Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer - Golden 80s Music

“Sledgehammer” is a song by the English musician Peter Gabriel. It was released on April 14, 1986 as the lead single from his fifth studio album “So.” The song is one of Peter Gabriel’s most famous and successful tracks and is celebrated for its innovative music video.

“Sledgehammer” is characterized by its catchy and upbeat sound, featuring a combination of rock, pop, and soul elements. The song features Gabriel’s distinctive vocals and a lively arrangement with horns, percussion, and a memorable melody. The lyrics of “Sledgehammer” convey themes of love and desire in a playful and metaphorical manner. The song’s narrator expresses his affection and attraction with imaginative and humorous language, using metaphors like a “sledgehammer” to describe the intensity of his feelings.

The music video for “Sledgehammer” is particularly renowned and was groundbreaking for its time. It was directed by American music video director Stephen R. Johnson and produced by Adam Whittaker It used innovative stop-motion animation and claymation techniques, creating a visually stunning and surreal experience. The video won several awards and contributed to the song’s popularity. “Sledgehammer” won nine MTV Video Music Awards in 1987. It ranked at number four on MTV’s 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made, and was declared MTV’s number one animated video of all time

“Sledgehammer” was a commercial success for Peter Gabriel, reaching high positions on music charts in various countries, including #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song’s catchy sound, creative lyrics, and memorable music video have made it a classic of the 1980s and an enduring favorite.