Synopsis

Sheila E. moves through a stylized Los Angeles fantasy where luxury, romance and performance overlap. Driving through the city in an extravagant fur coat, she encounters colorful characters, a woman selling flowers and several men drawn to her glamorous image. The narrative is intercut with Sheila performing behind a drum kit alongside her band, emphasizing her identity as a percussionist. The clip closes with the theatrical imagery dissolving into performance footage as Sheila descends a staircase.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was shot over three days in April 1984 at the Wiltern Theatre, Bullock's Wilshire department store and an exterior Los Angeles location.

• The band shown with Sheila was largely made up of family members and members of her musical circle. Her sister Zina played guitar, while Juan Escovedo and Peter Michael Escovedo also appeared in the lineup.

• Peter Michael Escovedo played straight soprano saxophone in the performance scenes because the smaller instrument was easier to handle while dancing.

• The production used gray homing pigeons coated with a white substance when the crew could not obtain enough white doves.

• "The Glamorous Life" was Sheila E.'s first music video released for broadcast and promotion of a single.

• The video received three nominations at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Female Video, Best Choreography in a Video and Best New Artist in a Video.

• The song was written by Prince and became the title track of Sheila E.'s 1984 debut album. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.