I'll get some flack for this, but Debbie Gibson's "Out Of The Blue" and "Electric Youth" albums are perfect to me. I took the tapes everywhere with me, including my paper route & basketball court. I also had the albums, and later the CDs.
@@yettiman2817 With Thriller, I love all 7 singles. I'm not too crazy about the two non-singles. Maybe if they had been released, I'd feel different? 🤔😅
I think the funniest thing my mom ever said was the time my sister was in her old room where she still kept things and was trying to find something she thought was buried away in some boxes and such. In regard to the boxes she said "we gotta move these..." then kind of trailed off there. From the other room you just heard mom say "refrigerators?"
I'm old enough to remember this song being played on Mtv. Those were the days. This song is so iconic. This was one of the songs Mtv played pretty consistently. This song helped define the 80's and a generation. Great memories. I'm very grateful to have been a teen in the 80's. Thank you.
@@ProfessorofRock Back in the 80's we didn't know how good we had it. We took it for granted; it was just life to us. Maybe we even complained at times. But now, looking back from the perspective of today's dystopian society, the 80's seems like some kind of magical golden age. Do I have rose-tinted nostalgia glasses? Sure, a little bit, but nobody can tell me those times weren't way better than the insanity of today.
It’s an interesting channel, to be sure. But there’s no need to call a hardworking warehouseman , a moron. Unless, of course, you look down on people who live by the sweat of their hands.
Mark Knopfler was/is a HUGE influence for me. Started out with Jimi Hendix & Jimmy Page for me...moved on to Knopfler & Niel Schön...& then Yngwie & Satch.
Interesting fact from Australia. When Dire Straits released this album, they scheduled a world tour. When they opened the phone lines for the Brisbane concert, the sheer volume of telephone traffic from calls to the ticket line brought down, not only the network in Brisbane, but the entire nation. I think it took up to 10 hours to restore the network. From this event, the phrase "Avalanche Traffic" was coined. It described how repeated attempts to the same number at a growing rate caused further delays in call setups until the network tied itself up so much, nothing could get through. Similar to gridlock in road traffic.
Mark Knopfler and the iconic riff of this song are what made me fall in love with the electric guitar. I’ve had a Les Paul for many years now and it’s taken me almost 9 years to play this song on guitar because of the subtleties he puts into it and the fact that he finger picks and that’s how I taught myself is to play like Mark Knopfler. Truly, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time.
The opening riff of this masterpiece has no peers ! A triumph of guitar and songwriting from one of the greatest storytellers. The fact that Phil Lynott, Tina Turner , Randy Newman , Bob Dylan and Steely Dan turned to Mr Knopfler’s guitar services speaks volumes of the esteem he is held in.
It is also important to point out that back in 1985 there wasn't any such thing as political correctness; people were free back then and the 1st amendment still had some value (contrary to today)...
I was surprised you didn't mention that Dire Straits was also one of the first albums, if not the first album, period, to sell a million copies on CD alone. I totally agree that it transcended generations. I was 12/13 when it came out, and I remember thinking I was particularly adult enjoying 'Brothers in Arms' and 'Your Latest Trick.' My dad, who'd always been a rock/guitar enthusiast enjoyed this album, too, though we didn't listen to music together a lot.
As my father was in the military, the song Brothers in Arms is simply one of my all time favorites of theirs. Such a gripping song about the Falkland's war. Knopler's contribution to The Princess Bride soundtrack is appreciated as well btw!
yep, Storybook Love was a fantastic addition to the film and a great song outside the film as well... "sorry, I jogged him too hard" LOLZ hilarious movie....
I was recently listening to this song at work when a coworker asked me if I, as a gay man, wasn't offended by the lyrics. I said "Hey, Mark Knopfler can call me whatever he likes!" In all seriousness, though, I can understand why people want to be able to listen to the radio without hearing the words attackers who put them in the hospital used to justify their assault. That said, I like the song, and understanding the context, it doesn't bother me, and am glad I can play it for myself whenever I want.
I first want to say that I absolutely love both of the Money for Nothing videos equally. Weird Al is a genius and music videos really connected us to him. As for the Dire Straits version, Mark should be grateful that his performance could be enhanced to magnify everything into the video. Something I thought you might do is reveal any information about the video within the video. Is that a real group and video?
I was 17 when this came out. I used to prop my stereo speakers in the window and blast this into the back yard. The first hit of Knopfler's riff gave me chills everytime!
Easily one of the greatest guitarists ever but his voice is rarely given the credit it deserves and I'm so glad you mentioned it. Songs like Brothers In Arms, Tunnel Of Love and Romeo And Juliet just wouldn't sound the same with anyone else singing, his voice fits them perfectly and helps elevate them to the classics they are.
"Weird Al" Yankovic did a great mash up of "Money For Nothing" coupled with the theme from "The Beverly Hillbillies"-It appeared on the soundtrack of his 1989 movie "UHF"-It's hilarious-Fun fact:Mark Knopfler played guitar on Al's parody.
I was actually singing lines from this song while bulk-stacking microwaves at work yesterday. I'm sure I was getting an odd look from the younger co-worker who was nearby.
This has to be one of the greatest stories behind a song ever LOL. What a stroke of luck/genius having Sting perform on this song. I remember how this brilliant and iconic video dominated MTV. The riff to this song has got to be top 5 if not #1 of all time with the greatest buildup to a song ever and it's one of finest albums that has ever been recorded...who didn't own it? Pity what happened to MTV. Now I'm going to have to watch both this video AND the Weird Al one. When you hear some of the lyrics in rap music you kind of wonder why this song is banned and those songs aren't. Whatever. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada🍁
Knopfler was great at writing songs from real conversations. If you can find it, listen to Badges Posters Stickers & T-Shirts, originally B side to Private Investigations. Its about things fans say when they get to meet the band backstage. It’s hilarious.
Me, too. I remember a while back, a Cleveland classic rock station played the uncensored version in its entirety. 🤟😄 Maybe they still do. I don't know.
Dire Straits has such a fabulously unique sound. I love it when bands have their own sound. Boston, Jethro Tull, Rush, Nirvana, etc. (Even back to Glenn Miller who refused to stop until he found his own sound)
@@ProfessorofRock Wow, that is such a hard question. Back then? I think things like B52s, Talking Heads, but my definition of what is original is bigger the older I get. I mean, decades go by and there isn’t another Pink Floyd or AC/DC or ZZ Top. How many Santanas or Bruce Springsteen or Billy Idol or Ramones are there. So many bands found their own voices. Music as a whole stays exciting when ever that happens. 60s, 70s, and 80s were all amazing for that.
1985 Wembley saw The Dire straights rock the venue with Money for Nothing and Sultans of Swing (one of the coolest songs ever recorded) Utterly mad and monster, how could you top that? Next up...QUEEN ! ! Ah, those were the days.
Offended or not, the complete version should still be played on the radio. Brothers in Arms at one time was the biggest selling album in U.K. history. Still in the top 10. Glad they made it to the Rock hall of Fame, even if Mark was a no-show.
@@ProfessorofRock The advent of CDs as a commercial proposition had a lot to do with this- it sold huge numbers of CDs. It was only from 1985 that those who could afford them bought CDs.
People get offended too easily. There's nothing offensive about the lyrics in this song. Context means everything. If people find a word to be offensive they shouldn't use that word, and then they should leave everyone else alone.
agreed, I always add the unedited version to my playlists, I never saw the song as offensive and it's one of the things I hate about giving in to the easily offended, the more ground you give the more mileage they steal..... if you give an inch they'll tale the nation!!! look around man?? everything is broken cus of the easily offended..... we've retreated to the older music cus there's no creativity in the new shit cus that sadly is what's rewarded, trash they actually give those hacks awards for writing trash where many bands of 1999 ad before are shunned from the rock hall....and they let in country and rap?? WTF? lol I want my MTV......MTV doesn't play music anymore so i guess I don't want my MTV then? lolz anyways I hope some easily offended get offended by what I said...cus I was put here to offend.....you could say I'm a.....repeat offender ugh
@@judgedrekk2981 Things are broken in societies where they are due to right wing ideologues who have wrecked America, Britain and elsewhere. It's that simple.
Great song. Nothing's like it used to be. The whole world is just waiting to get offended, and it sucks. Anyway, I always knew that was Sting. And I always put it on ten when I hear this come on.
I'm an old man. I had over 2400 albums when CDs came into vogue. This was the first CD that I ever bought (along with Madonna's debut for my then-wife) and the sound just blew me away! Now, my entire music collection fits on five 10 TB disks with dual redundancy. And I'm so old that I don't mind the digital sound over vinyl at all.
I think I remember that only the CD got an extended version of So Far Away that the vinyl did not get. I did not have a CD player and was like "hey, wth Warner Bros." I still have the original vinyl, and I still play it from time to time.
I recall the first time I heard this, like one remembers where they were when hearing about Reagan being shot, JFK, space shuttle disaster, etc. I was in Lake View SC, and needed a ride to West Columbia, 2-1/2 hours away. A friend of mine’s older brother was headed to Wofford College to play football and he offered to go out of his way to take me. He had a brand new convertible Pontiac Trans Am in a beautiful sparkle blue. He pulled up at the LV football field to pick me up and as I walked up to the car, he said, “check this out”…with the Speakers wide open, I heard Stings distinctive voice as it slowly began, and thought it was a new Sting song. As I said “Sting?”, he said “shhhh…wait.”. Then the drums came in, then…well, to this day I can vividly recall the instant impact of Mark’s guitar as it erupted like nothing I had ever heard before. Needless to say we listened to it over and over on the drive, as well as the rest of the album. There are very instances I can recall, in such detail, a musical moment that had a bigger impact on me so instantly. That’s saying a lot as I am a music nut and I have hundreds & hundreds of great musical moments in my life. Few can match the instant magic of the opening riff of Money for Nothing at that moment. What a great memory I still think about time and again, from almost 40 years ago.
When it comes to Mark Knopfler, every song tells a story, and so it is with "Money for Nothing". One of the problems "Dire Straits" fans had with this song, including me, was that it was like no other song they did (all the fantastic guitar work) and seemed a bit "heavy metal", but after a while we all came to love it. "Sultans of Swing" will always be their SIGNITURE tune, but "Money for Nothing" made a statement for every musician, any kind and anywhere. ;-)
I know this a little off topic for a Professor of Rock segment, but why not cover the infamous 1983 MTV interview between David Bowie and Mark Goodman? David Bowie outright accused MTV executives of being racist, live on air. And it was shortly after that interview that MTV was forced by several record labels to play their black artists in primetime rotation, who were not only at the top of the R&B charts but the pop charts as well. Like Michael Jackson and Prince. Even as a kid, after watching the interview, and you can find it on RUclips, it's apparent that Mark Goodman and several other VJs at MTV wanted that interview to happen. David Bowie said what they couldn't.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Why? Other than using the "slur" that was in common use back then, he did nothing wrong. He was a blue collar worker venting his frustration at having to bust his @ss to make ends meet, while the overpaid rock stars played an instrument for a living and made millions of dollars, and had everything handed to them. I find it frustrating myself that I save lives for a living, but barely make ends meet after bills due to medical issues, yet people are paid millions to pretend to save lives, or to sing or play guitar, or play a game. Society idolizes them, and they spend their money on themselves. You want to out a person who was tired from working all day, and was stating how he felt about the decadence of the music world now that MTV was around, and everyone could see for themselves how overblown it had become? The man deserves a medal for inspiring a good song, and he deserves his privacy.
As an Aussie that grew up in the 80's the snowflakes of today would cry hearing our language. Mark is a living legend perhaps shunned by MSM but never by his fans!
Even though it has that f slur, I I always thought that he was singing about a conversation that he heard, and that the singer was the subject of the slur. So Mark would have been the subject of the f slur.
Tolkien used the f-word in his Lord of the Rings novels, but he dud use it with the original meaning. He also used the words, gay and queer. With their original meaning. Satire can be crude, as long as it's real.
The opening by Sting wasn't his only contribution to that song. Knopfler is one the great guitarist of all time, and maybe THE most under-rated guitarist of all time. Him and Prince.
My first CD purchase in 1985 was 'Brothers in Arms', along with 'No Jacket Required' by Phil Collins. I still have those CDs, and listen to them regularly. Compared to my vinyl records of the same era, the sound was incredible, and still is, 37 years later. Thank you for this wonderful in-depth history of the music of my earlier years. I am now 73, and still love rock and always will.
I was in college when this came out. L lived in the dorm and the popularity of this song was huge. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I agree the 8 min is the only way to listen to this song. Boooo to censorship.
This is one of those songs that I remember the first few times hearing it. I was a kid but when that searing guitar kicked in I was instantly hooked. That riff just spoke out ''You like riffs do ya? I got yer riff right here buddy!, Top that!!"
No mention of the mistake on vocals???🤦♂️🤦♂️. They recorded a perfect version afterwards, then decided to release the version with Mark's accidental laugh in it.
@@ProfessorofRock Take on me, Money for nothing, Addicted to love, Got my mind set on you, Sledgehammer, We're not going to take it. They were all cutting edge and weird in their own way and time.
I remember when it was released, had the cassette then the CD. On MTV, the video was originally uncut, don't know when the United States of the Offended had it cut. Love Weird Al's version too
I was a 2nd engineer at a 24-track studio back in the late 80s/early nineties, and the most interesting fact I learned today was about the guitar tone. This was the kind of thing we used to experiment with all the time! Unconventional room-mic placements, unconventional mics, unconventional ROOMS (the studio bathroom was like singing into a full plate reverb!)... That's the kind of stuff that made being in the studio fun back in the day. Sadly, I think that's kind of been lost. But of course, the benefits of being able to create a professional-quality single or album from the relative comfort of your studio APARTMENT instead of paying for a million dollar studio more than makes up for it.
It also created one of the greatest live albums of all time, the Grateful Dead's 1970 gem "Live/Dead." They'd been in the studio too long already in late 1968 working on their third album when the 16 track tape machine was invented. Naturally they had to fill every track so they scrapped months of work to re-record the album. Unlimited studio time was built into their contract but they still had to pay for it, the bill was something outrageous like $100,000, a hefty sum in 1969. So they managed to truck the 16 track out to a few hometown gigs at the Avalon and Fillmore West to record a live album to offset the costs of the studio. Thus the first live album on 16 track was recorded, and damn it's a tremendous album. Daring music.
Wasn’t there a “rest of the story” for the guitar sound? I had heard that a wah pedal was accidentally left on and slightly cocked and that’s what mostly contributed to the unique sound.
This is one of those times I'm glad I don't have HBO Max or Disney+. Using this song in Willow for the sole purpose of a nostalgia connection with absolutely ZERO contextual accuracy is heresy to the entire genre. Remember what happened with DragonHeart and Ladyhawke?
I immediately turn up the volume the second the opening riff starts - it is one of the most distinctive ones out there. I love it. And you have to love a guy who not only gives the okay to Weird Al, but insists on playing on his song.
I have had tons of conversations stolen and made into songs. Ton of rappers and rockstars write songs to mock me. I don't hate them for it, if anything I feel proud to have wrote all their lyrics. My coat tails are long with many singers, writers and inventor's.
Apparently as a toddler i would always play with the stereo in the house. Parents rescinded and just let me do after they figured i knew what i was doin. They also left this tape in it so i could listen to it when they realized whenever this song came on i turned it up as loud as the stereo would go. Still to this day at 42 its one of my faves and still gets the same reaction outa me; cranked way way up.
My cousin bought is first vehicle, a beautiful early 70s orange Chevy C-10 pickup. Or course the radio in it sucked! So, one weekend I helped install a very good stereo. Two tweeters up high in the headliner, two midrange in the doors, then a bass with amp behind the seat. The first song we blasted out of that stereo with pure beautiful sound was "Money for Nothing" Note: That started a decade long journey of him installing bigger and bigger systems in his cars! Thankfully his first wife stopped the madness!
I remember when this great song came out. Regular people talked like that, especially in private. I know the controversial lyric but a lot of people used that word back then. I wanted to defend the people chatting to themselves, the awesome blue-collar workers that were in that department store. I don’t agree with calling them morons. I love the way, Knopfler put this banter in the song, this rough dialogue between associates has been immortalized (It’s the way people spoke back then before everyone became so sensitive)
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 I heard this story years ago. Just cool how everything happened. In later years, Sting appeared with Dire Straits at the Princes charity concerts on London. This video was everywhere, because of the line "I Want My MTV". At the time MTV was not in a majority of American homes. Crazy. Thanks for this one, Professor. Glad to be in class today. (No detention today). 😅
My husband, back when he was married the first time, had just gotten his house. The cable company guy set up the service and turned the TV to MTV. What was the very first song on? Yep, Money for Nothing. He's a classical piano guy (plays) but he did learn a bit about the rock music, but he's gotten quite the education from me (and Professor of Rock). I was a DJ in the late 1980s, so I love this stuff. :)
I don't feel those working guys were "morons". They realized they had made wrong choices early in life and that had they made better ones they wouldn't be moving appliances and would have money and women, perceived better lives. Sounds like wisdom to me.
The video for the song is iconic and pretty amazing as well. Edit: Guess I should have watched a little longer ;) The quality of the CD production/medium itself is pretty amazing, not just the songs themselves. I know people used to use it and a selection of a few other CDs to test sound systems.
That was the song that introduced me to the band after I told a mate how I hated them. He defied me to still hate them after he played Skateaway. I lost
I still have my vinyl Brother In Arms album. I heard this song on the radio driving around recently. My jaw dropped it was edited (as you mentioned) - never heard it like that before. @Professor, this channel is awesome. Thanks for your content - glad I stumbled across it.
It’s always a treat when “Money For Nothin’” (unedited version) comes on the radio. As soon as you hear the opening notes, you know what’s coming. It’s also cool that you can visualize the music video in your mind’s eye while the song is playing. The crescendo leading to the first notes of the riff leading to the lyrics is really the highlight of the song. It just grabs you by the throat and shakes you. What a great song, and a great story by the great Adam Reader - THE Professor of Rock. Another triumph, Professor!!👏👏👏
I could never get enough of that video - so cutting edge for 1985. I even tried to replicate something similar with my Commodore 64 computer! Thanks, doc.
Agreed, in contrast to Rick, in my view the implied criticism does, to an extent at least, hit the target; and Knopfler’s lyric clearly if wryly acknowledges that fact.
The more you know: To get that guitar sound, you have to find the exact sweet spot on a specific brand of wah pedal. I read that Knopfler himself has trouble finding it.
@@ProfessorofRock I did know that. I am, after all, a walking encyclopedia of useless musical trivia. LOLOL I think I read that in the same article. Haven't had a chance to watch your vid yet. Do you discuss that part?
@@ProfessorofRock The story I remember about Mark Knopfler's guitar tone in this song was that he was going for Billy Gibbons' ZZ Top sound (a la Gimme All Your Lovin, Legs, etc). He called Billy's people to try to ask Billy how he got his tone, but Billy never called back. What Mark got on this song was something along the way of trying to find that tone. Listen to ZZ's "MTV" songs and you'll hear the similarity.
In 1985 I was working as a dance club DJ, and this song got played every night. My partner would always hide my paycheck in the DJ booth so that only I could find it. Where? Inside the record jacket of "Money for Nothing," of course...
22:15 Please tell me that Mark Knopfler sought out those “Meat heads” to give them writing credits, points and lots of money for the song they gave Mark. Mark and the band certainly did very well out of it. It would certainly boost the MH’s pension funds!
I only sang a few songs in the bands we had, this was one! Had fun on drums too. Of course we played the long version. I had a big smile when you revealed the song for this video, great presentation as usual!
I remember when this video came out. I liked the song, but I was amazed by the video! Not sure I had ever seen anything like it (aside from an educational video about DNA we watched in biology in high school). Computer graphics and that 3D look just blew me away.
I'm planning to make a parody called, "Fursuits for Nothing." Since you said this original song is about and angry rant, this made me want to make this as a furry parody even more because I've been hearing from jealous furs complaining about popufurs.
This song was huge and i loved it, especially the guitar riff. But as a 12yo in 1985 struggling with my sexuality, that one line bothered me. As the years went on i realised more and more how much that line had effected me. To the point where recently I heard it on the radio and i felt extreme anger. Hearing this explanation may just let me rock to it again as that 12yo kid use to. It really is an iconic masterpiece.
You're one of the sane people, cancel culture generally has no room for context, it's all feeling driven. The only person who should be offended at that line is Michael Jackson, and he's been dead over a decade, who cares.
Welcome to the true you, brother... sorry the journey was a rough one. Your story nicely illustrates that context is important, but, sadly, many people don't have time for it or simply fail to recognize that fact. Cheers!
Thanks and yes, at the time I loved it as did everyone. But as I got older and I guess more perceptive I did take it as expressing Mark's views or his ignorance...never considered he was quoting somebody he actually didn't respect and included it for that reason. I haven't listened to that album since. I loved the whole album. But now understanding how integral he was actually being, I guess it puts a new spin on the whole song. I guess I'm guilty of jumping to conclusions and Mark is guilty of unintended offence. And thanks Kasper, my journey wasn't terrible but the older I get I understand it also wasn't as easy as I thought.
This exact same thing happened to me. There's an episode of the show King of the Hill titled 'Peggy's Fan Fair' that describes how people in the entertainment industry plagiarize material. In my case I wrote comments on the Hulu page of Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, and Parks and Rec. They started using my comments in their shows so I wrote and entire story arc and they used it without citing my comment. Then they targeted me the same way Harvey Weinstein targeted his accusers. They completely destroyed my life and even poisoned my dog. If, you've seen the Harvest Festival or Camping episodes of Parks and rec, those are two examples. The ripped off that story suggestion I made in a comment just like this one. It became a popular part of the show and they completely destroyed me to conceal their crime. Their process works like Scientology's 'Fair Game' contract stalking scheme. When you speak up about these crimes they smear you as a mental case and then try to goad you into some public outburst so that they can play the victim. The entire process is a huge industry that Hollywood, politicians, and c-suite execs fund. The victims are reporting this to local and federal authorities, but those institutions have been captured politically. So, what we've got is a protected class of entertainers who can literally torture and abuse anyone they want. Ronan Farrow's articles on the Harvey Weinstein case names some of the private intel firms that are involved in these crimes. However, shows like Saturday Night Live and the other NBC comedies act as propaganda agents for the left, so they are afforded federal counterintelligence assets for use in these narcissistic reprisal schemes. It's a sick sport and more people need to know about this. FYI the Eagles song 'Hotel California' is about this type of organized stalking and harassment. They are reveling in the fact that the entertainment class is allowed to mess with people in this way. LIkewise, the NBC show 'The Good PLace' is literally a brag about the producers involvement in this type of covert harasment. Raging narcissists, sociopahts, and pscyhopaths .. all of them.
Dire Straits was such a great band. Mark Knopfler has some great solo work too. Amazing guitar player and songwriter. Besides Money For Nothing there is Romeo and Juliet, Sultans of Swing, So Far Away, Irish Boy, Brothers in Arms, Sailing to Philadelphia (with James Taylor) and so many more. Thank you Professor for talking about this band and especially Mark Knopfler. One of my favorites.
Six blade knife, Single handed sailor, lady writer, once apon a time in the west, water of love, where do you think going?..... The list is endless indeed
Some works seem to almost will themselves into existence, circumstances bending around them to facilitate and shape something absolutely singular and whole.
Their Live Aid performance is excellent. They played Wembley Arena on the same night. Sultans of Swing at Live Aid is sublime, especially the saxophone when the tempo slows down.
A great song and a groundbreaking music video. Cool side note: in the '90s, the animators who worked on "Money for Nothing" founded Mainframe Entertainment, and that company created computer-animated TV series including ReBoot, Transformers: Beast Wars and Transformers: Beast Machines.
I'll be honest, I really didn't like this song when it came out. But it has grown on me as I got older, and I enjoy it now. Weird how songs can do that. Good episode!
@@thrusta100 Thank you! Is it the Favorite Shirts video or Love Plus One? Still can't find anything talking about the connection to Money For Nothin, but one of those could be it.
Poll: What is your pick for the greatest album of the 80s....where every track is excellent?
Paul Simon, Graceland
U2, Joshua Tree
I'll get some flack for this, but Debbie Gibson's "Out Of The Blue" and "Electric Youth" albums are perfect to me. I took the tapes everywhere with me, including my paper route & basketball court. I also had the albums, and later the CDs.
Back in Black.. is the first that comes to mind. The Wall and since you didnt specify genre, i will say Thriller.
@@yettiman2817 With Thriller, I love all 7 singles. I'm not too crazy about the two non-singles. Maybe if they had been released, I'd feel different? 🤔😅
Metallica's "Master of Puppets"
I think the funniest thing my mom ever said was the time my sister was in her old room where she still kept things and was trying to find something she thought was buried away in some boxes and such. In regard to the boxes she said "we gotta move these..." then kind of trailed off there. From the other room you just heard mom say "refrigerators?"
Custom kitchens? Color TVs?
Love to your mom.
😂😂😂 Much love to your mom!!!
Haha! I assume your mom replied “refrigerators”because they were big, heavy boxes?
what a cool mom!
I'm old enough to remember this song being played on Mtv. Those were the days. This song is so iconic. This was one of the songs Mtv played pretty consistently. This song helped define the 80's and a generation. Great memories. I'm very grateful to have been a teen in the 80's. Thank you.
I miss those days... Dearly.
I miss the early days when MTV actually was only rock videos and news. And yes, this song defined the start of all that.
@@ProfessorofRock Back in the 80's we didn't know how good we had it. We took it for granted; it was just life to us. Maybe we even complained at times. But now, looking back from the perspective of today's dystopian society, the 80's seems like some kind of magical golden age. Do I have rose-tinted nostalgia glasses? Sure, a little bit, but nobody can tell me those times weren't way better than the insanity of today.
I wish I was alive in the 80s, because I sure do want some MTV!
The way things are these days, it has made me appreciate the 80' s even more than I already did. Miss those days so much.♥️🌺💔
Can we just take a moment to appreciate the one and only Professor of Rock! This channel is top tier content! Thank you so much Professor! 👍💪💯🔥
Absolutely!
Love the channel.
It’s an interesting channel, to be sure.
But there’s no need to call a hardworking warehouseman , a moron.
Unless, of course, you look down on people who live by the sweat of their hands.
@@ordinaryman1904 that's not why he called them morons. It was the imbecilic way they jealously downplayed somebody else's accomplishments.
Yes, every episode is presented with joy , heart and knowledge.
Mark Knopfler is Underrated bigtime
Huh?
Totally agree. He is hardly ever mentioned in most of the lists and should be.
One of the GOATS.
@@wishingb5859 thats exactly what i mean. You make a top 25 and hes never in them. He absolutly should be
Mark Knopfler was/is a HUGE influence for me.
Started out with Jimi Hendix & Jimmy Page for me...moved on to Knopfler & Niel Schön...& then Yngwie & Satch.
Interesting fact from Australia. When Dire Straits released this album, they scheduled a world tour. When they opened the phone lines for the Brisbane concert, the sheer volume of telephone traffic from calls to the ticket line brought down, not only the network in Brisbane, but the entire nation. I think it took up to 10 hours to restore the network. From this event, the phrase "Avalanche Traffic" was coined. It described how repeated attempts to the same number at a growing rate caused further delays in call setups until the network tied itself up so much, nothing could get through. Similar to gridlock in road traffic.
Was everywhere! but must have been after the SEQEB power cuts of 85 thanks to that corrupt fat cat premier Joh Bjelke! 🤦♂️🤮🤮🤮
Mark Knopfler and the iconic riff of this song are what made me fall in love with the electric guitar. I’ve had a Les Paul for many years now and it’s taken me almost 9 years to play this song on guitar because of the subtleties he puts into it and the fact that he finger picks and that’s how I taught myself is to play like Mark Knopfler. Truly, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time.
Some str8 guy insisting on using a HURTFUL slur because of HIS integrity…is exactly the issue.
The opening riff of this masterpiece has no peers ! A triumph of guitar and songwriting from one of the greatest storytellers.
The fact that Phil Lynott, Tina Turner , Randy Newman , Bob Dylan and Steely Dan turned to Mr Knopfler’s guitar services speaks volumes of the esteem he is held in.
Even Bob Dylan
BOB DYLAN. One of the most legendary folks out there. Mark is blessed.
It is also important to point out that back in 1985 there wasn't any such thing as political correctness; people were free back then and the 1st amendment still had some value (contrary to today)...
Oh please! There is still freedom of speech, but now there are consequences to said speech. You can't just say anything you like and get away with it.
I was surprised you didn't mention that Dire Straits was also one of the first albums, if not the first album, period, to sell a million copies on CD alone. I totally agree that it transcended generations. I was 12/13 when it came out, and I remember thinking I was particularly adult enjoying 'Brothers in Arms' and 'Your Latest Trick.' My dad, who'd always been a rock/guitar enthusiast enjoyed this album, too, though we didn't listen to music together a lot.
As my father was in the military, the song Brothers in Arms is simply one of my all time favorites of theirs. Such a gripping song about the Falkland's war. Knopler's contribution to The Princess Bride soundtrack is appreciated as well btw!
yep, Storybook Love was a fantastic addition to the film and a great song outside the film as well...
"sorry, I jogged him too hard" LOLZ
hilarious movie....
BROTHERS*
@@unrepentantoffender188 it's probably an auto correct
Love the message that song brings.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 hello loved one. Long time no see. Hope you are doing well and prospering.
That little British cigarette got his own jet airplane.
That little bundle of wood, he's a millionaire.
I was recently listening to this song at work when a coworker asked me if I, as a gay man, wasn't offended by the lyrics. I said "Hey, Mark Knopfler can call me whatever he likes!"
In all seriousness, though, I can understand why people want to be able to listen to the radio without hearing the words attackers who put them in the hospital used to justify their assault. That said, I like the song, and understanding the context, it doesn't bother me, and am glad I can play it for myself whenever I want.
Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unexpected places. It's the songwriter's virtue to turn it into a story that fits in a rock album
This song came from an angry rant about rockers. How incredible.
I first want to say that I absolutely love both of the Money for Nothing videos equally. Weird Al is a genius and music videos really connected us to him. As for the Dire Straits version, Mark should be grateful that his performance could be enhanced to magnify everything into the video.
Something I thought you might do is reveal any information about the video within the video. Is that a real group and video?
I was 17 when this came out. I used to prop my stereo speakers in the window and blast this into the back yard. The first hit of Knopfler's riff gave me chills everytime!
My dads copy of Brothers In Arms is currently in his jeeps cd player, sitting in my garage. RIP Pops.
Glad you’re preserving his memory.
I love the line:
"He's bangin' on the bongos like a Chimpanzee" 🤣
Easily one of the greatest guitarists ever but his voice is rarely given the credit it deserves and I'm so glad you mentioned it. Songs like Brothers In Arms, Tunnel Of Love and Romeo And Juliet just wouldn't sound the same with anyone else singing, his voice fits them perfectly and helps elevate them to the classics they are.
It’s a very haunting voice.
YES!
Skateaway I'd also great and ind. Disease
"Weird Al" Yankovic did a great mash up of "Money For Nothing" coupled with the theme from "The Beverly Hillbillies"-It appeared on the soundtrack of his 1989 movie "UHF"-It's hilarious-Fun fact:Mark Knopfler played guitar on Al's parody.
Be-ver-ly-eeeeeeee.....Hills, that is!
Guy Fletcher plays keys on it as well
I was actually singing lines from this song while bulk-stacking microwaves at work yesterday. I'm sure I was getting an odd look from the younger co-worker who was nearby.
Ha ha. You should show him the song!
Was your coworker sitting near a refrigerator? 😉
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 That would have been great, but no. We don't sell those.
@@schmidington Maybe you have a color TV in your office?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Indeed, we have one in the breakroom. I didn't install it, although I did help bring in 1 of the 2 refrigerators used there.
This has to be one of the greatest stories behind a song ever LOL. What a stroke of luck/genius having Sting perform on this song. I remember how this brilliant and iconic video dominated MTV. The riff to this song has got to be top 5 if not #1 of all time with the greatest buildup to a song ever and it's one of finest albums that has ever been recorded...who didn't own it? Pity what happened to MTV. Now I'm going to have to watch both this video AND the Weird Al one. When you hear some of the lyrics in rap music you kind of wonder why this song is banned and those songs aren't. Whatever. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada🍁
As for “awesomest song intros ever”, this might sit at #3 for me. Cheers 🍻
Exactly!!! We can play W.A.P. on the radio but have to cut out an entire verse of Money for Nothin for 'political correctness'.. Just SAD!!
I totally agree!!!
Ditto
Who says the Police are never there when you need them!
They may as well be so close after all.
Knopfler was great at writing songs from real conversations. If you can find it, listen to Badges Posters Stickers & T-Shirts, originally B side to Private Investigations. Its about things fans say when they get to meet the band backstage. It’s hilarious.
Haha, that’s a hilarious song!
I like the uncensored version.
Me, too. I remember a while back, a Cleveland classic rock station played the uncensored version in its entirety. 🤟😄 Maybe they still do. I don't know.
@@BillGraper the heart of rock n roll is still beating...in Cleveland 🤘
@@BillGraper
WMMS!! 100.7 The Buzzard!! Loved that station 🚉
....that little f......FORTY-FIVE! ...HA-HAA!! ...Imagine hearing the 'Radio' version, then getting that SINGLE, Summer of '85....
@@rogerdeahl9629 It was 98.5 WNCX, but the Buzzard probably played it a well.
I want my MTV...Back!!!
Same here!
#FridayNightVideos
Me too!
Dire Straits has such a fabulously unique sound. I love it when bands have their own sound. Boston, Jethro Tull, Rush, Nirvana, etc. (Even back to Glenn Miller who refused to stop until he found his own sound)
Who do you think had the most original sound of the 80s?
@Professor of Rock hmm. Barenaked Ladies for later 80's and Devo for the beginning.
R.E.M. without a doubt.
@@ProfessorofRock Wow, that is such a hard question. Back then? I think things like B52s, Talking Heads, but my definition of what is original is bigger the older I get. I mean, decades go by and there isn’t another Pink Floyd or AC/DC or ZZ Top. How many Santanas or Bruce Springsteen or Billy Idol or Ramones are there. So many bands found their own voices. Music as a whole stays exciting when ever that happens. 60s, 70s, and 80s were all amazing for that.
The Cars as well.
1985 Wembley saw The Dire straights rock the venue with Money for Nothing and Sultans of Swing (one of the coolest songs ever recorded) Utterly mad and monster, how could you top that? Next up...QUEEN ! ! Ah, those were the days.
So exciting!
Money for nothing takes me back to the mtv days ! when mtv actually played music videos ! one of the greatest riffs of all time !
So true!
We want our good old MTV 📺
Offended or not, the complete version should still be played on the radio.
Brothers in Arms at one time was the biggest selling album in U.K. history.
Still in the top 10.
Glad they made it to the Rock hall of Fame, even if Mark was a no-show.
Ya it was the first album to sell over 10 million there!
@@ProfessorofRock The advent of CDs as a commercial proposition had a lot to do with this- it sold huge numbers of CDs. It was only from 1985 that those who could afford them bought CDs.
People get offended too easily. There's nothing offensive about the lyrics in this song. Context means everything. If people find a word to be offensive they shouldn't use that word, and then they should leave everyone else alone.
agreed, I always add the unedited version to my playlists, I never saw the song as offensive and it's one of the things I hate about giving in to the easily offended, the more ground you give the more mileage they steal.....
if you give an inch they'll tale the nation!!! look around man?? everything is broken cus of the easily offended.....
we've retreated to the older music cus there's no creativity in the new shit cus that sadly is what's rewarded, trash they actually give those hacks awards for writing trash where many bands of 1999 ad before are shunned from the rock hall....and they let in country and rap?? WTF? lol
I want my MTV......MTV doesn't play music anymore so i guess I don't want my MTV then? lolz
anyways I hope some easily offended get offended by what I said...cus I was put here to offend.....you could say I'm a.....repeat offender ugh
@@judgedrekk2981 Things are broken in societies where they are due to right wing ideologues who have wrecked America, Britain and elsewhere. It's that simple.
Great song. Nothing's like it used to be. The whole world is just waiting to get offended, and it sucks. Anyway, I always knew that was Sting. And I always put it on ten when I hear this come on.
I turn mine to 11!
I'm an old man. I had over 2400 albums when CDs came into vogue. This was the first CD that I ever bought (along with Madonna's debut for my then-wife) and the sound just blew me away! Now, my entire music collection fits on five 10 TB disks with dual redundancy. And I'm so old that I don't mind the digital sound over vinyl at all.
I think I remember that only the CD got an extended version of So Far Away that the vinyl did not get. I did not have a CD player and was like "hey, wth Warner Bros." I still have the original vinyl, and I still play it from time to time.
This is still one of the greatest rock songs ever made.
No doubt!
Once upon a time in the west is one of my favorite songs.
Classic!
I recall the first time I heard this, like one remembers where they were when hearing about Reagan being shot, JFK, space shuttle disaster, etc. I was in Lake View SC, and needed a ride to West Columbia, 2-1/2 hours away. A friend of mine’s older brother was headed to Wofford College to play football and he offered to go out of his way to take me. He had a brand new convertible Pontiac Trans Am in a beautiful sparkle blue. He pulled up at the LV football field to pick me up and as I walked up to the car, he said, “check this out”…with the Speakers wide open, I heard Stings distinctive voice as it slowly began, and thought it was a new Sting song. As I said “Sting?”, he said “shhhh…wait.”. Then the drums came in, then…well, to this day I can vividly recall the instant impact of Mark’s guitar as it erupted like nothing I had ever heard before.
Needless to say we listened to it over and over on the drive, as well as the rest of the album. There are very instances I can recall, in such detail, a musical moment that had a bigger impact on me so instantly. That’s saying a lot as I am a music nut and I have hundreds & hundreds of great musical moments in my life. Few can match the instant magic of the opening riff of Money for Nothing at that moment. What a great memory I still think about time and again, from almost 40 years ago.
When it comes to Mark Knopfler, every song tells a story, and so it is with "Money for Nothing". One of the problems "Dire Straits" fans had with this song, including me, was that it was like no other song they did (all the fantastic guitar work) and seemed a bit "heavy metal", but after a while we all came to love it. "Sultans of Swing" will always be their SIGNITURE tune, but "Money for Nothing" made a statement for every musician, any kind and anywhere. ;-)
It signaled a change in direction for Knopfler’s crew.
Heavy metal? Nah no where near it
@@Duck_Dodgers yeah, not heavy metal, but definitely heavier than previous Dire Straits tunes.
Mark Knopfler was actually trying to imitate ZZ Top's guitar sound a la Legs (you know, it was huge on MTV)--a little heavier, but not heavy metal.
I know this a little off topic for a Professor of Rock segment, but why not cover the infamous 1983 MTV interview between David Bowie and Mark Goodman?
David Bowie outright accused MTV executives of being racist, live on air.
And it was shortly after that interview that MTV was forced by several record labels to play their black artists in primetime rotation, who were not only at the top of the R&B charts but the pop charts as well. Like Michael Jackson and Prince.
Even as a kid, after watching the interview, and you can find it on RUclips, it's apparent that Mark Goodman and several other VJs at MTV wanted that interview to happen. David Bowie said what they couldn't.
🤔 *Do you think the 'meathead' who said this stuff KNOWS it's him?* 🤔
We should uncover his identity! 🕵️♀️
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Why? Other than using the "slur" that was in common use back then, he did nothing wrong. He was a blue collar worker venting his frustration at having to bust his @ss to make ends meet, while the overpaid rock stars played an instrument for a living and made millions of dollars, and had everything handed to them. I find it frustrating myself that I save lives for a living, but barely make ends meet after bills due to medical issues, yet people are paid millions to pretend to save lives, or to sing or play guitar, or play a game. Society idolizes them, and they spend their money on themselves. You want to out a person who was tired from working all day, and was stating how he felt about the decadence of the music world now that MTV was around, and everyone could see for themselves how overblown it had become? The man deserves a medal for inspiring a good song, and he deserves his privacy.
I've seen Mark Knopfler live twice, and both times he did censor himself: once with the word "maggot", the other with the word "mother".
Never get tired of that guitar riff. Mark Knopfler is a world class guitarist. This song still makes me smile
Me too! I loved this song. 🤣
As an Aussie that grew up in the 80's the snowflakes of today would cry hearing our language. Mark is a living legend perhaps shunned by MSM but never by his fans!
Even though it has that f slur, I
I always thought that he was singing about a conversation that he heard, and that the singer was the subject of the slur. So Mark would have been the subject of the f slur.
Tolkien used the f-word in his Lord of the Rings novels, but he dud use it with the original meaning. He also used the words, gay and queer. With their original meaning. Satire can be crude, as long as it's real.
I thought the slur was directed at the people who made the videos on MTV.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yeah, it was directed at the musicians in the video that was playing at the time.
I always thought he was talking about Prince.
i always thought it was about Elton John!
They block the "gay slur" word but rap spouts the "N" word 20 times in a song and plays all day long.....
Hell, even students at my school say it in the hallways while walking to classes without even being caught by admins.
The opening by Sting wasn't his only contribution to that song.
Knopfler is one the great guitarist of all time, and maybe THE most under-rated guitarist of all time. Him and Prince.
Earth shattering track & video. I remember the moment it hit the cable waves.
My first CD purchase in 1985 was 'Brothers in Arms', along with 'No Jacket Required' by Phil Collins. I still have those CDs, and listen to them regularly. Compared to my vinyl records of the same era, the sound was incredible, and still is, 37 years later. Thank you for this wonderful in-depth history of the music of my earlier years. I am now 73, and still love rock and always will.
You can’t mistake Mark Knoppler’s sound! My favourite guitarist ever!❤️🇨🇦
I was in college when this came out. L lived in the dorm and the popularity of this song was huge. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I agree the 8 min is the only way to listen to this song. Boooo to censorship.
This is one of those songs that I remember the first few times hearing it. I was a kid but when that searing guitar kicked in I was instantly hooked. That riff just spoke out ''You like riffs do ya? I got yer riff right here buddy!, Top that!!"
So true! It was so magnetic!
Yeah, this and the near ending guitar riff to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" as well
The riff kicks ass.
Yeah, it really does say that, doesn't it.
No mention of the mistake on vocals???🤦♂️🤦♂️. They recorded a perfect version afterwards, then decided to release the version with Mark's accidental laugh in it.
One of the best vids ever on MTV.
Tell me your top 5?
@@ProfessorofRock Take on me, Money for nothing, Addicted to love, Got my mind set on you, Sledgehammer, We're not going to take it. They were all cutting edge and weird in their own way and time.
This was the music video that made me realize the true reason why I wasn’t feeling most modern music and pop culture trends.
I remember when it was released, had the cassette then the CD. On MTV, the video was originally uncut, don't know when the United States of the Offended had it cut. Love Weird Al's version too
I always loved the way Beverly Hillbillies theme synced up with Money for Nothing. Weird Al has always been so good at what he does best.
I was a 2nd engineer at a 24-track studio back in the late 80s/early nineties, and the most interesting fact I learned today was about the guitar tone. This was the kind of thing we used to experiment with all the time! Unconventional room-mic placements, unconventional mics, unconventional ROOMS (the studio bathroom was like singing into a full plate reverb!)... That's the kind of stuff that made being in the studio fun back in the day. Sadly, I think that's kind of been lost. But of course, the benefits of being able to create a professional-quality single or album from the relative comfort of your studio APARTMENT instead of paying for a million dollar studio more than makes up for it.
It also created one of the greatest live albums of all time, the Grateful Dead's 1970 gem "Live/Dead." They'd been in the studio too long already in late 1968 working on their third album when the 16 track tape machine was invented. Naturally they had to fill every track so they scrapped months of work to re-record the album. Unlimited studio time was built into their contract but they still had to pay for it, the bill was something outrageous like $100,000, a hefty sum in 1969. So they managed to truck the 16 track out to a few hometown gigs at the Avalon and Fillmore West to record a live album to offset the costs of the studio. Thus the first live album on 16 track was recorded, and damn it's a tremendous album. Daring music.
Wasn’t there a “rest of the story” for the guitar sound? I had heard that a wah pedal was accidentally left on and slightly cocked and that’s what mostly contributed to the unique sound.
Prolly the last "smart" thing MTV did... Nothing but bad decisions and a long fall from grace after this.. R.I.P. MTV
Did you have MTV in it's heyday?
Reality killed the MTV star.
This is one of those times I'm glad I don't have HBO Max or Disney+. Using this song in Willow for the sole purpose of a nostalgia connection with absolutely ZERO contextual accuracy is heresy to the entire genre. Remember what happened with DragonHeart and Ladyhawke?
I immediately turn up the volume the second the opening riff starts - it is one of the most distinctive ones out there. I love it. And you have to love a guy who not only gives the okay to Weird Al, but insists on playing on his song.
I too crank up the intro to money for nothing.
“That little Clampett got his own cement pond, that little Clampett, he’s a millionaire”
I have had tons of conversations stolen and made into songs. Ton of rappers and rockstars write songs to mock me. I don't hate them for it, if anything I feel proud to have wrote all their lyrics. My coat tails are long with many singers, writers and inventor's.
Riff sounds like Jumpin' Jack Flash on steroids
Good description.
It’s the gas gas gas
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980gas now that's funny
Apparently as a toddler i would always play with the stereo in the house. Parents rescinded and just let me do after they figured i knew what i was doin. They also left this tape in it so i could listen to it when they realized whenever this song came on i turned it up as loud as the stereo would go.
Still to this day at 42 its one of my faves and still gets the same reaction outa me; cranked way way up.
I was a senior in HS when this CD came out and it was such a different sound from their earlier work. LOVE IT!!!! ❤🎸
It was revolutionary indeed.
My cousin bought is first vehicle, a beautiful early 70s orange Chevy C-10 pickup. Or course the radio in it sucked! So, one weekend I helped install a very good stereo. Two tweeters up high in the headliner, two midrange in the doors, then a bass with amp behind the seat. The first song we blasted out of that stereo with pure beautiful sound was "Money for Nothing"
Note: That started a decade long journey of him installing bigger and bigger systems in his cars! Thankfully his first wife stopped the madness!
I remember when this great song came out. Regular people talked like that, especially in private. I know the controversial lyric but a lot of people used that word back then. I wanted to defend the people chatting to themselves, the awesome blue-collar workers that were in that department store. I don’t agree with calling them morons. I love the way, Knopfler put this banter in the song, this rough dialogue between associates has been immortalized (It’s the way people spoke back then before everyone became so sensitive)
I live here. The song was banned in Canada in January 2011 but the ban was lifted in September of that same year.
Money for Nothing is absolutely an iconic song but for me, Skateaway will always be my #1 song by Dire Straits.
I feel the same way.
Agreed!
I was so happy worried you would not mention Weird Al, with his take on this great song. Whew!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I heard this story years ago. Just cool how everything happened. In later years, Sting appeared with Dire Straits at the Princes charity concerts on London.
This video was everywhere, because of the line "I Want My MTV". At the time MTV was not in a majority of American homes. Crazy.
Thanks for this one, Professor. Glad to be in class today. (No detention today). 😅
I bet it helped MTV reach more Americans.
My husband, back when he was married the first time, had just gotten his house. The cable company guy set up the service and turned the TV to MTV. What was the very first song on? Yep, Money for Nothing. He's a classical piano guy (plays) but he did learn a bit about the rock music, but he's gotten quite the education from me (and Professor of Rock). I was a DJ in the late 1980s, so I love this stuff. :)
I love watching the "Money for Nothing" video, Knopfler's smirk is perfect, almost like he's recalling the conversation all over again.
It’s a with sarcasm that’s very entertaining.
I was today years old when I FINALLY understand what the heck they were talking about in this classic! 😂😂😂
I love Dire Straits, Money for Nothing, Romeo and Juliet and Walk of Life would probably be my favourite songs from them. How about yourself, Adam?
I love all three.
I don't feel those working guys were "morons". They realized they had made wrong choices early in life and that had they made better ones they wouldn't be moving appliances and would have money and women, perceived better lives. Sounds like wisdom to me.
The video for the song is iconic and pretty amazing as well. Edit: Guess I should have watched a little longer ;) The quality of the CD production/medium itself is pretty amazing, not just the songs themselves. I know people used to use it and a selection of a few other CDs to test sound systems.
It's so memorable. Came out around the same time as Sledgeahmmer
It was innovative.
@Shane Herbert I tested sound systems w/ Def Leppards' God's of War (on Hysteria).
The best part is that the dude in the store wrote a hit song and still didn't get any money.
Love Dire Straits! One very underrated song by them that I love is SkateAway!
Great song!!! What's your favorite album by them Jenny?
@@ProfessorofRock Making Movies, of course! Tunnel of love, SkateAway, Romeo and Juliet…all so good!
@@jennyjenny4501 ever heard of Expresso Love?
@@Sweet--Richard.4981 great song, Richard!
That was the song that introduced me to the band after I told a mate how I hated them. He defied me to still hate them after he played Skateaway. I lost
I still have my vinyl Brother In Arms album. I heard this song on the radio driving around recently. My jaw dropped it was edited (as you mentioned) - never heard it like that before. @Professor, this channel is awesome. Thanks for your content - glad I stumbled across it.
It’s always a treat when “Money For Nothin’” (unedited version) comes on the radio. As soon as you hear the opening notes, you know what’s coming. It’s also cool that you can visualize the music video in your mind’s eye while the song is playing. The crescendo leading to the first notes of the riff leading to the lyrics is really the highlight of the song. It just grabs you by the throat and shakes you. What a great song, and a great story by the great Adam Reader - THE Professor of Rock. Another triumph, Professor!!👏👏👏
That’s what was so great about MTV, whenever these songs came on the radio, all that was in your head was the video.
I could never get enough of that video - so cutting edge for 1985. I even tried to replicate something similar with my Commodore 64 computer! Thanks, doc.
Loved this song. The addition of Sting's vocals made the song even more spectacular. I also thought the lyrics were funny.
Agreed, in contrast to Rick, in my view the implied criticism does, to an extent at least, hit the target; and Knopfler’s lyric clearly if wryly acknowledges that fact.
Sarcasm at its best.
Nailed it! Love your take ❤.
One of the best songs and videos of all time, and it makes me SO happy to hear the story behind it! Thanks Professor!
I had to ban a roommate from playing this record for a while. He would literally listen to it over and over for hours nonstop.
@Adam_Reader.... On which platform?
The more you know:
To get that guitar sound, you have to find the exact sweet spot on a specific brand of wah pedal. I read that Knopfler himself has trouble finding it.
Did you know it was a total accident?
@@ProfessorofRock I did know that. I am, after all, a walking encyclopedia of useless musical trivia. LOLOL
I think I read that in the same article. Haven't had a chance to watch your vid yet. Do you discuss that part?
Practice, practice, practice!
@@ProfessorofRock The story I remember about Mark Knopfler's guitar tone in this song was that he was going for Billy Gibbons' ZZ Top sound (a la Gimme All Your Lovin, Legs, etc). He called Billy's people to try to ask Billy how he got his tone, but Billy never called back. What Mark got on this song was something along the way of trying to find that tone. Listen to ZZ's "MTV" songs and you'll hear the similarity.
In 1985 I was working as a dance club DJ, and this song got played every night. My partner would always hide my paycheck in the DJ booth so that only I could find it. Where? Inside the record jacket of "Money for Nothing," of course...
22:15
Please tell me that Mark Knopfler sought out those “Meat heads” to give them writing credits, points and lots of money for the song they gave Mark. Mark and the band certainly did very well out of it. It would certainly boost the MH’s pension funds!
Good idea!
This song came out during my sophomore year of college orientation and I remember someone playing it. Still love the song.
From the opening note you know your in for a ride
It's so true. A foundational song for sure!
That first minute is enthralling.
I only sang a few songs in the bands we had, this was one! Had fun on drums too. Of course we played the long version. I had a big smile when you revealed the song for this video, great presentation as usual!
I remember when this video came out. I liked the song, but I was amazed by the video! Not sure I had ever seen anything like it (aside from an educational video about DNA we watched in biology in high school). Computer graphics and that 3D look just blew me away.
It was so cool!
A lot of people, including my mom and aunts, were seeing things like that for the first time in Money for Nothing. It’s way ahead of its time.
This was CGI in 1985 and conspiracy theorists think Nasa used CCI to fake the moon landing.
I'm planning to make a parody called, "Fursuits for Nothing." Since you said this original song is about and angry rant, this made me want to make this as a furry parody even more because I've been hearing from jealous furs complaining about popufurs.
This song was huge and i loved it, especially the guitar riff. But as a 12yo in 1985 struggling with my sexuality, that one line bothered me. As the years went on i realised more and more how much that line had effected me. To the point where recently I heard it on the radio and i felt extreme anger. Hearing this explanation may just let me rock to it again as that 12yo kid use to. It really is an iconic masterpiece.
You're one of the sane people, cancel culture generally has no room for context, it's all feeling driven. The only person who should be offended at that line is Michael Jackson, and he's been dead over a decade, who cares.
Welcome to the true you, brother... sorry the journey was a rough one. Your story nicely illustrates that context is important, but, sadly, many people don't have time for it or simply fail to recognize that fact. Cheers!
I always took it as Mark being condescending and making fun of bigots.
I’m sorry. I can see how that slut rubbed folks the wrong way.
Thanks and yes, at the time I loved it as did everyone. But as I got older and I guess more perceptive I did take it as expressing Mark's views or his ignorance...never considered he was quoting somebody he actually didn't respect and included it for that reason. I haven't listened to that album since. I loved the whole album. But now understanding how integral he was actually being, I guess it puts a new spin on the whole song. I guess I'm guilty of jumping to conclusions and Mark is guilty of unintended offence.
And thanks Kasper, my journey wasn't terrible but the older I get I understand it also wasn't as easy as I thought.
This exact same thing happened to me. There's an episode of the show King of the Hill titled 'Peggy's Fan Fair' that describes how people in the entertainment industry plagiarize material.
In my case I wrote comments on the Hulu page of Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, and Parks and Rec. They started using my comments in their shows so I wrote and entire story arc and they used it without citing my comment. Then they targeted me the same way Harvey Weinstein targeted his accusers. They completely destroyed my life and even poisoned my dog.
If, you've seen the Harvest Festival or Camping episodes of Parks and rec, those are two examples. The ripped off that story suggestion I made in a comment just like this one. It became a popular part of the show and they completely destroyed me to conceal their crime.
Their process works like Scientology's 'Fair Game' contract stalking scheme. When you speak up about these crimes they smear you as a mental case and then try to goad you into some public outburst so that they can play the victim. The entire process is a huge industry that Hollywood, politicians, and c-suite execs fund. The victims are reporting this to local and federal authorities, but those institutions have been captured politically. So, what we've got is a protected class of entertainers who can literally torture and abuse anyone they want.
Ronan Farrow's articles on the Harvey Weinstein case names some of the private intel firms that are involved in these crimes. However, shows like Saturday Night Live and the other NBC comedies act as propaganda agents for the left, so they are afforded federal counterintelligence assets for use in these narcissistic reprisal schemes. It's a sick sport and more people need to know about this.
FYI the Eagles song 'Hotel California' is about this type of organized stalking and harassment. They are reveling in the fact that the entertainment class is allowed to mess with people in this way. LIkewise, the NBC show 'The Good PLace' is literally a brag about the producers involvement in this type of covert harasment. Raging narcissists, sociopahts, and pscyhopaths .. all of them.
His girlfriend was still a teenager 😳 of course she was watching 👀 MTV
With her free chips?
My dad was of the Swing Gen. Also he was a WW2 vet. He liked these classics that I liked to too. I'm a tad older than you, I'm a boomer, age 64.
Dire Straits was such a great band. Mark Knopfler has some great solo work too. Amazing guitar player and songwriter. Besides Money For Nothing there is Romeo and Juliet, Sultans of Swing, So Far Away, Irish Boy, Brothers in Arms, Sailing to Philadelphia (with James Taylor) and so many more. Thank you Professor for talking about this band and especially Mark Knopfler. One of my favorites.
Six blade knife, Single handed sailor, lady writer, once apon a time in the west, water of love, where do you think going?..... The list is endless indeed
@@mazambane286 Agreed.
Some works seem to almost will themselves into existence, circumstances bending around them to facilitate and shape something absolutely singular and whole.
Their Live Aid performance is excellent. They played Wembley Arena on the same night. Sultans of Swing at Live Aid is sublime, especially the saxophone when the tempo slows down.
He is one of a kind.
@@ProfessorofRock Hey Adam my brother, when are you doing more live streams? We love your live broadcasts brother! Love & respect, from the UK.
That Live Aid performance was perfect.
Fantastic revelation of one of my favorite tunes and artists from that era!
A great song and a groundbreaking music video. Cool side note: in the '90s, the animators who worked on "Money for Nothing" founded Mainframe Entertainment, and that company created computer-animated TV series including ReBoot, Transformers: Beast Wars and Transformers: Beast Machines.
I'll be honest, I really didn't like this song when it came out. But it has grown on me as I got older, and I enjoy it now. Weird how songs can do that. Good episode!
THanks Greg. It has so much depth...
What I want to know is what music video they were watching as this was going on! Who is banging on a bongo????
Haircut 100
@@thrusta100 Thank you! Is it the Favorite Shirts video or Love Plus One? Still can't find anything talking about the connection to Money For Nothin, but one of those could be it.