Kirk's Knook
Episode II: Attack of The MTV Clones

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What started out as a simple tiny little idea for a piece of trivia became this weeks main topic. On 01 August, 1981 The Original American Music TeleVision (MTV) began transmitting it's All Video Programing. They didn't have stupid gameshows, talk shows or dating games then it was just videos all the time 24/7 with the obligatory commercials of course. Hosted by "Video Jockeys" known as "VJs". Thus American Teenagers soon started "Vegging Out" to the world of Music Video. Many people with a little bit of trivia knowledge, or one of the many editions of the game "Trivial Pursuit", can correctly answer the following question.

"What was the first Video ever shown on MTV?".
The Answer of course class is "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles.

But Says Man (and Douglas Adams fans), what was the second video? Ummmmmm I don't know that. Well stay tuned campers you will soon learn the answer to that one plus find out what the rest of the first ten videos were.

I located this piece of trivia while surfing on a couple of the zillions of webpages (OK maybe not zillions but a few hundred to a couple of thousand) devoted to one of my favorite Rock Stars from the 1980's. DIN Editor TJ has probably already guessed this one by now folks. To give you some hints. This artist was at the time the reigning "Queen of Rock and Roll". She won four, count them Four consecutive Grammies for "Female Rock Artist of the Year". She also particpated in the Anti-Apartheid Anthem "Sun City" by Artists United Against Aparteid, and was one of many Music Stars to beg and plead "I WANT MY MTV" in those early music video years. I am speaking of course about the pint-sized, leotard wearing, hard rock ballad belting PAT BENATAR and the Video? Pat's "Bad Girl of Rock" cover of The Rascals hit "You Better Run".

Now as promised here are the other videos that are part of the historic first ten videos shown on MTV on August 1, 1981 in order shown. Don't ask me where the commercial breaks were or which VJ got the honor of being the first VJ on air, I didn't have cable or MTV back then. I think it was either Martha Quinn or JayJay Jackson? I understand that on that day there were some technical problems, periods of "dead air" and some of the VJ spots were mixed up and out of order.

First Ten Videos Aired on MTV on 1 August, 1981.

Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
You Better Run - Pat Benatar
She Won't Dance With Me - Rod Stewart
You Better You Bet - The Who
Little Suzie's On The Up - PhD
We Don't Talk Anymore - Cliff Richard
Brass In Pocket - Pretenders
Time Heals - Todd Rundgren
Take It On The Run - REO Speedwagon
Rockin' The Paradise - Styx

For a history (not necessarily THE History) of MTV's beginnings and MTV links, follow this link: http://www.angelfire.com/retro/nostalgiacafe/videos.html I think there is a link or two to trivia about MTV Europe and other versions of MTV and their first video broadcasts there as well.

Comments on, suggestions about and raspberries of dissapointment to Kirk's Knook should be emailed directly to me here at AOL and not to Editor TJ. Please be sure to mention the DIN or "Kirk's Knook" in your subject line. If you'd like to know a little more about me and see some other writtings of mine check out my site Nesredna's Knook over at Yahoo/Geocities.

Thank You and See Ya! Next Week,

Kirk

"Badges! We don't need no stinkin' badges."
~ The Movie Blazing Saddles

UPDATED NOTES: 08 February 2006: This Episode of Kirk's Knook appears mostly in it's original form. It appeared in TJ Maher's blog/newsletter/email Your Daily Irish News (Now called Daily Irish News The DIN for short) on or around 12 November 2002. The original version had all the font faces in bold. There also was no Knook Logo yet.

KAsym.gif and Nesredna's Knook Logo created by Kirk L. Andersen.
Original Kirk's Knook logo by Kirk L. Andersen Circa 2003.

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Added to Nesredna's Knook on 01 April, 2003
Updated on 26 April, 2007

Kirk's Knook Episode II: Attack of The MTV Clones

Kirk's Knook
Episode II: Attack of The MTV Clones