The song 's music video won a record nine MTV Video Music Award at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards and Best British Video at the 1987 Brit Awards . The song also saw Gabriel nominated for three Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance , Record of the Year and Song of the Year . In a 2005 poll conducted by Channel 4 the music video was ranked second on their list of the 100 Greatest Pop Videos . " Sledgehammer " has been described as dance-rock , blue-eyed soul , and funk . The song was influenced by 1960s soul music , in particular that made by Memphis label Stax . The distinctive horn track was provided by a horn section led by Wayne Jackson of the Memphis Horns , Stax 's house musicians
Grammy Award
29th Annual Grammy Awards
Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel song)