15 sexiest music videos of the 80s

Forget Britney Spears and Shakira. Forget Sanjaya and the other American Idol skin-jobs. The sexiest music videos were in the 80s.

Today's mega-list is one to bookmark. And in case you've forgotten the magic of sailing through the Caribbean wearing only body paint or watching a teacher rip her clothes off in front of student (years before Debra Lafave did it), I've included links to the videos on Youtube. Some require registration because of content. Enjoy.

THE 15 SEXIEST MUSIC VIDEOS OF THE '80s:

15. Centerfold - J. Geils Band: The band's biggest hit stayed atop the charts for six weeks in 1982. (Watch it)

14. Cold-Hearted - Paula Abdul: Inspired by the Bob Fosse musical All That Jazz. The first really naughty video by the same artist who gave us "Forever Your Girl." (Watch it)

13. Girls on Film - Duran Duran: Directed by Godley & Creme, the video was filmed only two weeks after MTV went on air. It had to be heavily edited before it was accepted by the network. Today, the legacy of the video overshadows the popularity of the song. (Watch it)

12. Girls, Girls, Girls - Motley Crue: You can't go into a strip club and not hear this anthem. ... Or so I'm told. (Watch it)

11. California Girls - David Lee Roth: Remember what an EP was? Probably not if you're under the age of 30. This Beach Boys cover was on Roth's debut EP -- Crazy From The Heat. (Watch it)

10. Like a Virgin - Madonna: Hard to believe she was ever so likable. Enjoy this precursor to every single video by single female artists for decades to come. (Watch it)

9. Lady in Red - Chris De Burgh: Remember when you can be sexy without being slutty? Try this video for this song, which went to No. 1 in 25 countries. Princess Diana once thought the song was written about it. Alas, it as written about Chris meeting his future wife. (Watch it)

8. Rio - Duran Duran: Filmed in Antigua, the band also filmed "Waiting for the Nightboat" at the same time. The body-pointed model was known only as Reema, her exotic looks a result of being half English, half Lebanese. Nick Rhodes got seasick during the sailing scenes. (Watch it)

7. Touch Me - Samantha Fox: The former topless model doesn't have to ask me twice. Also revered by nerds throughout the 80s for her Samantha Fox Strip Poker game, which played on Commodore Amiga computer. (Watch it)

6. Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer: The late Robert Palmer reportedly never met the lovely women playing behind him in the video. They were spliced in electronically. (Watch it)

5. Legs - ZZ Top: One of only two videos to meet all top 10 criteria for Perfect 80s video. (Watch it)

4. Hot for the Teacher - Van Halen: The late Phil Hartman does the voice of "Waldo" in this video, which attracted the ire of a teacher's union who didn't find it funny OR sexy. (Watch it)

3. I Want Your Sex - George Michael: American Top 40 host Casey Kasem refused to announce the song's name -- only the singer's. (The model's name, because you want to Google her: Kathy Jeung). (Watch it)

2. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake: That's right -- the Tawny Kitaen video. That's probably all you need to know. (Watch it)

1. Wicked Game - Chris Isaak: It barely sneaks into the 80s, having been released in 1989 (though not becoming popular until 1990). Both Isaak and model Helena Christensen were topless throughout the video. (Watch it)

* * *

So there's the list. Feel free to drop a comment if you disagree with the winners. And if you dig lists, here is a list ('natch) of my favorite lists on this blog:

• Worst movies of the 80s
• Best Adam Sandler flicks
• Best baseball movies of the 80s
• 5 great live performances on video
• Best anti-Valentine Day quotes from the 80s
• Best makeout scenes from the 80s
• Top drinking movies of the 80s

Comments

[cmodzins]

What about Centerfold or Talking In Your Sleep? Those two videos had lots of sexy babes in them, dressed very nicely.

[David P]

"Cradle of Love" came out in 1990.

[David Jenkins]

Yeah - how can you leave off Cradle of Love but include the Quaalude-fest that was Addicted to Love?

Jeezy Creazy.

[littlejim]

How could Billy Idol's "Cradle of Love" video not be on the list? Remember that one... with the hot blonde dancing all over in the neighbor guy's apartment. That has to be one of the hottest videos of all time. Steve must have just forgot about it.

[Johnny B. Goode]

A good list, although of course many other videos could have made the cut as well. One of my favorites was the one for Adam Ant's "Goody Two Shoes." The first time I saw it, two words kept racing through my head, over and over: "Librarian...legs..."

[GlennS.]

"Possibly" that is ... Hey, can we get spell check on this thing?

[GlennS.]

I've always liked Madonna's "Cherish" video. Great tune, oddly sexy video, and quite possily the last time she looked like she was really having fun.

[Spears]

Funny you mention Varsity Blues. Watching that movie last week was the spark behind creating this list.

"Gonna call some dinosaurs, Billy Bob?"

"Uhh, I think I might give them a holler."

[Mike]

When did that Janet Jackson video come out - the one in black and white and she had on the white tank top and jeans? I used to get major wood watching that one. That had to be in the '90's...because in '89 I was eight and I don't think wood is logistically possible at that age. And good selection on the Whitesnake and Van Halen. Although now I can't hear "Hot For Teacher" without thinking of the teacher strip scene (a 10, a fu$#ing 10) in "Varsity Blues."

[chase]

Rock me like a hurricane -- scorpion

[Brad]

Bryan Ferry - Limbo.

That is all.