One hit wonder. I'm sure there are people that bought the album but this was the only song on the radio. If you have the time you should check out the original MTV video this is not the original. There's a lot of truth to this song. If you compare 70s bands to after, it turned into who looked best in front of the camera. there are songs like from Chicago and the Doobie Brothers that some of the bands after, MYV started, couldn't handle even if they tried. Before they didn't have the effects, the music became more catchy and was that about actually playing difficult music. This song in point. This was the beginning of a category called New Wave, in which turned into techno.
I remember it well. There were a lot of empty channels on cable in those days. Somehow I learned that a music video channel was going on air on one of them and turned to it on the day of its premier. The screen showed some color bars and digital text with a timer counting down to airtime, so I rode my bike around the neighborhood for an hour or so and came back to this. As a young drummer it became a huge chunk of my existence, and I remember fondly that brief period of time when MTV was truly Music Television.
I was in the Air Force stationed in England in 78-80, and they had a show called Top of the Pops where I saw this video for the first time. MTV was not the first TV show that featured music videos, I think Top of the Pops was.
There's an awesome podcast on Sirius XM called the I Want My 80s Podcast starring 3 of the original MTV vjs-Alan Hunter, Mark Goodman, & Nita Blackwood, that discusses the beginning of MTV.
They were a bit of a one hit wonder,Geoff Downes went on to join both "Yes" and "Asia".Trevor Horne went on to write song for some of the BIGGEST names in the Music Industry.Horn embarked on a highly successful career as a record producer, achieving success with the bands ABC, Dollar, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Art of Noise, and even the albums 90125 and Big Generator from a re-formed Yes, with Jon Anderson back on vocals. In 1985, Horn won the Best Producer BRIT Award. More than twenty years on, he is still active, producing with Seal, Tina Turner, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Cher, Simple Minds, Belle and Sebastian, t.A.T.u., Charlotte Church, Captain, Pet Shop Boys and Robbie Williams among his many credits. He is currently working with his new band, the Producers, who released the album Made in Basing Street in 2012.
I love this song so much. It's got this wonderful mismatch of New Wave sensibility, (for the time) cutting-edge electronic music which now sounds completely retro, and it's about the past glory of radio. It's like this beautiful mash-up of intentional retro layered over unintentional retro, and it still completely works in a way that feels real and not artificial, even though it's intentionally loaded with all sorts of artifice.
When I was in high school I remember a club called The New Wave Lounge where they played all early 80s music. Killer time for so many great artists & bands, it was a new sound as disco died and rock switched gears to the hair bands.
Yep, New Wave. Like the line in the Bellamy Brothers' "Old Hippie," which Jamel has reacted to: "He's got young friends into New Wave/But he's just too friggin' old."
I was 18 in 1982 in what was the Miami of the North East, sun, beaches, fast boats, and yes the white....and we weren't the Hamptons.....was nuts....it was so bad, we had our own DEA field office
Man, I remember the song "I Ran (So Far Away)" by The Flock Of Seagulls. But I remember the Bowling For Soup cover better (it was the opening theam for the cartoon show/anime Knights of the Zodiac bka Saint Saya).
The main guy behind The Buggles, Trevor Horn, also produced Frankie Goes To Hollywood and their hit “Relax”. If you like this song, you will also like “Pop Muzik “ by M and “Cars” by Gary Numan.
Someone could be a radio star without being a beautiful person. That's the whole gist.... If you had to be on camera, then you had to be pretty, be something other than JUST a musician. There were lots of very talented musicians who could not make the leap from the radio to the TV.
"Age of Plastic" is what my roommates and I put into the stereo on the days we cleaned the apartment to keep our energy up back in college days (1979-1983). "Clean Clean!"
The singer , Trevor Horn replace Jon Anderson in Yes for the album Drama in 1980. After he was a succesful producer especially for the most popular Yes album , 90125 , in 1983 !
Check out The Buggles’ “Living in the Plastic Age” and “Elstree”. Trevor Horn was part of Art of Noise, their biggest hit was “Close (To the Edit)”. He is also a prolific music producer. Geoffrey Downes was in the group Asia who had the hits “Heat of the Moment”, “Only Time Will Tell” and “Don’t Cry”.
Heck, check out the entire album - The Age of Plastic. Then check out Bruce Wooley and the Camera Club's version of Video Killed the Radio Star. Bruce co-wrote this one and some others with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. Both bands released the song at about the same time, but it was The Buggles version that got all of the attention. Bruce's version has a bit more of a rock feel to it. It also has Thomas Dolby on the keyboards and you can't go wrong there! The other song that I remember both bands releasing was 'Clean, Clean.' Again, it's interesting to compare versions. I like them both, but there is a different feel to the versions.
This is about the advent of television killing the radio drama stars that was listened to before the widespread distribution of television back when there were only three channels & later PBS
Yes and no. I mean - right there in the lyrics there's mention of the year 1952. There was a wave of changing technology throughout all forms of media and artistic expression and the lyrics peg the 60s. Horn has mentioned Kraftwerk being an influence on the song. There was a perception that things were about to change... were changing... and a nostalgic concern what that would mean. That the song itself is New Wave is... well... interesting.
"Video Killed The Radio Star" First song to be played on MTV. Great history with this band. After this hit, the two joined Yes (as singer & keyboardist) for the Drama album & one year tour. After one year Trevor Horn left to be a producer. He produced Seal's first albums (including tunes Crazy & Kiss From A Rose). Horn also returned to produce Yes albums 90125 & Big Generator (co writing credit on "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" as well). Many other artists of the 80's & 90's were produced by Horn (Relax- Frankie Goes To Hollywood, the band ABC, plus more). Horn also created a band Art Of Noise, that had a few minor hits. Peter Gunne cover was one. Geoff Downes left Yes to form the band Asia who had a string of hits. Years later, Downes rejoined Yes. These two were pioneers in their sound & for the 80's & 90's music style. Interesting group.
Yep, the first song to be played on MTV. It was pretty accurate because it seems in most cases if people don’t have the right look their talent is mainly overlooked 💯
@@jamieflowers1493 Hi, I got what you’re saying. The point I was trying to make was unfortunately many that have tremendous talent are not accepted because they don’t have the image that fits for profit to the industry. ☮️
That's interesting a British band would be the first video on MTV, I'm British and the first video on MTV europe was Dire Straights, money for nothing, fun facts
@@bigdaddigaming Hi, that really is interesting, I love the fun facts & any extra info. I think that the choice of song was very relevant to the kind of channel it was. I really like Dire Straits & ‘Money for nothing’ &’Sultans of swing’ are my favorites. I get your point though about the irony of the song choices for both countries. Thanks for the info 🤗
@@missgmoma I'm a bit of a trivia fan plus I watched the opening of MTV europe so as I was still living in England at that time before I moved to theses united states'😊 when I see things I know a bit about I'll often comment
Not true that they had nothing else. They made two albums and although subsequent singles didn't make as much of an impression as Video Killed the Radio Star, songs such as Elstree (about the film studio), Livening in the Plastic Age and Adventures in Modern Recording (a favourite of mine) did get radio play (at least in the UK). As people are saying, Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes joined Yes, after which Horn went on to be a big name producer (Frankie Goes to Hollywood, ABC) and record company owner (ZTT). Downes was a founder member of the prog rock supergroup Asia (you should check out their track Heat of the Moment).
@@startledmoose My reference was more to single radio or video airplay in North America. Video killed..... was the only top 40 hit, possibly only hot 100 charting record.
This is just the promo video. They made an official music video: Famed film composer Hans Zimmer is briefly seen. A woman floating in a tube, Virginia Hey, is known best for her role in Farscape as the blue alien Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan, but also another warrior woman in Mad Max: The Road Warrior. Lead guy singing and playing bass, Trevor Horn, went on to craft the production sound of Yes in the 80s (Owner of a Lonely Heart, Leave it, for examples), his own avante garde experiments as part of The Art of Noise, and helped Frankie Goes to Hollywood with their biggest hit.
The Buggles (pronounced like a beetle is a bug ... BUG + els) were described as New Wave or Synth Pop in terms of genre. This was there only song to chart and the band didn’t quite last five years. Geoff Downes went on to play bass and sing lead for Asia right after the breakup. Trevor Horn did several projects after the iglesia as well. You generally will find the Buggles among the one-hit-wonders, a bit unfair as they had more success in the U.K.
Does not matter Boys and Girls, Guys and Dolls. Saw this first on Video West and when it came on empty v, 1st. Vid. I was with an established S.F. Metal drummer, drinking me dads pinched scotch. After this played... My buddy said, give us another drink, this is the end of radio. And then there was KUSF. After
You sent me down the rabbit hole! I found the first 2 hours of MTV on the youtubes! Of course I was old enough to stay up for it. PS. Mark Goodman was the opening VJ. At one time he was a DJ on WMMR-93.3 Phil-ah-delphia. Great stuff Jamel/Jamal
I don't understand why everyone in the comments are calling this the first video shown on MTV. This is a performance of the band in front of an audience with an audio dub. Yes, it's the correct song - but not the correct video. The actual first video that was played on MTV is this version: ruclips.net/video/W8r-tXRLazs/видео.html
I love that you found your way to this band. Trevor Horn member of the Buggles went on to be an incredible song writer and producer. He co-wrote Owner of the lonely heart, yes Yes! He Was their lead singer in 1981. He also Discovered and Produced Seal. Along with many other bands in the 80’s.😀
@@elysehfm8797 I know, after I had finished I saw I was the only one that liked the video but then when I went back into it again it jumped to 104! It's amazing how quickly videos can be viewed!
I think, going back in the eons of time, yes I'm that old, it was in the late 70's I believe.. This is the first EVER music video I had ever seen.. And it still looks good today.. OH it's pronounced BUG-els Loving your reactions as always Jamel, keep up the god work young Sir. Best wishes from Wales
I was in the Air Force stationed in England in 78-80, and they had a show called Top of the Pops where I saw this video for the first time. MTV was not the first TV show that featured music videos, I think Top of the Pops was. Anyhow, this song brings back some great memories. Thanks Jamel!
Wow! You just took back Jamel! I remember being glued in front of the TV with my girlfriends having a sleep over waiting for that first MTV video at midnight & it was THIS! Thanks for the flashback!
This is the Buggles 2nd video of the song ... this isn't the one on MTV ... Here's the 1st two hours ruclips.net/video/PJtiPRDIqtI/видео.html Stay Safe 😷 & 💗 Much Love ~😈🔺🦋
The Buggles also reached the Top20 in the UK with 'Living in the Plastic Age', so they were not strictly a one hit wonder. Their wonderful album "Adventures in Modern Recording" is worth a listen.
1980 I was 8 years old. I remember hearing this for the first time on an AM radio in my Dad's 1968 Holden Kingswood on a Saturday morning going to pick up my (first) BMX for a tire repair and thinking this was the best song I'd ever heard. I've forgotten more than I can remember in 49 years on this planet, but I remember that day like it was today. Thank you Jamel, your reviews make me remember times long forgotten 🙏🏼
Love the Buggles. One of the greatest 'one hit wonders' of all time.Based on the emergence of music videos and their impact on musicians who didn't have one. Still a classic.
Best way to hear more from these guys is to listen to the "Drama" album by Yes. Trevor Horn & Geoff Downes were in that band for that one album right after this song was released. Trevor Horn produced a couple of Yes albums after that. You can listen for him in The Art Of Noise as well.
I remember when this song came out I thought the singer was Jon Anderson on Yes. I heard on the radio that there was a connection with The Buggles and Yes.
Trevor Horn, the singer and producer became the singer for Yes in 1980. He did a great job! Also produced "Slave to the Rhythm" by Grace Jones, "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Crazy" by Seal amongst others. A real genius!
@4:35 - When she starts vocalizing here and through the rest of the song I always thought it was something done in the studio. I was shocked to see them perform this live and she hit all those notes without missing a beat! Incredible!
I was 10 or 11 years old when this came out in the UK. I thought it was the greatest song in the world for a couple of months. edit: check out some prog rock and synth pop artists brother, you'll find similar stuff to Buggles.
Love my 80's!!!! I was 10 yrs old when MTV debuted their music channel. For me, watching the 1st video on MTV was like watching the first man walk on the moon. What wonderful memories!
I never saw the launch of MTV but heard this song every time I started up my "GTA-Vice City" game. At the time that game was a game changer, still an all time favorite of mine. Good story line, great voice actors and a lot of killer songs from the era. Thanks Jamel, Peace.
Strangely enough, this song still holds up by todays standards. If it played on the "radio" today, it would be up on the top of the list real fast. Good on you for reviewing this old classic.
This band was formed by Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn. Shortly after this, they joined Yes (replacing Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman). Then when Yes split up a short time later, Downes helped for Asia. Quite a prog pedigree with this guys.
Thanks for this memory song Jamel, I recall seeing this when first released and thought wow what a catchy song and it still is. Pronounced Bug_Gulls and yes pretty much a one hit wonder group they did have a few follow up songs but this one nailed it forever. Keep Safe Keep Strong
I totally love that show the sing off! I was trying to explain it to my friend in Portland Oregon earlier this evening and she didn't understand what I was talking about I was so aggravated dude.
The vocalist Trevor Horn became a world class record producer. He produced hits like "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes, "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal, "The Look of Love" by ABC, "Downtown Train" by Rod Stewart, and "Can't Fight The Moonlight" by LeAnn Rimes.
I waz a kid when this came out but still remember and i so boogieing along to it 😂 great vid 👍also who are the dislikes? Obviously don't appreciate good music. No one cannot listen to this without a boogie.
Nothing “top 40” but in the mid 80s Dr Demento had a special on Mtv He played songs like “Take a Skinhead Bowling by Camper VanBeethoven and Fishheads (roly poly fisheads!!) 🤣and I remember he played some of their other stuff 😉
@@philipsmith4321 You know how it is, if it isn’t a hit in the US “it never happened” 😉 I will NEVER FORGET when Harvey Levin on TMZ was interviewing singer Psy (Korean singer - Gangnam Style) and asked if if he was afraid he would become a “One Hit Wonder” and the other guy chimed in “umm, you do realize he is extremely popular in South Korea?” 😂
@@robert_bbiii I was going to say that!! How can you disrespect the music of 79-81??!! There was so much variety!! It was awesome! Even now I listen to the 80s Top 40 countdown on SiriusXm (original Mtv DJs) and I LOVE listening to the early 80s!
yea from 1965 to 1977 there was new stuff coming out all the time ,the album charts was vastly different from singles chart so you got loads to choose from ,then you also had the jazz fusion bands from the Miles Davis alumi like rtf ,MILES ahead
Jamel, They were pretty much a one hit wonder. Their claim to fame is that this was the first video that played on MTV nearly 40 years ago on August 1, 1981. It was and still is a great song. Thanks for keeping good music alive.
‘I Got Now BUG GLES👍🏾 ‘KEEP GREAT MUSIC ALIVE’ Shirts and More, Enter Promo Code ‘Jamel’ jamel-aka-jamal-youtube-store.creator-spring.com
This was the very first video shown on MTV.
@@ianstradian this is the Buggles 2nd video o the song ... this isn't the one on MTV
@@evilclowntra it was a long time ago I couldn’t remember what version it was.
Forgive me.
Please try; Elstree or I Am A Camera.
One hit wonder. I'm sure there are people that bought the album but this was the only song on the radio. If you have the time you should check out the original MTV video this is not the original. There's a lot of truth to this song. If you compare 70s bands to after, it turned into who looked best in front of the camera. there are songs like from Chicago and the Doobie Brothers that some of the bands after, MYV started, couldn't handle even if they tried. Before they didn't have the effects, the music became more catchy and was that about actually playing difficult music. This song in point. This was the beginning of a category called New Wave, in which turned into techno.
Who else remembers this kicking off MTV?
I remember it well. There were a lot of empty channels on cable in those days. Somehow I learned that a music video channel was going on air on one of them and turned to it on the day of its premier. The screen showed some color bars and digital text with a timer counting down to airtime, so I rode my bike around the neighborhood for an hour or so and came back to this. As a young drummer it became a huge chunk of my existence, and I remember fondly that brief period of time when MTV was truly Music Television.
Me
@@bighouse6120 Me 🙋🏻♀️ ... I remember roller skating to it too 😁
I watched it when the song first aired.Sorry I watched the Official Music Video of the song when MTV first aired the it.
@@DrMackSplackem it had a pretty good run 🙂
This was the first song played on MTV . Kicked off a whole new generation
I remember i was watching it was so very cool.
@@LordDiamonds same ✌
@@goofyrulez7914 heartbreaker?
@@goofyrulez7914 hell is for children
My whole family was glued to the TV for this new show. We hated that it went to cable shortly after that. We don't pay for TV, lol.
"We can't rewind we've gone too far." So sad and so very true.
This song captures a point of time so perfectly when video took over, it was a one off in many different ways.
I hear the MTV groove, and see the astronaut plant the flag in the moon after this plays 😀
“Ladies and gentlemen.......Rock-n-roll”.
I want my Mtv.
I was in the Air Force stationed in England in 78-80, and they had a show called Top of the Pops where I saw this video for the first time. MTV was not the first TV show that featured music videos, I think Top of the Pops was.
There's an awesome podcast on Sirius XM called the I Want My 80s Podcast starring 3 of the original MTV vjs-Alan Hunter, Mark Goodman, & Nita Blackwood, that discusses the beginning of MTV.
Singer and bassist Trevor Horn and keyboardist Geoffrey Downes joined Yes and recorded the album Drama!
Machine Messiah and Tempus Fugit are stand outs
Geoff is still in Yes.
Such an excellent album from a cool version of Yes!
Fantastic album.
Drama is a really great album that always seemed to get a lot of hate back in the day
They were a bit of a one hit wonder,Geoff Downes went on to join both "Yes" and "Asia".Trevor Horne went on to write song for some of the BIGGEST names in the Music Industry.Horn embarked on a highly successful career as a record producer, achieving success with the bands ABC, Dollar, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Art of Noise, and even the albums 90125 and Big Generator from a re-formed Yes, with Jon Anderson back on vocals. In 1985, Horn won the Best Producer BRIT Award. More than twenty years on, he is still active, producing with Seal, Tina Turner, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Cher, Simple Minds, Belle and Sebastian, t.A.T.u., Charlotte Church, Captain, Pet Shop Boys and Robbie Williams among his many credits. He is currently working with his new band, the Producers, who released the album Made in Basing Street in 2012.
They did what they did and came top, really the song was a hit during my teenage days.
I love this song so much. It's got this wonderful mismatch of New Wave sensibility, (for the time) cutting-edge electronic music which now sounds completely retro, and it's about the past glory of radio. It's like this beautiful mash-up of intentional retro layered over unintentional retro, and it still completely works in a way that feels real and not artificial, even though it's intentionally loaded with all sorts of artifice.
I would have labeled this sound as New Wave.
Definitely...TOTALLY! 😉👌
Indeed. Along with early Talking Heads, Devo, Oingo Bongo, etc. Where Punk was raw, New Wave was often Arty.
When I was in high school I remember a club called The New Wave Lounge where they played all early 80s music. Killer time for so many great artists & bands, it was a new sound as disco died and rock switched gears to the hair bands.
New Wave, definitely.
Yep, New Wave. Like the line in the Bellamy Brothers' "Old Hippie," which Jamel has reacted to: "He's got young friends into New Wave/But he's just too friggin' old."
The 80’s man.... they were a hell of a drug.
Shout out to Rick James.😜
This is technically a 70s song
I was 18 in 1982 in what was the Miami of the North East, sun, beaches, fast boats, and yes the white....and we weren't the Hamptons.....was nuts....it was so bad, we had our own DEA field office
@@Jar0fMay0 - MTV renewed it as iconic for the 80s.
@@chrisrj9871 yeah but still 1979
This video holds a special place in history because it was the very first video ever played on MTV in 1982
August 1981
New Wave. Bands like Thompson Twins, Duran Duran, pet Shop Boys, Flock of Seagulls etc
TBF Duran Duran were New Romantics along with Spandau Ballet and Adam and the Ants.
@@franohmsford7548 Plus, Duran Duran completely blew the other two (not to mention The Human League) out of the water, chops-wise.
Dont forget Kim Carnes, Animotion, Human League, and Barnes&Barnes.
The Police, Blondie, The Cars.
Man, I remember the song "I Ran (So Far Away)" by The Flock Of Seagulls. But I remember the Bowling For Soup cover better (it was the opening theam for the cartoon show/anime Knights of the Zodiac bka Saint Saya).
True, this was the first song on MTV, but THIS wasn't the actual video.
Right, it isn't. This clip is from the german television broadcast "Disco". ;)
A bad title too since video died when MTV gave up on it for those horrible fake reality shows and radio is still around.
And neither was it the end of the song! We need the coda!!!!!
You are absolutely correct! This WAS NOT THE VIDEO ORIGINALLY PLAYED!
It was in Australia.
The main guy behind The Buggles, Trevor Horn, also produced Frankie Goes To Hollywood and their hit “Relax”.
If you like this song, you will also like “Pop Muzik “ by M and “Cars” by Gary Numan.
Both absolute bangers!
Tubeway Army
ALL Songs from 1979 THE 70s BABY
I really dig Ex-Girls' cover of "Pop Muzik". Worth a listen.
I'll second the vote for Frankie. Very danceable stuff.
Someone could be a radio star without being a beautiful person. That's the whole gist.... If you had to be on camera, then you had to be pretty, be something other than JUST a musician. There were lots of very talented musicians who could not make the leap from the radio to the TV.
Ewrekzz. I don't think artists have to be good-looking to be on camera but it helps a lot, particularly if they are not that talented.
Exactly right! I remember quite a few artists complaining in interviews in the early 80's about that phenomenon, too!
"Age of Plastic" is what my roommates and I put into the stereo on the days we cleaned the apartment to keep our energy up back in college days (1979-1983). "Clean Clean!"
vvisionnaire
The singer , Trevor Horn replace Jon Anderson in Yes for the album Drama in 1980. After he was a succesful producer especially for the most popular Yes album , 90125 , in 1983 !
And Geoff Downes was in ‘Asia’ after this Only time will tell, Heat of the moment, and my Fav Sole Survivor
YES!!!!!!!!
YES WAS way more pop in the 70s not even close
@@teddyritola2655 You mean in the 80's not 70's !!!!
@@stephanechamberland8486 Most of there biggest songs are from the 70s WHEN THEY WERE FORMED
Check out The Buggles’ “Living in the Plastic Age” and “Elstree”. Trevor Horn was part of Art of Noise, their biggest hit was “Close (To the Edit)”. He is also a prolific music producer. Geoffrey Downes was in the group Asia who had the hits “Heat of the Moment”, “Only Time Will Tell” and “Don’t Cry”.
The Art of Noise did have a big hit with "Peter Gun" featuring Duane Eddy but I don't know if Trevor Horn was a part of the group then.
I always like the art of noise and Tom Jones doing a cover of Kiss by Prince
Wow I totally forgot Elstree! Elstree remember me. I played a part in a B-movie! Ha ha love it! Loved The Buggles! Thanks Cara Miles!
Heck, check out the entire album - The Age of Plastic. Then check out Bruce Wooley and the Camera Club's version of Video Killed the Radio Star. Bruce co-wrote this one and some others with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. Both bands released the song at about the same time, but it was The Buggles version that got all of the attention. Bruce's version has a bit more of a rock feel to it. It also has Thomas Dolby on the keyboards and you can't go wrong there! The other song that I remember both bands releasing was 'Clean, Clean.' Again, it's interesting to compare versions. I like them both, but there is a different feel to the versions.
Everyone seems to have missed Elstree. I loved it
This is about the advent of television killing the radio drama stars that was listened to before the widespread distribution of television back when there were only three channels & later PBS
Yes and no. I mean - right there in the lyrics there's mention of the year 1952. There was a wave of changing technology throughout all forms of media and artistic expression and the lyrics peg the 60s. Horn has mentioned Kraftwerk being an influence on the song. There was a perception that things were about to change... were changing... and a nostalgic concern what that would mean. That the song itself is New Wave is... well... interesting.
"Video Killed The Radio Star" First song to be played on MTV. Great history with this band. After this hit, the two joined Yes (as singer & keyboardist) for the Drama album & one year tour. After one year Trevor Horn left to be a producer. He produced Seal's first albums (including tunes Crazy & Kiss From A Rose). Horn also returned to produce Yes albums 90125 & Big Generator (co writing credit on "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" as well). Many other artists of the 80's & 90's were produced by Horn (Relax- Frankie Goes To Hollywood, the band ABC, plus more). Horn also created a band Art Of Noise, that had a few minor hits. Peter Gunne cover was one. Geoff Downes left Yes to form the band Asia who had a string of hits. Years later, Downes rejoined Yes. These two were pioneers in their sound & for the 80's & 90's music style. Interesting group.
Yep, the first song to be played on MTV. It was pretty accurate because it seems in most cases if people don’t have the right look their talent is mainly overlooked 💯
@@jamieflowers1493 Hi, I got what you’re saying. The point I was trying to make was unfortunately many that have tremendous talent are not accepted because they don’t have the image that fits for profit to the industry. ☮️
@@jamieflowers1493 yes, you nailed it! I couldn’t agree more, it’s really sad what it has come to. Take care & stay safe out there 🤗
That's interesting a British band would be the first video on MTV, I'm British and the first video on MTV europe was Dire Straights, money for nothing, fun facts
@@bigdaddigaming Hi, that really is interesting, I love the fun facts & any extra info. I think that the choice of song was very relevant to the kind of channel it was. I really like Dire Straits & ‘Money for nothing’ &’Sultans of swing’ are my favorites. I get your point though about the irony of the song choices for both countries. Thanks for the info 🤗
@@missgmoma I'm a bit of a trivia fan plus I watched the opening of MTV europe so as I was still living in England at that time before I moved to theses united states'😊 when I see things I know a bit about I'll often comment
They had nothing else. They were musicians from other bands doing a project together. This was the first video ever played on MTV for obvious reasons
Not true that they had nothing else. They made two albums and although subsequent singles didn't make as much of an impression as Video Killed the Radio Star, songs such as Elstree (about the film studio), Livening in the Plastic Age and Adventures in Modern Recording (a favourite of mine) did get radio play (at least in the UK). As people are saying, Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes joined Yes, after which Horn went on to be a big name producer (Frankie Goes to Hollywood, ABC) and record company owner (ZTT). Downes was a founder member of the prog rock supergroup Asia (you should check out their track Heat of the Moment).
@@startledmoose a couple of them were in the Rentals. 🙂
@@startledmoose My reference was more to single radio or video airplay in North America. Video killed..... was the only top 40 hit, possibly only hot 100 charting record.
You just gave me my happy moment of the day. Bless you. Keep the music alive ❤️
This is just the promo video. They made an official music video:
Famed film composer Hans Zimmer is briefly seen.
A woman floating in a tube, Virginia Hey, is known best for her role in Farscape as the blue alien Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan, but also another warrior woman in Mad Max: The Road Warrior.
Lead guy singing and playing bass, Trevor Horn, went on to craft the production sound of Yes in the 80s (Owner of a Lonely Heart, Leave it, for examples), his own avante garde experiments as part of The Art of Noise, and helped Frankie Goes to Hollywood with their biggest hit.
Fact the very first video to ever premiere on MTV
Yea, but this isn't the actual video. The MTV video is very different. I remember watching it when it first came on MTV>
Back when MTV was about music. I want my MTV... back.
@@rvboyett yes, this predates MTV and led to the first video later on MTV.
The Buggles (pronounced like a beetle is a bug ... BUG + els) were described as New Wave or Synth Pop in terms of genre. This was there only song to chart and the band didn’t quite last five years. Geoff Downes went on to play bass and sing lead for Asia right after the breakup. Trevor Horn did several projects after the iglesia as well. You generally will find the Buggles among the one-hit-wonders, a bit unfair as they had more success in the U.K.
Does not matter
Boys and Girls,
Guys and Dolls.
Saw this first on Video West and when it came on empty v, 1st. Vid.
I was with an established S.F.
Metal drummer, drinking me dads pinched scotch.
After this played...
My buddy said, give us another drink, this is the end of radio.
And then there was KUSF.
After
The Buggles are Producers and Sound Engineers alike ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, and
EMERSON LAKE N PALMER
and members of YES -from a Yes fanatic
@@meyerweinstock9567 Geoff Downes rejoined and is still a member of Yes, Asia, and maybe even the Buggles.
ELP were a different breed than Alan Parsons Project. ELP actually toured and performed live a lot more.
You sent me down the rabbit hole! I found the first 2 hours of MTV on the youtubes! Of course I was old enough to stay up for it. PS. Mark Goodman was the opening VJ. At one time he was a DJ on WMMR-93.3 Phil-ah-delphia. Great stuff Jamel/Jamal
Where are my manners I forgot to thank you Sir for bringing an incredible memory back to us! And as always Thanks for keeping great music alive 🙏🏻
Everyone sleeps on the bass guitar in this track. Lays down such a solid groove!
Trevor Horn himself! He is such a great bass player, very underrated!
I don't understand why everyone in the comments are calling this the first video shown on MTV. This is a performance of the band in front of an audience with an audio dub. Yes, it's the correct song - but not the correct video. The actual first video that was played on MTV is this version: ruclips.net/video/W8r-tXRLazs/видео.html
Yes! I agree with you 100% ... because we know what they mean, but Jamel does not!
You are correct. Wrong video of the right song.
So nostalgic for the actual first video...
Correct.
This song was the first video on MTV, just not this video.
Love it.....perfect after a hard day's work man!!!! Love from Scotland
Wonderful song. Brings back so many good memories of my childhood.
Hey, man, loved your room decoration.
Thanks MTV for those few years you were cool
Fond memories of 120 Minutes…
Aging myself here..... I remember when this song was brand new. My boyfriend at the time made a cassette for me. 😂
"Empire Records" soundtrack as well..
I love that you found your way to this band. Trevor Horn member of the Buggles went on to be an incredible song writer and producer. He co-wrote Owner of the lonely heart, yes Yes! He Was their lead singer in 1981. He also Discovered and Produced Seal. Along with many other bands in the 80’s.😀
This song came from their first album "The Age of Plastic". It's new wave, synth pop that's meant to be fun and happy. I loved this album as a kid.
And so MTV was born!!!! Nice GI Joe shirt man👌1st👍 The 2 guys went to join YES for their "last album", so we thought...
@@elysehfm8797 😉👌
@@elysehfm8797 I know, after I had finished I saw I was the only one that liked the video but then when I went back into it again it jumped to 104! It's amazing how quickly videos can be viewed!
@@elysehfm8797 Whoa! 3.3k with 519👍 He is killing it!!!
@@elysehfm8797 Oh, okay! I thought you were just referring to this video only. Yep, he is really doing Beast-mode since yesterday!
@@elysehfm8797 RockOn✌
I think, going back in the eons of time, yes I'm that old, it was in the late 70's I believe.. This is the first EVER music video I had ever seen.. And it still looks good today.. OH it's pronounced BUG-els
Loving your reactions as always Jamel, keep up the god work young Sir.
Best wishes from Wales
I was in the Air Force stationed in England in 78-80, and they had a show called Top of the Pops where I saw this video for the first time. MTV was not the first TV show that featured music videos, I think Top of the Pops was. Anyhow, this song brings back some great memories. Thanks Jamel!
This is why we wrote “Disco is Dead” on the walls in the bathroom in elementary school. (Because this song was the NEW WAVE of music.)
Disco is dead was at least a year before this video...
Wow! You just took back Jamel!
I remember being glued in front of the TV with my girlfriends having a sleep over waiting for that first MTV video at midnight & it was THIS! Thanks for the flashback!
This is the Buggles 2nd video of the song ... this isn't the one on MTV ... Here's the 1st two hours
ruclips.net/video/PJtiPRDIqtI/видео.html
Stay Safe 😷 & 💗 Much Love ~😈🔺🦋
If I'm not mistaken, this was the first video to be played on MTV. Brings back some great memories. Thanks Jamel. 👍🎶
The Buggles also reached the Top20 in the UK with 'Living in the Plastic Age', so they were not strictly a one hit wonder. Their wonderful album "Adventures in Modern Recording" is worth a listen.
Jamel, it’s been a while.... you’re room makes me happy!
Jamel- we’d love to see you react to “ The Rocky Horror Picture Show”- which came out before videos and it’s funny as hell with great music.
Ooooh, good call. Let's get him reacting to musicals.
Although I would love to see Jamel do the "Time Warp" it just isn't Rocky Horror without the costumes and props.
@@anitamcclung819 we must petition him on this one- he’d love that dance!
Yes! Musicals! How about Jeff Wayne's musical version of War of the Worlds. The original audio is the best!
Watch the Drew Carey show version of the Time warp
1980 I was 8 years old. I remember hearing this for the first time on an AM radio in my Dad's 1968 Holden Kingswood on a Saturday morning going to pick up my (first) BMX for a tire repair and thinking this was the best song I'd ever heard. I've forgotten more than I can remember in 49 years on this planet, but I remember that day like it was today. Thank you Jamel, your reviews make me remember times long forgotten 🙏🏼
DUDE! THE FIRST EVER VIDEO ON MTV!!!! When it was about MUSIC!!!! You rock, brother! But, you do so many vids, I can't keep up. Don't stop, though.
Love the Buggles.
One of the greatest 'one hit wonders' of all time.Based on the emergence of music videos and their impact on musicians who didn't have one. Still a classic.
Living in the Plastic Age is another great song by the Buggles
yes Jamel this was the 1st vid. to kick off MTVs launch awesome vid. bro
Also in the late 90s whenever MTV was doing a special this was also the one millionth video ever played on MTV
Best way to hear more from these guys is to listen to the "Drama" album by Yes. Trevor Horn & Geoff Downes were in that band for that one album right after this song was released. Trevor Horn produced a couple of Yes albums after that. You can listen for him in The Art Of Noise as well.
I remember when this song came out I thought the singer was Jon Anderson on Yes. I heard on the radio that there was a connection with The Buggles and Yes.
The first video shown on MTV. Classic as hell. 😃 (and I am sure everyone else will comment the same. 😂)
Got it👍🏾 And Bug gles
@@jamelakajamal I can never remember the name of the band when I hear this song, but now I won’t forget either. 😂👍
@@karaminalee time to play the second video played on MTV. Which was...?
@@leefertwayne8163 😂 Pat Benetar? I think, (but I could be wrong!) Although I don’t know which song. LOL
@@karaminalee you better run
Trevor Horn, the singer and producer became the singer for Yes in 1980. He did a great job! Also produced "Slave to the Rhythm" by Grace Jones, "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Crazy" by Seal amongst others. A real genius!
One of the first videos I saw when mtv started ~ still love this song ! Never gets old .
Geoffrey Downes was also in the supergroup Asia. You should add Heat Of The Moment & Only Time Will Tell to your to-do list.
Absolutely
You need to see the original music video for this - it's a work of art!
@4:35 - When she starts vocalizing here and through the rest of the song I always thought it was something done in the studio. I was shocked to see them perform this live and she hit all those notes without missing a beat! Incredible!
It was a harbinger of things to come. namely new wave/early alternative.
I was 10 or 11 years old when this came out in the UK. I thought it was the greatest song in the world for a couple of months.
edit: check out some prog rock and synth pop artists brother, you'll find similar stuff to Buggles.
The singer, Trevor Horn, produced a number of albums for Seal.
Love my 80's!!!! I was 10 yrs old when MTV debuted their music channel. For me, watching the 1st video on MTV was like watching the first man walk on the moon. What wonderful memories!
I never saw the launch of MTV but heard this song every time I started up my "GTA-Vice City" game. At the time that game was a game changer, still an all time favorite of mine. Good story line, great voice actors and a lot of killer songs from the era. Thanks Jamel, Peace.
One hit wonder. Try Peter Schilling's Major Tom.
Had another Top 100 with Elstree. Very cool song.
Not a one hit wonder
Not a one hit wonder,Chech Trevor Horne ,two tribes etc
I still love that song
Nooooo. Trevor Horn was ALL OVER the 80s. Art Of Noise, Godley & Creme; he was a hugely sought-after producer.
The last radio Star I can think of:
Casey kasem -America's top 40
A legend! Here in Australia we get the 70s top 40 on Sundays
And he voiced Shaggy on Scooby Doo.
I remember it was MTV's first Video, Such a cool memory, fun song gotta love it. Thanks, Peace
Strangely enough, this song still holds up by todays standards. If it played on the "radio" today, it would be up on the top of the list real fast. Good on you for reviewing this old classic.
The first video played on MTV!
It took me a few minutes to notice it's not the actual video.
This band was formed by Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn. Shortly after this, they joined Yes (replacing Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman). Then when Yes split up a short time later, Downes helped for Asia. Quite a prog pedigree with this guys.
Asia would be a good band for Jamel to review on of their songs.
Thanks for this memory song Jamel, I recall seeing this when first released and thought wow what a catchy song and it still is. Pronounced Bug_Gulls and yes pretty much a one hit wonder group they did have a few follow up songs but this one nailed it forever. Keep Safe Keep Strong
I totally love that show the sing off! I was trying to explain it to my friend in Portland Oregon earlier this evening and she didn't understand what I was talking about I was so aggravated dude.
The very first video shown on MTV.
The age of Plastic begins!
The vocalist Trevor Horn became a world class record producer. He produced hits like "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes, "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal, "The Look of Love" by ABC, "Downtown Train" by Rod Stewart, and "Can't Fight The Moonlight" by LeAnn Rimes.
I waz a kid when this came out but still remember and i so boogieing along to it 😂 great vid 👍also who are the dislikes? Obviously don't appreciate good music. No one cannot listen to this without a boogie.
I would call this pop/new wave
The Presidents of the United States of America also have a pretty good cover of this one!
Yaaaasss! *bows!* Thank you once again!
I was born in 76...and still remember my older sisters playing this for me as a 3yr old...golden memories man, golden memories. X
The Buggles (Trevor Horn & Geoff Downes) joined Yes for an album when Jon Anderson left for the first time, and Rick Wakeman left for the second time.
After checking my facts, it was for the 1980 album Drama.
Drama is such an amazing underrated album!
yep yep...not my favorite version but they can rock.
I wouldn't waste my time. They're one-hit wonders.
Thanks man it’s a legendary song 🎵✌🏻👊🏻
So prophetic. This started MTV, and now, looking good in a video is as important as providing the background music.
When MTV played videos...those were the days!
Yeah yeah, MTV's first video, now they play no videos at all.
"We can't rewind/ we've gone too far"
I remember watching his on MTV! It was a very exciting day when he launched the channel!
Dat bass lick is flamin so simple but so fantastic!!
this is called 'new wave'''....
"I want to see what else they have."
lol.. nothing bruh...
Nothing “top 40” but in the mid 80s Dr Demento had a special on Mtv He played songs like “Take a Skinhead Bowling by Camper VanBeethoven and Fishheads (roly poly fisheads!!) 🤣and I remember he played some of their other stuff 😉
They had several hits in the UK.
@@philipsmith4321 You know how it is, if it isn’t a hit in the US “it never happened” 😉
I will NEVER FORGET when Harvey Levin on TMZ was interviewing singer Psy (Korean singer - Gangnam Style) and asked if if he was afraid he would become a “One Hit Wonder” and the other guy chimed in “umm, you do realize he is extremely popular in South Korea?” 😂
@@rachel-in-the-208 I'm afraid that was after my time, Rachel. I was 16 when Video was released - feeling old now !
Wrong "bruh". They have 2 full albums.
I had this in my collection .Back then and just before radio was KING.
Jamel knows great music as well as great shirts... and knowing is half the battle!
About 20 years later, DVD killed the video store.
And then 10 years later, Netflix killed the DVD store.
Strange time in history, we had rock, rap, punk, disco. Music during the early 80’s was poor compared to previous decades.
Great time. Lots of different variety
And people got along
@@robert_bbiii I was going to say that!! How can you disrespect the music of 79-81??!! There was so much variety!! It was awesome! Even now I listen to the 80s Top 40 countdown on SiriusXm (original Mtv DJs) and I LOVE listening to the early 80s!
Definitely!
yea from 1965 to 1977 there was new stuff coming out all the time ,the album charts was vastly different from singles chart so you got loads to choose from ,then you also had the jazz fusion bands from the Miles Davis alumi like rtf ,MILES ahead
Ohhhh this is such a memory holder for me, I was 9 when this came out!
That was the first music video on MTV 01.08.1981 ;) Greetings from Germany :)
I would call this "New Wave" music...
prog pop ,like tears for fears ,xtc new wave
Jamal, please react to She’s a Beauty by the Tubes
White Punk's on Dope
Great song 👍
Good song for Jamel indeed
Jamel,
They were pretty much a one hit wonder. Their claim to fame is that this was the first video that played on MTV nearly 40 years ago on August 1, 1981. It was and still is a great song. Thanks for keeping good music alive.