It was a wise individual who once sang, “Video killed the radio star.”

Throughout the history of music, there have been countless visuals, both complex and simplistic, that have stuck in the minds of fans. Whether it’s been MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” or Missy Elliott’s “Work It,” music videos have completely enhanced the way we see, and continue to hear, our favorite tracks.

Reflecting on current music videos that are reminiscent of the golden age of visuals, two that come to mind are A$AP Rocky’s “L$D,” and the recent “Sausage” video by Lil Mama. Both have evidently honed inspiration from the ones who originated their concepts, but more importantly, they accomplished what a music video is supposed to – grab our attention and keep it. You would think, with so many technological advances in photography, that music videos would be better and more exciting than ever. Granted, with devices such as the Mavic Mini drone available, there’s almost no excuse for poor videography within the music industry.

Aside from the few exceptions, visuals in general are hurting the artistic flow behind many of our favorite artists. Sales, streams, and social media have become major determining factors for an artist’s buzz these days, and while albums and bodies of work matter most, the importance of well-crafted music videos can’t and shouldn’t be forgotten. Putting imagery to music can help take an artist, especially a rising one, to the next level.