Music Videos Showing People Smoking

sopsych · 10-26-2012, 10:39 PM

(I searched for a similar topic first.)

I'm having a hard time thinking of music videos that show people smoking. The lack thereof is strange, considering that smoking isn't rare among musicians (even though it's a bad habit that singers especially should avoid). I wonder if there is an informal policy among video directors or companies not to snow it in videos.

Anyway, some names or links to music videos with smoking, please? I prefer that smoking from movie scenes not be counted.

**Janszoon** · 10-26-2012, 10:50 PM

Well, here's one with several people smoking at different points in the video, though it's not exactly a focal point:

sopsych · 10-26-2012, 11:26 PM

Good catch. Izzie one of the smokers, I vaguely recall.

"Madness" by Muse heavily features smoking.

"When It's Love," by Van Halen, shows smoking at the end.

(Okay, my brain has awoken and thought of several more.)

Neal Schon is briefly shown with a probably unlit cigarette here...

Journey - Chain Reaction - YouTube

George Michael smokes in "Father Figure."

There are people smoking in "R.O.C.K. in the USA," by John Mellencamp. There might be smoking in other videos of his, as he is or was a long-time smoker.

Madonna smokes in "Bad Girl," and I vaguely recall her doing so in at least one more video.

There's smoking in this...

Survivor - Caught In The Game (1983) - YouTube

A piano player smokes in the video for Joe Cocker's "Unchain My Heart."

The bassist smokes in several Huey Lewis and The News music videos.

The cartoonish music video director smokes in "Don't Lose My Number," by Phil Collins.

Also, a cartoonish music industry character smokes in the video for "Goin' Crazy," by David Lee Roth.

**Janszoon** · 10-26-2012, 11:41 PM

Here's a weird fact though, which sort of confirms your initial suspicions: "Smoking in the Boys Room" by Motley Crue was the first thing I thought to look up when I read your OP, and unbelievably enough, as far as I could tell, there isn't a single person smoking in the entire video.

Trollheart · 10-27-2012, 05:54 AM

Although there's no smoking shown as far as I know in any of the videos for this (this is just a still), Bowie's classic does begin with a lot of smoking imagery, and the fact that it's also concerned with suicide, well...

Psy-Fi · 10-27-2012, 07:52 AM

I imagine there are a few reggae videos showing people smoking (probably not cigarettes or cigars, though.)

And The Beatles always loved to light up at every opportunity...

the Beatles smoking blog

Mojo · 10-27-2012, 08:57 AM

sopsych · 10-27-2012, 10:42 AM

Near the end...

Poison - Every Rose Has It's Thorn - YouTube

Also, Billy Joel smokes in the video for "The Longest Time."

One member of Aerosmith smokes in "Angel."

Mick Mars and probably other people smoke in the video for "Girls, Girls, Girls," by Motley Crue.

A woman smokes in "(She's) Sexy & 17," by Stray Cats.

I'm noticing some trends, re types of videos that show smoking. And I suspect that one reason smoking is rarely shown is how it technically affects filming.

Surell · 10-27-2012, 11:16 AM

As Psy Fi mentioned, and since this is the General Music subforum, if you included Reggae or especially much commercial Hip Hop, there'd be a lot of blunt smoking. I don't know about Rock though; i do remember that in Thank You for Smoking they mentioned that, in movies, it seemed like only villains and foreign people would be caught smoking cigarettes, which was bad for press.

Trollheart · 10-27-2012, 12:33 PM

It could also be an advertisting thing. After all, who supplies the cigarettes being smoked? And aren't they likely to want their product front and centre? Then you're into the whole issue of product placement...

10-26-2012, 10:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	Music Videos Showing People Smoking (I searched for a similar topic first.) I'm having a hard time thinking of music videos that show people smoking. The lack thereof is strange, considering that smoking isn't rare among musicians (even though it's a bad habit that singers especially should avoid). I wonder if there is an informal policy among video directors or companies not to snow it in videos. Anyway, some names or links to music videos with smoking, please? I prefer that smoking from movie scenes not be counted.

10-26-2012, 10:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Well, here's one with several people smoking at different points in the video, though it's not exactly a focal point: __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

10-26-2012, 11:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	Good catch. Izzie one of the smokers, I vaguely recall. "Madness" by Muse heavily features smoking. "When It's Love," by Van Halen, shows smoking at the end. (Okay, my brain has awoken and thought of several more.) Neal Schon is briefly shown with a probably unlit cigarette here... Journey - Chain Reaction - YouTube George Michael smokes in "Father Figure." There are people smoking in "R.O.C.K. in the USA," by John Mellencamp. There might be smoking in other videos of his, as he is or was a long-time smoker. Madonna smokes in "Bad Girl," and I vaguely recall her doing so in at least one more video. There's smoking in this... Survivor - Caught In The Game (1983) - YouTube A piano player smokes in the video for Joe Cocker's "Unchain My Heart." The bassist smokes in several Huey Lewis and The News music videos. The cartoonish music video director smokes in "Don't Lose My Number," by Phil Collins. Also, a cartoonish music industry character smokes in the video for "Goin' Crazy," by David Lee Roth. Last edited by sopsych; 10-27-2012 at 12:03 AM.

10-26-2012, 11:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Here's a weird fact though, which sort of confirms your initial suspicions: "Smoking in the Boys Room" by Motley Crue was the first thing I thought to look up when I read your OP, and unbelievably enough, as far as I could tell, there isn't a single person smoking in the entire video. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

10-27-2012, 05:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Although there's no smoking shown as far as I know in any of the videos for this (this is just a still), Bowie's classic does begin with a lot of smoking imagery, and the fact that it's also concerned with suicide, well... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

10-27-2012, 07:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
Psy-Fi Aficionado of Fine Filth Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: You don't want to look in there. Posts: 6,884	I imagine there are a few reggae videos showing people smoking (probably not cigarettes or cigars, though.) And The Beatles always loved to light up at every opportunity... the Beatles smoking blog

10-27-2012, 08:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	__________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

10-27-2012, 10:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	Near the end... Poison - Every Rose Has It's Thorn - YouTube Also, Billy Joel smokes in the video for "The Longest Time." One member of Aerosmith smokes in "Angel." Mick Mars and probably other people smoke in the video for "Girls, Girls, Girls," by Motley Crue. A woman smokes in "(She's) Sexy & 17," by Stray Cats. I'm noticing some trends, re types of videos that show smoking. And I suspect that one reason smoking is rarely shown is how it technically affects filming. Last edited by sopsych; 10-27-2012 at 11:33 AM.

10-27-2012, 12:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	It could also be an advertisting thing. After all, who supplies the cigarettes being smoked? And aren't they likely to want their product front and centre? Then you're into the whole issue of product placement... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018