Supposedly, Mark Knopfler was browsing at a NYC hardware store with MTV playing on the TV. Workers were discussing their mundane jobs and comparing themselves to the rock stars in the video, not knowing that one of the customers browsing actually WAS a rock star.
@@jamesdemichele3649 Cable TV, which actually came out in 1948, became the rage in the 80's and MTV, being a cable ONLY network, relied on its widespread use for its successful launch. I know this because I was working in and for bands, and when we'd get off from work and/or playing, we go back to our rental house, get high and watch MTV. We got a LOT of inspiration from there (MTV launched on August 1, 1981). Video Killed The Radio Star was the 1st video ever shown (then that group disappeared) and Pat Benatar was the 2nd. So, not only was MTV in department stores, but cable had been around for a long time by then.
@@jamesdemichele3649 They had coax run into the building that carried signal. This terminates into a box supplied by the cable provider. So just like the rest of us
Hey kids...it's a pro move to write the hook about the most influential music outlets in the world. Another is to record down the hall from Sting so he can help out with the intro.
So ... the part Sting is singing is the same melody as his Police song "don't stand so, don't stand so, don't stand so close to me". Saw their Vancouver show during this tour, and the intro drums shook my entire body. Never forgot that sensation.
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. On March 1, 1982 is when the then-struggling music video network launched the ad campaign that saved the day: "I Want My MTV!" What would really sell the campaign, however, was the delivery: MTV exec Les Garland cajoled his friend Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones to shout the line into a camera. Once Jagger finally agreed to do it, David Bowie and Pete Townshend of the The Who were persuaded to film spots as well. After that, getting new stars to join in snowballed into the famous "I Want My MTV!" commercials. The spots were a hit with cable providers, and subscriptions soared. The line "I want my MTV" inspired Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits while he was writing the band's smash hit, "Money for Nothing" “I’d seen the Police doing an MTV advert, saying ‘I want my MTV,’ just saying it all together; and I thought, ‘If I set that to the notes of “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” it’ll work,’" Knopfler told Ultimate Classic Rock. "I remember saying to the guys, ‘I’d really like to get Sting to do this.’ We knew them anyway because we’d done a lot of gigs together in Germany. One of them said, ‘That’s fine, because he’s here on holiday,’" referencing the British island of Montserrat, location of the famous AIR recording studios. "And because I’d used the five notes from ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me,’ that’s how the co-writing thing happened. Which is fine; it’s absolutely fine with me and it worked out well. I remember quite clearly Sting coming into the studio and saying, ‘What’s wrong?’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘Nobody’s fighting!’”
Believe it or not, in the early days of MTV this video was considered ahead of it's time with the computer animation and graphics...way back when... ( damn, I'm old ) lol
The story behind the song: Mark was in a store in NY, and on one whole wall of the store there were TVs tuned to MTV (Music Television); he overheard the workers making derisive (perhaps jealous) comments about the performers in the videos and how easy those guys had it compared to their own blue-collar jobs (moving TVs, microwaves and refrigerators etc.). Mark grabbed a pen and paper and wrote their remarks down verbatim, and those comments became the lyrics of the song. Given that they (Dire Straits) are musicians themselves, singing the lyrics (in an MTV video no less), it's also good natured, self-parodic and cheeky, especially since in contrast to some the 'glam rock' of the time, Dire Straits was 'pub rock'. As to the 'offensive F' word at issue: 1) That was the word used by the blue collar workers themselves in the store about the guys in the MTV videos; (2) it was very common parlance at that time; (3) it was sometimes used to suggest 'poser' or 'pretty boy' (i.e. the glam rockers of the time, 'with the earrings and the makeup' who were seen to have sold out to corporate media) rather than to homosexuals (after all, gay guys wouldn't be concerned about getting 'chicks' for free, would they?); (4) Notably, when the band plays this track live, and in the first person, they leave out that word. Context is everything! If you really want to see Dire Straits at their best, check out "Sultans of Swing" (released in 1977) "Telegraph Road" (1984) and "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1979) all from 'Alchemy Live'.
Hey fellas, the song's about an incident in which Mark overheard some Home Furniture installers bitching about rockstars while watching MTV on a wall of display TV 's at their place of employment.
The line “ I want my MTV ! “ in this song was part of the MTV commercials back in the 80’s where Sting singing here and other artist would scream I want my MTV
As others have pointed out, Mark wrote this after overhearing some workers complaining about the MTV life, and THEY were using the "F" word, not Mark. So, technically, he was relaying what he heard, not what he thought. That's probably why you got it past the YT censors.
You're intro always reminds me of a rainy day. I watched you guys for like 3 hours straight at my last warehouse job. It was raining. I snuck out for one hits and cigarettes. Came back in wet and then the intro would hit. IDK, burned in my memory.
there is a Whole lot more to Knopfler than just this, and his guitar playing something else in this, but fellas, that mans music will take you places...his guitar work continues to blow me away
Y'all need to change your music when the logo comes up at the beginning of your videos to "I want my, I want my, I want my Airplay Beats." The ladies will come flocking to you. 😁😉
MTV was new at the time. They still did commercials at the time with music stars urging you to "call your cable operator, and tell them "I want my MTV!!"
What an interesting songwriting exercise it would be to just walk around for a day and write songs out of things you overhear. Reminds me also of the story of the Guess Who's "No Sugar Tonight", which Randy Bachman wrote after hearing a random woman telling off her significant other on a California street.
Well, those were very different times. I doubt they would use the same word if they had made the song today. Personally I look at intent and I would agree that they meant no harm. It does grate on the ears now though.
It was a quote from the workers at the store where Mark overheard them talking, and it’s probably what they said. Anyway, it’s just a word and was from a time when people wouldn’t die if a poor choice of words was used. Actions matter way more than words, and Mark has proven he is a quality guy.
@@ugadawgs1990 Makes sense, I didn’t know. It was an odd choice even back then to be sure - and in fairness I never truly noticed before and don’t recall any controversy over it either.
This song was Dire Straits' biggest hit song ever in America. The song went all the way to hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks during the summer of 1985. No doubt, this song was a definitely banger indeed!!!
So glad you listened to this song. It was huge when it came out! Most of the younger crowd today have no idea who Dire Straits was, or just how good they were.
I caught them live on this tour at a relatively small theater, 2000 seats, small considering just how big they were at the time, 12th row center stage. Absolutely incredible show!
Sting is the one who sings "I want my MTV". I remember, when I was at the University (in France), one of my English teatcher told us that Dire Straits was a must listen band because of their lyrics. He was right !
This is the short single version. The Album version is about double the length. The song was huuuge when I was a teen and the video was setting a totally new level.
MTV , EARLY 8O' , WAS REVOLUTIONARY,, No Internet, no phones, but while mom and Pop were watching CBS, ABC, NBC, and PBS, we teens in the ,80s, were watching MTV. Iconic song from an iconic decade. ✌️
I still remember hearing this for the 1st time while shopping in Tower Records when it came out. The whole store just stopped and listened as it blasted through the speakers.... think they sold a few records that day
This was from when MTV used to play Music Videos. This was a spoof on the whole business of it all. I want my MTV is sung by Sting. Sting is the harmonies throughout the song
"Money for Nothing" was the first video played when MTV Europe went on air in 1987, 6 years after US MTV (1981). On that occasion the first video played was "Video killed the radio star" by The Buggles, also a British band.
I was literally born to this album in 1986. The midwife played Brothers in Arms on her stereo because I was late. My parents kept the tape and we often played it in the car. A little graphic, I know, but it reminds me more of my dad's car than the event in question, thankfully.
but actually mark was so right cos back in th 80's we did say this sort of thing even though he over heard that guy in the convenient store all those years ago.
Another banger! Great stuff. Mark Knopfler has a great and unique guitar style. Once you hear it, you don’t forget it. His vocals are also very distinctive.. An underrated player as far as I’m concerned. He jams with Clapton on a few tunes , check it out on You Tube, guaranteed you’ll like it!!
WELL NOW!.... It's about time you two Brothers saw this video that OWNED-MTV and MILLIONS saw who Mark and his Dire Straights band was and he/they became legends. back then we all "Want My MTV"
Check out the live version at one of those legendary live aid benefit concerts I think? Sting performs with them, and it’s so good.. such clean playing by marky mark and sting sings his ass off
To pick up on the comments, all true. Knopfler is playing a character, working class, as he was, with a different ''vocabulary 'and levels of envy and success. Sting ...just the guys came from Newcastle ...knew each other... no one knew the level this would go. Check out the Live Aid version of Dire Straits and Sting.