Synopsis

Billy Idol performs atop a deserted skyscraper in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic city. His solitary dance draws the attention of unruly street kids below, who climb toward the rooftop and begin moving with the same wild, self-contained energy. Mirrors, smoke, stark lighting, and an ominous urban landscape give the performance a surreal horror-film atmosphere. As the song builds, Idol becomes both entertainer and beacon, turning isolation into a communal burst of rebellious movement.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video's scenario was influenced by the 1971 science-fiction film "The Omega Man," giving the performance its abandoned-city setting and threatening crowd of street waifs.

• The production was reported to have a budget of approximately $70,000, modest by later music-video standards.

• Its cinematic approach was unusual for the early MTV era, helping establish the music video as a format that could borrow visual language and production methods from feature films.

• The video was nominated in several categories at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Special Effects and Best Art Direction.

• "Dancing With Myself" had originally been recorded by Idol's band Generation X. The solo version and its heavily played video helped make the song a defining part of Idol's early MTV image.