Thoughts on this music video: Dire Straits "Money for Nothing"?

[smahala1991]

In 1985 this video was considered a masterpiece. I will warn you there is a word in this song some may find offensive, but it was 1985.

[Lliam]

Excellent song. Mark Knopfler is an amazing song write and musician, and Dire Straights is a great band.

The hook about MTV was perfect for that era. No doubt attracted more air time on the network.

The shit about how easy it is to be a musician is hilarious. Yeah. Soooo easy. No work or talent involved at all. ROFL

There are so many great lines. "Money for nothin', chicks for free."
"Maybe get a blister on your little finger. Maybe get a blister on your thumb."
"See the little faggot with the earring and the make up. Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair. That little faggot got his own jet airplane. That little faggot, he's a millionaire."
"What's that? Hawaiian noises? Bangin' on the bongos like a chimpanzee." Brilliant!

The musicianship, composition and arrangement are 100% pro.

[FunkyMonkee]

Computer graphics back then were nowhere near what they are today so, as you said, it was 1985. Back then, it WAS a masterpiece!
As for the word, "shit", I learned that by the time I was in 2nd grade! People have been swearing in music for about 100 years, now. Here's one from at least 80 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/gkPCmIxv-3k

[Snsl153]

Them guys ain't dumb. They'll - at most - get a blister on their little finger, or maybe on their bum.
Oh, and what was the "offensive" word? Go on, you can tell us. I didn't hear anything offensive listening to this.

[smahala1991]

The word was fa**ot

[Snsl153]

Faot. Okay, I must have missed that. It's not a word though.

[petitedollbabee]

Love this song, usually play it in the car

[MarkRet]

Yeah, that's one my favorite songs. Dire Straits had a lot of great songs, and had no problem laughing at themselves. This song was from something Mark Knopfler heard from one of his friends joking about rock singers having life so easy. The video looks really simple and dated, but was high-tech for it's time.

[smahala1991]

Also Mark Knopfler played on Weird Al's parody version about Beverly Hillbillies

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, this song came out when I was a Junior in High School
I would play the video on MTV real loud and rock my crib

[TommyMountainFigure]

I use to love Dire Straits. You know what's funny? I recreated the first track from the Money For Nothing Album last year. 'Sultans of Swing' as a backing track Wanna hear it?

[smahala1991]

Sure! Have you ever heard Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins' album?

[TommyMountainFigure]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMaoNApteJc

[TommyMountainFigure]

I haven't I'm ashamed to say.

[TommyMountainFigure]

If you click on 'watch on you tube' it should play

[smahala1991]

https://youtu.be/FBK5AGFZWQ8 Chet and Mark

[TommyMountainFigure]

Cheers buddy I shall take a listen now.

[TommyMountainFigure]

It's very listenable. I know the tune from Old Benny Hill Sketches.

[smahala1991]

It was actually composed by an American saxophonist named Homer "Boots" Randolph

[TommyMountainFigure]

Was it this:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6TXMsvgQg

[smahala1991]

Yes, and Chet Atkins did his own version too.

https://youtu.be/JpIyyl7krI0

[TommyMountainFigure]

I like both versions.. actually I like all 3.

[msc545]

I LOVE this song. Als- I LOVE Sultans of Swing even more!

[MrOracle]

The Sultans are playing Creole...

[msc545]

@MrOracle yes!

[msc545]

Check out the guitar solo here!

www.youtube.com/watch

[bolverk]

It is and of its time, was bleeding edge computer graphics for 85, all I can say and I'm paraphrasing 'Not The Nine O'clock News' here, with modern music its often a case of 'Nice video - Shame about the song'.

[goaded]

I hadn't seen that since it was on air.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQamw4xxxHY

[goaded]

Takes me back. Aparently, the words for the song came almost verbatim from some guy working in a shop which showed MTV all the time.

[zagor]

From what I understand some members of Dire Straits were at a Best Buy-type store and overheard some workers talking like that.

[exitseven]

I remember this when it first came out. I am a big Mark Knopfler fan.

[Titanic1912]

The music video was awesome! I didn’t like the offensive word, but I’ve heard this song countless times!

[genericname85]

ah good old days when "MTV" was actually playing music.

[Jupiter1]

I especially like having Sting singing the refrain of that song.

[goaded]

So did Sting; millions for about 5 seconds work!

[altaboy]

I don't care for videos, but the song is one of my favourites.

[CaptainSmartass]

It's a classic. It's still a masterpiece, as is the song.

Simples...

[Selena1987]

Good song
Beautiful rhythm

[TrueConfection]

It was a great song!

[Still-alive]

awesome song. love it

[Jltakk]

Loved it as a kid when it played on VH1 and MTV

[CTHuskyMan]

Classic! And I STILL "want my MTV"! ;)

[saffoler]

I liked the Weird Al version in UHF 62 better.

[Stevefiveo]

Just an awesome video.

[Guardian45]

I wish I had written and sung it.