Money for Nothing - Dire Straits | College Students FIRST TIME REACTION!

[@andyandalex]

Dove into the lyrics off camera and love the meaning of the track!! What’s the next Dire Straits song we gotta check out?!?! Let us know! Cheers! 🔥🤟🏻

[@manhattenman2314]

Tunnel of Love Is a banger it’s my favourite song by them

[@geol1936]

MTV and radio had to edit out some lyrics at the beginning. Great song and review. It does go on too long - correct, Alex.

[@GuinsWIN1]

So Far Away From Me

[@peck404]

This was "okay" lol..but I just remember the preppy & the jocks listening to this in school 🎶🎶🎶

[@KennethStCyr-dv6cm]

RIde across the river off this same album

[@TheClairem75]

You know you’re old when you remember MTV used to only play music videos...

[@RichardM740]

While it was playing, I was flashing back to days of playing MTV while getting ready for work because it really was a replacement for radio at the time. Video really did kill the radio star, for a while anyway....

[@paulbaetz9226]

I remember calling Elvis on MTV

[@MattSingh1]

Claire Mullins yes, you're very old.

[@tric5122]

you know your old when all the songs you grew up listening to are being youtube'd as "first time hearing". :o

[@HAMLET-h19009]

I’m freakin old

[@vstraylight]

This song was WAAY bigger than Sultans of Swing. It was everywhere. If you were alive in the 80's, you heard this song.

[@susantulleynehus5054]

But I love Sultans of Swing so much. I was a little too young to appreciate Dire Straits but am loving them now.

[@jamess.8223]

I'll agree with this statement but Sultans of Swing is in a class all it's own. Top 20 songs of all time.

[@vstraylight]

No shade on Sultans. Absolutely love it, and is better. I was just saying that this song was freaking everywhere in the 80s. Brothers in Arms was the first tape I owned. The boom box ate it and my mom told me I could have it if I fixed it. We never hung out and listened to their self-titled album.

[@budmiller807]

Doesn't mean it was better

[@CorePathway]

That drop.,.

[@ClavisRa]

Little known fact: there are some songs from the 80s that are still on repeat fade out and have never ended.

[@1rosconho]

No doubt on that!

[@gman7495]

LOL!!! So true!!!

[@iciajay6891]

We hear this all the time on all classic Rock radio stations in Canada.

[@thrusta100]

Album version...

[@dopiaza2006]

Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird being a classic example

[@davideirth]

The "other guy" is Sting dudes. Another legend.

[@TheBalrogTx]

Which leads to another band they should check out... The Police (almost any song on Synchronicity is a good place to start).

[@jiros00]

@@TheBalrogTx Regatta de Blanc.

[@sfbayareagirl]

Definitely need to jump into The Police. Legends of the 80s.

[@davedrd8829]

sfbayareagirl One of the last Super Groups!!

[@mango4ttwo635]

Very noticeable voice. Their roots may have linked them, Sting comes from the same part of England as Knopfler was brought up in

[@TheClonemenot]

When this song came out I was moving furniture for a living. It immediately became our crew's anthem.

[@LadyIarConnacht]

We were doing carpet and hardware floor installation. We spent a LOT of time in kitchen stores and this song just killed us. It was so funny because every time we went in, the crew was hanging around in the back watching MTV.

[@sprontos]

I humped stick!

[@bethmerryfield7186]

Omygod, that's funny as hell.

[@bethmerryfield7186]

@@LadyIarConnacht the synergistic time of this song and your job! Incredible

[@Mikevdog]

Cool

[@BigBadWolf1st]

Possibly one the most memorable guitar riffs of all time...

[@sprudel8878]

Possibly the best song "intro" ever made

[@jamessweet5341]

@@sprudel8878 The only thing even close was "Foreplay/Long Time".

[@Jayledez]

​@sprudel it's not even close there's plenty of other intros that far outrank this.

[@AustinG23]

@@Jayledezyea it’s a great intro riff, but best ever? 💀😂

[@dorisquinn2135]

The drum intro was the best.

[@FullFathomV]

Alex: "I don't like the '80s" Me: "You don't know the '80s"

[@CrochetCrochetJoyJoy]

YAS HELLO THIS COMMENT

[@odurandina]

The 80's were fucking epic. btw, guys, don't forget the far more often listened to/heard on radio version was about 5 or 6 minutes. It was cut in such a way that you barely noticed it.

[@staceydimig478]

Totally agree!!!

[@halon7476]

Miss the 80s!

[@SonicProfessor_a.k.a._T._Andra]

Boo-yahhhhh!!!!!! 🤘🤘

[@neilj6322]

That intro is sick, possibly the coolest of all time

[@captainsar]

Hells bells

[@yoelcapoful]

The best guitar intro ever

[@NondescriptMammal]

Sting on vocals

[@benjaminodonnell258]

And then that dirty, dirty guitar riff comes in! Musicgasm

[@ndundu14]

Giving 'cant you hear me knocking' a competition

[@kevinpolito1529]

This song sold SO many car subwoofers. Every car stereo store had Money for Nothing cued up. I had my sub crossed over at 250 Hz to really pump the mid-bass, and the beginning snare and tom-tom would send chills up your spine.

[@aerythus]

My experience. 1000 on the sub, 100 each to the mids and tweeters.

[@mc76]

Background: Knopfler caught a lot of flak for some of the lyrics. Most people didn't realize that he was writing from the perspective of the delivery guy.

[@SoaringTrumpet]

Well he still the f word, that ain't gonna fly today.

[@shortstuff780]

@@SoaringTrumpet yes, because apparently that's what people thought of rock stars then. The working class were and still are prejudice against those who they believe do not work as hard as them yet makes more. In this case, we know musicians are paid will, rightfully, but he encountered someone who didn't, and wrote the song as such. Also the word Faggot didn't have the negative connotation that it now has, the British used it to lable people they didn't like, just like we Americans call others morons or idols, or...Boomers. same thing.

[@thetranya3589]

@@shortstuff780 You proclaim that like someone who wasn't around at that time. It very much had a negative connotation. It was completely derogatory, and maybe the most derogatory name you could call a straight guy. You called your friend a moron, and you called someone you wanted to fight a f'n f.

[@atallguynh]

@@thetranya3589 Seconded. It was never ok, but like the "n-word", at various times and in various places, a lot of people shrugged it off when it shouldn't have been.

[@adamgfleming5397]

I spent seven years in furniture delivery. I think the biggest irony is that they must have made a huge pile of money on this song, maybe more radio play than any of their other songs. He really does capture the sentiment, which isn't completely antagonistic against the musicians, it's a mix of disgust and awe, so the writing captures both of those contrasting feelings in the same song. Like, the delivery guy is saying, hey, it sucks you make so much money playing music when I'm sweating it out in a truck, and also, I wish I was that guy, all at the same time. As to using the f word, if you watch later videos of the band playing this song live, they don't use it. I've seen videos on KZbin where they replace it with "queenie" and other alternatives. I would love to see a video interview where the writers talk about where they got the ideas for this. It's a fascinating piece of lyrical writing on top of one of the best rock riffs ever, by any band. I've heard this song hundreds of times since 1985 when I was 11. It never gets old.

[@yohannbiimu]

This song is one of my all-time favorites. The premise, writing, execution, and getting Sting to do back-up vocals makes it just a great, great song.

[@jenx4115]

Thank you, I'm 2 years too late to mention it. Then I realized the younger people wouldn't recognize his voice anyway.

[@CorePathway]

And that video…

[@willkittwk]

Sting really didn't do much to make this other than put in a name drop to help promote it. Let's keep it 💯✔

[@willkittwk]

If it was Sting or Sammy Davis Jr or whoever sayin I love my MTV and blending back up didnt do a dam thing for the quality.

[@yohannbiimu]

@@willkittwk That's your opinion. Mark Knopfler would beg to differ.

[@doughaslehurst5108]

Mark was in an appliance store in the US and all the TVs were turned to MTV, one of the stores delivery men was moaning all the time, Mark was hiding trying to write down everything he was saying and managed to write a song about it.

[@lisakaz35]

Very believable. I know for sure working men like that in the 80s said things like that. Mark is basically like Eminem writing "Stan."

[@markcourson3151]

great story!

[@Byte187]

Once upon a time, MTV used to actually be "Music Television," they used to play music videos all day, and this song/video came out at the height of MTVs popularity. And remember, we didn't have anything like youtube back then. MTV was it.

[@cl8onj388]

@Bill Mullins I was gonna say the same thing, then I scrolled down and saw your comment. Well said.

[@mneilan123456]

This song came out when the whole of Europe first got mtv Mtv was in America since 1980/81 but only came to Europe in 85 and this was the first video on it - maybe that’s why it has mtv mentions in it

[@warrenrobertsen2724]

I was there for the first season of The Real World...

[@peterhineinlegen4672]

They mentioned how catchy the song is, and they're right. MTV played the shit out of it, but I never really got tired of it. Even now it's a fun song to hear.

[@maryannanderson1744]

Yes!!

[@NativeNYerChicHK]

The guy singing background “I want my MTV” is Sting, the lead singer from The Police.

[@tonyb9735]

The Police were a bloody great band.

[@andrewsweet5186]

Also he's singing that in the tune of one of his songs, Don't Stand so Close to me. Don't stand/don't stand/don't stand so close to me. Is changed to, I want my I want my I want me MTV.

[@kellypowell1483]

I saw them years ago on the shoulders of my then tall boyfriend! I had the best view!

[@jasonmcdaniel345]

Which is another band they need to do some reactions to.

[@watchth1ngs]

well - you learn something new every day!

[@lauranoyes715]

I was totally expecting you guys to play the sensored version. Glad you balled up.

[@waynemarvin5661]

"Sensored"? Too many illiterates in the comment section.

[@theproceedings4050]

Nah I sensed everything fine.

[@TheFresnan22]

I mean the sensored version is absolutely necessary. However, the sensored version takes out the best part.

[@NoYoutubeName1]

@@waynemarvin5661 I know. It’s just plain censeless.

[@chadluke5454]

@@TheFresnan22 Why "necessary".

[@paulwilliams819]

You guys really need to have bobbleheads of your selves made.

[@Nobjan]

That's excellent advice.

[@RareHarmony]

YeS!!!

[@billntpa]

Love it. LOL

[@sventharfatman]

gotta have the eyes closed though

[@Keyser_Soze739]

Paul Williams you ‘ean... we aren’t looking at those???

[@armadillotoe]

The story was Knoppler was in a store ordering appliances, and overheard the delivery guys talking. LOL. He wrote this song and made more "money for nothing." There was a time when cable companies were attempting to ban MTV. MTV responded by tell your cable provider "You want your MTV. I hope you guys have a merry Christmas, and New Years! Thanks for your reactions.

[@surfeit5910]

There was also a time where the "M" stood for Music...

[@Galeryn218]

Lol interesting story, thanks for sharing

[@BlackieNuff]

@ Surfeit Right? Canada's answer to MTV was "MuchMusic", but now they dropped the "Music" - both in the programming and in the name - and now it's just "Much" and it just does sitcoms and reality TV and other stupid crap you can get on a dozen other channels. Remember when History channel has historical documentaries on things like World Wars and Revolutions and countless historical figures and whatnot? Remember when Discovery channel was all about science and nature and space exploration and other cool educational stuff? Now it's all the same crap no matter what the channel... shit-coms, retardity TV, and propaganda of some form or another.

[@BlackieNuff]

Back story always makes any song way more cool.

[@AlanDeWitt]

Also, the “color TVs” sounds weird now, but they used to be super bulky and heavy. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@IanHillan]

Backing vocals by Sting. :) And one of the best, most original, catchy and deceptively hard to play riffs of all time.

[@georgefoshee6047]

I'm 62 old, heard this song first day it hit the radio. So how you young fellas like grandpa's music?

[@Girruuth]

My favorite Dire Straits song is Romeo and Juliet. not exactly a banger, but a ballad. and a beautiful song

[@gavindenton6821]

Im with you then private investigations

[@aprilsky1666]

Mine too Romeo & Juliet

[@FateOfPraedyth]

@@gavindenton6821 "This is my investigation. It's not a public inquiry."

[@merthur88]

mine as well. the guy can write a love song

[@professor.moriarty9803]

Mine's telegraph road, the feelings that comes up from deep down, all those you've been through plus the tone just makes u cry with smiling

[@m2c_tave689]

You all don't know this was a MONSTER, MONSTER, MONSTER!!! hit for them. This song ran MTV for about 4 months. Especially since they sang about MTV in the song.

[@CorePathway]

The video was amaze-ballz back in the day.

[@BlackieNuff]

"I want my... I want my MTV..." I wonder if younger generations have any idea what that even means? :-D

[@maryannanderson1744]

NO NOPE NAH!

[@BlackieNuff]

@ Mary Ann Anderson I was afraid of that. What a sad state of affairs this world is in now, eh? :-P

[@crazy224488]

@@BlackieNuff How's that sad, at all? You know, besides your nostalgia.

[@melissacurtis7216]

@@BlackieNuff I agree. The younger generation has no idea what real musical talent is, 60s and 70s music is the greatest rock and roll of all time.

[@melissacurtis7216]

That's why Andy and Alex are the best reaction channel on KZbin. They know talent.

[@murraypft]

The higher pitched singer is Sting (from The Police.) "Walk of Life" is another great song.

[@kcrossleKMC]

I was going to suggest that - for a complete change of pace. A very versatile band with deep stuff and fun stuff.

[@petergreen2552]

No it's not. Ruined by a million pub rock bands. Take my word for it

[@johnpouw3352]

Wow I had never realised that, awesome!

[@josephbanet5410]

Pat Murray Money For Nothing, Walk of Life, and So Far Away are like the highlights of this album for me. Brothers In Arms is one of my top 5 albums of all time.

[@murraypft]

Still my fav DS album is "Making Movies."

[@joseluisparrenomartinez6545]

Guys...it is so long because it was the album version, not the single version. This was a SUPER HIT back then, a song everybody used to sing. People were amazed at it. The voice in the back belongs to Sting, another legend.

[@nocteexmortis979]

So, Dire Straits doesn’t really have a song I’d consider a banger from a ‘rocks your socks off’ perspective, but Mark Knopfler is hands down one of the best guitarists you’re going to hear from a technical and skill standpoint. They are firmly a groove type of rock. Smooth, easy, and incredible.

[@armadillotoe]

The guitar playing was always tasty and could range from a Stratocaster to dobro.

[@Veggamattic]

WHAT...how about Telegraph Road. TOTAL BANGER DELUXE!

[@nocteexmortis979]

Telegraph Road is an absolutely amazing, beautiful, stunning song. It’s one every person should listen to at least once, but it’s not a banger. It doesn’t blow you away with a wall of sound or speed or aggression. It seduces your socks off with its beauty and smoothness. It’s like the anti-banger in that you’re too emotionally drained and at peace after it’s over to want to do anything.

[@Veggamattic]

@@nocteexmortis979 We clearly differ on the definition of "Banger".

[@nocteexmortis979]

Todd Kelly more than likely. I’m more in the camp of ‘bangers’ being high emotion, adrenaline rush, head banging, go out and crush the world after the song’s over. I love my other types of songs, too, but from my perspective they’re not bangers, they’re their own thing.

[@risecarter]

Sting was one of those guys singing! This takes me back to the time when MTV was about music and videos.

[@anthonyyoutubefan7567]

He opens the song intro with that "I Want My MTV!" chant. Throughout the rest of the song, It's basically a duet vocal with Knoppler...one of the best, IMO.

[@5speedMax]

I remember when these dudes broke on the scene. The most unbelievably cool sound and feel. So innovative. Love them still. They became the sound of the late 70's early 80's. How I wish us old phucks can go back and relive certain periods in time.

[@matthewdrake4385]

That is Sting from the Police doing the “I want my MTV” line you should check that band out. New wave meets elements of reggae, jazz and pop. Every breathe you take and Roxanne are two worth checking out.

[@schmittelt]

and it should be added that Sting is singing the same vocal melody as "Don't Stand So Close to Me."

[@matthewdrake4385]

Good ear didn’t notice that

[@lisaw5604]

Agree! Love Sting/Police and your suggestions. That voice is golden.

[@robertcartier5088]

@@schmittelt Wow, Dude! I knew it was Sting, but never realized he was singing the same melody! Good catch!

[@kickhul710]

And Roxanne live aid

[@chuckconner3694]

Totally agree on the length of the full song, but there was a radio edit that was played into the ground.

[@richrogers299]

This song WAS bigger than Sultans of Swing. And got tons of airplay. In fact the sad thing about it is because of this song people think Dire Straits put out only two albums, and they ignore great albums like Making Movies, Private Investigations, and On Every Street. This song is still played on classic rock radio ad nauseum.

[@burstcity3832]

Private investigations is one of my all time favourite tracks..superb!

[@bustergoldenrod]

Sting scored himself a co-write credit, he sang “I want my MTV” to the tune of his own Don’t Stand So Close To Me (w/ The Police). He knew a hit when he heard one.

[@ImpartiallySpeaking]

It was very much Mark who hunted Sting down for a collaboration

[@tigervv6437]

@@ImpartiallySpeaking They just happened to be on Montserrat at the same time. Mark asked Sting to listen to the new song and when Sting heard the song Mark told him he should sing a few lines if he liked it. That is what Mark Knopfler said in an interview I saw once.

[@Mikex973]

I would vote for Brothers In Arms as the next Dire Straits song.

[@charlestwisted9890]

Absolutely. Knopfler at his emotive best on the guitar.

[@JoeHansson]

I agree. We wanna brothers on arms

[@Tralman1965]

A great song!

[@basscom77]

100% this. Great emotional playing and overall sentiment in the lyrics.

[@Divedown_25]

With you there. But also there are..... many!!!

[@stephencoan79]

You know you're old when someone says they've never heard Money For Nothing before. This was the biggest song in the world back in the day.

[@patriottex4813]

My favorite Dire Straits song is 11-12 minutes long. It's called Telegraph Road. Great lyrics great guitar, great jamming. It has the kind of melancholic vibe of Dust in the Wind, but with more force. It's on the Love Over Gold album.

[@tonyb9735]

It's a great track but it's not even the best track on the album, "It Never Rains" is even better for me.

[@patriottex4813]

@@tonyb9735 as a history buff and fan of epic jams, I prefer Telegraph Road. It's Dire Straits it's hard not to like what they do.

[@tonyb9735]

@@patriottex4813 Agree with the last. Telegraph Road is a beautifully crafted song, no doubt, but the way It Never Rains builds with each verse into a wonderful crescendo of anger, bitterness and disappointment is amazing. I think it is Knopfler's finest guitar work.

[@melissayost4888]

YES! YES! YES!

[@melissayost4888]

Shawn Blakeley In F credible album! My fave.

[@lvthud]

Andy and Alex "it's 2 1/2 minutes to long" Telegraph Road live "Hold my beer"

[@andyandalex]

@dave smith Long song are awesome if they keep it interesting, does Telegraph Road keep it interesting? We were gonna check out that live version next, wanna see what they got

[@lvthud]

@@andyandalex I would say it does, it's a long story being played out in song with some amazing guitar solos.

[@svst208]

Andy & Alex telegraph road keeps it interesting, i can assure you

[@danhobson2879]

Telegraph Road has really 3 verses in the song. The song starts out slow but builds upon itself by changing tempos a couple times. 10 minutes of it is just a jam session where the guys show how well they play together. And the lyrics tell the story of the rise and fall of Detroit's Manufacture Industry. This is not a song that is a drive song persay but it is a song that changes moods on its own.

[@ilivemylifeforthestarsthat3140]

dave smith hahaha! 🤣

[@FoardenotFord]

Arguably one of the greatest drops in rock history is when that guitar riff hits - legendary. Also, the song is a satirical look at how common people view rock stars, so the “f bomb” is not intended as an anti-gay slur. Sadly, that explanation is not good enough for a lot of people today, so I find myself steering away from including this on party playlists and the like. Would love to hear you guys react to “Telegraph Road” - it’s long af but tells a beautiful story with both music and lyrics. Other Dire Straits essentials (that you guys haven’t already done): “Tunnel of Love”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Walk of Life”, “Skateaway”,“Wild West End”, “Lady Writer”, “Calling Elvis”

[@yohannbiimu]

The backstory to this song is so perfect. It's the best part of it.

[@patriottex4813]

You've got to get over your hatred of the 80's, you're denying yourself a ton of great music!

[@kimberlinibambini1968]

For real!!! Agreed!

[@polopala]

Still they're a 70's band

[@patriottex4813]

@@polopala technically yes, but their biggest hits are from the 80s

[@polopala]

Except for sultans of swing

[@polopala]

@Nature and Physics so? They did 2 in the 70's ... Just accept it's a 70' band

[@MrJpzum]

The guitar work is face melting. And the music video was something transcendent.

[@dhaisley]

This song was a tribute to the stupidity of people only liking music if it had a video.

[@odurandina]

Guys, don't forget the far more often listened to/heard on radio version was about 5 or 6 minutes. It was cut in such a way that you barely noticed it.

[@quentinmichel7581]

And yet it was also famous for HAVING a great video on MTV. Hmmm AND as I recall at the time (1985) it was massively popular due to the cutting edge video, as well as the music. I believe even more popular than "Sultans"

[@user-gt2kl9jr3l]

More too it

[@Sotto_]

The fuller story behind this song was Mark Knopfler was in a music /stereo shop in front of a bank of TVs all playing a rock video. He overheard employees complaining about the music and band. They obviously resented the success of the musicians, and Knopfler took note, and later wrote the song. I've often wondered if those then stereo store employees ever made the connection later when they heard the song? 😉

[@christhornycroft3686]

Explains why Toto wasn't one of the biggest bands of the 80s. Damn MTV. If you're not a pretty boy, you're hooped.

[@bjcee8186]

Having grown up in the 70's and 80's, I disagree. The the length was just fine. We loved it.

[@JK-hq4vi]

Definitely more fun with the video.

[@Statinthehat]

Also, there's such a thing as radio edits.

[@devonaz]

Love you guys. I'm 65 years old and enjoy watching you discover music that came before. I've seen such an arch of music ( as you will) and have an appreciation of 80's music as an exploration of new ways to create and communicate. This song is about salesmen in an appliance store standing around watching MTV back in the day when they played music videos.

[@BlazinRiver1]

I graduated in 1976.....I remember when there was only a handful of vids on MTV that played all day...first time seeing some of the bands.

[@MikeBurkard]

Mark Knopfler is such an underrated guitar player... he is a beast!

[@tonyb9735]

lol Mark Knopfler is not underrated; he is almost universally recognised as one of the all time great guitar players!

[@emreatay6096]

Agree with Tony. Mark Knopfler is anything but underrated. He is one of the most well-known and widely recognised rock legends.

[@zeroceiling]

Those who know “anything” about guitar often have Mark in the top 5 players of all time....his pick less strumming is totally unique and expressive as all hell..

[@benghiskahn3673]

Really? Anyone with even a basic appreciation of the instrument recognises that Knopfler sits on one of the top rungs of the ladder.

[@paulhagger3895]

Underrated? One of the most admired and revered guitarists of all time.

[@brandonstarr983]

Sting is so much fun as the second voice in this song.

[@karolyn8644]

Sting even came onstage to sing this with the band when they performed it at Live Aid.

[@briarpatch720]

the true genius of this song was the video and marketing. Right when MTV was becoming popular, put out a song with lyrics "I want my mtv" and a really cool state of the art cartoon video, guaranteeing your song is played all day every day

[@amarshall2896]

I was born in 82. This is the first song I can remember, I was like 3 lol. It was all over mtv when I was a kid. I never understood why he was talking about moving stuff but it still jammed. Didn’t know a person who didn’t like this song. Also, I love the genuine reaction from you guys just vining to it instead of the pauses every 10 seconds. Great job 💪🏼🍻

[@odemusvonkilhausen]

Do "So Far Away". It's an underrated banger from Dire Straits.

[@svst208]

true

[@michaelschelonka7175]

"Underrated" *has 78 Million views*

[@hannyhawkins7804]

Fantastic song

[@janeelsner]

yes

[@blah7918]

Sting on backing vocals compliments this song so brilliantly

[@LeoxandarMagnus]

Too long? It ain’t long enough.

[@matthalo89]

That’s what I said! If you have something awesome like that why stop? If the girl of your dreams is riding you and after you’re done she looks at you and asks how it was you don’t look at her and say, “Babe, you were great, but you spent 2 minutes too long. You were a 9.6.” Wtf is that?! If it’s good, fun, wholesome and puts a damn smile on your face then keep it going. Sex and classic rock are the epitome of this.

[@EShum]

haha I keep coming back to it so kinda agree

[@tarteampion8039]

As a teenager I couldn't stop to listen endlessly....

[@BennoWitter]

Yep. This is not a long Dire Straits song by any stretch of the imagination.

[@WMalven]

This song came from the comments Mark Knopfler overheard in a large department store. A floor salesman was standing near the televisions and spouting off about the musicians in the videos on MTV. Knopfler said he sort of hid behind a row of electronics and wrote down the guy's comments. The lyrics literally come from the guys comments. Try "Ride Across the River," "Tunnel of Love," or "Telegraph Road."

[@LadyIarConnacht]

Those lyrics really cracked me and the hubs up - we were very young then - because every damned time we went into the mall or an appliance store the entire sales force was in the back by the "TV wall," watching MTV and not waiting on the customers.

[@jengoodwyn2715]

I love that story!!

[@alasandraorali6798]

You should try Warren Zevon and "Werewolves of London" very similar sound.

[@Skeezer66]

You should try ANY Warren Zevon!!

[@bigpapi2658]

Back when getting offended was hard to do. I would never in my wildest dreams though the generation raised on South Park and Family Guy would grow up to get so offended by everything.

[@MegaHatLady]

Big Papi Lol, sooo true.

[@justmeeagainn]

Big Papi The lyric was meant to be offensive. That was the point. Someone would be right to get offended by this because it was there to show what a bigot would say. Now go listen to Short People.

[@coolworx]

@@justmeeagainn Dude that's the point. No one gets satire anymore. And everyone is pretending to be put upon, when all of us are spoiled brats in the larger scheme.

[@Gutslinger]

@@justmeeagainn It was there to show what a bigot would say? That doesn't sound like a reason for someone having the right for being offended by it. Sounds like the opposite, actually. Lol Since it's hypothetical.

[@jonm1114]

@justmeeagainn Seriously, I don't think this was meant to illustrate what a bigot would say. Times change, attitudes change, language changes. Having grown up in the 60s and 70s, I can tell you that, as brutally offensive as it sounds now, calling a guy on MTV a "little f*****t" would have been nothing more than a throwaway insult about a guy, perhaps a glam rocker or a hair band member, who had long hair, makeup, tight leather pants, etc. It would not have been intended as a slur against any particular group (aside from rock and roll performers), just a typical reaction from some working class Joe feeling resentful of guys, probably much younger than him, doing what he considered to be a silly and easy job that paid tons of money, as compared to his job of moving heavy appliances around some warehouse. Dire Straits were simply lampooning the kinds of dismissive attitudes and comments that they had probably heard directed at themselves. The word they used in the song did, indeed, start out as a hateful term applied almost exclusively to homosexuals. Over time, it evolved into a derogatory term that was broader in its application and less vicious in its meaning. The 1980s was the era where it had reached that middle ground, and it would not have been unusual to hear that word thrown about rather casually as a reference to members of the younger generation who wore their hair long, wore an earring, etc. It was never a term that was accepted in polite conversation, but it was, at that moment in history, not a term as hateful and vicious as it is now. Since then, the meaning and usage of the term have continued to evolve and it is once again considered a very vicious and hateful slur directed specifically against homosexuals. If you doubt that terms go through such an evolution over time, just look up the origins of the term "sucks" as a generic description for something that is bad. Back in the 1970s, I would have had my mouth washed out with soap if my mother had heard me say that something sucks.

[@edcastillo9342]

Legend has it that Mark Knopfler got the idea and some of the lyrics from hearing a man making deliveries at a New York store that had TV's in the back, all tuned to MTV...You also need to watch the video for Money For Nothing. It was one of the earliest computer animated music videos. It was groundbreaking at the time...You need to try the tunes, So Far Away and Industrial Disease by Dire Straits...

[@pplpilot]

You dont say? Jeeeez.... you lived under a rock all these years?

[@paulr.3220]

Back in the day I had a BOOM BOX that could blow out candles with this song cranked up.

[@ORagnar]

This is a nice song, but it's not of the caliber of the "Sultans of Swing," which is one of the greatest rock songs ever.

[@AudiophileTubes]

EXACTLY! Spot on.

[@61hink]

What I was going to say. This song ages nowhere near as well. Sultans is immortal.

[@chrismead1464]

Skate Away is my favorite Dire Straights song.

[@JH-ij2nm]

James Hinckley this song ages immeasurably better than sultans lol

[@sevadaj]

Do you guys know that Sting was singing the background vocals? Also, you guys should check out the music video for this song, it is pretty cool!!

[@blanetalk]

You guys probably would have liked the radio cut of this better.

[@thebigL33811]

True for the ending, but you need that long intro which is incredible

[@Blackened4everPS3]

Just thinking the same thing. The radio version is better for playing in the car because it doesnt drag out as long, but the intro on this version is much better than the radio one.

[@rubbersole79]

Why?

[@blanetalk]

@@rubbersole79- radio cuts are shorter; in this case, it cures the long run-on ending.

[@cl8onj388]

Blane Mather I disagree. I don't like the radio version of ANY song. MOST radio cuts of songs take out(or mangle them) the guitar solos which on most , is the best part. Love is Like Oxygen by Sweet is a perfect example. Listen to the full version, then the radio version. There's no question which is better. They cut 1/2 the song out. Same thing with Slow Ride by Foghat. Even one of the songs Andy & Alex reacted to was cut. It wasn't much, but the version of Fat Bottom Girls was an abbreviated version. Most of the guitar was cut out at the beginning, and those are my favorite parts.

[@phillsmith9255]

Hi Fella's as a big Dire Straits fan I'd have to say this is their most famous song but not completely typical of their music, I'd say that listening to 'Brother's in Arm's' (the Song off the album of the same name) is a must, songs like 'Telegraph Road', 'Once upon a time in the west', 'Private Investigations', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Tunnel of Love', show the excellence in song writing that underlines Dire Straits. I'd also direct you to the Alchemy Live recordings that are available on KZbin, especially the live version of 'Sultans of Swing', it's what started my love for music at the age of 6.

[@rxlxviii]

This has to be one of their worst songs. It's made to be commercialized rather than sticking to their style of music.

[@nicklewis7652]

I'd go with this. I was about to suggest Private Investigations, Romeo and Juliet and Tunnel of Love myself. In fact, most of the Making Movies LP is pretty good.

[@telegraph2581]

Nick Lewis definitely private investigations, it’s just so different yet very listener friendly at the same time.

[@johnmoonitz2968]

Love this song!! NOT too long . . . It will grow on you . . . The guitar busting in at the beginning . . . Oh MAN!! And Sting singing backup!! This song helped to catapult MTV into the stratosphere! This whole album is awesome!! One of the earliest albums I bought in my youth . . . The video for this is awesome!

[@Mttjs1]

When I was a kid, the song wasn't long enough.

[@alisonmontana8895]

I remember the first time I heard Dire Straights, I loved their sound, and I've noticed that you've had similar critics of them before, but you have to understand, when this music was made, you didn't buy a song, you bought an album, and it was ok if a song was longer as you can see in a lot of the music in the 70's and early 80's, because we played an album, not a song. I think it's kind of an attention deficit problem, because I can assure you, it wasn't a problem then.

[@CaptainAutizmos]

I’m 29 I can’t stand modern music and how short it is . I grew up on skynard dire straights the romantics Howard jones the outfield and other bands of that nature . I agree with you people now days have no attention span. To worried about technology and 30 second clips . All I ever listen to is the oldie they Goldie’s 😂🎉

[@naomiklassen475]

I can't imagine getting tired of hearing Knopfler shred and wanting a song to end. Smh.

[@biohazardshrimp]

I grew up in this era of music and this was always one of my favorites. The music video oddly enough played on MTV multiple times a day ( back when they did those sort of things ) is a work of art.

[@rickcoona8368]

this is the LP "LONG" version not the "Radio Cut"

[@lisakaz35]

Indeed, they needed to screen the version that went with the cartoon video.

[@charleshutton284]

Yeah, these dudes should listen to "K-Tel" albums from the 70's. Now , that was nauseating shortened versions of songs.

[@LoniReeder]

DO check out the music video - it syncs up the track (because THIS VERSION was NEVER played on the radio!) - plus the retro animation in the video is really cool. I too was bored with the long version... but the radio cut is what made the song popular!

[@MrCRayAnderson]

This song was written based on an overhead sales meeting at a department store, almost verbatim, the We've got to move some microwave ovens, etc, literally selling them. Also, Sting is singing the background echos, nice work, he's awesome. Enjoy your reactions!

[@johnhenrymills4517]

Story goes that some appliances were being delivered, and one of the worker said “ that ain’t workin’!”

[@parsrus]

And Sting is singing " I Want My MTV " to the melody of " Don't Stand So Close To Me". The meta makes me ;)

[@gustavhaggendal7492]

Down To The Waterline and Tunnel Of Love would be my recommendations. Both are absolutely fantastic.

[@Veggamattic]

Waterline is a great hidden gem.

[@generoberts9151]

Waterline was suppose to be their first release

[@generoberts9151]

Sultans ended up as the hit. So many better songs. Most from Making Movies. They keep getting the radio pop Dire Straights. I personally love Telegraph Road, Six Blade Knife, Expresso Love,....so many

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

@@generoberts9151 I never like six blade knife to this day for some reason I don't know why I like all the other cuts on the debut album though

[@kennet7837]

The album version of this song is 8:25 minutes long, but the official single edit and promo single edit is just 4:38 and 4:06 min. respectively.

[@Motown-1966]

The official video version was cropped down to 4:00 as well

[@creativitycell]

This Album is a Masterpiece that can only be fully be appreciated listening to the whole album.🙏😎

[@satorimystic]

This song always reminds me of the profound impact and effects that occurred with the coming of the MTV generation, where the power of the music was lifted to a new level ... I want my MTV!!! 😁👍🎸👀

[@jedislap8726]

2019 Version : We Gotta Move These Flatscreen 4K Ultra High Definition 3D TV's.

[@ovingvideo]

You play the guitar on the youtube money for nothing and the chicks for free

[@hansniederer9685]

The main problem with lots of 80s songs is that they had some pretty great videos to go with them. When those of us that were around hear a song that was in the middle of the music video era we can picture the video and it gives the song a hit of metaphorical NOS. It’s very nostalgic so it’s difficult to separate and judge the song on its own merits but if we’re being honest there were an awful lot of duds being propped up by visuals. At least the voices were still real and not auto tuned.

[@chrisbrugma9851]

Agreed Alex, I've always thought it is too long, but remember it was the eighties! Dance club playlist. Guess who the guest vocalist is?

[@mikeclarke1961]

Who is Sting for $1000 Alex?

[@tomneile4025]

Mike Clarke Yeah. It was a good song when released in its shorter version for radio. The lengthened version was, as has been said, for dance clubs. Or discos, as they used to say. Disco nearly killed rock music. Bands had to do this kinda stuff to survive in those vapid, brainless times. Bad rock rose up to fill the vacuum. Bands like Foreigner, Kansas, BTO, REO Speedwagon,Styx. Bands that used rock tropes but added nothing to the genre. Bands that, if you went back in time and subtracted them from existence, it would affect nothing that came after. Even great bands like Yes nearly died out, and had to release an album like 90125 to stay relevant and get played in dance clubs. The dinosaurs didn't survive the asteroid strike of disco. Thanks to the Brits and the grunge thing happening in the Northwest, rock lived again. Thanks to Nirvana etc. So yeah. Your criticism of the 80s is valid. This song is part of the fossil record of that disco cataclysm. Well spotted.

[@davidcalboutin1578]

Dire Straits and Sting performed this at Live Aid, just before Queen I think. Romeo and Juliet is another great song they did. The single version starts with the first guitar rift if memory serves.....

[@MMFrye]

👍 to Romeo and Juliet

[@prideoverfire1]

“Romeo and Juliet,” is absolutely top notch songwriting.

[@nathansnider1438]

This song is how I tested out any new stereo system in the 80's. Great reaction!!!

[@theGoogol]

You listened to the 12" version. The single version is waaaaay shorter :) And you should see the video clip that went with it and keep in mind that that was state of the art computer graphics! edit : I think you'll find that the song makes a lot more sense with the music video. It was basically made for MTV, which was pretty new and as popular then as Netflix is now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYWzY4WLecSWgpI

[@mneilan123456]

fokGoogol the 12 is around 8 minutes but the normal version is 4-5 minutes

[@maryannanderson1744]

For sure! Love the video!!

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

no they listen to the original version from the album it clocks in at 8 minutes and 45 seconds most of the songs on Brothers in arms are long. album. you are mainly used to listening to the 45 radio edit version that doesn't have the grooving and jamming at the end. look up on Wikipedia Brothers in arms original album look at the time of the songs and you will see money for nothing is just over 8 minutes and its original form sir

[@AncientHermit]

Was just thinking; do the characters in that video remind you just a little of anyone at all? ;o) Sorry guys, just messin with ya! LOL ;o)

[@jimnayzium6169]

The original video - for those of us who remember - has been removed. It had Boy George and Robert Plant in the video. I think both artists requested that the video be changed.

[@joethomas7872]

This was during the “British Invasion” era of the 80’s. When MTV was huge in America they wanted to send it over to the UK. When it debuted the first song played on MTV at its debut in the UK was THIS song. Hence “I want my MTV” at the beginning. 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@unrulyjulie4382]

I can never get enough of this song. Love to turn it up as loud as my ears can stand! The guitar work is just epic!

[@andyball8379]

History lesson. This song came out in the olden days when MTV basically played nothing but music videos, 24/7. Not all cable TV providers featured MTV as part of their main line-up, so MTV prodded consumers with the "I want my MTV!" marketing tagline, to demand that providers include their channel. Regarding Your "too long" comments, I'm pretty sure there's a radio version of Money for Nothing that's cut way down.

[@maryannanderson1744]

I knew they'd say that. Ha!!

[@MonicaDBrini]

“The olden days” LOL, I’m old as fuck because I remember! MTV was life!

[@propjoe1060]

Absolutely ridiculous guitar tone. Legendary.

[@dawnpatrol700]

Al Dimeola - "race with the devil on Spanish Highway" will make you forget about Rush for awhile. It's called jazz-fusion and will open you up to world music. Top notch players that are so good, it's amazing the songs maintain time signature, given the complexities

[@gregm17]

dawnpatrol700, you are so right! The live version of Race with Devil on Dimeola’s Tour de Force Live album is a must listen. Dimeola is truly amazing and in a class by himself. The other musicians have to be top notch in order to keep up with him. And they are. Thank you for bringing this up.

[@adambrown2814]

"Custom kitchen delivery, we got to move these refrigerators, got to move these color TVs, Money for nothing, chicks for free!" The beginning of MTV!

[@leeslate2179]

cheques, like how people used to get paid before direct deposit (aka checks).

[@anylife_photography]

Love how you both closed your eyes the whole way through the ecstasy of the intro and really absorbed that shit. The only way to start this song!!! Masterpiece!

[@davidparis4787]

This is the first time that I've ever heard the long version, didn't know it existed. It sounds like you'd like the radio-edit much better!

[@kennywowie]

the Fixx: Saved by Zero, One Thing Leads to Another or even Red Skies at Night.

[@melissayost4888]

Yes! The Fixx!!

[@langlsd1604]

Saw them in Portland Oregon in the 80’s. They were the opening act for the Moody Blues!

[@andrewpetik2034]

OH YEAH!

[@nattymo7835]

Picture yourself in a 70's Firebird or maybe an early 80's Mustang, and around 1:57 you hop onto a long sweeping cloverleaf on-ramp behind a moderate slowpoke, accelerating but not quite as quickly as you'd prefer while the volume is cranked and the music is building to a crescendo. Just as the ramp is ending, you're barely doing 55 and able to move to the passing lane when at 2:20 the keys drop out, that guitar kicks in in all its glory, and you drop the hammer to the floor. By the time the drums start thumping at 2:33 the speedometer shows 110. Ah, memories.

[@brucewatts8447]

This song is based on a conversation that they overheard in an appliance store where two workers were complaining about the bands playing on MTV on a TV set inside the store. They had to deliver the appliances and the guys on TV were making money by playing their guitars. They used the words from the workers in the song.

[@robertcartier5088]

The next song on that album is my favorite... "Your Latest Trick", a sax-driven tale with all the usual suspects: a feeling of loss, betrayal, and the endless drudgery of a dirty city that never really sleeps.

[@michaelmacintyre9643]

Robert Cartier, I’m glad you wrote this, I think “Your Latest Trick” is an absolute gem!

[@jeffreyb6165]

Those lyrics today would invoke the greatest meltdown in Twitter history.....we can only hope! 😆

[@johnchambers5029]

This song was so popular that "Weird Al" Yankovic did a parody entitled Beverly Hillbillies along with a video. It was included in his movie "UHF". Mark Knopfler even reprised his guitar solo for Al's version.

[@Motown-1966]

You knew they'd made it whenever Weird Al did a parody of an artist!

[@mustangdebbie56]

Mark actually insisted he play the guitar. Weird Al's guitarist had already nailed the solo, but Mark ended up recording it differently from the original. This would be a fun drunk reaction to watch the original video then watch Weird Al's.

[@MrAitraining]

Hope you guys try some THIN LIZZY. A very healthy catalog of terrific tracks. They kick ass

[@gustavhaggendal7492]

Amen. Emerald, Don't Believe A Word, Cowboy Song, and so many others. They never had a big following in the US for some reason I'll never know.

[@MrAitraining]

@@gustavhaggendal7492 Yeah man. Let's get a thin lizzy thread going. "Suicide", Johnny the fox", "massacre" "rosalie" "boys are back in town" (for the newbies) is always fun for those who never heard it. TOO many.

[@kathyleigh3590]

Yes!! Cowboy Song!!

[@jamiehennessey7859]

Completely agree maybe dancing in the moonlight for breaking beavis and buuthead in

[@demoneIephant]

Walk of Life is another banger from these!

[@tomt714]

Dire Straits is more of a smooth sounding band for the most part. The Song “skateaway” is one of my favorites! Really great song! Check it out!!

[@rogerdavenport9618]

It stayed a #1 album in the UK for about 4 years, first time I heard it my wife and myself were headed to the beach, at the time it fit the mode for everything that was going on.

[@iciajay6891]

It's always on the radio in Canada. I have loved it since I was a kid.

[@lt3tretrois]

There was a shorter version on the radio. The video was almost completely computer animated, which was brand new at the time. Sting was the biggest star in the world at the time, so his cameo was big. MTV played it in rotation so often because the biggest star in the world was singing “I want my MTV” over and over again. “Brothers in Arms” is a good one. Very different, slow song.

[@barmalgran4154]

Sting was the biggest Rock Star at that moment in time. He just left The Police who became the biggest band of 1980s. Sting just launched his solo career at the same time. During summer of 1985, Dire Straits album was #1, followed by Sting at #2 for a few weeks. Sting became one of the biggest male solo artist for decades to come.

[@sefraser1]

I recommend listening to Vanilla Fudge - Keep Me Hanging On ..... really, really loud!

[@Drummingvulture]

There is an edited version which cuts it down to a more manageable length. A little less repetition. More palatable for the uninitiated. The Police were at the height of their popularity at this time, so the inclusion of Sting was a huge deal . . . . at that time. Now, it's more of an historical footnote. But still a good one. Mark Knopfler may not be a top tier guitarist, but he's very, very tasty. Always a joy to listen to. (I may get flack for say this) Yeah, like others here, I thought Alex was gonna relegate it to the '80s scrap pile. I was very pleased to see otherwise. As always, I enjoyed your honest reactions and opinions. They might not always jive with mine, but they're honest, sincere, and most of all, pretty damn well thought out. You might enjoy "Skateaway" from their 'Making Movies' album. Slower and moodier.

[@standandeliver8376]

Drummingvulture, I'd say Mark Knopfler is a top tier guitarist, but of a different kind to the likes of Richie Blackmore, Jimmy Page etc. His finger picking style really comes into its own on say, the outro section to Telegraph Road or on Romeo and Juliet.

[@mneilan123456]

Was the police not broken up in 1985 as there last album was 1983 then after that no more

[@Drummingvulture]

@@standandeliver8376: Yeah, I knew I was a-gonna get my ass called out on this comment. LOL! I guess I was just going with my gut; when I think 'top tier guitarist' I do think Page, Blackmore, etc. But my mind doesn't go to Mark Knopfler, and maybe it should. His picking style (so like Jeff Beck's) is a marvel to watch and listen too. And you're right, the last four minutes or so of "Telegraph Road" are superb. In some ways it reminds me of Lindsey Buckingham. You win, he's top tier. (bowing)

[@Drummingvulture]

@@mneilan123456: They were actually touring for "Synchronicity" way into '84. Then they did announce that they were taking a hiatus of some sort, but not breaking up. In '85 or '86 they played some Amnesty International shows. And they had their first compilation album come out around the same time, which, I believe, sold extremely well. Along with Sting releasing his first solo album, also. I'd have to say that they were still riding high in '86, a year after 'Brothers In Arms' came out. Still very much in the public conscience.

[@standandeliver8376]

@@Drummingvulture ha ha, I wasn't trying to win. Lets just give each other a pat on the back for appreciating all these fine musicians.

[@cormacbrowne9448]

Remember, (concerning the length of the piece), it served as a vehicle for the VIDEO, the video served as the vehicle for the song. They went together...TOGETHER. it was the 80s, and BOTH were necessary FOR MTV. View and listen to 'em TOGETHER, and you'll be amazed at the difference.

[@WeirdD1986]

How, just how people dont know about Dire Straits, 99% of this reaction videos are fake, or people live under the stone

[@gaycha6589]

WeirdD1986 - yup.

[@professor.moriarty9803]

How do you live your life with knowing Dire Straits lol i can't imagine, i would seriously consider suicide if one day some powerful hater ban all sources for listening their songs 😂

[@Highbrowser]

If this guy is a college student, this song came out 15 years before he was born.

[@jasonmcdaniel345]

​@@Highbrowser Yeah, unless you grew up listening to classic rock stations, it is unlikely you would've heard this song if you are a college student today.