Friday Music Video: Dancing in the Dark (1984)

I’ve never been a die-hard fan of Bruce Springsteen, but I have appreciated his music over the years. The famous New Jersey native was one of the first solo rock acts to embrace music videos. In 1984 he released his smash LP “Born in the USA,” which exposed “The Boss” to a new generation of fans thanks to its more pop-rock sound. Part of the crossover appeal was the album’s several polished and high-quality music videos like “Glory Days,” “I’m on Fire,” and the album’s title track.

Springsteen had a natural charisma perfect for the small screen of MTV. This is evident in the album’s first single and video “Dancing in the Dark,” which shows Springsteen exuding a sexy rock and roll swagger. The video is essentially a concert clip, with Springsteen and the E-Street band doing a hi-energy performance of the radio-friendly hit. Then things kick into hi-gear when he invites a young woman from the audience, played by a pre “Misfits of Science” and “Friends” Courtney Cox on stage for an impromptu dance. It’s a fun and cute piece that helped make the song a huge hit, and a pop culture moment was born. 

The video was famously directed by Brian De Palma, one of the rare movie directors to dabble in the music video format. The piece was supposed to be a bit more elaborate showing Cox and a group of her friends getting ready to go to the concert, culminating in the dance-off with Springsteen. The extra footage was jettisoned for various reasons, favoring a straight rock performance video.

The “Dancing in the Dark” video is a great time capsule, showing Springsteen in his prime, jamming with the E-Street Band. Please check out the video below and let me know your thoughts in the comments.