Who made the first ever music video? This question has intrigued music enthusiasts and historians for decades. The birth of the music video revolutionized the way music was consumed and promoted, forever changing the landscape of the music industry. Discovering the answer to this question not only sheds light on the origins of this influential medium but also highlights the innovative minds behind its creation.
The concept of a music video dates back to the late 1950s, but it wasn’t until the early 1960s that the first ever music video was created. The person credited with making the first ever music video is a man named Tony Sales. Sales, a British filmmaker, produced a short film titled “Pop Goes the Weasel” in 1963. This film, which featured the song of the same name by The Honeycombs, is often considered the first true music video.
“Pop Goes the Weasel” was a groundbreaking piece of work for its time. It combined live-action footage with animation, showcasing the band performing the song and engaging in various activities. The video was a hit, and it paved the way for future music videos to incorporate both artistic and commercial elements.
Following the success of “Pop Goes the Weasel,” other artists began to experiment with the format. In 1964, The Beatles released a promotional film for their song “Do You Want to Know a Secret?” directed by Peter Whitehead. This film was another significant milestone in the development of music videos, as it featured the band in a variety of settings and showcased their personalities.
However, it was in the 1970s that music videos truly began to take off. This era saw the rise of music television channels like MTV, which dedicated their airtime to showcasing music videos. Artists like David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and Queen started producing elaborate and visually stunning videos that became integral to their music promotion strategies.
The first ever music video, “Pop Goes the Weasel,” by Tony Sales, laid the foundation for the music video revolution. While it may not have been the first attempt at combining music and visual storytelling, it was the first to achieve widespread recognition and influence the future of the music industry. The evolution of music videos has since been a testament to the creative potential of artists and filmmakers, forever altering the way we experience and appreciate music.
