Joe Jackson was one of MTV’s greatest cynics. He hated music videos. After being forced by his record company to make what he considered a “crappy” video for his song “Breaking Us in Two,” he refused to make any more videos and condemned music videos in the press. Years later, he reflected, “I mean, I’m not such a miserable bastard that I won’t admit that some videos are great fun. But I believed [in 1983] that MTV was beginning to have a negative effect on music.” He added, “I’m well aware that refusing to make videos accomplished nothing whatsoever except—how should I put this?—to make my next record less successful. It damaged my career and it never fully recovered.”
Jackson achieved his initial MTV popularity with three memorable, poignant videos promoting his 1982 Night and Day album. These were elaborate, high-budget (for the time) videos with nuanced storyline and lush photography, filmed on cinematic 35 mm rather than cheap videotape. “Stepping Out” in particular is an essential golden-age video, rich in splendor and luxurious imagery evoking upper-class urban sophistication, yet gazed at from a decidedly working class (hence relatable) perspective. It depicts a maid cleaning up an elegant penthouse apartment. She sees a glamorous dress lying on a bed, picks it up, and fantasizes about wearing it and being part of New York’s elite nightlife. The wealthy residents’ return disrupts her reverie and she politely excuses herself. It’s delightfully voyeuristic and simple. It fits the mood of the song perfectly. It’s a superb video. “Breaking Us in Two” is really not that bad. It is mawkish and sentimental, but has some beautiful cinematography.
I have no memory of seeing the third video from Night and Day, “Real Men,” on MTV. Maybe I did, once or twice, but I have no specific memory of it, unlike his other videos. “Real Men” is the most elaborate of the three videos, very cinematic in its style and execution. “Real Men” depicts a young man struggling with sexual and gender confusion. The video references gay people, issues, and culture in a sympathetic, artful manner. It provides a stinging critique of American masculinity and an insightful meditation on unspoken cultural assumptions about gender in our society. It’s also gut wrenching to watch, almost too intense for MTV. From: https://videoclosetblog.wordpress.com/joe-jackson-real-men/
