Damn right he is...I’ve been trying to replicate the guitar tone he has in this for years...close, but it’s in Mark’s hands...also a certain pedal he uses and which kind of cuts through
But it’s somewhat ironic because this song is essentially describing themselves even if it should be considered in the wider context of 80s rock culture and the materialism of the late 80s and the MTV culture in general.
The thing people always get wrong about the F word lyrics is that the character the singer is playing doesn't hate the guy he's jealous of his success hence the "Own jet airplane and millionaire" references. It's not a comment as much about sexuality as it is about the pretty boy bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet etc who were all pretty much straight but dressed flamboyantly and fashionably. The character the singer is playing is a gruff working class guy who is jealous of their success for doing something he things is easy in comparison to the hard physical work he does but at the same time he knows that in reality they had to learn to play those guitars and drums and there is a grudging respect for their talent behind his words.
I think Mark actually heard a guy say that when he was in an appliance store. He thought it was funny so he wrote the song. In 1985 when this came out all the "macho" men thought all the rockers were f***ts. I think the funniest part is that if those "macho" guys had to go on the road with a rock band for a few months, they'd go back to moving refrigerators. Everyone back then, especially the ones who didn't like rock and roll, didn't realize just how hard it really was to be in a rock band. Mark Knopfler said in an interview years later that he ended Dire Straights because it just got too big. It took two stages to put on their shows and he said every time he turned around there were more and more new people working for them that he didn't know. I always wondered what happened to them and then I saw the interview and it made sense. Videos were just being made, MTV was absolutely ruling the air waves and the shows were getting bigger and bigger productions. I think he said he didn't really like doing the videos too. Mark is still a guitar hero, still writing and performing.
@@DavidB-2268 yeah bang on. I think i remember him saying that they weren't serving him so he asked for a pen and paper and wrote down what they were saying. Wrote a smash hit ultimate revenge
Yes, as I understood it, he witnessed the conversation and made mental notes. Much of it happened and he included it verbatim. Or, as we say in the business, it wrote itself.
Yeah, it was like a built-in ad, with Sting singing the whole "I want my MTV" intro and a whole lyrical idea of working-class yobs complaining about overpaid entertainers on MTV.
The band leader, Mark Knopfler apparently was buying a new TV when he overheard some blokes making that kind of comments to a band playing on MTV. Basically the song is about the idea that playing in a rock band is easy, rockers just have fun, make loads of money and get all the girls.
Mark Knopfler is a pure genius. Saw them on 92' and i've been always following him till today. Last year He was touring maybe for last time but his music will never die. Long live to d.s. Long live to mARK kNOPFLER ♥️
Yea he meant it like you thought. He's basically saying people stereotype how people look and judge, but look at his accomplishments, "he's a millionaire, got his own jet airplane". Brilliant writing!
There was controversy a few years ago about the F word in this song. Some radio stations pulled it. Ruling was that it was allowable under artistic expression. Also, they were being ironic/making a point.
That verse was left out of the single radio version and the mtv clean version. These unqualified historians here think it got extensive play. I saw this video twice before they only showed the edited version I had to buy the CD to get this version. What the juveniles on this board call “political correctness “ is actually called “Censorship “ thank you.
Yeah the song is better with the word "faggot" in there because the Archie Bunker type is admiring his accomplishments despite being at a disadvantage during the homophobic era of the AIDS Crisis. And hey --- if you don't like me saying that word, let me tell you I'm gay so I'm entitled, just like Blacks are entitled to say the N-word.
@@edwardmiessner6502 I'm not gay and not black but I love both. Great people that bring many gifts. But the PC shit needs to end. For the younger folks on the channel, this is our 4th decade of Political Correctness aka Censorship. Even Democrats are getting sick of this garbage. I am one of them.
"Money for Nothing" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits from the album deira Brothers in Arms from 1985. The lyrics are written from the point of view of a working class man who watches music videos and comments on what he sees.
The singer Mark Knopler was inspired to write this song when in real life he overheard workmen complaining about the easy life of bands on MTV. He incorporated some of what they were saying into the song.
Back in the day when MTV started, when this song came out, you could get away with terms like "little f*^$#%t". Nobody thought much about it. People are too uptight these days about this stuff.
I remember when The Who had to go back in the studio to re-record "Who Are You" to say "who the heck are you" instead of "who the f*ck are you" in order to get the FM radio stations to play the song. Seems crazy today after you hear the lyrics to Cardi-B WAP.
@@bostonwhofan - And when The Rolling Stones appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, they had to change one of their lyrics from "Let's spend the night together" to "Let's spend some time together." But when Mick Jagger sang that line, he rolled his eyes. lol
Well Cops used to also be able to get away with beating up black people and get no reprucussions, just because it was the “good old days” doesn’t mean it was right. idek why but I see people like you always whining about political correctness and how words like f*ghot or r*tard aren’t bad, but if someone says n*gger you would say they’re a racist, what kinda logic is that? One word used to demean a group is bad, but these two other words are ok cause they demean less-accepted groups???
Yess! Dire Straits!!! Awesome!! “Sultans Of Swing” Still my favorite!! They have blocked it once or twice! 🤔 Great band!! I thought that was an AD. Don’t wanna dunk on you playin basketball!! 💪✊👊😂💯🔥
Even now, I imagine this would be okay because he's technically referring to himself through the perspective of another character. Context is important kiddos
Song's about a couple furniture movers seeing a band on Music TV. It looks so easy, they assume they could do it with a little practice. Reminds me of a guy that saw a world champ tennis player on TV and said, "I'd play him for million dollars!" Yeah, but you don't get to play him unless you practice your ass off for 8 hours a day, starting when you're about 5 years old. Professionals make very difficult things seem easy.
I am 44 years old. I remember how quick the F word turned. Like one week we were all "hahahahahah" and the next we were like "whoah... WHOAH!!! You can't say that!" Don't let anyone fool you, it went down kinda fast where I was. I don't miss it. I am glad we don't say it any more, but I have a hard time judging this use of it badly in context. You should check out Brothers in Arms. Mark Knopfler wrote it about Britain in the Falklands War I think, but it's kind of universally beautiful.
That's how your average blue collar Joe talked about rock stars back then. "With thier long hair, ear rings, and make up." it was an attitude that goes all the way back to 60's rockers. Listen to turn the page by Bob Segar, he talks about walking into restraunts while on the road and having people stare and react to his appearance in the second verse.
Yep it is the word you think it is....it was all more lenient in the 80's nobody got offended so easy.....miss that shit lol ....70's bled into the 80's still hahaha
Jeff Reed!! Yessssss! LOL. I was a kid but I still miss that shit lmao Ehh I’ll 🤐 it 😂. Mid late 80’s earlier I remember and I remember MTV Doing actual Music Videos!! I remember because I remember thriller by MJ! 😂. But was music videos. Now dumb ass reality shows! Haven’t watched since 90’s! Hope all is well brother!!! 💪🇺🇸
@@BigPete44 Same brother and yep....Thriller and Biily Jean man lol miss those days too..Men at Work ..and Electric Ave. haha remember that one? Was some of the first I remember too. lol
He was shopping and "Sultans of Swing" video was on the TV screens and the employees were watching it. He walked up behind them and the lyrics are the conversation he overheard about the band as they watched, not knowing the guy behind them was Mark Knopfler. They were calling him those derogatory terms.
Written by Mark Knopfler + Sting. MK on lead vocal + lead guitar. Sting on backing vocals. Same key as Synchronicity 2, which was written by Sting. 1 of the best songs for Dire Straits + Sting. 😎😎 In the same year, Sting sang backing vocals in Phil Collins' Take Me Home + Sting reased his 1st solo album. Sting was busy as a bee! L🤣L 🇬🇧
That first character in the video is an homage to Weird Al Yankovich. This video played on MTV throughout my childhood and well into my teens before it sadly drifted off. I NEVER got sick of this song.
Fun fact: This was MTV UK’s very first video ever broadcasted when the channel debuted. The moment they first went on air this was the very first thing people saw tuning in, and it set a hell of a first impression, kicking off the MTV generation. This was also the very first music video to use CGI, and it obviously shows lol. But you gotta give them credit this was before Tron and Toy Story showed up and showed what CGI could do.
It's always funny when people hear this song for the first time today and are blown away by one specific word being used. Haha. Back when the song came out, no one thought anything of it.
My understanding is that Mark Knopfler said he overheard two guys having this conversation while watching MTV through the appliance store window. MTV had just come on the scene, and believe it or not, they used to play videos.
He meant it like you thought. he was saying you can do whatever you want if you can rip the guitar like that. I also think it might have been a reference to Prince(the musician)
Mark Knopfler was in an appliance store and the words to the song are statements one of the employees was saying to another when they were watching MTV on a display TV they had. They are actual statements from them, not his words.
A lot of the lyrics in this song Mark got verbatim from a guy in an electrical appliance store who was watching MTV, Mark found it interesting and asked for a pen and paper, and wrote down what the guy was saying, including the F word. You should react to Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits next, great guitar work and emotional lyrics.
I'm a child of the 60s, with all the baggage that involves. I still think that, overall, the 60s had the best music - song for song. But the 80s had the absolutely best songs. Perhaps they were complimented by the videos, which made them uber popular in the 80s. Regardless, here is one of them. In addition, think Sledgehammer, any of Robert Palmer's, Madonna, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Beat It, etc.
Yes. The F word is what he meant. Back then calling someone a F was like how we might call someone today a fool. In about 20-30 years from now, things we do and say for granted now will be like, “OMG! Really? Did he really call himself African American?!” 😱
In 5th grade the book Frindle taught me that words are only worth the the definition or value that they're given at a specific time. Tough concept for some people.
It is a song about what average working class dogs were thinking about musicians while watching the newest thing on tv. Which was MTV music videos. Also a lot of British or young feminine looking rock stars and musicians and music groups were on MTV. While working men were like hard working macho guy types.
The story is that Mark Knopfler, the lead guitarist, overheard some guys in a shop talking about rock stars and decided to turn their conversation into a song.
So the story is that these comments were overheard by a guy in the band who wrote it down (Mark Knopfler?). In a big box type store, some stock/delivery guys were commenting on some TVs that were on, tuned into MTV. They were talking about how easy those guys in the band on MTV videos had it: “Maybe get a blister on your little finger, maybe get a blister on your thumb.” Their jobs were easy compared to what these stock guys had to do, hauling and delivering appliances for low wages. The guys in the videos got their money for nothing and their chicks for free. Also, the back up singer is Sting, which is severely cool.
This song came out in 1985.(Hence all the cheesy day-glo effects in the video. Nothing says 1980s like day-glo anything.) That word didn't become taboo until the early 1990s. It means what you think it means.
Thee lyrics were sung in the perspective of a heavy laborer who watched these guys make tons of money while he had to work hard and earn nothing. Yea he meant fa..ot. He was definitely put out that these guys were making so much money for nothing just like the song is titled.
MTV was new and awesome! We had never seen anything like it, except once a week music shows on small tv's with mono sound! like American Bandstand and others! ...aslo Color TV's weighed tons!!!✌👍😎🎶
In the early days of MTV, it was nothing but music videos, 24/7. One of the stars of that era was Boy George, who left no doubt about his homosexuality, and in fact was very "in your face" about it ( g.co/kgs/DrW1v7 ). Mark Knopfler wrote the second verse of "Money For Nothing" to pay tribute to the courage of Boy George. It wasn't until the Leftist's/Democrats inflicted us with Political Correctness many years later that it became "controversial". Yes, there really was a time in the 1970s and 80s when we could openly sing, talk, and make movies about anything at all. Back then we SOLVED problems instead of whining to the government about them.
We 'studied' that song in a English class at school..I was maybe 11-12 years old! ..and I am NOT old..only 40 something.. :D That era is nearest than you think! ;O) By the way, the back vocal is Sting singer.
This song simply represents a common, underpaid, working man's opinion about overpaid, arrogant rock n roll stars he sees on TV, while doing his manual labor job. The language is crude but authentic for the period, - Just like how some black guys in the hood might use the N word when talking about someone today. This song was a super hit on MTV, one of the first music videos to use CGI graphics. Mark Knopfler is an amazing guitarist - one of the best ever. The voice at the end repeating, "I want my, I want my MTV" is Sting. This song was sort of a promo for MTV that was still pretty young. Believe or not MTV used to actually be Music Television - nothing but music videos, without all the other stuff they have added to it now.
its not his words the whole thing is a conversation between two delivery men in a shop that mark overheard and put into the song and based the whole song around
The guy saying "faggot" is the appliance delivery guy in the video, which represents a situation that happened to the lead singer, Mark Knopfler, after he became successful. If anything, he's shitting on the delivery guy for basically being a prick.
You also need to remember they were from England not the United States. Some slang is more acceptable in other areas of the world. 80’s here it was used and it was derogatory here in the States.
I remember watching this on video jukebox in the day. And yes he meant what he said also. It wasn't necessarily acceptable just not as unacceptable. It goes to show you that things aren't like they were back then. LGBT is much more acceptable today than back then. They also made references to MTV which actually video's on them instead of the stuff they have today.
THIS IS THE JAM THAT LAUNCHED MTV BABY!!!!!!!
GEN X FOREVER❤❤❤
Yeah he meant it!! 🤔🤐😂 Mid 80’s I think. Mark Knopfler is an underrated genius with the guitar!!! He’s a legend!!!
Damn right he is...I’ve been trying to replicate the guitar tone he has in this for years...close, but it’s in Mark’s hands...also a certain pedal he uses and which kind of cuts through
But it’s somewhat ironic because this song is essentially describing themselves even if it should be considered in the wider context of 80s rock culture and the materialism of the late 80s and the MTV culture in general.
the lyrics were written to represent what a normal blue collar worker would think when watching MTV. life was alot less PC back then.
He meant it.
The thing people always get wrong about the F word lyrics is that the character the singer is playing doesn't hate the guy he's jealous of his success hence the "Own jet airplane and millionaire" references. It's not a comment as much about sexuality as it is about the pretty boy bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet etc who were all pretty much straight but dressed flamboyantly and fashionably. The character the singer is playing is a gruff working class guy who is jealous of their success for doing something he things is easy in comparison to the hard physical work he does but at the same time he knows that in reality they had to learn to play those guitars and drums and there is a grudging respect for their talent behind his words.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Well stated.
Excellent explanation!
I think Mark actually heard a guy say that when he was in an appliance store. He thought it was funny so he wrote the song. In 1985 when this came out all the "macho" men thought all the rockers were f***ts. I think the funniest part is that if those "macho" guys had to go on the road with a rock band for a few months, they'd go back to moving refrigerators. Everyone back then, especially the ones who didn't like rock and roll, didn't realize just how hard it really was to be in a rock band. Mark Knopfler said in an interview years later that he ended Dire Straights because it just got too big. It took two stages to put on their shows and he said every time he turned around there were more and more new people working for them that he didn't know. I always wondered what happened to them and then I saw the interview and it made sense. Videos were just being made, MTV was absolutely ruling the air waves and the shows were getting bigger and bigger productions. I think he said he didn't really like doing the videos too. Mark is still a guitar hero, still writing and performing.
As I recall..Mark Knopfler the singer wrote this song about the guys at the place where he was buying appliances for his new home.
Yeah. Based on an overheard conversation between department store workers
@@DavidB-2268 yeah bang on. I think i remember him saying that they weren't serving him so he asked for a pen and paper and wrote down what they were saying. Wrote a smash hit ultimate revenge
Yes, as I understood it, he witnessed the conversation and made mental notes. Much of it happened and he included it verbatim. Or, as we say in the business, it wrote itself.
Back in the 1980's and MTV loved to play this song.
Yeah, it was like a built-in ad, with Sting singing the whole "I want my MTV" intro and a whole lyrical idea of working-class yobs complaining about overpaid entertainers on MTV.
The band leader, Mark Knopfler apparently was buying a new TV when he overheard some blokes making that kind of comments to a band playing on MTV. Basically the song is about the idea that playing in a rock band is easy, rockers just have fun, make loads of money and get all the girls.
Mark Knopfler is a pure genius. Saw them on 92' and i've been always following him till today. Last year He was touring maybe for last time but his music will never die. Long live to d.s. Long live to mARK kNOPFLER ♥️
Can never get enough of Dire Straits
This is one of the best guitar riffs that starts the song very recognizable
Yea he meant it like you thought. He's basically saying people stereotype how people look and judge, but look at his accomplishments, "he's a millionaire, got his own jet airplane". Brilliant writing!
@@corinageorge9463 in that part of the song he is. But everyone has an opinion.
Love Sting's vocals in this song - ("I want my MTV" was such a famous line back then) And Mark Knopfler's voice...love his voice and guitar playing.
Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits are one of the UK's greatest gifts to music and we're all so proud of them. This one's a classic from way back...
Mark Knofler is the lead singer and is still writing his music and went solo to this day, I just have always loved Dire Straits!!
There was controversy a few years ago about the F word in this song. Some radio stations pulled it. Ruling was that it was allowable under artistic expression. Also, they were being ironic/making a point.
That verse was left out of the single radio version and the mtv clean version. These unqualified historians here think it got extensive play. I saw this video twice before they only showed the edited version I had to buy the CD to get this version. What the juveniles on this board call “political correctness “ is actually called “Censorship “ thank you.
Yeah the song is better with the word "faggot" in there because the Archie Bunker type is admiring his accomplishments despite being at a disadvantage during the homophobic era of the AIDS Crisis. And hey --- if you don't like me saying that word, let me tell you I'm gay so I'm entitled, just like Blacks are entitled to say the N-word.
@@bartstarr100 Amen Brother.
@@edwardmiessner6502 I'm not gay and not black but I love both. Great people that bring many gifts. But the PC shit needs to end. For the younger folks on the channel, this is our 4th decade of Political Correctness aka Censorship. Even Democrats are getting sick of this garbage. I am one of them.
Yeah I remember the Knebworth 1990 version where he said the little trucker
If you haven't done Dire Straits' "Sultans of Swing," I highly suggest it. It's an amazing song, and his skills on the guitar are on full display.
This was an MTV blowout!! We were all gathered watching!! Hha such a great time! Memories😜🇺🇸❤️Tennessee
"Money for Nothing" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits from the album deira Brothers in Arms from 1985. The lyrics are written from the point of view of a working class man who watches music videos and comments on what he sees.
The singer Mark Knopler was inspired to write this song when in real life he overheard workmen complaining about the easy life of bands on MTV. He incorporated some of what they were saying into the song.
Sting actually sang the background vocals and the "I want my, I want my, I want my MTV".
Back in the day when MTV started, when this song came out, you could get away with terms like "little f*^$#%t". Nobody thought much about it. People are too uptight these days about this stuff.
I remember when The Who had to go back in the studio to re-record "Who Are You" to say "who the heck are you" instead of "who the f*ck are you" in order to get the FM radio stations to play the song. Seems crazy today after you hear the lyrics to Cardi-B WAP.
@@bostonwhofan - And when The Rolling Stones appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, they had to change one of their lyrics from "Let's spend the night together" to "Let's spend some time together." But when Mick Jagger sang that line, he rolled his eyes. lol
Well Cops used to also be able to get away with beating up black people and get no reprucussions, just because it was the “good old days” doesn’t mean it was right. idek why but I see people like you always whining about political correctness and how words like f*ghot or r*tard aren’t bad, but if someone says n*gger you would say they’re a racist, what kinda logic is that? One word used to demean a group is bad, but these two other words are ok cause they demean less-accepted groups???
Doesn't matter if u are into hip hop blues rock country metal whatever when u hear the opening drums and riff u can't refuse not to like it.
Yess! Dire Straits!!! Awesome!! “Sultans Of Swing” Still my favorite!! They have blocked it once or twice! 🤔 Great band!! I thought that was an AD. Don’t wanna dunk on you playin basketball!! 💪✊👊😂💯🔥
That's what he's saying. This was in the 80's before political correctness was something that could bring someone's career to an end.
Even now, I imagine this would be okay because he's technically referring to himself through the perspective of another character.
Context is important kiddos
@@HollowGolem Maybe, but I'd hate to test that theory. LOL
Back...way back...before you
We had this thing that made you smile...nice you're here..👍
This Brother is called, annointed and full of Him.! Big props.
Song's about a couple furniture movers seeing a band on Music TV. It looks so easy, they assume they could do it with a little practice. Reminds me of a guy that saw a world champ tennis player on TV and said, "I'd play him for million dollars!" Yeah, but you don't get to play him unless you practice your ass off for 8 hours a day, starting when you're about 5 years old. Professionals make very difficult things seem easy.
I am 44 years old. I remember how quick the F word turned. Like one week we were all "hahahahahah" and the next we were like "whoah... WHOAH!!! You can't say that!" Don't let anyone fool you, it went down kinda fast where I was. I don't miss it. I am glad we don't say it any more, but I have a hard time judging this use of it badly in context.
You should check out Brothers in Arms. Mark Knopfler wrote it about Britain in the Falklands War I think, but it's kind of universally beautiful.
That's how your average blue collar Joe talked about rock stars back then. "With thier long hair, ear rings, and make up." it was an attitude that goes all the way back to 60's rockers. Listen to turn the page by Bob Segar, he talks about walking into restraunts while on the road and having people stare and react to his appearance in the second verse.
Thanks, young dude! Rock On ❤️😎
ahh, the 80's. That's what this represents.
Yep it is the word you think it is....it was all more lenient in the 80's nobody got offended so easy.....miss that shit lol ....70's bled into the 80's still hahaha
Jeff Reed!! Yessssss! LOL. I was a kid but I still miss that shit lmao Ehh I’ll 🤐 it 😂. Mid late 80’s earlier I remember and I remember MTV Doing actual Music Videos!! I remember because I remember thriller by MJ! 😂. But was music videos. Now dumb ass reality shows! Haven’t watched since 90’s! Hope all is well brother!!! 💪🇺🇸
@@BigPete44 Same brother and yep....Thriller and Biily Jean man lol miss those days too..Men at Work ..and Electric Ave. haha remember that one? Was some of the first I remember too. lol
Yep. You can't say anything nowadays without someone taking offense. Just look at cesspools like Facebook and Twitter.
@@AZColt1971 Now the Redskins are just freakin Washington.....BS
Try finding an uncut version of Elvis Costello's Oliver's Army, there always seems to be a fade after "one less little white" nowadays.
they said what you thought they said , they wrote this son watching MTV!!!!
Skate Away.
Just a damn cool chill song.
He was shopping and "Sultans of Swing" video was on the TV screens and the employees were watching it. He walked up behind them and the lyrics are the conversation he overheard about the band as they watched, not knowing the guy behind them was Mark Knopfler. They were calling him those derogatory terms.
Skate Away is my favorite Dire Straights song.
Written by Mark Knopfler + Sting.
MK on lead vocal + lead guitar.
Sting on backing vocals.
Same key as Synchronicity 2, which was written by Sting.
1 of the best songs for Dire Straits + Sting. 😎😎
In the same year, Sting sang backing vocals in Phil Collins' Take Me Home + Sting reased his 1st solo album.
Sting was busy as a bee! L🤣L
🇬🇧
Sting was singing background.
sting is the lead singer in a band called "the police"
Even so, it’s still a good song
Yes, Sting did the part at the end singing ‘I want my MTV’
@@karenbarton7350 Sting is the voice singing that phrase at the start of the song also.
That first character in the video is an homage to Weird Al Yankovich. This video played on MTV throughout my childhood and well into my teens before it sadly drifted off. I NEVER got sick of this song.
Fun fact: This was MTV UK’s very first video ever broadcasted when the channel debuted. The moment they first went on air this was the very first thing people saw tuning in, and it set a hell of a first impression, kicking off the MTV generation.
This was also the very first music video to use CGI, and it obviously shows lol. But you gotta give them credit this was before Tron and Toy Story showed up and showed what CGI could do.
It's always funny when people hear this song for the first time today and are blown away by one specific word being used. Haha. Back when the song came out, no one thought anything of it.
"you missed this line"
My voice is much deeper than that 😀😁😂🤣😂😉
My understanding is that Mark Knopfler said he overheard two guys having this conversation while watching MTV through the appliance store window. MTV had just come on the scene, and believe it or not, they used to play videos.
In the days of this song making the rounds, everyone knew “the little f#*#*t” was referring to Prince. Some people thought he was gay.
He meant it like you thought. he was saying you can do whatever you want if you can rip the guitar like that. I also think it might have been a reference to Prince(the musician)
Mark Knopfler was in an appliance store and the words to the song are statements one of the employees was saying to another when they were watching MTV on a display TV they had. They are actual statements from them, not his words.
We used to jam this song at the home furniture distribution warehouse I used to work at.
Yes that's what he meant. Exactly.
Back then there wasn't everyone getting their feelings hurt nobody cared what you said
A lot of the lyrics in this song Mark got verbatim from a guy in an electrical appliance store who was watching MTV, Mark found it interesting and asked for a pen and paper, and wrote down what the guy was saying, including the F word. You should react to Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits next, great guitar work and emotional lyrics.
Good one so many good dire strait tracks but only one unforgettable video.
I'm a child of the 60s, with all the baggage that involves. I still think that, overall, the 60s had the best music - song for song. But the 80s had the absolutely best songs. Perhaps they were complimented by the videos, which made them uber popular in the 80s. Regardless, here is one of them. In addition, think Sledgehammer, any of Robert Palmer's, Madonna, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Beat It, etc.
Saw him in London in 2019 now it's the "little mothertrucker is a millionaire"
Yup. That's what we used to call 'em. People are too pussified to acknowledge that now days.
ah, when MTV was 24 hours of music videos. and NASA was their only sponsor. ah the good old days (sort of) when the M in MTV was music.
This song is based on a real life conversation he overheard delivery men were having about the videos from MTV playing on a wall of tvs.
Fun fact: this was one of first albums to be completely digitally recorded! Before then, analog mulrti-track tape was used.
Yes. The F word is what he meant. Back then calling someone a F was like how we might call someone today a fool. In about 20-30 years from now, things we do and say for granted now will be like, “OMG! Really? Did he really call himself African American?!” 😱
In 5th grade the book Frindle taught me that words are only worth the the definition or value that they're given at a specific time. Tough concept for some people.
It is a song about what average working class dogs were thinking about musicians while watching the newest thing on tv. Which was MTV music videos. Also a lot of British or young feminine looking rock stars and musicians and music groups were on MTV. While working men were like hard working macho guy types.
Love this music! You could try some classical musical, try: ''Schostakovich Quartet No. 8 - Jansen'' (its not a ''relaxing'' classical, its tense!)
That is Sting singing backup vocals
Sting sings the backing vocals - and added that famous catchy gimmick chant "I want my MTV";-)
Yep!
The story is that Mark Knopfler, the lead guitarist, overheard some guys in a shop talking about rock stars and decided to turn their conversation into a song.
Congrats on 20 k Subs Twon and a video sponsor ! Moving on up bro ! #NoLimitNation 💯✌
Back when MTV only played music videos, like 24/7, and had lots of dudes in makeup and earings. Though Im pretty sure they were referring to Prince.
Knopfler is British. I would say more likely Boy George than Prince.
I thought they were referring to Boy George myself. He was wicked popular back then
I always assumed Wham.....and George Michael.
MTV used to be all music and he is talking to get paid for doing ads. You could never play this on TV or Radio today. This was very popular.
Aww warm memories going to their Sydney concert 8 times in the 80’s
Saw them in concert once, great show for sure.
Love the guitar tone, that dirty distortion, yet it's clean and tight...
Song always gets stuck in my head LOL
So the story is that these comments were overheard by a guy in the band who wrote it down (Mark Knopfler?). In a big box type store, some stock/delivery guys were commenting on some TVs that were on, tuned into MTV. They were talking about how easy those guys in the band on MTV videos had it: “Maybe get a blister on your little finger, maybe get a blister on your thumb.” Their jobs were easy compared to what these stock guys had to do, hauling and delivering appliances for low wages. The guys in the videos got their money for nothing and their chicks for free. Also, the back up singer is Sting, which is severely cool.
The backup vocals on this were sung by Sting from The Police.
A great band you should really check out.
Yes, it was common to use mama about a good looking girl, and we liked it.
This song came out in 1985.(Hence all the cheesy day-glo effects in the video. Nothing says 1980s like day-glo anything.) That word didn't become taboo until the early 1990s. It means what you think it means.
The band is singing about what it thinks the working class thinks of the band when they see them on TV.
Best intro to any song ever!!!!!
I remember watching this on mtv when it came out....
Thee lyrics were sung in the perspective of a heavy laborer who watched these guys make tons of money while he had to work hard and earn nothing. Yea he meant fa..ot. He was definitely put out that these guys were making so much money for nothing just like the song is titled.
MTV was new and awesome! We had never seen anything like it, except once a week music shows on small tv's with mono sound! like American Bandstand and others! ...aslo Color TV's weighed tons!!!✌👍😎🎶
Look at the movie,"The Princess Bride," for mark Nofler music.
In the early days of MTV, it was nothing but music videos, 24/7. One of the stars of that era was Boy George, who left no doubt about his homosexuality, and in fact was very "in your face" about it ( g.co/kgs/DrW1v7 ). Mark Knopfler wrote the second verse of "Money For Nothing" to pay tribute to the courage of Boy George. It wasn't until the Leftist's/Democrats inflicted us with Political Correctness many years later that it became "controversial".
Yes, there really was a time in the 1970s and 80s when we could openly sing, talk, and make movies about anything at all. Back then we SOLVED problems instead of whining to the government about them.
We 'studied' that song in a English class at school..I was maybe 11-12 years old! ..and I am NOT old..only 40 something.. :D That era is nearest than you think! ;O)
By the way, the back vocal is Sting singer.
Glad your doing well. Great song
Speaking of money for nothing. How about listening to music on youtube and reacting? Love it
#NoLimitNation 💯🔥
3:56 🤦🏼♀️😬🙄😂😂😂
for anyone who wants to keep all their braincells 😊
Man those were the days
This song simply represents a common, underpaid, working man's opinion about overpaid, arrogant rock n roll stars he sees on TV, while doing his manual labor job. The language is crude but authentic for the period, - Just like how some black guys in the hood might use the N word when talking about someone today. This song was a super hit on MTV, one of the first music videos to use CGI graphics. Mark Knopfler is an amazing guitarist - one of the best ever. The voice at the end repeating, "I want my, I want my MTV" is Sting. This song was sort of a promo for MTV that was still pretty young. Believe or not MTV used to actually be Music Television - nothing but music videos, without all the other stuff they have added to it now.
Yes lad! 💪🏿
Yes, the F word means what you think. The song is usually censored now.
its not his words the whole thing is a conversation between two delivery men in a shop that mark overheard and put into the song and based the whole song around
Some excellent animated videos are peter gabriel - Sledgehammer & Big Time. Also. Ah Ha - take on me
Yes it’s the same thing your thinking lol
The guy saying "faggot" is the appliance delivery guy in the video, which represents a situation that happened to the lead singer, Mark Knopfler, after he became successful. If anything, he's shitting on the delivery guy for basically being a prick.
was co writen by sting ( police) n sting sings v high register i want my mtv etc. live version at live aid sting performs onstage wit ds.
9:26, when the title clicks. Lol. Awesome reaction man.
You also need to remember they were from England not the United States. Some slang is more acceptable in other areas of the world. 80’s here it was used and it was derogatory here in the States.
If you haven’t already, you should react to Neesun dorma sang by Luciano Pavarotti
I remember watching this on video jukebox in the day. And yes he meant what he said also. It wasn't necessarily acceptable just not as unacceptable. It goes to show you that things aren't like they were back then. LGBT is much more acceptable today than back then. They also made references to MTV which actually video's on them instead of the stuff they have today.