Dire Straits - Money For Nothing (REACTION)

[@ALD56]

Supposedly, Mark Knopfler was browsing at a NYC hardware store with MTV playing on the TV. Workers were discussing their mundane jobs and comparing themselves to the rock stars in the video, not knowing that one of the customers browsing actually WAS a rock star.

[@crosscatch]

He said that it wrote itself.Pretty incredible!

[@jamesdemichele3649]

I want to know how this department store had cable TV back in the early 80's.

[@StevesFunhouse]

@@jamesdemichele3649 Cable TV, which actually came out in 1948, became the rage in the 80's and MTV, being a cable ONLY network, relied on its widespread use for its successful launch. I know this because I was working in and for bands, and when we'd get off from work and/or playing, we go back to our rental house, get high and watch MTV. We got a LOT of inspiration from there (MTV launched on August 1, 1981). Video Killed The Radio Star was the 1st video ever shown (then that group disappeared) and Pat Benatar was the 2nd. So, not only was MTV in department stores, but cable had been around for a long time by then.

[@kevinmassey1164]

@@jamesdemichele3649 They had coax run into the building that carried signal. This terminates into a box supplied by the cable provider. So just like the rest of us

[@kualua6612]

It must have been a Sears!

[@jrsinsf]

That falsetto at the beginning "I want my MTV" was sung by Sting.

[@Mr62Lincoln]

Sting also sings the bridge and backup vocals.

[@JoeandAngie]

Ugh

[@christianmarler2253]

"Don't stand, don't stand so, don't stand so close to me."

[@christianmarler2253]

@@JoeandAngie Alka-Seltzer does work.

[@GhostLeeds]

For real? No way. Sick

[@wendyt7958]

The whole "brothers in arms" album is outstanding

[@remohio]

Sting from The Police on backup vocals

[@mrg7858]

'Sting from The Police' aka 'Sting'

[@ptdoria88]

😮😮😮😮😮

[@ptdoria88]

😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@RolanTheBrave]

he just happened to be on holiday on the same Caribbean island dire straits were recording this song - a stroke of luck

[@DrukMax]

Yeah Sting was on vacation while Mark Knopfler was recording. The song was just meant to be

[@remohio]

I want my MTV was a big promo in the 80's...they had a lot of musicians to say the catch phrase in commercials.

[@mrg7858]

Hey kids...it's a pro move to write the hook about the most influential music outlets in the world. Another is to record down the hall from Sting so he can help out with the intro.

[@deadmeat_0152]

this song was absolutely everywhere for a few years after it was released

[@deadmeat_0152]

also i hope you guys do Skateaway off their album Making Movies. Its got a nice groove

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

TOTALLY..it's on my "If I never heard it again I'd be good" list.....good song though, just SOOO overplayed haha

[@mr.snicker-doodles7081]

@@deadmeat_0152 YES!! That is a GREAT tune...100%

[@cheripetty1805]

Cutting edge state-of- the art CGI Graphics!! Mesmerizing in 1985!

[@confucius12012]

2024 CGI has nothing on 1985's!! lol

[@teesmith945]

Believe it or not, in the early days of MTV this video was considered ahead of it's time with the computer animation and graphics...way back when... ( damn, I'm old ) lol

[@alexo5861]

Yep, this and Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” were revolutionary music videos.

[@allisondownes7481]

This was revolutionary when it first came out. Thanks for reviving all the great memories when MTV was actually great!

[@SPQRTejano]

When this came out in 85, every teenager I knew watched MTV. It was on all the time.

[@ronlyster5667]

So ... the part Sting is singing is the same melody as his Police song "don't stand so, don't stand so, don't stand so close to me". Saw their Vancouver show during this tour, and the intro drums shook my entire body. Never forgot that sensation.

[@aldower3390]

Back in the day MTV played it relentlessly it was huge.

[@robpalmer3304]

This song at live aid was insane

[@lotusladylotus6159]

The story behind the song: Mark was in a store in NY, and on one whole wall of the store there were TVs tuned to MTV (Music Television); he overheard the workers making derisive (perhaps jealous) comments about the performers in the videos and how easy those guys had it compared to their own blue-collar jobs (moving TVs, microwaves and refrigerators etc.). Mark grabbed a pen and paper and wrote their remarks down verbatim, and those comments became the lyrics of the song. Given that they (Dire Straits) are musicians themselves, singing the lyrics (in an MTV video no less), it's also good natured, self-parodic and cheeky, especially since in contrast to some the 'glam rock' of the time, Dire Straits was 'pub rock'. As to the 'offensive F' word at issue: 1) That was the word used by the blue collar workers themselves in the store about the guys in the MTV videos; (2) it was very common parlance at that time; (3) it was sometimes used to suggest 'poser' or 'pretty boy' (i.e. the glam rockers of the time, 'with the earrings and the makeup' who were seen to have sold out to corporate media) rather than to homosexuals (after all, gay guys wouldn't be concerned about getting 'chicks' for free, would they?); (4) Notably, when the band plays this track live, and in the first person, they leave out that word. Context is everything! If you really want to see Dire Straits at their best, check out "Sultans of Swing" (released in 1977) "Telegraph Road" (1984) and "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1979) all from 'Alchemy Live'.

[@Irockthere4]

Yes MTV used that part that Sting sang “I want my MTV” for their advertisements.

[@pebblehilllane]

The songwriting credits are shared between Mark Knopfler and Sting. According to Knopfler, he used the network slogan "I want my MTV" after seeing an MTV advertisement featuring The Police and setting it to the tune of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" (written by Sting), hence the cowriting credit. On March 1, 1982 is when the then-struggling music video network launched the ad campaign that saved the day: "I Want My MTV!" What would really sell the campaign, however, was the delivery: MTV exec Les Garland cajoled his friend Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones to shout the line into a camera. Once Jagger finally agreed to do it, David Bowie and Pete Townshend of the The Who were persuaded to film spots as well. After that, getting new stars to join in snowballed into the famous "I Want My MTV!" commercials. The spots were a hit with cable providers, and subscriptions soared. The line "I want my MTV" inspired Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits while he was writing the band's smash hit, "Money for Nothing" “I’d seen the Police doing an MTV advert, saying ‘I want my MTV,’ just saying it all together; and I thought, ‘If I set that to the notes of “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” it’ll work,’" Knopfler told Ultimate Classic Rock. "I remember saying to the guys, ‘I’d really like to get Sting to do this.’ We knew them anyway because we’d done a lot of gigs together in Germany. One of them said, ‘That’s fine, because he’s here on holiday,’" referencing the British island of Montserrat, location of the famous AIR recording studios. "And because I’d used the five notes from ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me,’ that’s how the co-writing thing happened. Which is fine; it’s absolutely fine with me and it worked out well. I remember quite clearly Sting coming into the studio and saying, ‘What’s wrong?’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘Nobody’s fighting!’”

[@stuBdoc]

This video won all sorts of awards for creativity. It does explain the origin of the lyrics.

[@jamesbryson7722]

knopfler was in the shopand heard delivery men moaning about moving goods and bands on mtv getting money for nothing

[@barryserpa5174]

The line “ I want my MTV ! “ in this song was part of the MTV commercials back in the 80’s where Sting singing here and other artist would scream I want my MTV

[@lt.spears1889]

This was literally on 24/7 in the early 80’s on MTV

[@EllakGr]

This, as easily can be checked, came out in 1985, so literally mid 80’s and a few years onwards.

[@willblood7082]

FYI, Sultans of Swing was released in ’79 which thrust them into the spotlight and as you said, they ruled the 80’s with MTV coming on in ’82.

[@mojorider8455]

"Telegraph Road" is an epic Knopfler/Dire Straits tune. Worth a listen, the production on that, the lyrics...it's hard hitting.

[@tomlafleche332]

If you were around in the 80's and had a heartbeat you've heard this song before because it was literally everywhere when it came out.

[@nathans3241]

When MTV first hit the scene in the very early 80's and cable was fairly new to America, not all cable companies around the country presented MTV because many were still in their development stages, so there was a big commercial campaign on other cable channels where various artists would come on and say, "Call your cable company and tell them, 'I want my MTV!" That's where the line in the song, "I want my MTV' came into play. There were videos where no talent so-called artists would have their videos presented. In this song, the band makes fun of them by saying, "Money for nothing and your chicks for free." In the Dire Straits video, the laborers in the computer animation are annoyed that they work hard for their money while various no talent bands are making tons of money and getting chicks. Sting does backup vocals in this song.

[@loisrogers9042]

This was the 1st song I ever heard by Dire Straits, and I was hooked!

[@terenzo50]

Dire Straits's first lp was released in June 1978.

[@BigTimeRushFan2112]

This song and video was fire back then. My mom still quotes this song to this day! (she's 75 LOL)

[@Neillybob63]

Hey fellas, the song's about an incident in which Mark overheard some Home Furniture installers bitching about rockstars while watching MTV on a wall of display TV 's at their place of employment.

[@p.millard557]

"Money for Nothing" was the first video played when MTV Europe went on air in 1987, 6 years after US MTV (1981). On that occasion the first video played was "Video killed the radio star" by The Buggles, also a British band.

[@cmzeman]

Golly. all hail queen chuckles.

[@Eric4471066]

This song was Dire Straits' biggest hit song ever in America. The song went all the way to hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks during the summer of 1985. No doubt, this song was a definitely banger indeed!!!

[@alansmith7626]

there is a Whole lot more to Knopfler than just this, and his guitar playing something else in this, but fellas, that mans music will take you places...his guitar work continues to blow me away

[@owenhershey13]

he is a true master, that's for sure

[@jeffdempsey6478]

Love their first 3 albums. Before MTV. 😊....plus Mark has gone on to write many more songs that are great yet not for radio. ❤

[@flight505]

A comment on society changing. Now everyone can have a video platform. Terrific song.

[@wayL0ck]

"Maybe get a blister on your... little finger... Maybe get a blister on your thumb" It's so hard being a rock star!

[@ZChoate]

You're intro always reminds me of a rainy day. I watched you guys for like 3 hours straight at my last warehouse job. It was raining. I snuck out for one hits and cigarettes. Came back in wet and then the intro would hit. IDK, burned in my memory.

[@wordword6039]

There is a live version also with Eric Clapton and Sting. Great stuff

[@Kuesel68]

This is the short single version. The Album version is about double the length. The song was huuuge when I was a teen and the video was setting a totally new level.

[@johnathanstruble1064]

MTV , EARLY 8O' , WAS REVOLUTIONARY,, No Internet, no phones, but while mom and Pop were watching CBS, ABC, NBC, and PBS, we teens in the ,80s, were watching MTV. Iconic song from an iconic decade. ✌️

[@AirplayBeats]

Yes indeed. Best time of my life

[@gedhoughton9523]

If I have a kid, they are getting raised on music this, perfect blend of musical talent electronics.

[@janishaldeman3339]

Ya'lls vids are 10000 clearer than when you started. Crispyyyy!

[@wesmiddaugh230]

greatest rock and roll song. spin this when playing records

[@anthonyattard6726]

Mark was in a appliance shop and he overheard this guy who worked there glance at the TV that happen to have MTV on, inspiration for the lyrics

[@danrumble74]

MTV was new at the time. They still did commercials at the time with music stars urging you to "call your cable operator, and tell them "I want my MTV!!"

[@Roadtrip635]

I caught them live on this tour at a relatively small theater, 2000 seats, small considering just how big they were at the time, 12th row center stage. Absolutely incredible show!

[@isabelledrevet5913]

Sting is the one who sings "I want my MTV". I remember, when I was at the University (in France), one of my English teatcher told us that Dire Straits was a must listen band because of their lyrics. He was right !

[@colinciolli1530]

❤❤❤❤ Again, another great reaction! Thank you guys!

[@Bloodewing]

This song was a staple in every strip joint in the 80's. I actually DO miss REAL MTV from back ion the day.......

[@Jude_196]

WOOOOOHOOOOO!!! LOVE THIS SONG!!! Dire Straits + STING!! ENJOY, FELLAS!!

[@revaflowers3115]

The digital animation was unique back in the day.I think the band got an award for it.

[@dianel222]

💜💜💜 bass line

[@billbryant9995]

So glad you listened to this song. It was huge when it came out! Most of the younger crowd today have no idea who Dire Straits was, or just how good they were.

[@RayEvans-j1q]

I remember when this song first came out, a DJ locked himself in a booth playing Money for Nothing for an entire weekend in charity event!

[@RaySawhill]

It’s about working class guys (back in the early days of MTV) imagining what it’s like being a rock star.

[@johnawad8710]

This song is meant to be play loud!!! good reaction!

[@OlTrev]

I remember when this video first came out, it was the first computer graphics I had ever seen. Blew my mind at like 8 years old.

[@Getafix33]

the panic when dire straits went into the classic and beloved little f$gg0t verse🤣. Glad you enjoyed it, this is 1 of my favourites from them.

[@StevesFunhouse]

As others have pointed out, Mark wrote this after overhearing some workers complaining about the MTV life, and THEY were using the "F" word, not Mark. So, technically, he was relaying what he heard, not what he thought. That's probably why you got it past the YT censors.

[@tonidenise5134]

This was the beginning of MTV... Early 80s baby.💜

[@KekeElBecko]

I was literally born to this album in 1986. The midwife played Brothers in Arms on her stereo because I was late. My parents kept the tape and we often played it in the car. A little graphic, I know, but it reminds me more of my dad's car than the event in question, thankfully.

[@johnathanstruble1064]

Understand one thing in the history of Music Moments....I want my MTV....80s baby...❤

[@vickihirsch8340]

Thats Sting singing the " I want my MTV". Still used today even though they dont play music videos anymore

[@txrojas]

Thank you for playing the uncensored version.

[@DrukMax]

I remember seeing the clip, first time seeing CGI blew my mind!

[@CJ-Fischer]

This is like one of the First MTV Videos Ever! Lol😂 you guys so funny

[@ler5299]

What an interesting songwriting exercise it would be to just walk around for a day and write songs out of things you overhear. Reminds me also of the story of the Guess Who's "No Sugar Tonight", which Randy Bachman wrote after hearing a random woman telling off her significant other on a California street.

[@SIXX2772]

Loved it guys this has always been a good one with good memories.,,Play the guitar on the MTV. lol

[@johnanderson290]

Great reaction fellas! You’ve gotta check out the live performance at Live Aid 1985 featuring Sting on stage with them! 🔥

[@Finnbarrt]

To pick up on the comments, all true. Knopfler is playing a character, working class, as he was, with a different ''vocabulary 'and levels of envy and success. Sting ...just the guys came from Newcastle ...knew each other... no one knew the level this would go. Check out the Live Aid version of Dire Straits and Sting.

[@BrixtonTone]

There was a time whenever you tuned into radio this was always there ! Great tune I could only suggest you follow up with AC/DC "Money Talks" 😉

[@cmzeman]

Sultans Of Swing was released in 1978.

[@susiedawson3349]

This was on heavy rotation on MTV!

[@Bosnbabe]

Sting just puts it over the top !

[@ajgrant1975]

They are not homophobes. They are musicians, tongue firmly in cheek, making fun of homophobes.

[@Leifdk1]

Well, those were very different times. I doubt they would use the same word if they had made the song today. Personally I look at intent and I would agree that they meant no harm. It does grate on the ears now though.

[@ugadawgs1990]

It was a quote from the workers at the store where Mark overheard them talking, and it’s probably what they said. Anyway, it’s just a word and was from a time when people wouldn’t die if a poor choice of words was used. Actions matter way more than words, and Mark has proven he is a quality guy.

[@Leifdk1]

@@ugadawgs1990 Makes sense, I didn’t know. It was an odd choice even back then to be sure - and in fairness I never truly noticed before and don’t recall any controversy over it either.

[@christianmarler2253]

Neither do I think Quentin Tarantino is a racist for putting the N-word in some characters' mouths.

[@Geordiegirl36]

@@Leifdk1so if you didn’t notice and there was no controversy back then it wasn’t a odd choice of word back then

[@Ninang363]

This was from when MTV used to play Music Videos. This was a spoof on the whole business of it all. I want my MTV is sung by Sting. Sting is the harmonies throughout the song

[@allanalmeida6710]

Dire Straits - One World

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

MARK KNOFLER WROTE "PRIVATE DANCER" FOR TINA TURNER'S COMEBACK ALBUM & TOUR👍🏼👍🏼❤❤❤🎸🎸🎸🎹🎹🎹🎶🎤🎵🎶🎤🎵🎸🎸🎹

[@ler5299]

Wow I did not know that. RIP Tina the legend.

[@sumonjamal1653]

Fun fact: the drummer on the track is not Terry Williams (except for the drum intro) who is in the music video... Drums in the studio were played by Omar Hakim, an accomplished session musician w/ an impressive resume of recordings for artists like David Bowie, Sting, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Mick Jagger (solo), George Benson, etc... Omar Hakim recorded most of the drum tracks on Dire Straits' 1985 album 'Brothers in arms'... which sold 9x platinum in the US alone... Sting did backing vocals on 'Money for nothing'... and Omar Hakim also played on Sting's solo records.

[@Rob-29266]

I listened to an interview Terry did about this and other things . I believe Terry and Mark had a difference of opinion while away on a recording session , the next thing he is being told by the bands management his services were no longer required . Bit of a shit thing to do , I don't know why but I get the impression that Mark can be difficult to get along with . That's not to question his ability as a great guitar player .

[@sumonjamal1653]

@@Rob-29266 The fact is that Mark Knopfler was the songwriter and band leader... and if the drummer isn't playing the songs in the studio the way Mark wanted them to sound... Well, he makes the call. He'll get someone who can play the drums the way he wants to sound. That's the reality of being a session musician - if u can't do the job properly, there's someone else who will do it. Same thing happened in Foo Fighters - their 2nd album 'The color and the shape' in 1997, drummer William Goldsmith played on the record but Dave Grohl didn't like the tracks... So, he re-recorded most of the drums which he played. Of course, Goldsmith was not told until it was done... and he quit the band as a result. It happens.

[@southernbybirth9147]

"I want my MTV" at the start is aung by Sting of the Police

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Back when you was kids 😊 To me you are kids. Keep it up gentlemen ✨️🎶✨️

[@jimmoore8951]

I still remember hearing this for the 1st time while shopping in Tower Records when it came out. The whole store just stopped and listened as it blasted through the speakers.... think they sold a few records that day

[@willo8794]

Brothers in Arms is their finest album 😊

[@BrockHagen]

Back when MTV was actually the Music Television Video channel.

[@jameshunter7303]

Late 70’s / 80’s band. Sultans of Swing was off their debut album and first hit released 1978

[@judyyurchuk4904]

❤ luv this album 🎶

[@thomasripley1548]

This was one of the 1st big hits on m tv...I don't have it I watched vids. On night flight on TNT and TVs....

[@ellerootz6702]

Memories of MTV!

[@AliasMark69]

WELL NOW!.... It's about time you two Brothers saw this video that OWNED-MTV and MILLIONS saw who Mark and his Dire Straights band was and he/they became legends. back then we all "Want My MTV"

[@nickmcginley4570]

Sultans of Swing was 1970's. 1977 to be exact. This song and the album it was on was a huge breakout for them. After Sultans, they were famous, but this album shot them to the top of the biz. It was one of the first albums to not be printed on vinyl at all. It was the first album in history to sell 1 million copies in CD format. 8th best selling album in UK history. One of the worlds best selling album even to this day...over 30 million copies sold. I seem to recall this particular tune was the most requested video in MTV history or something like that.

[@michaelrouten]

"Sultans of Swing" came out in '79, I believe. The time when rock was generally in decline, being upstaged by New Wave and more Electronic Pop music.

[@merrilynhunt7819]

The headbands were because he sweated during performances and it affected his hands and guitars. Then it became "a trademark look". 🥰🥰

[@krob-sn7ek]

Y'all almost to 50k subs !! Woohoo!! Go guys. Check out the live version w Sting, Phil Collins on drums, Eric Clapton and a few more.

[@eckersonian6601]

I love when you guys do records. Modest mouse-the lonesome crowded west

[@erolbulut2584]

Great video. Legendary

[@paulprendergast3184]

So many great songs by this band. One of the best debut albums ever. This song? MTV fodder.....

[@mottjones2876]

Y'all need to change your music when the logo comes up at the beginning of your videos to "I want my, I want my, I want my Airplay Beats." The ladies will come flocking to you. 😁😉

[@jeffdempsey6478]

Yes!

[@joescott8877]

Nice, lol.

[@russwr4946]

checkin in...

[@davidbooth7778]

Another fun one!

[@RaySawhill]

Good reactions, btw.

[@jonesydad17]

Check out the live version at one of those legendary live aid benefit concerts I think? Sting performs with them, and it’s so good.. such clean playing by marky mark and sting sings his ass off

[@ler5299]

There were clean edits later that removed the offensive parts. Interesting fact - the sound of the guitar was a happy accident that was the result of conditions at the studio - random mic placement and setup - and they were never able to replicate it.

[@WillyJackson-if6zf]

'Brothers in Arms' is a great album, but you really need to take a look at their self titled debut album!

[@jeffdempsey6478]

Love the music that they made before mtv...Communique, Making Movies...try a song from them..'Once upon a time in the west ', 'Tunnel of love ',...plenty more. Plus then they had Mark's brother as rhythm guitar...not after that.