyrical themes”, it was upstream of basically every one – which through the 90s represented an unprecedented period where short films were a culturally central form of art – since
“In the virtual dream world, the two embark on a motorcycle journey and sky-dive, as well as engage in a steamy makeout session.
One part of the video shows the characters boarding and taking flight in a biplane which, combined with the digital technology, creates what is often regarded as a fascinating dichotomy between antiquated and modern technology, in some ways presenting a parallel for the characters.”
“The music video for “Livin’ on the Edge” is notable for a number of things, including depicting vandalism, theft (notably grand theft auto), joyriding, airbag crashing, unprotected sex, and violence among school-aged youth, cross-dressing teachers, a naked Steven Tyler holding a zipper by his crotch with half his body painted black (to give the effect he pulled down a zipper, unzipping his body) and lead guitarist Joe Perry playing a lead guitar solo in front of an oncoming train. Directed by Marty Callner, the video was praised for its groundbreaking theatrical scenes and special effects. The video featured acting by the young Edward Furlong.“
"A music video was produced to promote the single. The video was directed by Michael Bay, and had a surreal landscape described as "12 Monkeys meets Brazil”, which was meant to parody grunge videos. Many supermodels, such as Angie Everhart, are featured dressed as nurses, dominatrices and princesses.“
"In the final scene, Steven Tyler finds a sandwich on the beach. When he puts it in his mouth, he learns too late that it was a bait as Steven is reeled into the ocean.”
