Music videos have been launching stars and starting trends for more than forty years. This One Gotta Go card asks you to give up one entire era: 80s MTV music videos, 90s iconic music videos, the 2000s TRL era or the 2010s VEVO era.
Three eras stay in the archive, and one is erased. Think about the videos you watched after school, the ones you tried to copy in your bedroom and the ones you only know as memes. Then pick and share the video you think defines the era you kept.
The 4 choices on this card
A. 80s MTV Music Videos
MTV launched in 1981 and turned videos into an art form, with Michael Jackson's Thriller as one of its biggest moments. The 80s set the rules for everything that came after. Some of those videos look dated now, which makes the era a possible cut for younger fans.
Keep it if: You think Thriller is the greatest music video ever, and you love the big, bold creativity of the decade.
B. 90s Iconic Music Videos
The 90s brought cinematic videos with big budgets and famous directors, from shiny hip hop videos to grunge and pop classics. Many fans call it the peak. If you were not watching then, it might feel like the era you could most easily let go.
Keep it if: You remember waiting all day for a new video premiere, and you can name your favorite 90s director.
C. 2000s TRL Era
The 2000s TRL era made videos a daily event, with fans outside the MTV studio in Times Square and countdowns after school. It was exciting and social. Some people remember the show more than the videos, which makes it a fair cut.
Keep it if: You raced home to watch the countdown and still remember which videos held the top spot.
D. 2010s VEVO Era
The 2010s VEVO era moved music videos to YouTube, where they racked up huge view counts and went viral overnight. It made videos available to everyone. Some fans say videos became more about clicks than craft, which makes this era a common cut.
Keep it if: You discovered artists through YouTube and love how a single video could take over the internet in a day.
Our take
We would cut the 2000s TRL era, only because so much of its magic was the live show rather than the videos themselves. The 80s created the art form, the 90s pushed it to cinematic heights and the VEVO era made videos global. The most fun debate is usually the 80s against the 90s, since both sides have legendary videos to point to. Have everyone pull up one video from their era and judge them together.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which era had the greatest music videos?
- What is the most iconic music video ever made?
- Do music videos still matter in the streaming age?
- What music video era would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Music Video Eras: quick answers
When did MTV launch?
MTV launched on August 1, 1981. The first video it played was Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles. The channel helped turn music videos into a major part of pop culture and launched many careers during the 1980s.
What was TRL?
TRL, short for Total Request Live, was an MTV show that counted down the most requested music videos of the day. It aired from 1998 to 2008 from a studio in Times Square, where fans gathered outside the windows, and it was a major stop for pop stars.
