Posted on 07/31/2014 10:52:24 PM PDT by beaversmom
On this day in 1981, MTV: Music Television goes on the air for the first time ever, with the words (spoken by one of MTV’s creators, John Lack): “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first music video to air on the new cable television channel, which initially was available only to households in parts of New Jersey. MTV went on to revolutionize the music industry and become an influential source of pop culture and entertainment in the United States and other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia and Latin America, which all have MTV-branded channels.
In MTV’s early days, its programming consisted of basic music videos that were introduced by VJs (video jockeys) and provided for free by record companies. As the record industry recognized MTV’s value as a promotional vehicle, money was invested in making creative, cutting-edge videos. Some directors, including Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Three Kings) and Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), worked on music videos before segueing into feature films. In the 1980s, MTV was instrumental in promoting the careers of performers such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince and Duran Duran, whose videos played in heavy rotation.
By the late 1980s, MTV started airing non-video programming, geared toward teenagers and young adults. Its popular reality series The Real World launched in 1992 and was followed by such highly rated shows as The Osbournes, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet 16 and The Hills. MTV also debuted animated series including Beavis and Butthead and Celebrity Deathmatch, as well as documentaries, news, game shows and public service campaigns on topics ranging from voting rights to safe sex. MTV developed a reputation for pushing cultural boundaries and taste; the airing of Madonna’s 1989 “Like a Prayer” video is just one famous example. In 1984, the channel launched the MTV Music Video Awards, which were followed in 1992 by the MTV Movie Awards. Today, MTV’s music-video programming is largely confined to one show, Total Request Live.
Some of the worst songs were the ones they played the most, like 99 Luftballons.
But I go out to YouTube every once in a while and listen to a song from this era, and almost invariably there is some kid posting that the 80s was a golden age compared to now, and that music stinks today.
“Money For Nothing” still makes my hackles rise.
Thanks!
“Brass in Pocket” is another one that gives me hives.
Lol...why does it give you hives?
99 Luftballons in both languages.
[I secretly loved Falco, rest his soul]
Anybody else remember “Send Me An Angel” by Real Life?
Bless her heart, she always looks like she has fleas or something.
I came across a modern, live version of Nena doing 99 luftballoons (2010). She looks wonderful still. Here it is:
P.S. I see that a lot, too, from the younger ones. A lot of kids like the 80s. Kinda nice to see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LinLKMakGgM
Ahhhhhhh....COME ON, EILENE!
My FRiend reminded me of that one a few weeks ago. Really lovely. We found out that it gets falsely attributed to the Pet Shop boys a lot.
Lol...you crack me up.
Some call me “Maurice”...
There’s an extended version, song and video.
And yes, they’re on my iPods...:D
[Pet Shops Boys? One hit wonders West End Girls? Pffft!]
Most of the original DJs are now on SiriusXM
decent shows
I liked the early days....Kari Wuhrer in the basement
Up thru Grunge then it went black
I was reminded of this one several days ago for some reason. It came out in 1980 and then they redid it later on in the decade:
The Korgis - everybody’s got to learn sometime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOqXy64-hTw
No...they looked like they had mange mites.
:D
The only way I survived the 80s was to dive to the radio and turn the dial every time "Every Breath You Take" by the Police came on, which for about a year was every ten minutes.
I WANT CANDY!!!
Thanks for the update. Saw a neat picture of Martha Quinn with Steve Perry the other day. She still looks great. It was a touching story. I’ll have to try to find it and post it here.
I liked J.J. Jackson. Boy did he have a thing for Stevie Nicks...I guess along with most men on the planet. :)
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