I can’t believe I am old enough to say MTV is 39 this month. What a treat that was for us! I remember the countdown, just waiting for them to play the first song. So many people ask “do you remember what the first song was that they played?” A better question is do you remember the SECOND song they played! (Do you? If not, it was Pat Benatar – You Better Run). This was August 1, 1981. Music would be forever changed, and we absolutely couldn’t get enough of it. Not everyone had cable in those days, so we’d gather around at the kids houses who did. I really hate what MTV has become, but I will always be so grateful for those early years when Music Television actually meant just that.
Check out the videos below and let us know what you think! Had it been up to me, we’d have had a completely different first 10 videos played! 🙂
I’m going to share the first 10 videos with you, but I have to say they aren’t big standouts in my opinion. Sure you’ve got The Pretenders and Pat Benatar, but really I would have expected a better lineup of first-time videos to run. I’ll show the videos and tell you which song I like better!
1. The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star (Appropriate and catchy for sure)
My pick from The Buggles would be:
2. Pat Benatar – You Better Run (And I dedicate this to Baar) ♥
Actually, I think this was a good choice, so I’ll leave this one alone.
3. Rod Stewart – She Won’t Dance With Me
Meh…I guess they were trying to keep things upbeat and peppy, but a much better choice (from the same album) would have been:
4. The Who – You Better You Bet
Solid tune. I can stand behind this choice.
5. Ph.D. – Little Suzi’s on the Up
Honestly, I just can’t even with this song and have no idea how it made the list of the first 10 videos played.
6. Cliff Richard – We Don’t Talk Anymore
Great song, but if it had been up to me:
7. The Pretenders – Brass in Pocket
Another solid choice.
8. Todd Rundgren – Time Heals
9. REO Speedwagon – Take It on the Run
A much better choice would have been:
10. Styx – Rockin’ the Paradise
Much better choice from the same album: