February 28, 2005
As a child of the 80’s, I had the pleasure of going through my teen years with one of the greatest things man ever accomplished: MTV.
I’m talking about the “good” MTV, of course, back when they played videos (no, kids, TRL is NOT real videos like MTV once was). Not the dreck that’s on now, real music television. Twenty years on and I can still name the five original veejays. If you’re over 30 and under 40-ish, you can probably name them all, too.
For those not in the know: Martha Quinn, Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson, Nina Blackwood, and Mark Goodman.
I remember the rocket, the astronaut, and the logo’d flag on the moon. And the guitar. I remember the oh-so-cool videos then that make me cringe to see now (remember Tarzan Boy? Younger readers will recognize the song from the Listerine Cool Mint commercials in the mid-90’s). I remember hour after hour sitting in front of the TV, waiting to see just one more video. Sadly, the real MTV died near the end of the 80’s, and I thought it would never return.
Now, over 15 years later, I’ve found a new MTV on our digital cable. The channel is called “VH-1 Mega Hits”, and I’ve fallen back in love with music videos. Most nights (when my current unnamed geek project isn’t kicking my ass) I spend an hour or more sitting in front of the TV, reading and watching videos.
VH-1 Mega Hits isn’t straight rock, the music has a definite alternative swing to it, and videos are mostly from today, with the occasional 90’s song thrown in for good measure. There are few commercials, and the commercials are all for VH-1 stuff. No real advertising on the channel.
Just videos.
As I’m one to share with you guys things I like, I’ve culled up some links to my current batch of favorite videos, which I’d like to offer for your perusal:
- The Killers - Mr. Brightside : Yes, I know I’ve linked to this video before, but dammit, it’s my site and I love this song. So much, in fact, that I bought the CD this weekend. Doesn’t everybody love a good song about voyeurism? As an added bonus, look for Eric Roberts in the video. (band link)
- The Killers - Somebody Told Me : More from the same guys, only this one’s about…well, just watch it and see.
- Keane - Somewhere Only We Know : I bought this CD along with “Hot Fuss” from The Killers this weekend. And season 3 of “The Shield”, along with season 1 of “The Greatest American Hero”. And a jock strap for my soon-to-be achy breaky balls. Believe it or not, I didn’t get a strange look at the checkout. (band link)
- Jet - Look What You’ve Done : I couldn’t find the American version of this video, which features the band playing and singing in an animated forest (with some uber-creepy creatures toward the end of the song); this version is the British version. (band link)
- Velvet Revolver - Fall To Pieces : What a great fucking song and video, about the lead singer’s struggles with his heroin addiction. Look closely; you’ll see several familiar faces in this band. And as an added bonus, Scott Wieland (lead singer) channels Mick Jagger a couple of times with his dance moves at the mic. (band link)
- Finger Eleven - One Thing : Robyn loves this song even more than I do. The lead singer reminds me of someone, but I can’t put my finger on who it is. (band link)
- Modest Mouse - Ocean Breathes Salty : I hated this song the first few times I heard it, and would change channels to one of the other video ones (usually VH-1 Classic, to see some 80’s stuff). But they played it so much it started growing on me and now I like it. It’s a weird video, with the whole bird thing going on, but a nifty concept. (band link)
- Modest Mouse - Float On : Another one from the guys above, and another strange video. I don’t care, I like it. Particularly when he jumps his voice around.
- U2 - Vertigo : Though listening to Bono talk about world affairs tends to annoy me, the man has a beautiful voice when he uses it to sing, and this song shows it (when he’s not talking the verses, that is). As an added bonus, I think the smoke trail effect is about the coolest thing I’ve seen in a video in a long time. (band link)
- Snow Patrol - Run : Another video I initially didn’t care for, but that grew on me. I love the chorus especially. (band link)
- The Music - Breakin’ : Just shut up. I like it, okay? I find myself whistling that damn tune when I’m out hiking. It’s catchy. (band link)
- Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams : I’d just like to point out that I loved this song / video way before it became the #1 song in the country. Because I’m cool (shut up). (band link)
- Green Day - American Idiot : The song might be getting old, but dammit, it’s a good song. So go watch the video.
Looking over my list, something jumps out at me. Apparently I don’t like female singers. Just men with high voices who could pass as females.
In any case, I hope you enjoyed them. Feel free to share your favorite songs / videos in the comments.
Robyn tells me I’ve gone country. Gone country, my ass.
Fred, Should we right click and Save As if we want to listen to these songs, or is it ok to just click on them? Thanks!
Click away; they’re all links to hosting sites.
I told you ages ago that you’re a misogynist motherfucker, motherfucker.
I think we’re around the same age and I was watching MTV when the very first video came on the air. Life changed forever, didn’t it?
I recommend buying the whole American Idiot cd with 5 stars, 2 thumbs up or whatever you want to show adoration. Jesus of Suburbia part IV Dearly Beloved is worth the price of the cd alone.
If you get MTV 2, they’ve been playing real music again too.
Debby - we get it, but it always seems to be playing music of a more urban flavor when I check it. Maybe I just have bad timing?
I had no idea Hanson is calling themselves The Music now
Ah, the good old days of MTV. I still remember when we got cable, I was about 12 and I could not wait to get home from school that day and plant myself in front of MTV. Sitting there watching Pat Benatar shimmy in Love is a Battlefield and push the sleaze bag guy around was the best!
What, no Toby Keith video?
I’ve been watching it late at night, when most of the kids are in bed. Maybe that’s the difference?
Too many great cheesy 80s videos to name…. they weren’t working with huge budgets back then, were they? There’s a show called “We Are The 80’s” on one of those MTV/VH-1 cable channels now that is 80’s video nirvana….
I watched the first MTV video, the first day they aired, in my early 20’s - trivia, Fred, what was the video? I was very into Van Halen back then too, and wanted to see “Jump” so bad!
ANYTHING Greenday just kicks ass, I know I’ve left this comment before, but I’m their biggest fan, I have four of their albums loaded on my tungsten e right now. Heh, I gave a copy of American Idiot to a friend who said “their old stuff was better than this”. Grrr. She’s a huge VR fan, who I think is just a regurgitation of Guns ‘N Roses without the Axel. Well, album of the year proved her wrong, and she can keep the Velvet
I can’t believe Godsmack didn’t make your list - they even have an acoustic version out now that’s surprisingly very good. The new Korn compilation is great too!! Ok, enough
Hey Fred, you really should look into a girl named Beth Hart. She has an amazing voice, almost like Janis Joplin and her musical style is rock/pop. I have all 3 of her CDs and they are all favourites.
As for other music, I listen to just about anything from rock to country to rap to dance.. hell I love the Partridge Family.. Course don’t let that little tidbit of information put you off looking up Beth.
Hey Fred, when ya gonna catch a NASCAR race? LOL couldn’t resist.
I think your first commenter, Danielle, must read Robyn’s journal…and was skeered of hotlinking! heheh, couldn’t resist that one either.
I’m with ya on the older songs. My son is almost 13 and everything he wants to hear starts w/ “Yo, my babymama, &8*%$ #@+! ya get the idea.
I recall the original MTV gang too and was sorry to hear about JJ’s early demise not too long ago.
And no matter what, Toby kicks A$$, especially w/his Courtesy of the Red White and Blue song. I still don’t get the controversy over that song. Too many people are namby pambying over a bunch of Godless mercenaries that would like nothing more than to eradicate every person that didn’t believe the way they do.
A lot of old MTV videos I remember just make me smile. Like Flock of Seagulls “And I raaaaan, I ran so far awaaaaay.” And oh, remember that one video “Fish heads. Fish heads, roly poly fish heads. Fish heads, fish heads, eat them up. Yum.” Oh, how I hope I’m not the only one to remember that one. I used to LOVE Bow Bow Wow’s version of “I Want Candy” and all the J Giles videos, all the Prince videos after Purple Rain… sigh… I could go on and on reminiscing about the good old days of MTV.
Kathy, yes, I do read Robyn’s journal. But I know what hotlinking is (I’m a web developer) so I wasn’t “skeered” per se, just wanted to make sure!
Hee hee.
I had the biggest crush on Mark Goodman. I think I still do.
If I didn’t know better I’d think you were a big fan of the O.C.
One of my good friends went out to L.A. a couple of years ago to become a recording engineer. He got his first album credit on Hot Fuss as Assistant Engineer. Way to go Will!!!
Ah… I love me some VH-1 Hits. I also watch a channel we get MTV Hits… it’s almost the same music… although right now is a 2 day J-Lo marathon that has me ripping my hair out. They have only had 2 of these marathons in the past year, the other was Madonna.
Ok, this little trip down memory lane has me having 80’s flashbacks!!Now I am getting the urge to run out and buy a huge can of Aqua Net Super Hold hairspray and get the High hair going again. My grams used to call it a cocks comb Hahaha.. The higher the hair.. the closer to God
Not to mention the peg leg jeans, and the leg warmers.. can you believe those are making a comeback?? What in the world would make those things come back in style??? LOL Oh and the “Madonna Bracelets” Have ya’ll heard about those things now? They have made a comeback, the rubber bracelets you wear a hundred at a time.. well in their comeback the teens have put a “label” on each color. Each color signifies a different sexual act that the wearer is supposed to have done. OMG! My 12 year old was wearing them and my hubby took her to the doc. the doc asked him if he knew the hubbub going around and told him about them. Needless to say we cut them into a little pile of rubber. The next week we saw the story on 20/20 or one of those shows. Just crazy!!!!
Video Killed the Radio Star
I remember the good old days of sitting around, waiting for the latest & greatest video to come out.
Nowadays, I can’t flip the station fast enough.
Megan - yeah, I saw when I was looking for one of the videos (Keane, maybe?) that the song was on an OC CD. Trust me, I’ve never seen the show, nor do I plan to.
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Mary Jo - We get the MTV hits channel, too, and I flip over there when there’s nothing good on the VH-1 channel. The MTV Hits channel plays good videos too, but they seem to put in a lot of hippity-hop soul stuff. I know there are plenty of people out there who like that sound, but I’m not one of them.
Anyone else get Fuse? I find myself on that channel quite a bit, too. I like the half-hour shows they do on groups like Green Day and the Beastie Boys. Plus, their video countdown every night around 6 CST generally has good videos.
You have some fine taste in music there!
Hee. I’m a rare commenter, but my next-door neighbors are playing Mr. Brightsides VERY LOUDLY, and the coincidence had to be noted!
Have you listened to Muse? I saw them in concert along with the Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse, and while I like all the abovementioned bands, I fell HARD for Muse and their crazy guitars, aching vocals, and raging piano. I’m also a big fan of Green Day, so if common tastes count for anything, you might want to give Muse a try!
Hi again Fred, one more. Two bands (same singer).. Big Wreck and Thornley. Great tunes!
I bought the Killers cd a week after Somebody Told Me started getting airplay. And I heard the Jet CD is really good, too. Look What You’ve done is Beatles-style, Cold Hard Bitch is ACDC-style, etc. They supposedly model many of the songs on the CD after familiar styles. Sounds interesting.