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MTV Anniversary (August 1, 1981)
HIstory ^ | August 1, 2014 | beaversmom

Posted on 07/31/2014 10:52:24 PM PDT by beaversmom

On this day in 1981, MTV: Music Television goes on the air for the first time ever, with the words (spoken by one of MTV’s creators, John Lack): “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first music video to air on the new cable television channel, which initially was available only to households in parts of New Jersey. MTV went on to revolutionize the music industry and become an influential source of pop culture and entertainment in the United States and other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia and Latin America, which all have MTV-branded channels.

In MTV’s early days, its programming consisted of basic music videos that were introduced by VJs (video jockeys) and provided for free by record companies. As the record industry recognized MTV’s value as a promotional vehicle, money was invested in making creative, cutting-edge videos. Some directors, including Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Three Kings) and Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), worked on music videos before segueing into feature films. In the 1980s, MTV was instrumental in promoting the careers of performers such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince and Duran Duran, whose videos played in heavy rotation.

By the late 1980s, MTV started airing non-video programming, geared toward teenagers and young adults. Its popular reality series The Real World launched in 1992 and was followed by such highly rated shows as The Osbournes, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet 16 and The Hills. MTV also debuted animated series including Beavis and Butthead and Celebrity Deathmatch, as well as documentaries, news, game shows and public service campaigns on topics ranging from voting rights to safe sex. MTV developed a reputation for pushing cultural boundaries and taste; the airing of Madonna’s 1989 “Like a Prayer” video is just one famous example. In 1984, the channel launched the MTV Music Video Awards, which were followed in 1992 by the MTV Movie Awards. Today, MTV’s music-video programming is largely confined to one show, Total Request Live.


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: mtv
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To: 21twelve

I would love to see Rush.

Yay for your daughter for going to a concert with you.

My mom wasn’t into music, but every summer she would take me to a Broadway matinee, and lunch in the city. We started it about 15 or 16, (the summer before my Junior year in HS, and we did it every summer until Was in my late thirties, and mom couldn’t get into the city as easily. I miss that.

(The last Broadway show I saw with my mom was “Amy’s view” with Judi Dench. I paid over 200 a ticket, but mom and I love her).


181 posted on 08/01/2014 2:15:08 AM PDT by Gefn ("I am waiting for a rebirth of wonder ")
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To: beaversmom

I’d never seen the whole thing.

The man was wonderfully self-possessed.

:)


182 posted on 08/01/2014 2:15:33 AM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: Salamander

He was definitely at ease in his own skin!


183 posted on 08/01/2014 2:16:51 AM PDT by beaversmom
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To: Gefn

I read most of Bradbury whilst perched high up on the widest limb of a huge willow tree in the back yard.

I would not trade that for the world.

It’s how he should be read.

:)


184 posted on 08/01/2014 2:17:49 AM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: DemforBush; wardaddy; Gefn; Ezekiel; 21twelve; All

Thanks for making this a fun thread. Really enjoyed it.


185 posted on 08/01/2014 2:18:02 AM PDT by beaversmom
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To: beaversmom

You too, sweety...:)

I need to let the dogs out.
[and know you know who did ~that~]

I’m zonked, too.

It’s 5am, here.

>.<


186 posted on 08/01/2014 2:19:08 AM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: beaversmom

A manly man.

*sigh*


187 posted on 08/01/2014 2:19:48 AM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: Salamander

That’s for sure. There’s one chat show video I saw and he says straight up where he has his tattoo! lol.


188 posted on 08/01/2014 2:20:58 AM PDT by beaversmom
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To: Gefn

(The last Broadway show I saw with my mom was “Amy’s view” with Judi Dench. I paid over 200 a ticket, but mom and I love her).

And I bet your mom loved you too. And chastising you for spending so much money! Of course the memories were worth $400 a ticket!


189 posted on 08/01/2014 2:22:22 AM PDT by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts 2013 is 1933 REBORN)
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To: beaversmom; Salamander

Why do I feel old all of a sudden?

I feel so very old. Like the first time someone called me “Ma’am”

Or my friends teenager, who can’t believe I remember the night John Lennon died like it was tonight.


190 posted on 08/01/2014 2:23:01 AM PDT by Gefn ("I am waiting for a rebirth of wonder ")
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To: beaversmom

Yes - although I think it was more the great concert. She did want some songs downloaded to her I-pod, but not sure how much she listens to it.

She likes the hard rock and “screamo” music. But of the Christian variety! (Weird combination to me - but both my daughter and my son like it. Although my son (who does like Rush) has progressed to Christian rap as well. Goofy!)


191 posted on 08/01/2014 2:26:19 AM PDT by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts 2013 is 1933 REBORN)
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To: 21twelve

It was around Mother’s Day.

I ate a lot of peanut butter to pay for those tickets.

However, I bought my dad a DiMaggio baseball for a Father’s Day and paid much more than 400,

That is the one gift (for me anyway), of getting older. It made me love my parents more, and I saw that even though they were extremely over protective as a teenager, I was blessed they cared so much about me.


192 posted on 08/01/2014 2:28:22 AM PDT by Gefn ("I am waiting for a rebirth of wonder ")
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To: Gefn

I’ve felt old for quite a while.

I’m now 2 days into being 53.

Not thrilled with that, at all.

Two years from now, I’ll get senior citizen discounts at the grocery store.

Where did my life go?

In my head, I’m 18.

[and I like it]

:D


193 posted on 08/01/2014 2:40:50 AM PDT by Salamander (He ain't heavy, he's my Boa.)
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear
quite liked ‘120 Minutes’

There were 120 minutes people, and there were Headbanger's Ball people, and never the two could mingle.

I would have hated you!! LOL! :p

194 posted on 08/01/2014 2:40:55 AM PDT by southern rock
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To: Salamander

“99 Luftballons in both languages.

A guest comic (Tim Cavanaugh I think) on a radio show once did his parody song called “99 Dead Baboons”


195 posted on 08/01/2014 2:48:39 AM PDT by Artie (We are surrounded by MORONS)
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To: beaversmom
Modern English was the 2nd concert I saw...1982. I only knew I’ll Stop the World and Melt with You, but that was enough.

Ugh. Now you have reminded me of that insipid movie "Valley Girl"

Must. Scrub. Brain.

196 posted on 08/01/2014 2:56:26 AM PDT by southern rock
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To: beaversmom

“First concert I saw was in 1982. The Who in Boulder, Colorado at Folsom field.”

I think that was the first version of the Who’s farewell tour in 82. It was worth it to see Pete Townsend windmilling. Daltry still had a voice and the Ox was still on bass. My ears rang for 3 days after that


197 posted on 08/01/2014 3:08:45 AM PDT by Artie (We are surrounded by MORONS)
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To: beaversmom
I remember the MTV launch… and also remember watching "Jukebox" with Britt Ekland, all of which suddenly makes me feel very, very old. The videos themselves were often hilariously bad by today's production standards, but I enjoyed them at the time (and still actually like a lot of the late-70s and '80s music, often despite my disdain for most popular entertainment).

To this day, I get a kick out of seeing Martin Chambers and James Honeyman-Scott holding up their cards reading "SPECIAL" in the "Brass in Pocket" video. Don't really know why.

Mr. niteowl77

198 posted on 08/01/2014 3:32:38 AM PDT by niteowl77 (The five stages of Progressive persuasion: lecture, nudge, shove, arrest, liquidate.)
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To: Cowboy Bob

Bump


199 posted on 08/01/2014 3:47:13 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: Salamander; beaversmom
Battle cries and champagne
Just in time for sunrise.

Millions weep a fountain
Just in case of sunrise.....

200 posted on 08/01/2014 3:52:47 AM PDT by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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