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Community Corner

MTV Celebrates the Big 3-0

MTV forever changed our culture.

Most of us mark our 30th birthday in a big way, but most of us haven’t changed society the way one 30 year old celebrating its birthday today has.

Happy 30th to MTV.

For those of us who can remember that far back (and I can), we may not have made too much note of the event.

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On August 1, 1981, Jack Lack, one of the creators of the first MTV video, spoke words that would change our culture.

“Ladies and gentleman, rock and roll.”

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And the first video, the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” was played.

Since that humble beginning, millions and millions of videos have followed.

It’s hard to imagine that MTV would help change history, but it did.

Bands were created thanks to MTV and 24-hour music was available for all.  MTV changed the way performers performed, set the stage for our culture in terms of fashion and hair styles, and created – and killed – bands.

In doing my own simple research today, I found out a few facts and information about some famous videos:

The first MTV video awards helped launch Madonna’s career where she rolled around on stage in a wedding dress, singing “Like a Virgin.”

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was an unprecedented 14-minute long production and helped set the bar forever for every video to come. It is still one of the most-watched videos - my own daughter (who wasn’t even born back then) loves it and has probably improved the viewed numbers for the video.

Brittany Spears and the above mentioned Madonna shocked folks when they kissed on MTV in 2009.

Many learned that Nirvana’s lead singers, Kurt Cobain, committed suicide from an MTV news report.

The list goes on and on, but we want your thoughts.

What is your favorite MTV moment?

What video do you remember?

 

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