The History of the Pop Video

The History Of The Pop Video

In our day and age we accept the pop video as 'normal', but up until the 1960's the pop video was did not exist. So, what lead up to the making of the 'pop video', which made things like this key images of the pop video?

 

 

 

In 1940, Bing Crosby was the biggest star in the world. He was a ver y popular  singer, and in order for fans to see him perform it would be in either film, such as 'High Society',(which features Frank Sinatra) or in television specials.

 

High Society - 'Well, Did You Evah'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then in the 1950's Frank Sinatra, came onto the scene, who unlike Crosby, was the first of many stars, to have girls screaming at them. Sinatra was, also, only seen through television shows, films and concerts. This was the only way his fans, 'The Bobby Sockers' were able to see him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon after, in the late 1950's, the world was struck with the 'indecent' hip thrusting of Elvis Presley. Presley was nothing like Crosby nor Sinatra, which appealed to the 'rebels' and the young girls, as this is considered the birth of rock and roll. However, like Bing and Frank, Presley could be watched on television, in films and concerts, but he only ever had concerts in USA, so the fans from across the globe would have to see him on their televisions, or at the cinema.

 

Blue Hawaii - 'Can't Help Falling In Love'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the early 1960's, The Beatles were achieving worldwide popularity, they were appearing on television shows all over the world, such as the american show, 'The Ed Sullivan Show'. The Beatles at every moment were greeted by screaming fans, anywhere they went. Soon The Beatles became fed up with all of the touring, across the globe, and the huge amounts of screaming fans they recieved. In order to promote two new songs (Paperback Writer and Rain), they made to videos for the songs, and sent the videos all across the world, to allow fans to see the songs. Which then became the very first pop video.

 

'Paperback Writer' 

 

 

In the video for Paperback Writer, we see almost the basis for modern pop video mannerisms. For example, we see three of the members pretending to play instruments, and miming to the song. Throughout the video, we see quite a few things that aren't really related to the song/lyrics. We see them just in a park-like area singing.

Things that they do in the very first pop video, we see in music videos throughout time.

 

 

Many things we see in the build up to the first music video, and things in the music video, have cemented ideas for videos for today !!