… "Rockin' the Paradise" by Styx ... to media (and especially MTV) at the time, and often times got a big say in what content went up for public play. In celebration of the 30th anniversary, here are some of the best sets, from Pearl Jam, to Nirvana and beyond. I haven’t looked at MTV in over 15 yrs because it has such crap on it. ... but back when MTV was first starting that wasn’t exactly the case. 2 by Iron Maiden Before it spiraled into cheap reality TV shows, people used to regularly tune into the music video channel. CRAPTV! MTV, television network that began in 1981 as a 24-hour platform for music videos and by the mid-1980s had a noticeable effect on movies and television, as well as the music industry. I love this list, it shows what crap was totally popular at the time, with the additional unpleasant fact being that MTV was marginally (but just barely) more adventurous at this time than radio. ), 25. "We Don't Talk Anymore" by Cliff Richard, 7. How about replaying the entire set of MTV’s shows, start to finish? Would sell millions, I remember the day… I was in my first apartment we got cable just so we could have MTV when it came on we all sat around and the channel was all snow until just before MTV logged on for the first time there’s three or four of us there and then we just left it on the MTV for a couple of years lol. The music video was of these guys in a club, mostly just dancing. On August 1, 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.” So, in honor of the 30th anniversary, I thought I would give you the Top 30: 1. In my and I know a lot more people that would absolutely guarantee 100%. On August 1, 1981, MTV took to the U.S. airwaves, forever changing the landscape of American music and pop culture. In the decades since, MTV has made the transition from music videos to "TRL" to "The Hills" to "Catfish," and it's now more of a home for reality television than for music's latest visuals. Headbangers Ball was the best, I remember my friends and I staying up super late so we could watch it. MTV would change the way we consumed music and has lead to some of the most significant moments in pop culture. 18. To make sure it would sell in either format..no censoring. ©2006-2021 Open Culture, LLC. Subscribe to MLive.com. ), 23. @ Jamie Hodgdon l think that is one of the most brilliant ideas I’ve heard in years! Hey hit me up on this. “Jersey Shore” in the Style of Oscar Wilde. Thirty-six years ago in 1981, a handful of Americans in New Jersey tuned in to the premiere of Music Television (MTV), the world's first 24-hour video music channel. Good on you! ... but back when MTV was first starting that wasn’t exactly the case. "Take It on the Run" by REO Speedwagon, 10. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between. At 12:01am on August 1, 1981, history was made when MTV, the first 24-hour video music channel, launched onto our television sets and literally changed our lives with the birth of the music video. Mary Anne, hey guys I think it’s really important that you have all your new shows and what not but I think you need to bring back in 24/7 MTV starting with the very first song you guys ever played on the air and do a rewind and just keep going until 2020 just don’t stop I’m guarantee you this channel will be the most popular channel you have every video you’ve ever played playing because what you guys are doing now a lot of people like but a lot of people hate they want MTV music television music television does not include watching 16 and pregnant or Jersey shore or some crap like that what we want is music videos and not just rap like I said do a rewind start from day one 1981 August 1st video killed the radio Star by the buggles lose start with that and work your way all the way through playing every video you’ve ever made you will make so much money it’ll make you sick please bring back MTV to what MTV used to be in its Glory days because what you have now truly it sucks we want the MTV that you gave us an August of 81. hey guys all people are asking you to do is put MTV back on the air like it was in 1981 of August that’s when MTV came on the air and it was 24/7 music television music videos please start with the very first video you guys ever did in 1981 you guys know it was video killed the radio Star by the buggles all we want is what you people promised us in 1981 you gave it to us and then took it away and gave us all these dumb shows Beavis and butt-head was cool you know you had some other shows that were good but we want MTV back you promised us 24/7 music videos not 16 and pregnant or some other crap like Jersey shore please give us back music videos 24/7 starting with your very first video thank you and have a nice day SINCERELY THE STATE OF VERMONT!!!!!!!! MTV sucks so bad now, who the heck cares about all the nonsence and drama, sick that people trive on that kind of garbage, i wont hold my breath on them comingback, RIP MTV . All rights reserved. Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. Mexican Radio? Otherwise, they’re crazy for not having thought of it already!!! 2 by Lee Ritenour Released: 1979. We never spam. Genre: Pop. Music From The Challenge: Total Madness, Episode 15. Obviously by the time I made it college, MTV was a daily part of any student's life. On August 1, 1981, MTV: Music Television goes on the air for the first time ever, with the words (spoken by one of MTV’s creators, John … Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. They wore really wacky outfits too- bright colors, funny hats. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mtv-first-aired-music-videos_n_3690085 We’re hoping to rely on our loyal readers rather than erratic ads. We thank you! "Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders (My favorite Pretenders song. 4 songs by Rod Stewart ... to media (and especially MTV) at the time, and often times got a big say in what content went up for public play. When MTV hits first premired, they constantly played the same songs. "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 26. Views: 49,093 Rating: 96% The first and most ironic video ever aired on MTV back on August 1, 1981, it prepared viewers for years and years of completely unintelligible videos to come. MTV Top 100 Videos of the 1980s. ), 9. Here are some fun facts about the very first music videos played on MTV and the network itself that reveal the channel’s widespread cultural influence. This list does NOT actually show what was popular at the time. To support Open Culture’s continued operation, please consider making a donation. I agree 100%. Other artists that had a single video played in the top 50 included Robin Lane, Michael Johnson, Shoes, Rupert Hine, Tom Johnston, Blotto, The Silencers, Juice Newton, Bootcamp, and the Michael Stanley Band. List of the many similar lists I have no complaints According to,... Use third-party cookies that help US analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve experience! My and I know a lot of TV options played music videos of the 30th,... Forever changing the landscape of American music and has lead to some of the most iconic music are! And the Chartbusters, 14 running these cookies 1, 1981, MTV began for!, mostly just dancing once was just who has that special voice, soul, and groove ✌ TV,! 100,000 cable subscribers: 1 videos which were a relatively new concept by... 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