It’s Friday, so we’ve dug out some of the most iconic appearances of uniform in music videos. Pop stars have, for decades, learned the appeal of uniform and used variations to convey certain themes and messages. Here are ten of our favourites… if you think we’ve missed any classics, let us know.
1. The Village People: YMCA (1978)
The ultimate purveyors of uniformed pop, there’s no better place to start than with The Village People. With a string of disco hits, including the 1978 classic YMCA, the troupe immortalised various uniforms through masculine stereotypes: The Native American, The Cowboy, The Construction Worker, The Soldier and the, erm, Leather Man.
2. Donna Summer: She Works Hard For The Money (1993)
She Works Hard For The Money was the first video by a black artist to be placed on ‘heavy rotation’ by MTV. The song was based on an encounter with a bathroom attendant; rumour has it Summer wrote the song in twenty minutes on that same evening. The video is typical of early 1990s videos and Donna performs in a waitress outfit. Fast forward to about 3 minutes in and you’ll see a dance routine featuring a whole host of uniform-clad dancers that look like they’ve broken in to your local fancy dress shop en route to downtown New York – spot the saucy waitress, saucy nurse – you get the picture.
3. Gwen Stefani: Hollaback Girl (2005)
Gwen Stefani’s debut solo release, Hollaback Girl, was one of the biggest hits of 2005. Its 1980s hip hop-inspired beat was complimented with an Americana celebration video; cheerleaders and marching bands parade behind an unhinged Stefani, who eventually appears as the marching band’s conductor in full Pop Art military regalia.
See also: OK Go: This Too Shall Pass
4. Britney Spears: Toxic (2004)
Yes yes, we know this isn’t Britney’s first outing in uniform, but we don’t really want to talk about 16-year-old Brits cavorting in a suggestive school uniform in Baby One More Time. We much prefer grown up air hostess Britney, cavorting in a suggestive Pan Am inspired number, carelessly spilling drinks into the laps of her handsome passengers.
See also: OK Go, again.
5. Christina Aguilera: Candy Man (2007)
This up-tempo Swing-inspired number showed a different side to Aguilera. The composition of the song allowed for a full-blown roaring 40s tribute, with Christina performing for American military personnel, all wearing World War uniforms. Aguilera appears as forces sweetheart complete with white two-piece suit and cap, transforms into diner waitress, and finishes with an inevitable PVC bra and pants version of a sailor’s uniform. Of course.
6. Janet Jackson: Rhythm Nation (1989)
Janet Jackson’s post apocalyptic Rhythm Nation video is one of the defining moments of her career, and like her brother Michael, she knows how to combine military uniform influences with fashions of the time. The Rhythm Nation video featured dances of all races, filmed in black and white to signal unity; they all wear the same military uniform to promote gender equality, too. Janet, as commander-in-chief, wears a suit decorated with many gold emblems.
7.Beyoncé: If I Were A Boy (2008)
Beyoncé tricked all of us with this dramatic tale of infidelity (although, the title of the song was a huge clue). It sees her take on the role of New York cop, catching criminals in full uniform, but it turns out roles have been reversed and it’s actually her partner who’s the crime solving adulterer. She does look great in uniform though, no?
See also: George Michael, Outside
8. Billy Joel: Uptown Girl (1983)
Billy Joel’s aim of seducing a wealthy socialite is portrayed in the song and video for Uptown Girl. Joel is a backstreet mechanic wearing branded overalls with patches, as are his co-workers who try to help him entice said girl through the medium of choreographed dance. That’s where you’re going wrong, fellas.
9. Madonna: American Life (2003)
Madonna is no stranger to donning a uniform, from her music videos to real life. We could have picked a number of hits, but we’ve gone with the underrated American Life, the title track from her 2003 album of the same name. Madge parades in a futuristic military uniform complete with cap, shirt, badges and a totally redundant tie.
See also: Cheerleading Madge, Matador Madge.
10. Wham!: Club Tropicana (1983)
The boom in cheap package holidays (no word of a lie) inspired George Michael to write the 1983 classic Club Tropicana. He mostly appears in his speedos, but a uniform makes an iconic appearance when it is revealed that Wham! are a pair of pilots and the girls they lust after are air stewardesses. Now, if only we could get London bars to adopt Club Tropicana’s frivolous drinks policy.
We’re sure we’ve missed some glaringly obvious videos, so if you can think of any, let us know.