Can Dire Straits AMAZE Me Again?! "Money For Nothing" | REACTION

[@SalvoG]

Speed movie reaction will be uploaded tomorrow! Sorry for the delay. Subscribe: SalvoG Movie Reactions: www.youtube.com/@salvogmoviereactions

[@AmyW-qo4se]

Good movie. One of my favorites

[@MarkoMakela-mv8dt]

I loved this reaction and by the way in mid 80's both Dire Straits and ZZ Top had a bit similar 'sound scape'... Sting gives to this song his own flavour allthough he shoud never ever called it a day with Police. And other than is usually believed , Steward Copeland, the drummer was the real force behind that band and beeing one of the best drummers he played them traditional way... not hands crossed

[@penelopehornswaggle102]

Sal you should hear Sultans of Swing next. It's really good, too.

[@marktalbott3835]

You know Sting is singing the opening

[@joeking6763]

The "Original" video has been removed. It had Boy George where the lyrics talk about the millionaire and Robert Plant was shown during the Hawaiian noises lyrics. It got switched out with generic video and it just hasn't been the same.

[@djm0111]

That opening when the guitar drops right after the intro is one of the greatest moments of the 80s

[@DDB4791]

best song for testing new speakers ;)

[@jaredkeller869]

You owe me a pair of speakers...

[@DavidLueck]

Man, the music video was ubiquitous when it dropped, you could not escape it! You know, back when MTV actually played videos. The guitar tone is godly, wow

[@jackgilchrist]

Very Billy Gibbons-esque.

[@mikedineen7857]

That was the first music video on MTV.

[@EneriGiilaan]

@@mikedineen7857 Huh? MTV started in 1981 - Money for Nothing released in 1985.

[@AlexisLexLexi]

“Video killed the radio star” by The Buggles was actually the first.

[@Kayjee17]

​@@mikedineen7857 No, Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles was.

[@vickieray]

You must watch the official video for this one!!!! 🔥🎸🎤🎼

[@Wordsmyth8]

Yes!

[@jimp4666]

Which of course was shown over and over again on MTV!

[@HT-io1eg]

My god, the vid was everywhere, all the time, vid jukeboxes back then. Many a pub hour with this on

[@beckiramsey9561]

Definitely the video, please!!

[@DianaW3431]

The music video was very entertaining and was played over and over.

[@jimruby1354]

That opening guitar riff is my absolute favorite! Its just so freaking cool!

[@davidfeltz8697]

So true. I always what makes a riff so indelible and so awesome. It is just so hot and memorable. Cool AF!

[@dalevega3585]

I remember when this first came on MTV it was so awesome they'll never be another 80's

[@Itelkner]

True. Exciting times for sure

[@loristone9242]

Fact

[@davelindstrom6005]

They'll? Try "there'll".

[@Ingens_Scherz]

The lyrics are "real". Knopfler overheard two New York removals men chatting about pop singers: this song was the result!

[@TheLizardskin]

Nice! Thanks for telling us what inspirated them to compose this song.

[@celebrian995]

The video version is a classic in its own right. Legend has it Mark Knopfler wrote this after overhearing a conversation between workers in a hardware/appliance store

[@correctlyrics]

If I'm not mistaken, they were commenting on a Motley Crue video.

[@sbam4881]

That's what so unique about this song. It's written by people appearing on MTV, but from the (derogatory) perspective/POV of workers watching those self same people prancing about. "While we're installing microwave ovens, look at these f**g*ts with fancy earrings earning millions playing guitar on MTV..." It's pretty brilliant.

[@joguipo]

​@@correctlyrics Correct. They were slagging them off with exactly what the lyrics of this song are lol

[@LadyIarConnacht]

First time I heard this, my husband and I were working as contractors for this big dept. store and we were always complaining about the sales guys spending all their time watching MTV on the "TV wall" in the store instead of doing their jobs. We just looked at each other and laughed so hard, and it became our theme song.

[@shxdowkev]

"Can Dire Straits amaze me again?" Of course they can.

[@SalvoG]

💯

[@louise_rose]

Knopfler hit that abrasive, grinding, sharp guitar tone by chance during the recording sessions - it's very much a trademark for the entire song and they didn't know how to fully replicate it later. I think in today's studio world it would just have been done by adding a great deal of filtering in the mix, but it would have made it sound more flat and ultimately less convincing.

[@MuppetandChums]

An anthem from my teen years. Pure magic.

[@gsilcox]

The person singing "I want my, I want my MTV" is Sting!

[@SalvoG]

So sickkk

[@theshadowfax239]

Yes, there were some legal copyright issues, as the song sounds very similar to the Police song Don't Stand So Close to Me. I believe having Sting sing on the song was a way to clear up that issue.

[@jjc5407]

@@SalvoG there's a great story behind Sting's appearance on the track. Dire Straits were recording the Brothers in Arms album on the island of Montserrat. Mark Knopfler had the "I want my MTV" lines to the tune of Sting's Don't Stand So Close To Me for the song and commented that it would be great if they could get Sting to sing them only to be told that Sting was vacationing on the island. So Mark reached out to him and he came over to the studio to join them. For a live version, check out the Music For Montserrat concert at the Royal Albert Hall which raised millions for the island following a major volcanic eruption. The concert featured many artists who, like Dire Straits, had recorded albums there at the studio of Sir George Martin (of Beatles fame). Mark performed Money For Nothing with Sting and Eric Clapton, with Phil Collins on the drums and fellow former Dire Straits' members Guy Fletcher and Phil Palmer among the other musicians. There was an orchestra and choir too and although they didn't play or sing on this number they were on stage bopping away and loving every minute. It's a fantastically joyful rendition.

[@Wishbone1977]

@@jjc5407 As I recall, there is a bit more to the story. Originally, there were no vocals in the intro. When they got Sting into the studio, they played him the track and then asked him if he could think of anything to add to it. He then came up with the "I want my MTV" lines for the intro, turning the ones at the end into a callback to the start of the song.

[@maxinesmith3801]

​@jjc5407 awesome concert. Knopfler, Clapton, Collins and McCartney, Martin on stage at the same time. LEGENDS ❤

[@jodij6280]

Money For Nothing was MASSIVE back in the day. Speaking of Sting, it's about time we heard more. You'll love 'Fields of Gold'.

[@alchemy-oi8xf]

You're right, Salvo--that guitar riff is condsidered one of the most icon in rock.The video for the song was groundbreaking at the time, too, and quite entertaining. The lyrics were a direct transcript of a conversation Mark overheard while shopping in an appliance store. Two disgrunted stock employees were watching the glam life of rock stars performing on MTV, and bemoaning their fate of having a tiring, menial job. To showcase Mark's diversity, consider watching the official video version of "Brothers in Arms", from the same album. A person would have to be a stone not be moved by it.

[@jessegifford7913]

Seconding this, "Brother's in Arms" is amazing.

[@goosebump801]

I third this 🙌💯

[@timdyer5903]

The lead singer heard shop workers complaining about music bands. The lyrics come from those attitudes. This is Sting in backing vocals. Legend of a song.

[@devox3291]

I've listened to this perfect song probably over a thousand times. You are correct to say you can listen to it on a loop. Only problem is, if you do that , it may be in your head non-stop for a week. Then, you realize , at least sometimes, there actually can be too much of a good thing. I do recommend everyone listen to this on a loop, or check out different versions ( top concerts, etc) and have at least one, long, listen session to this masterpiece. It's so good it's almost unbelievable. So glad YT put your reaction in front of me today.

[@mattleppard1970]

Oh yes. I’m not even that big a fan. But this song changed the world. They were probably globally the biggest band then, and there’s no denying that it’s a total classic. Another era-defining song for me. Amazing ❤

[@glennelfmann3143]

The songwriting credits are shared between Mark Knopfler and Sting. According to Knopfler, he used the network slogan "I want my MTV" after seeing an MTV advertisement featuring the Police and setting it to the tune of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" (written by Sting), hence the cowriting credit.

[@rcmorl6390]

Kind of a comment on mtv taking control and weilding power of the music business..if you wanted sales you had to have your video played on mtv...who decides that....considering the video for this is a CGI a classic and sultans and romeo and juliet and skateaway were so good for them and helped build mtv

[@johndef5075]

Never noticed before. Now I cant unhear it😅

[@drpaulht26]

Yes, at the time MTV were getting artists to play their well known singles with the lyrics, I want my MTV. The Police were one of a number of bands that did it.

[@davidfeltz8697]

Not like they care probably just for the record label. Both guys are legends and I love the vocals be both respectively. So cool

[@chrismitchell7280]

Much to Sting’s embarrassment; he was just singing a line for his mate, didnt think anything about it. Then the record company informed him they owned “don’t stand so close to me” & wanted their cut

[@johndef5075]

Amazing how cool refrigerators sounds when sung😂

[@traceys8065]

True 😂

[@donaldromesburg1902]

Back when MTV played music videos all day and all night ,

[@jangjangjangjong]

I remember as a teenager I often left MTV on as I fell asleep, the tv was on that channel 24/7

[@stephaniefain1863]

months late on your comment on money for nothing. I was thinking of MTV. It used to play, everywhere. I was in the shower, when Michael Jackson put out thriller. My friend dragged me from the shower, soaped and shampooed, to stand naked and dripping in the living room to watch it. Those were the days…

[@garyarnett1220]

Great when your guest vocalist opens the song for you.

[@bobbyfunface4469]

just a perfect combo! right , they dont me em like they used to

[@toniw725]

I would suggest Telegraph Road from the 1983 Alchemy Live concert. Stunning! Or Private Investigations from 1993 On the Night concert. Lots of great stuff from Dire Straits!

[@moirabaker458]

Absolutely!! Then, Romeo and Juliet... in fact, ALL of it! Heaven 😊

[@jimbrown5552]

This inspired my son James he is now touring world playing guitar

[@AllShadesAreGray]

There was nothing like it when it dropped.

[@cjhoff9661]

Mark Knopfler is a superb guitarist

[@DawnCarpenter-s2b]

The way this song was written the writer happened to be in an electric store. A couple of employees were watching MTV on the TVS. This the actual conversation.

[@ritachikita1468]

Saw this on MTV because my daughter turned it on every day after school. Being a 60 & 70s kid I was thrilled to hear real music coming out of the 80s.

[@jackgilchrist]

Dire Straits always brings back memories of my old man, who died about 10 years ago. Dad was a huge fan and played and played their albums constantly. Romeo and Juliet is one of my favorites of theirs.

[@grahamkey8496]

First time in a while that I've heard the full 8 minutes version. I could happily have listened to another 8 minutes of Mark's guitars coming at me in both cans!

[@stephaniemccord-vega1190]

Mark Knopfler rules. Sting is in a class of his own too.

[@stevejones7875]

"Sting is in a class of his own", he was not in my class, but he did go to my school (till about 13, then went to a private school).

[@jamesbondbond8388]

The official video of this one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ErinsEnergy313]

One of the sickest guitar riffs of all time 🎸❤️‍🔥

[@zoeherriot]

And it’s a bitch to play it like Mark does.

[@cyrilmauras4247]

I WANT MY MTV!

[@richardstokes276]

The opening of this track takes me right back to the summer of 1986, Knebworth Park, Queens last concert with Freddie (not that we knew that then). Anyway as the park filled up pre concert Mtv was being played on the big screen and over the sound system, when this track came on and when the drums came in the volume just started going up and up. It was absolutely awesome, now whenever it comes on the radio the volume always goes up and up.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

What a GREAT memory to hold!

[@MusicMike747]

Absolutely iconic 80’s song from one of the greatest finger style electric guitar players ever. And the full version including the ridiculously censored second verse. I always thought it was about Prince, who was enjoying massive success at the time

[@Whateva67]

I thought it was about Elton John 😊

[@samlawrence4670]

Apparently it was motley crue

[@jessegifford7913]

I thought I'd read somewhere that he was referencing himself with that line.

[@Anditover]

With headphones on, the intro, with Sting almost falsetto absolutely blows your mind. When the lyrics kick in later, it almost takes away the power of, oh I'm struggling, the power of the rhythm and 3D higher frequencies that make you think you're in a sound so tangible it's like being inside the music. By 2 minutes in your heart and brainwaves are all in sync. It's amazing, even 35 years on. Glad you found it. Yeah, the intro gives you a sense of being surrounded by acres of music all around you. It's an audio landscape. And you're stood in the centre. Yeah. Pure.

[@73henny]

Best riff ever. The riff all guitarists wished they wrote.

[@dorafernandez1412]

Fantastic guitar throughout. Guitar/drum trip!

[@txhesser]

Heard this a thousand times before, never knew Sting was a backup singer. Now he is all I hear. Love it. Thanks Salvo, that's so cool. Your channel has brought music back for me.

[@mizdink]

This song always, always lifts my spirit for some reason. Thank you for the reaction!

[@jonathanross149]

Call your cable company and say, "I want my MTV"

[@cadleo]

Epic track.

[@stevenstyles7602]

Stings voice is so cool.

[@neptune9]

Mr. G....You owe it to yourself to listen to this entire album some time. It was a landmark album at the time. It was also one of the first fully digital (DDD) CD's released in 1985. In 2024, that's not much of a big deal, but at the time such a wide dynamic range and clarity had not been heard before. And, it was produced at a time when people still cared about producing a quality product and excellent sound. Before the "loudness wars" and constant remastering began to destroy the very music they were intended to "improve". One of my most vivid memories was being in a real "stereo store" (very few of these exist anymore) and the staff played the newly released 'Money for Nothing' on a pair of (very expensive) Klipschorns! It was something this poor boy will never forget. It still sends chills up my spine just thinking about it.

[@davidmalarkey1302]

Brothers in Arms is one of the biggest selling albums of all time.

[@papalaz4444244]

This was one of the first things to come out on CD and they had a primitive CGI MTV video. It was MASSIVE at the time. It became an album people bought to hear digital audio for the first time. When a CD player was like 1000 bucks lol

[@elyuw]

Not really. First CDs came out in 1982. This didn’t cone out until 1985. I think it’s one of the best selling CDs ever though.

[@papalaz4444244]

@@elyuw Take your autism meds

[@antonybrent6232]

🔥🔥🔥. Walk of life next please bud 👍👍👏👏. Great reaction as always 👏👏👏

[@dorothystorry1733]

This is my favourite is the official video…. It’s well worth watching.

[@becky9103]

I have always heard that as one of the band members stood in line at a Sears store he was standing near bank of TV's and heard one of their songs come on. He overheard the delivery men who were watching the TV's saying these very remarks about Dire Straits and he put their conversation to music and history was made!!

[@RogerBartholomy]

Check out "Brothers in Arms."

[@donnacorey5682]

Absolutely loved your reaction to this! Dire Straits and CCR my 2 favorite bands of all time. Mark Knopfler is a genius guitar player and songwriter. You could spend hours going down the Rabbit hole listening to all of his masterpieces. Some killer ones to do next, Telegraph Road, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love, Espresso Love, Brothers in Arms.❤

[@NathanielHarari]

It’s very hard to qualitatively explain to younger generations just how *iconic* that opening riff was. It defined so much about the era. And remember: We had shared music back then, we didn’t have our own channels as we do today. So…everyone knew this opening. Everyone that I knew of, at least - that included much older people who weren’t necessarily into 80s rock at the time because they had grown up in a different era. It’s sort of like the opening to Jonny B. Goode. It’s iconic on that level.

[@mrtim5363]

My mother heard "Sultans of Swing" & then "Money for Nothing" while riding in my car. she popped the CD out put it back in it's case, put the CD in her purse & said... You can buy another, you know who it is & where to buy it, & I don't. & I don't need to hear the rest... This one is mine...

[@jonathanross149]

The Video blew our minds in the 80's

[@cyrilmauras4247]

Based on a conversation Mark overheard in an appliance store!

[@leroyrs]

The sound quality of this old song is just amazing

[@jasminejones7389]

lucky me for being old..I've had a lifetime of brilliant music..

[@taniaPBear]

Right?!! I have always been thankful for when I was born, I feel like I got the very best of everything, music, movies, lifestyle, everything.

[@DeAnne1233]

You made the right choice listening to the extended studio version. That sounded fantastic in the headphones with a lot more textures than the official music video version. The video is cool but distracts us from the audible artistry within the collaboration. It’s a better Sting heavy version too. Loved hearing it again and appreciate the reaction to it.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

You’re right, Sal: This really is SICK! 😁🤘that guitar riff is SO cool! Yeah….you could listen to that for a looooong time. And when the synth comes in to accentuate the bass on the riff…..addictive!!

[@williamschrom1584]

That's like time traveling back 40 yr.s

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

I wish we could…..

[@bwcbiz]

Sting's part in the intro/outro "I want my MTV" references both the catchphrase for MTV at the time and also the notes from the chorus of the Police song "Don't Stand (So Close to Me)"

[@srh1467]

Yes, Sting sang his line to the melody of Don't Stand so Close to Me and received cowriting credit on the song for that one line.

[@GCOE63]

FYI that's Sting singing at the beginning and chorus with Mark.

[@f45125]

MTV had just started-all videos & interviews, all the time 24/7!

[@Michigan_farmboy]

Mark apparently said he wanted the guitar to have a ZZ Top sound, so the Back to the Future reference makes sense. ZZ did music for the later Back to the Future movies.

[@mikelafata1680]

I bought this CD the day it was released. Loved it ever since.

[@ChuckFickens1972]

In some of the live versions of this (and other songs) they had sting on backing vocals, Phill Collins on the drums and Eric Clapton playing rhythm guitar Consider how ridiculously well regarded Mark Knopfler must be to get Sting Collins and Clapton as his backing artists!

[@cindydegraaff5083]

Such an iconic intro- every one recognized it right away. ❤

[@paulyoung5393]

Sting from the Police was a guest vocalist

[@viliko4308]

MK just makes me happy with his music and his personality ❤

[@vinsgraphics]

Weird Al Yankovich wanted to do a parody of this, and Mark agreed on one condition: that he played guitar. Which he did. Rob Reiner asked Mark to do the soundtrack to “The Princess Bride,” and Mark agreed on one condition: that the baseball cap Reiner wore in “This Is Spinal Tap” be featured in the film somewhere. It appears in the bedroom of the young grandson (Fred Savage) when grandpa (Peter Falk) is reading the story. Knopfler later said the request was a joke, but it happened nonetheless.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

Cool story!

[@RuthKing-wm9nw]

The opening riff is epic and in the long version you sit thru the build up...knowing it's coming...and you can hardly wait!!!

[@user-gu7kk5zk2b]

Live performance is great too. But we all heard it first on the radio and this song EXPLODED into our lives AND exploded the bands lives. Major hit that brought joy to the world

[@bobbolan4672]

It was awesome hearing Sting jam with the guys back in the day. Yep.

[@davidfeltz8697]

That intro is sick and that bold killer guitar riff just never gets old.

[@dogstar5927]

It’s one of the greatest songs ever!

[@waynecox2440]

The title track of this album, Brothers In Arms, is very different from Money For Nothing and Sultans of Swing, but definitely worth a listen.

[@dianefontaine7204]

So glad you got introduced to this song, SalvoG! Thanks for your great video about it. Whenever I listen to this song (the long version), I always listen to it more than once, sometimes for an hour.

[@NeuerAlias4711]

Sting happened to be in the same recording studio in Montserrat when Dire Straits recorded the song. He was on fire to perform the intro and outro of the song, and his record company claimed rights to the song against his will. The recording studio fell victim to a tropical storm (Hugo) in 1989.

[@sdev2749]

Glad you liked it, back in the early 80's Dire Straits was on the radio at least 50 times a day - as a teen these songs were ingrained into us - even today, if this song comes on we just lose our shiit

[@shebear7542]

fantastic music and your reactions are so sweet and genuine.

[@tzetzeflysoup]

Brothers in Arms was the first album I bought, nearly 40 years ago - eesh! Man, it's good to hear this track again, been too long. Loved your reaction.

[@wordygirlandco]

🤯Always such a shock when you have not heard these huge hits. At least you will never be short of great content ❤

[@bob_._.]

Mark Knopfler was doing a public appearance at an electronics or appliance store or something and could overhear a couple of the store's workers talking about the job and what they were seeing on the display TVs. He basically just wrote down what he was hearing and had the lyrics. So the legend tells us.

[@traci4187]

Now that you've heard this, you should definitely get into some Sting, either solo, or with the Police.

[@ST1973]

Sting and the Dire Straits... amazing!!! Also Phill Collins and Eric Clapton worth to check out!

[@rodb9275]

THIS song had a classic video back in the day. Huge, like "Take On Me"

[@jfox9126]

I love this song. The build up in the intro is exquisite. I remember when the video first aired on MTV in the 80s, which is a fun watch. There’s just no nostalgia like 80’s nostalgia.

[@eileenstone6857]

Your facial expressions are priceless! I SO enjoy all your reactions…I. am Addicted! All these songs are very familiar to me, and still listening to them!

[@francescaferriani4185]

Wow I think this is the first video that I see on Mtv sitting on the kitchen with my mom! What a jump back in time !😂

[@ZillaMesh]

This is how you intro a song. It's like a mini movie in the first 2 minutes.

[@cyrilmauras4247]

That's Sting singing in the background "I want my MTV".

[@lxvelycall]

Mark actually gave the origin of this absolutely amazing song. He overheard a couple of hardware store workers talking about how people would just get rich and famous on MTV when they would play music videos all the time.

[@Prone2Thrill]

Great ideas both in adding the icon Sting vocals (it was an introduction to Dire Straits for many of us and Sting lent cred) and using the ZZ Top Billy Gibbons fuzz tones! They have so many great songs that don't get enough listens. YES - Owner of a lonely heart opening is somewhat similar.

[@joelanderos23]

at least you played the uncensored version.

[@stevejones7875]

The Bangles, "Video Killed The Radio Star", was very 1st video on MTV USA. Dire Straits (Feat Sting), "Money For Nothing", the very 1st video on MTV Europe. Both main artists (Sting, ie Gordon Sumner + Mark Knopfler), both from Northeast England, and from only a few miles apart (about 6 or 7 miles). Mark was actually born in Scotland, but returned with his family to his mothers native Newcastle-ish area at age of six.

[@davidpreston9909]

Not Bangles, but Buggles.

[@stevejones7875]

@@davidpreston9909 oops, yes.

[@tigervv6437]

Also, Brothers in Arms album was the first album ever to be published on commercial digital CD

[@elyuw]

@@tigervv6437I don’t think that is quite right. I think it was the first to recorded, mixed/ mastered and released as a digital product. The CD had the letters DDD on the back to signify what each stage was. So the first CDs were likely AAD as they were only converted to digital for the CD.

[@davidpreston9909]

@@tigervv6437 And one of the finest albums ever made.

[@Eowyn187]

He's got the most unique sound. That's just badass.

[@arnodobler1096]

Money for Nothing, my and actually the first CD that was not classical music. Because of this CD I bought new speakers for the rear shelf of my car, then I always had the fear that the rear window would be catapulted out.

[@johankaewberg8162]

The animated video made MTV, which is what the song is also about “I want my MTV”.

[@MrCome4numb]

Mark Knopfler had another group called The Notting Hillbillies they were more of a country folk rock flavor.

[@sustainablewarriors8844]

I always thought this song was quite 'meta' before that was a thing! A song about guys saying how easy it is to earn money through playing the guitar, but not just any song, an absolutely brilliant song which is at the pinnacle of guitar rock. Brilliant, also, that intro never fails to make the hairs stand up!

[@PeterOConnell-pq6io]

Dire Straits' breakthrough song. They got their MTV, and how!

[@mariannematus6703]

That's Sting singing "I want my MTV". It was their slogan back in the day.