Video killed the radio star, then MTV killed videos in favor of reality shows
MTV celebrates its 25th anniversary of programming today, and is re-airing the first 24 hours of its original broadcasting on VH1 Classic. The first video they showed was The Buggles’ “Video Killed The Radio Star,” which is a total guilty pleasure to do that ’80s head-jerk dance to (and you must admit how many of the lyrics you do, in fact, know). You can hear it in your head right now: you might as well give in and download it.
That was before MTV forsook music videos almost entirely for sagas of what happens when seven strangers stop being nice and start being real. And now they’re coming to Denver (Real World 18 will be in LoDo, in the converted industrial area which is becoming lofts for all the hip young professionals). Who wouldn’t be excited to *finally* receive the mass media validation from the MTV generation (sense sarcasm)? As our local alt-weekly says (in their fantastic article about the fake Real World crew they put together), “Seriously, what does it take for a decent city to get sullied now and again?”
One of these nights I shall likely find myself in the middle of drunken screaming match in the Denver streets, with some artistic misunderstood lesbian weeping that the middle-America jock just does not understand her reality.
Ah, MTV.
“Video Killed The Radio Star” The Buggles
“Video Killed The Radio Star” The Presidents of the United States of America
Name: Heather Browne
You know there was a time when Denver was a nice place. Then, in the blink of an eye, asshole Califorians such as yourself moved in. Next to you douchebags, MTV is nothing.
Anonymous — August 1, 2006 @ 11:48 am
What? what a wierd post. I’ve enjoyed my times in Colorado. My favorite time, a train trip from Derango to Silverton.
I am going to see Ryan Adams tomorrow in St. Louis. Should be fun, my first experience!
KevInStl
kevinstl — August 1, 2006 @ 12:43 pm
Gr8 post Heather. I was watching VH1 at the in-laws at the weekend and along came Celine Dion Live in Vegas. I’m still traumatised! I’ll take quality 80′s like the Buggles anyday.
Matt — August 1, 2006 @ 12:45 pm
Wow, I’ve never heard of a ‘Califorians’ before, must be an alien from the planet asshole I guess.
A Californian
Anonymous — August 1, 2006 @ 1:27 pm
too bad that ano only meets the asshole Califorians who leave here (yourself excepted, of course) and not the cool Californians who stay (and who go). Assholes, everywhere, it seems. Not missing much on MTV, either, it seems.
deb in sf — August 1, 2006 @ 3:02 pm
Great song, but a 70′s dance might be more appropriate, as the song first charted in 1979 in the UK, and the original demo dates back to 1977…!
Anonymous — August 1, 2006 @ 3:16 pm
Fabulous! Whatever you call this head bob thing I am doing right now listening to it. ’70s dance, ’80s dance….all I know is I must look extremely cool right now.
heather — August 1, 2006 @ 3:21 pm
MTV is no longer in my radar. I gave up after Beavis & Butthead and Daria went away. MTV, you mean nothing to me and I don’t want you. I hardly even want VH1 anymore, either! (But THe Best Week Ever is great fun!)
Ahh, to go back to those pre-Michael Jackson days….
Natsthename — August 1, 2006 @ 4:26 pm
there is always fuse-
john — August 2, 2006 @ 8:08 am