40 years ago MTV was launched

[Michedelic]

I’ve been in a cave the last decade or so. What is Yacht Rock?

Hoo boy…the term, originally a dismissive one, emerged about 15 years ago, and it was coined by older millenials, more or less, to ridicule the smug, tepid soft rock/fern bar music of the 70’s favored by some of their boomer parents. CC’s “Sailing” is the flagship song, as it were, of the retroactive catagory, but this cover is a better representation of the mindset and the music….

Michael McDonald era Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oats(according to some), Eagles, Boz Scaggs, Billy Joel and one hit wonders like the “Pina Colada Song” are some other examples. Others may lump Steely Dan in there, but they were far too cynical and wrote plenty of songs about seriously f’d up people, for me to concur. Basically, everything I couldn’t stand in the 70’s(except for the Dan). Eventually, the term got adopted by those who saw all that in a positive light, although a little tongue-in-cheek, and now there are cover/tribute bands who specialize in it.

 

[yodedude2]

So.... painters from the Romantic period weren't about fashion? Sculptures from the Art Nouveau period were not about fashion? Composers from the Classical Period didn't hang out in palaces and attend the trendiest parties?

Man, ART, in every form, has always been about trends and fashion. 80s pop music was just another form of art like any other.

You can no more separate music from fashion than you can movies, paintings, sculptures, photography, etc.

Why, even the anti-trendy grunge movement was (dare I say it) a TREND. Many grunge fans bemoaned "selling out" and trying the like everybody else..... all while dutifully wearing their flannel shirts like a good little grungy should....and just like all the other grungies were doing. There was no more individualism in grunge than there was with Valley Girls or punks or any other group following a trend. The flannel shirt was a fashion statement. Not wearing makeup on stage and looking like you hadn't had a shower in weeks WAS THE FASHION of the day.

your anger is palpable. the subject at hand is simply not that important to inspire apoplexy.

to address your 2nd paragraph -- some is, some isn't. some did, some didn't. some will, some won't. and some it's just as well we can bandy about examples to prove our 'points' as long as we like. however, ART, in whatever form one may think that is, has NOT always been about trends and fashion. there are always exceptions. one could easily argue the opposite, that trends and fashion co-opt artistic aesthetics to their own ends. still ... 80s pop music was a slave to mtv, and i stand by my assessment about mtv and its effect on the 'industry'; and apparently, you agree with the gist of it. [edit: and i would agree with you that there is a matter of degree and context to consider, as there always is, if that is indeed one of your points...]

perhaps i should've added the conditionalizer "mainstream"?

 

[SgtHulka]

apoplexy.

Great word!

 

[G19Tony]

 

[iiipopes]

I guess you didn’t see post #4

Yeah, I just wanted to post it again, as I saw it the first time it aired. Yes, I was in a place that had advance notice of the "new music cable channel," and I saw the sign on and then this, the first music video played on MTV. No, not the first music video ever made, but so appropriate for the transition from purely radio or recorded music to video music.

 

[BadSanta1281]

Without MTV we wouldn't have Beavis and Butthead.

 

[MDStingray]

Earth Wind and Fire and Rick James had two of the biggest hit records in 1981 , Let's groove and Superfreak. MTV refused to play both videos.
Read the book of Maurice White to get the details. It's ugly.

 

[yodedude2]

Without MTV we wouldn't have Beavis and Butthead. ...

ah yes! excellent point. my favorite mtv moments were ALTV. and that one time they aired a live frank zappa concert. that was cool! huh uh huh huh huh uh ... yeah

 

[FilterFunk]

Earth Wind and Fire and Rick James had two of the biggest hit records in 1981 , Let's groove and Superfreak. MTV refused to play both videos.
Read the book of Maurice White to get the details. It's ugly.

Yep.

Basically, it was the massive, undeniable success of artists like Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Prince that pretty much forced MTV to start regularly airing black artists.

 

[two fingers]

your anger is palpable. the subject at hand is simply not that important to inspire apoplexy.

to address your 2nd paragraph -- some is, some isn't. some did, some didn't. some will, some won't. and some it's just as well we can bandy about examples to prove our 'points' as long as we like. however, ART, in whatever form one may think that is, has NOT always been about trends and fashion. there are always exceptions. one could easily argue the opposite, that trends and fashion co-opt artistic aesthetics to their own ends. still ... 80s pop music was a slave to mtv, and i stand by my assessment about mtv and its effect on the 'industry'; and apparently, you agree with the gist of it. [edit: and i would agree with you that there is a matter of degree and context to consider, as there always is, if that is indeed one of your points...]

perhaps i should've added the conditionalizer "mainstream"?

All fair points. And I ain't mad about nutn.

 

[Hahaha]

MTV taught me how to hop up and down like a bunny rabbit while playing bass. Seems to me that every other bass player in a New Wave band had to do a hopping routine in the video.

 

[yodedude2]

All fair points. And I ain't mad about nutn.

me neither! thanks for reading and sharing!

 

[HardNHeavy]

was great back then, i was 20 and headbangers ball was all i watched mostly, but stopped watching after 5-6yrs as i was already in a band by then doing my own thing, then i heard the videos got lame, turned into some weird fashion bs with reality shows...such a pity

 

[Honkey tonk]

 

[Sir Nose]

 

[bluesblaster]

I was in a band around that time and we did a "video" for a local music program that was on late TV (after midnight) its producers forwarded said video and others I'm sure to New York and a fledging new all music video show called MTV, and low and behold sometime later there we were. I am guessing the only reason we were on at all was because it was an around the clock network and they had a lot of time to fill up. As I recall they sent us some swag for sending them content, had a guitar pick with the MTV label on it though I havent seen it in awhile, probably got lost along the way

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hoo boy…the term, originally a dismissive one, emerged about 15 years ago, and it was coined by older millenials, more or less, to ridicule the smug, tepid soft rock/fern bar music of the 70’s favored by some of their boomer parents. CC’s “Sailing” is the flagship song, as it were, of the retroactive catagory, but this cover is a better representation of the mindset and the music….
View attachment 4339476
Michael McDonald era Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oats(according to some), Eagles, Boz Scaggs, Billy Joel and one hit wonders like the “Pina Colada Song” are some other examples. Others may lump Steely Dan in there, but they were far too cynical and wrote plenty of songs about seriously f’d up people, for me to concur. Basically, everything I couldn’t stand in the 70’s(except for the Dan). Eventually, the term got adopted by those who saw all that in a positive light, although a little tongue-in-cheek, and now there are cover/tribute bands who specialize in it.

Thanks from a card carrying boomer. As for the Millenials, like they have room to talk? LOL!

 

[Winslow]

And still in love with Martha Quinn.

Should have voted when you had the chance!

Yep.

Basically, it was the massive, undeniable success of artists like Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Prince that pretty much forced MTV to start regularly airing black artists.

It was awesome when Bowie called them out on it too:

 

[Michedelic]

Thanks from a card carrying boomer. As for the Millenials, like they have room to talk? LOL!

Well, as a card carrying boomer, I’d have to say that they were right. I thought all that stuff was awful. Every time I hear a Fender Rhodes Piano, my skin crawls. After a while, they started celebrating it, in an ironic, “this was uncool, so we’ll make it cool again although it’s still really kinda cheesy” manner. Who do you think are playing in these current cover/tribute bands, for the most part, anyway? It’s no different than the 70’s take on the 50’s, ala’ Sha Na Na, turning it all into a bad paraody, a joke, with Happy Days being such a bunch of crap as well.
FYI, millenials are now getting old, and being bashed by Gen Y and Z. Go peruse Buzz Feed.

 

[osv]

We stole cable for the summer of 86 , so that’s the extent of my Mtv viewing aside from being at a friends house. I loved it then. I understand it went downhill very quickly after that. My biggest gripe was that now looks were more important than talent. So many great bands of the 70’s wouldn’t have stood a chance in the 80’s.
As a side note, I remember seeing an episode of Ed McMahon’s Star Search where this avereage looking woman with a phenomenal Janicesque voice was competing against a babe with week, uninspiring set of pipes. Of course the hot chick won.