First 12 Minutes of MTV

[@scottboettcher]

If you weren't there, you'll never understand how important this was. Great memories.

[@lizacelarek617]

We'd see the video then go to the clubs and dance like crazy. 70 and 80 were the greatest. 😊🎉😮

[@Whateva67]

Hell yeah,music video shows were the best. I had a cassette recorder ready to go to catch my favourite songs,sound quality be damned😁

[@proto-geek248]

straight up

[@cuervojones4889]

nope. It was a complete revolution. Hard to remember what things were like before it.

[@roberta.k4213]

I was there, and watched MTV constantly. At the time I didn’t realize it was a paradigm shift for the entire world, but it was a good one!

[@Dazlidorne]

Ironically, MTV killed MTV.

[@NYNYRaider]

Yep 😔

[@Teeveepicksures]

The internet killed MTV *edit* People are PISSED 😂 and have a very weird sense of time. MTV only premiered in '81 and ten years later there was the The Real World. Saying it died "way before that" doesn't even make sense.

[@smokerise]

Good riddance...it was fun during the first few years, but then "reality" shows took it over and turned it into garbage.

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

And radio just keeps going.....

[@thomas5714]

Like ESPN killed ESPN

[@ThinkLascivious]

I'm 55 years old... watched this live. It was the best thing ever... at the time.

[@Joe_C.]

So what's the "best thing ever" now since, in the 'world/culture' sense??

[@Jiggyjiggy123]

Nope. MTV started as a platform for music videos (a brand new art form). They didn't start live performances until the 90s. So, if you remember MTV live in 1985, you weren't there. 😊

[@Firedrake1313]

​@@Jiggyjiggy123.. They mean that they saw it when it was first broadcast in 1981. Smh

[@michellerutherford9551]

I was right there with you. It was awesome!!

[@michellerutherford9551]

​@@Firedrake1313 there's always that one person who know exactly what's up and has to act a fool. Thanks for shutting it down friend.❤

[@aaronthomas8459]

When MTV was actually MTV and not the crap they air nowadays.

[@TalkingGIJoe]

the ultimate bait and switch... the second reincarnation of MTV are responsible for the decadence of a generation of young people.

[@floridapmi]

The music industry only makes crap today, so we wouldn't watch it if they did show videos.

[@gregorychurch3914]

MTV is now crap. In the 80’s it ruled

[@richardchambers3533]

There is still an MTV?

[@luftwaffe6521]

And dog💩 it is

[@user-yo8ww9rk2p]

This was when MTV was about music and was actually worth watching!!!

[@jackilynpyzocha662]

Music videos!

[@GregScott-lm8xj]

Exactly!!

[@10k-Noodles]

What a radical idea.

[@lancekirkwood7922]

Then Wallstreet took over and the radio died....

[@commandercaptain4664]

Now it’s RTV, all Ridiculousness, all day.

[@mrbreeze5556]

“We can’t rewind, we’ve gone too far!” Pretty prophetic words looking back 40 years!

[@Spectator1959]

I forgot that Pat Benatar was that young once. I forgot I was that young.

[@falcon4548]

🤷🏻‍♂️

[@therealgaragegirls]

We all were once upon a time.

[@goldwinger5434]

Not long ago I was walking through a store, turned a corner and was confronted by a mirror. My reaction was "Who's this old guy?" A young female coworker saw a picture of me from forty years ago and said, "My God, you were good looking." Gee, thanks. I don't know when it happened, one day I was young and the next I was no longer young.

[@falcon4548]

@@goldwinger5434 I know right 😐… when I was 17 ..at a beer🍻 drinking party and after consuming a few dozen or maybe 2 dozen 😜.. I saw myself in a mirror and said s##t! It’s gonna suck when I turn 30… ! 44 years later and remembering that night on occasion , wow that went fast 🤔

[@miloswanson9646]

I saw Pat Benetar in concert waaaay back then - probably 1982-'83. Cleveland Coliseum. I remember driving to the concert in my '81 Plymouth Reliant K... Wow, what a Pile of Crap car that was... PB Concert was good though!!!

[@drewblue1164]

People who didn’t live in the 80’s don’t understand that MTV basically defined the culture of the 80’s. MTV was the 80’s and the 80’s were MTV.

[@grndzro777]

Wait...I thought the 80's was Neon jump pants?

[@juliemccauslin5807]

​@@grndzro777 we were SO much more ❤❤❤

[@KaiserSoze-dp1hw]

True

[@EricUnderwood-v2x]

​@@grndzro777....No Dittos! Bell bottoms were fading out....

[@EricUnderwood-v2x]

Eric Underwood Class of 81 Downey High school California USA ♥️🇺🇲

[@petemoore8923]

This is no BS. I spent summers on my grandparents farm in Mississippi. One evening in ‘83 I think, they said a preacher was coming over for supper. The preacher shows up and the first thing he asked me was, “Do you watch MTV?” I answered yes and thought I was about to get a lecture on the evil of music. He asked if I knew who Allen Hunter was. I said yes. He said with great pride, “He’s my grandson!”

[@gailsfoodandstuff]

thats awesome!

[@veeko616]

That's a cool story, thanks for sharing.✌️✌️

[@pbworld7858]

I don't. Who's Allen Hunter?

[@pbworld7858]

Never mind. I found out. Alan Hunter.

[@petemoore8923]

@@pbworld7858 Hahaha! I feel worthy now. I educated somebody.

[@wacobob56dad]

When everybody wanted cable just for MTV.

[@cheleshows]

My grandpa had MTV before anyone I knew.

[@entropybentwhistle]

It was the new radio, but with pictures.

[@luvyesmusici4886]

I went up to visit relatives in Massachusetts. They had MTV we didn’t have it in Virginia yet. I recorded hours of it on VHS tapes and played it for friends and brothers. Who would believe after seeing the Buggles on MTV I would be hanging out with Geoff Downes on n several occasions years later, and he would be calling me by name, and using my idea for a stage set up.

[@luvyesmusici4886]

@@entropybentwhistle and certainly style and fashion, too.

[@antonchigurh3794]

We didn’t have cable where we lived in Texas. We just went to channel 7 and twisted the tuning knob and it came in.

[@Joe-wo7rg]

I remember watching MTV come on the air, I thought it was the greatest thing ever. I haven't watched MTV in over 30 years.

[@mikehawk7307]

It is no longer about music now.

[@janitorbobb]

Me too.

[@davesnothereman7250]

Hard to express how impactful it was. Seems like another lifetime.. And...seems like just yesterday.

[@randyw.9916]

In our mid 20s my wife and I watched MTV and VH-1 all the time and loved it. It really sucks now.

[@CV450x]

Same. I remember planning the day/night around a new video debut. Good times. It sucks rats ass now and has for decades.

[@norwoodwildlife9849]

MTV then= Music Television MTV today= Mindless Television

[@mstover2809]

Yep.

[@hjortekid]

Sad, but true

[@SilverfoxJB]

Moronic Television

[@-the1b4u-]

I think MTV would have a chance in today's world if they started replaying everything from the beginning ❤. You know, for us old school folk 😂

[@David-yo5re]

Yes, call it Mtv Classics.

[@ph1sts]

Yeah, Classic MTV has been on my cable sub for quite awhile. Plays the 80s and 90s music videos.

[@-the1b4u-]

@ph1sts I doubt it's available in my area but I'll definitely look into it thx

[@mrl22222]

something for the retirement centers to have on.

[@-the1b4u-]

@mrl22222 😂 we're not quite there yet but great idea

[@davidnorman4786]

I was there. I watched this as it happened. When MTV was MTV, it was incredible.

[@sheflower22]

Same here. My sister and I watched from the very beginning and for hours after school. It was so exciting… At some point it turned into CrapTV and that was the end of that.

[@michaelbaca5593]

It’s kind of a knock off American band stand that also was good

[@scottmccluremcclure3916]

And Soul Train

[@scottmccullough4267]

Same ,same

[@scottmccullough4267]

Did not ,at 17 ,realize the impact/ irony of this song !

[@MDMARaver]

I just realized that this was fckin' 43 years ago!!! 🤯 Omg, where have all the years gone? 😫😢

[@FallNorth]

Oddly enough I was just listening to an 80s compilation and saw that Souvenir by OMD was 1981 and was thinking the same thing.

[@stephaneneron]

Its gone forever.... But hey, Theres 40 years to come.... what about that lolll

[@srellison561]

I have to admit, I really miss the early days of MTV. They gave you access to so many music videos you might otherwise never have seen.

[@jasondashney]

To be fair, in that respect I feel KZbin is way better. When you're watching a video, it is also suggesting to you about 30 other videos simultaneously on the right hand side of the screen. You absolutely can explore this way.

[@commandercaptain4664]

Try telling that to R&B. You had to wait until Thriller hit big for MTV to notice at all, and even they were reluctant to play Thriller at first.

[@johnr8426]

MTV was the best, we would watch it for hours and hours.

[@OhNoNotAgain42]

Yes we did. And now we complain that our grandkids stare at their phones for the same amount of time. We were exactly the same. Let’s agree to NEVER tell them!

[@Ninjanimegamer]

​@@OhNoNotAgain42I've often thought the same. Except, mtv and other channels didn't have direct interactions or a need to influence us to think in any particular way. The internet is much more interactive and has a direct influence over the kids. How people respond to each other on the social media sites only adds to their stress levels and anxiety. Our TV shows were not talking back to us or making us feel less than perfect. We also had school friends who we conversed with and friends we met up with after school. We played outside and interacted face to face. Our feelings weren't hurt because someone didn't like the same things we did. We were more resilient and grounded to earth than what the Internet creates. If my kid wants to watch TV for a few hours it's better than being on Instagram or tiktok.

[@OhNoNotAgain42]

@@Ninjanimegamer Fair points. Although I’m not sure that I agree. Interactions over social media (like this!) are still teaching critical thinking. Watching mindless videos doesn’t teach anything. We bullied and were bullied in person. I tend to agree with you that we, somehow, learned to be both curious and courteous. You and I can disagree but be civil about it. They seem to be missing that. And MTV absolutely influenced us how to think! Girls all dressed like Madonna. Guys all wanted to act like rock stars. “Rush” wrote all about it in their song “Subdivisions”. That video played on MTV. Which, ironically, influenced me to like Rush. In ancient days it was religion. Then newspapers. Radio. MTV. Interweb. It’s all just different technologies doing, basically, the same thing. Luckily, I had Evel Kinevel” to teach me how to behave.

[@4loops43]

My sister secretly recorded over all of our family holiday videos with MTV! 😂

[@loyevangelists]

So I wasn't the only one then

[@donnabremerman1423]

So good back then. You could watch for HOURS and not be bored.

[@timbukh3]

That's true

[@nakitapalmer656]

It was addictive!!!

[@gizzyguzzi]

it's funny to remember how few videos there were at first, and then they were basically just the band standing around doing almost nothing. and it was still great

[@MrSTOUT73]

Back in the good old days when Music Television actually PLAYED MUSIC!!

[@garywilloughby6893]

Remember all the Hall and Oates videos

[@lqdxoni1]

can we have the eighties back i will throw in all of the 2000's

[@nofrenz2065]

90's was the best for all genres!

[@Karen-ug3xq]

That was SWEET!! For a moment I was 19 again and vibing with MTV!! I remember staying up all night long just to watch MTV!! Those were great times!!! ❤❤❤

[@GORILLABREATH1]

But now we have ..RAP ..I mean CRAP !!

[@thafunktapus]

nobody said "vibing" ... ;)

[@Karen-ug3xq]

​@@GORILLABREATH1I hear you GORILLABREATH!! I so agree with you as well!! You couldn't pay me to watch MTV these days!❤

[@Karen-ug3xq]

​@@thafunktapusWell I did and I'm not going to apologize!! I'm me and nobody tells me how to speak!! If one doesn't like the way I talk then- BITE ME😊

[@sundancekidd1387]

​@Whatever-00769I was 12 also when MTV debuted. 😮 12

[@DaveMiller2]

If you weren't around back then, you don't understand how big MTV became and the enormous effect it had on music and pop culture. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

[@thefozzybear]

It was so big it caused the Berlin Wall to come down.

[@destroyer0685]

Back when music was music.

[@denver0102]

Isn’t music still music?? Maybe just not what you’re in to…but it’s still music.

[@ipwee]

GET off my LAWN!! P.s. I'm 62. I refuse to live in the past. Carpe diem

[@SophiaPerpetua]

And musicians could play instruments and sing.

[@piratessalyx7871]

⁠@@ipweeI am older than you and destroyer is right, the music today is weak or lame…

[@kevinlakeman5043]

And tons of it was utter crapola. Like most always.

[@nisar8009]

I remember when MTV first started. We watched it incessantly. It was only videos. We loved it.

[@raspycellist]

This was one of the most significant things for Gen X. And I was there for all of it, and I'm happy about that.

[@pkskydoc6100]

Significant for late baby boomers too...me

[@raspycellist]

@@pkskydoc6100 Yeah true, I can believe that.

[@mikeking7582]

SAME HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@greenidguy9292]

As a fellow Gen X…I was there as well and it was historic at the time, but unfortunately it’s been ruined…

[@RedddPilll]

Ditto!

[@scottl1460]

I'm 63 this was the biggest thing to hit TV. So glad to see this!

[@jcepri]

ditto i'm 61

[@MrSrScott]

Back when MTV was good!!!

[@travishendrix7026]

MTV changed our lives. After school shows were done. We Rocked till we dropped. God Bless all my GenX Brothers and Sisters out there!!

[@williamschultz104]

No blessings from God here. This was just another step towards hedonism and Hell 👹l

[@travishendrix7026]

@@williamschultz104 I certainly cannot disagree with you. It had turned that way. But, we know better and have one another. I thank God for this. Its a blessing for us to stay connected as we are.

[@thafunktapus]

the last stand of self reliance

[@travishendrix7026]

@@thafunktapus What are you talking about?

[@veeko616]

Right back at ya bro. The best of times.💯

[@Proud.American58]

The first few years were basically the KZbin of its time, introducing us to many artists that we may not have heard on radio had they not had success first on MTV. They went downhill quickly when they moved away from what their acronym meant.

[@thinkingoutloud6741]

MTV, Thank you for that first decade.

[@garycorkins105]

I remember when MTV played music.

[@jeffbauer3425]

They came out with 'The Real World' , the first so called "Reality show" . That destroyed everything, and now these crap shows are everywhere.

[@THE-HammerMan]

No Way! Nobody is that old.

[@rustinpieces]

Headbangers Ball and the Triple Thrash Treat...

[@lesleymclaughlin8213]

I was born august 1 1981 my mom watched this while in labor with me🎉

[@PimpLenin]

80’s MTV was the best. Glad I got to experience it.

[@daffidavit]

The 80s were the best, period.

[@erinmalone2669]

I remember seeing karma chameleon when it debuted on MTV and my life was forever changed

[@kpkp-hc1hq]

Hardly, '70s was the best.

[@MimiJoys]

​@@kpkp-hc1hq That's what I was going to say!

[@daffidavit]

Not if you drove a car.@@kpkp-hc1hq

[@stephaniechaffin1154]

MTV ran at our home 24/7 the first 10 years or so then it all changed. I haven't turned that channel on in the last 20 years, Such a shame.

[@adeptronic]

It all started going bad when they tried to kill Metal and replace it with grunge. They had to start doing all of the shows to make up viewership. Around the same time, Napster happened and music got more and more crappy because there wasn't enough money in it anymore to support the giant companies, so they cut production costs to the bone. This accelerated the takeover of the shows because downloading a song with dialup was quick but downloading a show could take all day.

[@slowturtle6745]

It's still around? I never would have known.

[@Simulera]

In August 1981 I left the navy submarine force in Connecticut, rode my motorcycle to Pasadena, California to start grad school and started on the path and career that I just retired from at 71 years old in 2024. MTV was a part of that personal 1981 life re-set and I had sort of forgotten how it popped at that moment. For some reason I am hearing the Pretenders in my head at this moment, triggered no doubt by watching this. Thanks for the great “archaeological” video!

[@JasonHiltonpianoservice]

Watching ancient history and remembering it like it was yesterday. It’s all in a lifetime.

[@moisesbenavides]

I could watch the old MTV for hours, eat something and get back to watch more MTV.

[@nanreynolds9351]

Oh, the memories. The 80's were the greatest for those of us lucky enough to have lived them. LONG LIVE THE 80'S! To quote an old saying,............. REJOICE, OH YOUNG MAN,... IN THY YOUTH! Ecclesiastes.

[@mowowie]

The Best of times

[@Gudi102]

Nobody could have imagined the impact MTV had in our generation. I was one of the lucky ones to have lived through that. GOLDEN AGE. Best decade ever. bar none. period.

[@redbone7040]

💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@elizabethwitt2621]

I'm gonna agree with you there 💯

[@davepugh7961]

What can I say? It was my heyday. When MTV was music videos 24 hrs a day. So f****** Cool. 80s Pat Benitar. Yummy. I should add, as a songwriter born in the late 60's, I have come to appreciate that every generation thinks that their heyday is the best era ever for the music. But those of us who grew up in the 70's and 80s truly were lucky enough to have listened to the best music ever written in our formative years. Golden indeed.

[@annenelson5656]

I was in my late twenties but found MTV an answer to a long time dream. If you weren’t there for Thriller or some of the other greats you’ll never understand.

[@brandonmetro7115]

Looking back after so many years. your exactly right.

[@SylvanSkywatcher]

When MTV was MTV, it was very entertaining.

[@jmallett6081]

Those were the best days of MTV. I remember a salesman selling satellite dishes before the fees of DISH and DirectTV, MTV was free, and he said children just were captivated with MTV. This brings back memories, and I hate to admit it, but it shows my age, yet back then even with all my inner issues, it was a good time. Thank you for the content, it is very much appreciated. The dream of MTV has been usurped, yet not forgotten.

[@1bowmaniam]

Saw Pat Benetar in concert just a couple years ago, and she's still amazing and married to the same man.

[@spuds6423]

Neil is a great guitarist and song writer .. he doesn't get the love that he should get.

[@tcbellsz]

Just not ‘Mr Benatar’ 😊

[@SuperOskar2000]

Of course she is, she's my all time. Fav. Love. Her ❤❤.

[@jasondashney]

I've seen almost everybody that I really like, and I really regret not seeing Pat Benatar. I was sceptical her voice could hold up so I declined about 10 years ago. She's one of my favourites of all time and I wouldn't be able to handle seeing her when she wasn't very good. Sad to hear I was wrong, but glad to hear she's doing well.

[@chuckb470]

​@@jasondashneyThey're still touring. 😊

[@IceManTX69]

This was the best time to be alive. So many hours spent watching MTV. So many types of music, so many styles, so many people to idolize. A full decade of utopia before reality slowly took over and killed it all.

[@MrRedalert66]

Was there ever a better summer?! I was there watching from the very beginning and glued to the TV for hours everyday. Amazing memory

[@JohnSmith-un9fy]

You know, someone should find all of the vintage uncut MTV footage that there is and rune it ALL in an endless loop for all to enjoy. Thanks for the upload.

[@downtime86stars17]

Does anyone born after 1995 know that MTV meant MUSIC television?

[@sub-zero710]

Yeah, because I remember TRL in the 2000s.

[@Cspspack]

That’s sad but understandable. MTV just became reality TV.

[@mikek0135]

I think the "M" just stands for "More", now.

[@christineheminger7762]

I remembered. That’s why I wanted The Learning Channel-naively thinking it would be educational shows instead of reality show crap I’m sorry-I only just realized the part about “born after 1995”-I was born long before that

[@downtime86stars17]

@@mikek0135 That's just sad. We used to get music, music news, interviews with musicians...

[@TheFabulousMrsBlake]

I LOVED MTV in the 80s! I'd watch for hours while "doing homework" waiting for my favorite videos to come on. The best!!

[@heyhuey4429]

So lucky to have lived it. 60's, 70's, 80's.....things just kept getting better.

[@LordEriolTolkien]

and then they got worse, and here we are

[@chantalslut]

Absolutely agree. We had a wonderfull time. I feel very lucky as you said.

[@piratessalyx7871]

The 90’s certainly started off the decline…….how do we get back to that good vibe!

[@bigloaded8324]

@@piratessalyx7871Unfortunately it’s forever gone.

[@scottlarson1548]

@@LordEriolTolkien Sorry to hear your life went so bad.

[@michaelmyers3892]

All right just teleport me back to 1980 I was 13 and ready to rock the 80s what a great time glad I got to be a part of it

[@NickNicometi]

Ditto. Just wished I had picked up a guitar at 13, then I d have been playing my guitar on MTV!

[@toonybrain]

The 80’s were pretty darned great: Lots of optimism and fun.

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

In 1986 I was 20 years old and in the crowd at Daytona Beach when Martha Quinn and MTV hosted the Mr. Mr./ Starship concert. That was my first official concert and it was magical. I would give everything I own to go back to that time and relive everything and stay there. Life was worth living back then.

[@gus473]

Martha❣️😎✌️

[@ThankYouJesusTheChrist]

It still is worth living, people need us. Don’t give up.

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

@@ThankYouJesusTheChrist Nice of you to say so. Don't worry I haven't given up, but it seems the vast people on this Earth have. I prefer the company of the many of the wonderful people who have since past then the current company of my fellow man.

[@J.Green-Rx]

Being young's a hell of a drug.

[@commandercaptain4664]

Had a HUGE crush on Martha.

[@arkady714]

Few TV channels had an impact on pop culture as quickly and thoroughly as MTV... and then it ended.

[@LordEriolTolkien]

By turning the counter culture into corporate mainstream they turned art into a commodity

[@ivanpetro8464]

And for a time, it was good....

[@gaston8512]

A good executive would return to the original platform. I was flipping channels years ago and my line of site landed on MTV, 2 guys kissing. Have blocked the channel ever since.

[@elixtido1448]

democrats

[@johnorgan3]

music, as we knew it, was gone

[@maxklein1614]

"We can't rewind... we've gone too far." Ouch!

[@deanmckean7770]

What a great bit, it's as valid now as it was then. Great tune. Aw, the memories. 😊

[@joymcvey8331]

Sitting in my best friend Kellie's living room watching this at 15 - we were so excited. This is one of my favorite memories.

[@terryrussell5140]

I used to call into work sick to stay home and watch MTV. Martha Quinn. Still love you girl...

[@joeysingletary2943]

The mighty Quinn

[@dhart28]

Yep. I was a 20 year old male who had a huge crush on Martha Quinn.

[@ThomasBarone]

Kennedy❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣

[@dennishadley2783]

Martha was our best friends kid sister. Nina was the girl next door that came over and hung out with you on the patio drinking some beers.

[@spankynater4242]

She's mine. I don't care if she's older than me.

[@LaSabrinaSabrosa]

Those Live Aid hours were just incredible on MTV! From Sade to Queen & everything in between, whatta time ❤🎼

[@RedddPilll]

Brings me right back…music videos were soooooooo important back then. We were asking each other if we saw the latest video of this or that band, and we couldn’t wait for the next video.

[@lemmykilmister9979]

Miss these days

[@johnurban7333]

Loved MTV back in the day

[@mpwasz1]

45 yrs. Ago it was fantastic

[@terriellis5145]

Hi John, Terri Ellis!

[@terriellis5145]

If you are from clovis NM

[@Thetattedcat]

80s BEST DECADE EVER!! I remember the first day of MTV. Thank you thank you thank you for doing this video. It is bringing back many happy memories of being a teen in the 80s ❤❤❤

[@NYNYRaider]

It truly was the best decade! I was a little kid, but it’s when I started listening to FM radio and developed a true appreciation for pop culture (of that time!)

[@edwarddelgado9654]

Wow, I remember my friend and I were channel surfing and stumbled onto MTV. We couldn't believe it was Rock and Roll videos 24 hours a day!

[@jamescook6564]

Well it's not actually Rock and Roll

[@ElCidPhysics90]

Such a revolution. If you weren’t there you don’t realize how revolutionary and life changing this was.

[@alchemest]

I remember watching the first 24 hours of MTV, back in the day.

[@Thetattedcat]

Me too!!!

[@joeb6245]

Looking at the space shuttle. That was when our country was full of pride.

[@scottlarson1548]

Yes, we had poured billions of dollars into an impractical, wasteful and dangerous method of getting into orbit.

[@cjpatriot2923]

And yet we had people lining up to go to the stars anyway. I miss innovation, tenacity and toxic masculinity. It got results.

[@scottlarson1548]

@@cjpatriot2923 By "to the stars" you mean the very very low Earth orbit that the heavy Shuttle could just barely reach that wasn't even high enough to launch most satellites. The guy who's talking to the world on a digital computer connected to a world wide digital network misses "innovation". I don't think you know what that word means because innovation has exploded this century. The times right now are *exactly* what people like me dreamed about during the 1980s.

[@cjpatriot2923]

​@@scottlarson1548we had to crawl before we could walk. Looking back, yes, what we did then was primitive by today's standards as we reminisce on pocket-sized technology that has more computing power than the stuff that put us on the moon. I grew up in a world without smartphones, compact discs, electric vehicles and flat screen TVs. I know what innovation is because I've lived through it. Sadly, much of the country has lost its spark to innovate. We often look to others to create things or entertain us instead of coming up with new ideas of our own.

[@scottlarson1548]

@@cjpatriot2923 The Space Shuttle was in nearly every way a step backwards. Even the Soviets figured that out and abandoned their copy of it when they realized it was ridiculously impractical and useless. We couldn't because we had poured every dollar we had into it and had absolutely nothing else to go into orbit with. That's was a perfect example of how that generation destroyed innovation: it was the Space Shuttle or NOTHING. Funny how you list a series of recent innovations yet claim we're no longer innovating! I feel you have absolutely no clue how much innovation is really taking place in our country every single year. I see tremendous innovation in my industry and among my coworkers. Perhaps it's being crushed in your field.

[@tryscience]

How awesome that Pat Benatar, looking dynamite, was belting out those vocals right at the beginning!

[@Xandil]

I forgot just how good she was. I sure miss the '80s, what a great time. It wasn't the easiest, but compared to today it was heaven.

[@tryscience]

@@Xandil for certain. Reagan would have rolled over in his grave if he knew his party supported insurrectionists.

[@akulkis]

She would have looked 100x better if she hadn't got all her hair chopped off like she was in the army.

[@shawndavidallen]

@@akulkis??? She looks fantastic in this video short hair and all.

[@akulkis]

@@shawndavidallen Are you saying that she could not possibly look more attractive as a woman if she had a feminine haircut, or are you a homosexual?

[@stevenrn6640]

I still remember this. Back when MTV was about great music with amazing videos.

[@ronniepirtlejr2606]

The first time I seen MTV I was 12 years old in 1982. I told my mother I thought that they were having a special about the moon landing. Then the music started😎

[@jamesgallagher1992]

🤭nice🤘🤘

[@logansummers1551]

The first time you SAW. You're 80 years old. Learn English.

[@SODASTROgaming]

Loganberry apparently works for the word police lol, if you could grow up that would help, thanks Logangrene xx

[@rex-racer]

We didn’t get cable until a few years later, so we had to live vicariously through the poor man’s MTV, which was Friday Night Videos (1983-87) on NBC. Later in college, I remember every lounge in every dorm had their TV’s on all the time to MTV, even if no one was in the room. It just ran all the time, and we all thought, “Of course, what else would it be on?” You could just go in there and chill, do your homework in the corner, talk to a floormate, or just do whatever and leave whenever. Talk about a cultural touchstone, MTV was such a simple concept, but so revolutionary and so accepted at the same time. Plus, it didn’t talk down. It was very straightforward/matter-of-fact. There aren’t too many of those kinds of things. All of that contributed to its success. And the first 5 VJs (Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, J.J. Jackson, Martha Quinn, and Alan Hunter) and Kurt Loder doing MTV news-all are legends in a way, at least to a generation of us who remember. Thanks for the upload!

[@Kaemea]

Oh man, Friday Night Videos! We weren't allowed to stay up so we'd record the show every Friday. I didn't have MTV until I moved out in 92! LOL Oh the memories, the first time I saw Hungry Like the Wolf and fell in love with the Fab Five. ::happy sigh sounds::

[@chiaralistica]

MTV and their Rock the Vote campaign definitely changed the outcome of the '92 presidential election. GenX registered and voted in droves. It's too bad that people seem to have lost that drive...

[@Madbandit77]

​@@chiaralistica That's because nowadays youth gets their information off the Internet and it's not always filtered.

[@jasondashney]

@@chiaralistica I never saw any of that (I didn't have MTV in the early days) but I am going to go way out on a limb and guess that they were hinting that you should vote left leaning. I'm actually against most entities encouraging people to vote because I've never ever heard a single one of them ever tell you that it's important to research every candidate and every party so you can make your own informed decision. They just tell you that the important part is actually voting. I disagree, and I never see that message come out of anyone who you're not pretty damn sure you know which way they would vote anyway.

[@chiaralistica]

@@jasondashney I tell people to register and vote all the time. I also stress that they should research and make their own choice and not vote for a candidate because someone tells you to. I'll never tell you who to vote for. I also advise folks to pay attention to the other candidates as you want to know what you're getting if one of them wins. If someone recommends a particular candidate to me, I promise nothing, but I will do my research. Too many these days are sheeple who don't use their head for anything more than wearing a hat. What a shame.

[@tshandy1]

What memories. I was there. A teenager struck by the marvel of it.

[@jameshancock7285]

I lived out in the country. We didn't have cable. Dad finally bought a satellite dish, and I was able to watch. I discovered MTV, at a friend's house. Journey came on, and i was hooked. At least it lasted through the 80s, before going into the crapper. VH1 was also a good channel.

[@xahn8]

My father gave MTV to me for Christmas. He woke up at 2am and was wondering why there were six people friends in the living room. It was like color tv. God bless all!

[@bigvrocks2480]

funny...

[@blackicestudios]

1. This is the best comment thread on KZbin. 2. I live in the Caribbean and didn’t get MTV till 1984 if I recall correctly. Talk about good times. Hiding, staying up all night watching videos. Pop culture world wide absolutely exploded.

[@MrDB42]

I thought I would never ever see this again. I was in 7th grade, and I couldn't sleep one night, and I was channel surfing and stumbled across this live. I was totally blown away by this. Stayed up all night watching till it was cut off. Told my family and friends about it the next day and no one believed me. I kept trying to find it again every night. But apparently this slipped in on my cable provider, but they eventually blocked it. I believe it may have been "to racy" for where I was living at the time. Fortunately, we moved not long after, and that cable provider had it. I lived for MTV in my teen age years.

[@jasondashney]

Buddy opened it by saying that they hit their music producer on her head with a bottle of champagne. These days that would be a controversial statement, accused of promoting violence against women, ha ha.

[@tjh4619]

Amazing, after all these years, I still remember how good it used to be and watch how bad it became.

[@tedgegi155]

What a revolution this channel started. Miss those days.......

[@paulklassert7914]

And we never looked at music the same way again...😊

[@rongreen8962]

We started looking more than listening. That’s the real shift, and not really a good one.

[@jerrylive365]

I watched this unfold from day 1. Can't describe how many things I missed out on cause I had to watch MTV 24/7. It wasn't just the videos. The VJ's talking about the music/artist were the coolest people you could ask for. Pure lightning in a bottle that will never be replicated.

[@michealsullivan4205]

Time to go to sleep,...just one more video.😩

[@mikewazowski350]

I'd like to go back and live this all over again. My life from 1979 to 1989 was the best of times. I wouldn't miss any of the Internet, cell phones, KZbin or 24hr news crap. Today people are saturated with too much input, too much instant gratification.

[@christschool]

This changed rock and roll forever, introduced the US teen to music they'd never heard before coming out of the UK and Australia and we LOVED it.

[@jeanlawley6483]

Music out of Australia ... what music was that then ... I mean obviously the UK has produced the best music in the world for the last 60 years, but Australia ?

[@scottlarson1548]

Actually hardly anyone had MTV on their cable systems for the first two years of the network. This was before most systems were capable of carrying dozens of channels. Most cable companies felt it would have been a waste of a channel slot and passed on it.

[@scottswagman1472]

@@jeanlawley6483 “Crowded House” “INXS” “Men at Work” “Air Supply” how about “Rick Springfield”? “Little River Band” “Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds” how about “Olivia Newton John”?

[@woreoutdrummer1861]

@@scottswagman1472 And the relatively unknown AC/DC 😉

[@fp5495]

THANK YOU for reminding me to be happy that I'm part of the forgotten-about Gen-X. Continue to let us bask in our own spotlight unnoticed by the rest of the society. We're just fine, thanks. PS: Mark Goodman is still a stud at 73.

[@teresabenson3385]

My older brother was 23 and was working as a cable TV installer. They gave him an official MTV T-shirt right as it launched. I was so jealous!

[@dalejohns2758]

I was 22 years old and had 15 friends over to my house to watch the first MTV. 20-inch Console TV! Living large! Hahahaha

[@Scott-pe6te]

Where I live, the cable has a channel, MTV 80’s, that plays 24 hour, non-stop videos from the 80’s. Watching this is like being sent back there in an amazing tine time machine.

[@keithdickinson6045]

The Superman II trailer was a true blast from the past. I loved that movie when I was a kid. Thanks for posting this.

[@commandercaptain4664]

I don’t get it. That movie was released in 1980. Was it still in theaters a year later? Suck on that Hollywood!

[@keithdickinson6045]

@@commandercaptain4664 According to wikipedia, it was released in the U.S. on June 19th, 1981.

[@seanpeterson2296]

Bring MTV back. The real MTV.

[@bluesbros0289]

Do you really want to watch the crap they call music now? Some things can never be brought back and should be allowed to be part of history.

[@duskobabic4285]

@@bluesbros0289 Yeah. And my parents told me in the 80s, "stop listening to that crap from music." Life goes on whether we like it or not.

[@josephr4761]

MTV Classic channel is available in some areas. They mostly play music videos.

[@Mike14G]

Pat Benatar was, is and will always be beautiful to this guy!! Holy moly was she ever!

[@DaveMiller2]

She sure was.

[@DocSportello1970]

For me, It goes Debbie Harry #1, Benatar at #2 and Stevie Nicks rounding out the Top 3!

[@DaveMiller2]

@@DocSportello1970 Pat was a looker for sure, and so were Debbie and Stevie. I'm going with Nancy Wilson, Marie Fredriksson, and Joan Jett. Competition is fierce though with all the beauties from the 80s.

[@mmp6042]

Indeed and an incredible voice as well.

[@kr4703]

She was my first concert of many to come.

[@fantasmaformaggino76]

This was the most exciting thing EVER if you were young then

[@skims2011]

MTV was great back in the 80’s. MTV 1989 Spring Break Daytona Florida Cheap Trick Vixen and the Fixx played in concert on the beach. Absolutely best time ever

[@akakjb]

I remember this like it was yesterday. I'm glad someone recorded the event. Truly a historic moment. I hope it doesn't get yanked because of the music.

[@allen-rp3gm]

That doesn't look like an off-the-air recording. Most likely it's from a 3/4" U-matic TV station copy.

[@akakjb]

@@allen-rp3gm More likely off the downlink or an "air check" of the signal going out to customers from the local cable provider. I've come across a number of interesting things that were recorded that way and just forgotten in the tape library. Locals would keep footage like this to cut sales promos.

[@shoeshane6494]

The first video I ever saw on Mtv was " Once in a Lifetime" by The Talking Heads.i remember listening to this unique song and watching a sweaty, manic David Byrne dance about like he's having some kind of fit. It blew my mind, and even though I was just a little kid, I realized that popular music was changing, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

[@ottolassiter2132]

That song and video was my introduction to the genius that is David Byrne. Today, no matter where I am or what I am doing, when I hear that song, I have to do the arm chop thing...

[@shoeshane6494]

@ottolassiter2132 ...haha. Me too! "Same as it ever was."

[@dougsyms]

I remember when mtv played music videos and band interviews, not total crap they play now and vh-1 also .

[@MultiTimelady]

Vh1 was sort of a replacement for MTV .when MTV changed formats

[@f.frederickskitty2910]

The MTV tune is something every kid that grew up in the 80's can recognize. I recently played it for my son (born February 1994): he had no idea what it was.

[@proto-geek248]

How could he, Fat Freddie?

[@chiaralistica]

GenX owns MTV, at least in the original sense...

[@AllRequired]

Another history lesson for him.

[@AlansPhoto2]

I remember when MTV started is was so good ❤❤❤

[@RoySATX]

As a seventeen-year-old, newly minted young adult at the time, watching this live was an experience only others of my cohort can understand. What a time to be young, what an era to be alive. Life so far has been a trip, and it truly is and has been my honor to be sharing the cab fare with all of you! Well, most of you anyway! So, until the next drop off please remain facing forward and remember, no parking on the dance floor.

[@alenahawke475]

Thanks for the memories! The 80's were the best!❤

[@Andres64B]

I had such a crush on Pat Benatar back in the day.

[@jvsmith7888]

I remember that commercial that showed the spaceship launch and said something like "On August 1st, 1981, MTV went on the air for the last time" then they ended the commercial saying something like "MTV, Music Television, broadcasting now until the sun burns out." It was just one more lie, there is no more "Music Television!" Can't help but feel sad!

[@srellison561]

With KZbin, we don't really need MTV as it was anymore. Although I did like being surprised by the programming. There were some great back-to-back videos that just blended together so seamlessly.

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

I was there for the beginning, and fell in love the moment Martha Quinn came on.

[@JoeHellerOfficial]

I recorded the first 6 hours of MTV on VHS Tape 😁 I played it quite a bit in my dorm room. Thanks for sharing!!

[@ComdrStew]

I remember sitting in the floor watching MTV starting up, I was 8 years old and turned 9 the next month. Music was a huge deal back then and this made it even bigger. I really think MTV made the looks of the 1980's. You were able to see your favorite artist visually for the first time.