August 1 marks one of the most important anniversaries in ’80s pop culture. Forty-five years ago this weekend, MTV signed on with the immortal words, “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” A few seconds later, The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” changed music history forever.
But, let’s be honest. MTV’s first day wasn’t exactly wall-to-wall classics. The channel only had a few hundred videos to work with, many of them borrowed from record labels that weren’t entirely convinced this whole “music television” thing was going to last. If you watched that first broadcast expecting nothing but Michael Jackson, Madonna and Duran Duran … you were about three years too early.
Still, those first 24 hours laid the foundation for everything that followed. These weren’t necessarily the best videos of the decade, but they were among the most memorable, influential and important videos from MTV’s opening day. And yes, I’m sure you’ll disagree with at least three of my choices. That’s kind of the point.
10. Iron Maiden – “Running Free”
Heavy metal was represented from the very beginning, even if MTV wouldn’t fully embrace the genre until a few years later. It’s a straightforward live performance, but it hinted at the louder, harder side of the decade that was just beginning to emerge. It was the 16th video to run that day, making it the very first metal video in MTV rotation.
9. Cliff Richard – “We Don’t Talk Anymore”
This one is almost a history lesson. It reminds us that early MTV relied heavily on artists who already had promotional videos in circulation, especially from the U.K. Cliff Richard was a superstar overseas, even if many of us were meeting him for the first time. “We Don’t Talk Anymore” was Cliff Richard’s commercial peak in the U.S. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1980 and became his only Top 10 hit here.
8. 38 Special – “Hold On Loosely”
It’s “38 Special” without the period before 38. Otherwise, it’s a gun, right? Southern rock had a strong presence during MTV’s first months. It makes sense because it ruled the airwaves in the ’70s. “Hold On Loosely” captured the concert energy that many early videos leaned on before directors started treating music videos like short films. The ’80s would become a fertile ground for the band from Jacksonville, which proved to be a pretty decent user of the video art form.
7. Pretenders – “Brass in Pocket”
Chrissie Hynde didn’t need elaborate special effects. She simply looked cooler than just about everyone else. (Of course she did; she dated Sex Pistol Steve Jones!) This video helped introduce one of rock’s most charismatic frontwomen to an entirely new audience.
6. REO Speedwagon – “Take It on the Run”
Arena rock practically owned American radio in 1981, and REO Speedwagon became the face of it on MTV. The band didn’t make many overly creative videos, but watching Kevin Cronin lip-sync in dramatic close-up still worked.
5. Ph.D. – “Little Suzi’s on the Up”
Raise your hand if you haven’t thought about this song in 30 years. Ph.D. never became household names, but their video became one of those wonderfully weird pieces of early MTV wallpaper that anyone who watched back then instantly remembers. Ph.D. was far more successful in Europe and the U.K.; it was the soaring power ballad “I Won’t Let You Down,” which reached No. 3 in the U.K. and became a multi-million seller. Meanwhile, “Little Suzi’s on the Up” never charted in America.
4. Rod Stewart – “She Won’t Dance With Me”
This is an excellent trivia question. Everyone can name the first song on MTV on August 1; many can name the second (and we will right here shortly). This was the third! Rod Stewart understood that MTV was a chance to build your personality. He looked like he was having fun, and that mattered.
3. The Who – “You Better You Bet”
Having one of rock’s biggest bands on Day One gave MTV credibility. The video itself isn’t revolutionary, but it had class.
2. Pat Benatar – “You Better Run”
The second video – of course – ever shown on MTV. That’s reason enough to rank it this high. Benatar quickly became one of the channel’s defining artists, proving that powerful vocals, great songs and undeniable charisma could thrive on television as easily as on radio. And remember: “There are THREE girls here at Ridgemont who have cultivated the Pat Benatar look!”
1. The Buggles – “Video Killed the Radio Star”
Could it be anything else?
The song had already been a hit, but MTV gave it a second life and an immortality nobody could have predicted. It wasn’t just the first video played; it became the perfect symbol of the channel itself. Forty-five years later, it’s impossible to hear those opening keyboard notes without picturing astronauts, televisions and the birth of an entirely new era of pop culture.
Honorable Mentions
- Styx – “Rockin’ the Paradise”
- Split Enz – “History Never Repeats”
- Robin Lane & the Chartbusters – “When Things Go Wrong”
- The Cars – “Moving in Stereo”
- April Wine – “Just Between You and Me”