Happy Birthday, MTV! Hard to believe you're 30 today -- although you didn't arrive in Phoenix until 1982, so you are still 29 in my eyes (you're welcome)-- until I remember that JJ Jackson is no longer with us, Alan Hunter has filled out a bit, young Martha Quinn is in her 50s, and Nina Blackwood has long been collecting Social Security. And while you've long outlived your usefulness to me, I honestly can't imagine my youth without you. While today's generation probably can't fathom a childhood without the Internet, I'd have hated growing up without the experience of the video "event," when world premieres of the latest from Duran Duran, Madonna and Michael Jackson were water-cooler (OK, outside-your-locker) moments, and having your favorite artist stop by the MTV studios to "guest veejay" for a few hours gave you the feeling that you'd really gotten to know and hang out them. (I still have my videotape of Bananarama at the con! And remember falling in love with China Kantner and the Zappa kids?) Music Television has evolved over the years and that's what it needed to do to stay on the air. But to me, MTV will always be "Black Coffee in Bed" by Squeeze, "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls, "Avalon" by Roxy Music, "867-5309" by Tommy Tutone, "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde and "Fantastic Day" by Haircut 100 on a never-ending loop, and that's just fine with me. When you're 14 and out of school for the summer and it's 110 degrees outside on a cool day, MTV was the greatest friend a kid could ever have.
Watch the first two videos ever shown on MTV -- you know you know what they are -- and get to know your veejays in the clip above.
6 comments:
Cable TV came to "Hazeltucky" in the summer of 1981. We were one of the first families to subscribe. But it wasn't until I started junior high that fall that a friend asked "Do you got MTV?" I had no idea what he was talking about. Then I flipped the remote over, checked the channel guide and saw "#41: MTV." Life wasn't the same after that moment.
What a lovely commentary, made me very nostalgic! Thanks!
YOu're funny with the Nina Blackwood is collecting social security. But even though her voice makes her sound 103 she is actually only 55. mark Goodman is three years older than her.
Working in NYC at the time, my friend Elizabeth accepted a position as assistant to everyone when the channel first started. I remember telling her as she left for her first day "remember, you can always come back here when this doesn't catch on!"
You missed the first year? Then you missed them playing 'Money For Nothing' 24-7 'cause that was the only music video that they had to play.
Does MTV play music videos any more?
I remember watching MTV’s premier while contemplating running away to the Adirondacks with Jeff... a very long story! MTV’s early videos were the driving force in building my concept of music. I feel fortunate in having experienced MTV and the video revolution from the beginning and sad for those who missed it. I still want my MTV!
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