If you were anywhere within shouting proximity of a media outlet today, you've probably gleaned by now that today marks the 30th anniversary of the first broadcast of MTV. Yes, I know ... boo, hiss, etc. Listen, there's certainly a lot to hate about the MTV of today -- y'know, the one that doesn't play any actual music, but rather an endless barrage of stupor-inducing "reality" TV which caters to the lowest of possible com denoms. But back in the day -- mock them though you will -- MTV did turn me onto to handfuls of artists I invariably wouldn't have heard of otherwise. As much as I loved the MTV-eschewing rock underground of the 1980s, it would be a churlish charade to pretend that I didn't waste vast swathes of my youth watching the channel (hey, even Black Flag's "TV Party" saw a wee bit of rotation back in the day). It wasn't all idiotic bullshit, initially. Just because Jello Biafra hated it didn't mean that I had to.
And not for nothin', I actually worked at MTV News Online for a fleeting almost-two years a little bit ago and met an army of incredibly smart, cool and richly talented people there, many of whom I count as friends, so I'm simply never going to join the MTV-bashing demographic. That all said, I sincerely wish they'd go back to playing music videos. Is that too much to ask?
In any case, since everyone else is compiling their lists of favorite old videos, herewith my own. Enjoy.
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