Ah, Australia in the ‘80’s! A culture which would surely rank alongside Ancient Sparta as one of the weirdest in all history (with roughly the same level of homoeroticism). And while I may not remember the 1980’s for a variety of reasons, the main being that I hadn’t been born yet, chances are you don’t remember them either. So what better way to reminisce than with the music video INXS’ 1987 think piece, Devil Inside?
Why this particular video, you ask? Well, simply put, it’s the perfect 1980’s music video, a 5.15 minute whirlwind of excess, a window into the era for those who want their full dose of nostalgia in one sitting.
Here are a few random observations:
- Our story begins with Michael Hutchence standing in a cloud of dry ice wearing what looks to be the kind of devil mask you’d see at a harvest festival in provincial Spain. As he turns to face camera, you can see he’s wearing the mask on the back of his head, and you realise where this is going.
- Apparently, all 80’s nightclubs were set in some kind of industrial area (a staple feature in any Aussie 80’s music video; see Dragon’s back catalogue for details), with enough strobe lights to induce seizures in an elephant. It also contains a catwalk, a soundstage, stripper poles, a skate park, poker machines and what, on closer inspection, appears to be some kind of china cabinet. Also, a pool table. Sweet!
- Outfits of all shapes, sizes and ludicrousness adorn this scene. One of the two main girls is wearing something akin to Olivia Newton John at the end of Grease is strutting down the catwalk to the strains of the keyboard. The other appears to be wearing what looks to be a wedding dress. It’s at this point in our story that the bikers arrive. The resolution is too low for me to make out the model, but being an 80’s music video, I’d have to assume it’s some type of Kawasaki.
- The club accommodates almost all of your typical ‘80’s subculture. There’s bikers, skaters, punks, mods, drag queens, a group of guys who look like they’ve just come from the beach, one guy who looks vaguely like Ice Cube circa 1993, a window full of old people ….
- …and there’s also a bellhop in one shot. Why? Are all those people having trouble carrying their luggage?
- According to this video’s narrative (which I’m making up), there appears to be an ongoing feud between the bikers and the beach guys, both seem to be lining up for battle, with Michael walking in between them. Then nothing more. Looks like Michael managed to broker a last minute peace accord. Perhaps if he were still with us he might be a U.N secretary. One can dream.
- At this point I should point out that I have absolutely no idea what’s going on.
- One of the two ladies from before (the one in black) then climbs into a limo featuring a creepy old guy in a tux before driven off by Hutchence in the mask. So, the club’s also some kind of drive-thru brothel now?
- The two dudes in the snow leopard print loincloths with the freakishly big abs might just be one of the gayest things I’ve ever seen in any visual medium. Either it’s some sort of prosthetic job (hopefully) or the effects of serious long term ‘roid abuse. I’d really like to see what those guys look like now, if they’re still alive.
- The video finishes up with the other chick (the one in the wedding dress) hooking up with one of the bikers, and as they drive their Kawasakis off into the foggy night, you emerge from the rabbit hole, wondering if you had some kind of acid flashback. And maybe you did. After all, science has shown that long term use of ‘80’s music videos can often lead to a complete physical and psychological breakdown.
So, it would be safe to assume that Devil Inside is the perfect ‘80’s music video. It’s a kaleidoscope of kitsch that encapsulates almost every aspect of the carnival sideshow what was the 1980’s into one neat little package. And while it may make zero sense to us now, doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the ride.
Melodic Ramblings 