Ever since the dawn of MTV and Friday Night Videos, the music video has significantly impacted musical tastes and pop culture. It might not be as extreme as when the Buggles declared that "Video Killed the Radio Star", but there is no arguing that the music video certainly could make or break a song's popularity. So this regular Flashback Video feature will serve to remember some of the music videos from the great '80s decade that made an impact on me in one way or another.
This issue we will cover "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel. This was the fourth single released in February of 1987 from Gabriel's outstanding So album. It would peak at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1987 making it the second Top 10 hit from that album after "Sledgehammer" reached #1 the previous July. One of my all-time favorite music videos is Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer", but "Big Time" is pretty outstanding in its own right.
The music video for "Big Time" was directed by Stephen R. Johnson who was also behind the genius of "Sledgehammer" and the visual styling is somewhat similar. Both stop motion claymation along with strata-cut animation were used again to create a mesmerizing four minutes. It was shot at Peter Wallach Studios. Production design was provided by graphic designer Wayne Wright along with plenty of animation and special effects by David Daniels, Edie Robinette-Petrachi, Peter Wallach, Bill Wright, Spencer Cook, Robert Lyons, Susan Pitt, Michael Sullivan, Tom McLaughlin, Rob Niosi and Joe Castellano. The creativity and effects on display in Gabriel's videos felt very fresh and really stood out from other videos on MTV at the time.
Here for your viewing pleasure is the music video for "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel...
"Sledgehammer" won a record nine awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) that year. "Big Time" was at least nominated for Best Special Effects and Best Concept Video (losing both to "Sledgehammer") and certainly helped earn Gabriel the Video Vanguard Award that he also received that night.
Hope you enjoyed another trip back to the '80s thanks to Flashback Video!