Way Back When: The First Ten Music Videos to Air on MTV

If you're a Generation X'er, then you remember the day our lives changed forever. That would be August 1, 1981 and the newest channel on cable television, MTV, made its debut. We were captured by the phrase, "I want my MTV!" Yes, we wanted our MTV and every waking moment was spent in front of our television's soaking in our favorite tunes. We were introduced to the term "VJ," (video jockey) and we were hooked on this new phenomena that brought us a little closer to our favorite musicians.

Do you remember the videos that were aired that day? How about taking a trip down memory lane as we take a look at the first ten videos that flooded the airwaves way back when.

The First Ten Videos to Air on MTV:

1. The first video to make its debut on MTV was a little something called Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles. The song, as I understand it, is about the end of the radio-era and the start of the technology-era. The song itself debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. in 1979. I still love this song in its original form, but The Presidents of the United States of America did a nice remake in 1998 for the movie The Wedding Singer.

2. Pat Benatar became the first woman featured on MTV when her music video for You Better Run aired. Did you know The Young Rascals originally performed this song in 1966? Go figure.

3. Rod Stewart's music video She Won't Dance With Me made its debut on MTV's first day of broadcasting. This song was released in 1980 on his album Foolish Behaviour. The video was left as-is and the original airing included Stewart saying the "F" word.

4. You Better You Bet by The Who was done in black and white. The group T. Rex and The Who's album Who's Next are referenced in the song: "I drunk myself b-lind to the sound of old T. Rex, to the sound of old T. Rex - Who's Next".

5. Little Suzi's on the Up was a song by Ph.D. about a woman who wants to win no matter how much she's put down. The video itself is funny. By the way, Ph.D. stands for Phillips, Hymas, and Diamond.

6. We Don't Talk Anymore by Cliff Richard reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and was number one on German charts for five weeks.

7. Remember Brass In Pocket by The Pretenders? You know, the one where Crissy Hynde portrays a waitress flirting with one of three men who come into the café she works at and is pretty much ignored. Poor Crissy. She just didn't feel at all "special".

8. Time Heals by Todd Rundgren was released in 1981 on his album Healing, which is considered to have a spiritual side to it.

9. Take It On the Run is one of my favorite songs by REO Speedwagon (there are so many). This song was on the groups Hi Infidelity album released in 1981 and was a follow up to their song Keep On Loving You. This song features a fast 47-second guitar solo.

10. Rockin' the Paradise by none other than Styx was a song on their triple-platinum album Paradise Theatre released in 1981.

Can you believe it's been almost 30 years since MTV made its debut? So much has changed with the channel since its humble beginnings and some would argue it's been lost. In that, I mean those of us who were there when MTV began, it was all about the music. I don't know about you, but I would love for our children to experience MTV the way we did.

Sources:
Personal experience
The Top 13, The Top 13 Videos from MTV's First Day
guardian.co.uk, Has the internet killed the video star? MTV hits back with interactive channel