Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Make It Better (Forget About Me)

What this video is

Released June 3, 1985 as the third single from Southern Accents, 'Make It Better (Forget About Me)' arrived at a pivotal moment when MTV had transformed music marketing and forced rock bands to compete visually with synth-pop acts dominating the channel. Co-written with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, the song represented a Memphis Soul detour from the album's Southern-concept framework, a departure Petty later…

Why it matters

A key artifact of the 1985 American heartland rock / MTV concept video intersection. The video demonstrates how traditional rock bands adapted to visual media demands without abandoning their musical identity — deploying surrealism as a vehicle for humor and accessibility rather than alienation.…

The director

Jeff Stein is an American director, writer, and producer. He gained early recognition directing The Kids Are Alright (1979), a celebrated documentary on The Who, before becoming a leading music video director. His video for The Cars' 'You Might Think' won…