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Reply #60 posted 02/09/10 5:22pm

Timmy84

But I'm kinda insulted Queen isn't in the playlist. That's another injustice.

MTV just did not know its audience initially! lol
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Reply #61 posted 02/09/10 5:23pm

lowkey

Timmy84 said:

Playlist from MTV's first date:
# The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star
# Pat Benatar - You Better Run
# Rod Stewart - She Won't Dance
# The Who - You Better You Bet
# Phd - Little Susie's on the Up
# Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
# The Pretenders - Brass in Pocket
# Todd Rundgren - Time Heals
# REO Speedwagon - Take it on the Run
# Styx - Rockin' the Paradise
# Robiin Lane & The Chartbusters - When Things Go Wrong
# Split Enz - History Never Repeats.
# .38 Special - Hold on Loosely
# April Wine - Just Between You & Me
# Rod Stewart - Sailing
# Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
# REO Speedwagon - Keep on Loving You
# The Pretenders - Message of Love
# Lee Ritenour - Mr. Briefcase
# The Cars - Double Life
# Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
# Robert Palmer - Looking for Clues
# The Shoes - Too Late
# Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty - Stop Draggin' my Heart Around.
# Rupert Hines - Surface Tension

# Madness - One Step Beyond
# Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
# Pat Benatar - I'm Gonna Follow You
# Tom Johnson - Savannah Nights
# Rockestra - Lucille
# Styx - The Best of Times
# Carly Simon - Vengeance
# Iron Maiden - Wrathchild
# Blotto - I Wanna Be a Lifeguard
# Rod Stewart - Passion
# Elvis Costello - Oliver's Army
# REO Speedwagon - Don't Let Him Go
# The Silencers - Remote Control/I'm Too Legal
# Juice Newton - Angel of the Morning
# Rockestra - Little Sister
# Bootcamp - Hold on to the Night
# Cliff Richard - Dreaming
# Lee Ritenour - Is it You?
# Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
# Michael Stanley Band - He Can't Love You
# REO Speedwagon - Tough Guys
# Blondie - Rapture
# The Who - Don't Let Go the Coat
# Rod Stewart - Ain't Love a Bitch
# The Pretenders - Talk of the Town
# Rainbow - Can't Happen Here
# Andrew Gold - Thank You for Being a Friend
# Gerry Rafferty - Bring it all Home
# April Wine - Sign of the Gypsy Queen
# Kate Bush - The Man With the Child in His Eyes
# David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
# April Wine - Just Between You and Me
# The Specials - Rat Race
# Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
# Bootcamp - Victim
# Rod Stewart - Tonight's the Night
# Nick Lowe - Cruel to be Kind

List: http://stereogum.com/arch...02995.html

I think partially the reason MTV failed to take off was because Rod Stewart had at least five videos. Some of the videos weren't even rock, it was either pop or pre-new age (Kate Bush) or country (Juice Newton). Most may have been new wave. And CLIFF RICHARD?! lol



they seemed to focus heavy on the uk
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Reply #62 posted 02/09/10 5:24pm

Timmy84

lowkey said:

Timmy84 said:

Playlist from MTV's first date:
# The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star
# Pat Benatar - You Better Run
# Rod Stewart - She Won't Dance
# The Who - You Better You Bet
# Phd - Little Susie's on the Up
# Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
# The Pretenders - Brass in Pocket
# Todd Rundgren - Time Heals
# REO Speedwagon - Take it on the Run
# Styx - Rockin' the Paradise
# Robiin Lane & The Chartbusters - When Things Go Wrong
# Split Enz - History Never Repeats.
# .38 Special - Hold on Loosely
# April Wine - Just Between You & Me
# Rod Stewart - Sailing
# Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
# REO Speedwagon - Keep on Loving You
# The Pretenders - Message of Love
# Lee Ritenour - Mr. Briefcase
# The Cars - Double Life
# Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
# Robert Palmer - Looking for Clues
# The Shoes - Too Late
# Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty - Stop Draggin' my Heart Around.
# Rupert Hines - Surface Tension

# Madness - One Step Beyond
# Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
# Pat Benatar - I'm Gonna Follow You
# Tom Johnson - Savannah Nights
# Rockestra - Lucille
# Styx - The Best of Times
# Carly Simon - Vengeance
# Iron Maiden - Wrathchild
# Blotto - I Wanna Be a Lifeguard
# Rod Stewart - Passion
# Elvis Costello - Oliver's Army
# REO Speedwagon - Don't Let Him Go
# The Silencers - Remote Control/I'm Too Legal
# Juice Newton - Angel of the Morning
# Rockestra - Little Sister
# Bootcamp - Hold on to the Night
# Cliff Richard - Dreaming
# Lee Ritenour - Is it You?
# Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
# Michael Stanley Band - He Can't Love You
# REO Speedwagon - Tough Guys
# Blondie - Rapture
# The Who - Don't Let Go the Coat
# Rod Stewart - Ain't Love a Bitch
# The Pretenders - Talk of the Town
# Rainbow - Can't Happen Here
# Andrew Gold - Thank You for Being a Friend
# Gerry Rafferty - Bring it all Home
# April Wine - Sign of the Gypsy Queen
# Kate Bush - The Man With the Child in His Eyes
# David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
# April Wine - Just Between You and Me
# The Specials - Rat Race
# Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
# Bootcamp - Victim
# Rod Stewart - Tonight's the Night
# Nick Lowe - Cruel to be Kind

List: http://stereogum.com/arch...02995.html

I think partially the reason MTV failed to take off was because Rod Stewart had at least five videos. Some of the videos weren't even rock, it was either pop or pre-new age (Kate Bush) or country (Juice Newton). Most may have been new wave. And CLIFF RICHARD?! lol



they seemed to focus heavy on the uk


Yeah I think a lot of American white rock acts were insulted initially because I think until late 1982, they didn't play a lot of rock from American acts. Like I said MTV's playlists in the early years were confusing.
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Reply #63 posted 02/09/10 5:25pm

lastdecember

avatar

Timmy84 said:

But I'm kinda insulted Queen isn't in the playlist. That's another injustice.

MTV just did not know its audience initially! lol


I hate to say this though, Queen did have Radio GaGa around 1983, MTV would not play it because of what it was saying, it was talking about how visual was the end of Radio. Also this was the start of the Queen backlash in America, because of the whole "gay" thing, Queen was blacklisted to say the least, it did get love on Friday Night Videos though

"We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F
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Reply #64 posted 02/09/10 5:31pm

Timmy84

lastdecember said:

Timmy84 said:

But I'm kinda insulted Queen isn't in the playlist. That's another injustice.

MTV just did not know its audience initially! lol


I hate to say this though, Queen did have Radio GaGa around 1983, MTV would not play it because of what it was saying, it was talking about how visual was the end of Radio. Also this was the start of the Queen backlash in America, because of the whole "gay" thing, Queen was blacklisted to say the least, it did get love on Friday Night Videos though


Their video for "Body Language" was also dissed by MTV because of "homo-eroticism", which shows they were homophobic also. I think MTV hardly played Queen vids UNTIL Freddie's death and "Wayne's World". rolleyes Also I find it odd that they wouldn't play the video for "Radio GaGa" and yet they played "Video Killed the Radio Star", which really didn't TALK about much about video killing the radio star. I never got the concept of the Buggles song at all.
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Reply #65 posted 02/09/10 5:42pm

Timmy84

But don't get me wrong tho I actually like the Buggles song:

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Reply #66 posted 02/09/10 6:51pm

TonyVanDam

avatar

Timmy84 said:

lastdecember said:



the thing was "New York Hot tracks" and sometimes Friday Night Videos and there was this other show on channel 9 that was reall over the top but played some videos long before MTV, and i cannot forget U68 an indie jersey channel that was an alternative to those who didnt have cable and only got to see MTV when they went to their cousins house and brought a blank vhs and let it tape for 6 hours and hope for the best stuff, but U68 was the first NOT MTV to play "Take on Me" by a-ha, mtv has long fought this claim, but take it from me, U68 broke the bands video.


Yeah and you know what's also interesting, MTV was DISSED between 1981 and 1983 not just for its lack of popular artists of all races but for its confusing format. Even the first line of veejays were criticized. There wasn't a lot of R&B, heavy metal or hip-hop on MTV. Mainly the videos were either soft rock, classic rock, new wave and probably one or two metal videos. Videos by black artists were also shown in the early playlists but not as much as Rod Stewart or Styx probably. lol

The only few acts that claim MTV was Pat Benatar, Hall & Oates and probably Duran Duran. Other than that MTV was dissed in the early years and like "Soul Train" it initially open to limited markets only in the United States. The rest of the world didn't get MTV until 1985.


MTV made its debut on New Orleans' cable TV in 1983. It was around this time that Michael, Prince, Lionel, Tina Turner, & Donna Summers were THE only black with videos on the network.

NOW HERE COMES A FEW SHOCKING FACTS:

1. Madonna was THE first white female artist to have her videos on MTV & BET with the same week. The videos Borderline & Lucky Star crossover from MTV to BET.

2. Teena Marie was THE second white female artist to have her video shown on MTV & BET within the same week. But the thing is that unlike the case of Madonna, Teena had to crossover from BET to MTV. The video was Lovergirl
.
[Edited 2/9/10 18:51pm]
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Reply #67 posted 02/09/10 7:02pm

KCOOLMUZIQ

I think Prince was played b 4 MJ. But MJ made videos more popular because his was like miniature movies.....
eye will ALWAYS think of prince like a "ACT OF GOD"! N another realm. eye mean of all people who might of been aliens or angels.if found out that prince wasn't of this earth, eye would not have been that surprised. R.I.P. prince
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Reply #68 posted 02/10/10 12:10am

SoulAlive

TonyVanDam said:

SoulAlive said:

Other "black" songs that really should have been shown on MTV:

"Super Freak" by Rick James (1981)
"Alligator Woman" by Cameo (1982)
"Controversy" by Prince (1981)

These are songs that cannot be easily categorized as funk or R&B.There's definitely a New Wave/pop sound in these songs.


Uptown & Dirty Mind should have been THE first 2 Prince videos on MTV. Both tracks were inspired by new wave. And there were plenty of new wave artists that receive MTV coverages.


Exactly! It's a shame that MTV didn't jump on the Prince bandwagon until "1999" and "Little Red Corvette".Several of Prince's earlier singles/videos were decidedly pop/New Wave-sounding.
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Reply #69 posted 02/10/10 12:13am

SoulAlive

Did someone mention Joan Armatrading? I saw a few of her videos on MTV,long before 1983.
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Reply #70 posted 02/10/10 12:19am

SoulAlive

lastdecember said:

Superfreak was rejected by MTV as not fitting the "rock format" of the station at the time? Really, MTV was considered rock? Duran Duran and Hall and Oates are rock groups??


Very good point,and this is why MTV lost alot of credibility in those days.Even Hall and Oates would tell you that,many of their songs are R&B.I remember in the summer of 1983,MTV used to show Robert Palmer's "You Are In My System" video.But where was the original version by the System? Robert's version is very similiar to the original,but I guess they figured that The System doesn't fit their "format"? confuse
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Reply #71 posted 02/10/10 1:12am

Harlepolis

MTV's original head of talent and acquisition, Carolyn B. Baker, who was black, had questioned why the definition of music had to be so narrow, as had a few others.

Thats funny and contradicting to say the least lol they were playing the same faces routinely yet she had the nerve to claim that they're broad minded when it comes to music. Fuck outta here!

MTV doesn't know white or black audience, it knows CASH.

When rap took over in the 90s, they switched their angle and came with "Yo! MTV Rap" even though they made it clear times & time again that they're a "rock station".

But back when it first started, her 1st playlist featured artists that could ONLY bring back the cheddar at the time. That method is still used to this day.

Further reason why cash is their main objective rather than winning an audience; people mentioned earlier their non-support to Queen for homophobic reasons, well I got another reason why they're SAFE and more concerned about their sponsers and their pockets, when Janet whupped out her black & brown nipples and everbody denounced her, they jumped on the line as well and stopped playing her videos(even though 2 years earlier they hosted an "MTV Legends" show for HER).

Those are some morbid characters.
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Reply #72 posted 02/10/10 1:35am

thedance

avatar

http://prince.org/msg/7/312485

I have no idea why Michael Jackson's Billie Jean always gets the credit as the first Black artist's video on MTV ?

Prince's 1999 video had premiere on MTV in december 1982, according The Vault book.

MJ's first music video off Thriller, Billie Jean had premiere on MTV march 1983. Same month, march 1983: Prince's second video Little Red Corvette had premiere on MTV.

So in fact Prince was the first major black artist. Not the other way around,

Imo. Thriller wasn't paving the way for Purple Rain, cuz Prince was there already with the 1999 album, (those 2 videos).

Note: we are talking about airing on MTV, Off The Wall did not get any premiere play in 1979, because of the fact that MTV wasn't launched until august 1981,

not that it matters a big deal, both artists are / were great,

I just like the facts.... biggrin


Prince was first on MTV.... cool



MTV Yearbook 1982 & 1983:

these 2 links to MTV:


Prince - headline pic to 1982.
http://www.mtv.com/music/...Id=1535819



Michael - the headline pic to 1983.
http://www.mtv.com/music/...Id=1535996



MTV confirms that 1999 was shown on MTV in 1982,

- before Billie Jean, Beat It & Thriller in 1983.

Both were phenomenal artists, Thriller was a record breaking album in many ways,

but the first major black artist who had a breakthrough on MTV was: Prince.
Prince 4Ever. heart
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Reply #73 posted 02/10/10 1:40am

Ottensen

My memory is so fuzzy on this, I just cannot remember neutral confused neutral

What I do remember is that Mike wasn't the first black artist I saw on MTV, but somehow I can't remember who was. I also remember that "Little Red Corvette" made a pretty early appearance on the station, too. At the time the mania for 1999 was pretty high in the black community and I remember everyone being kind of surprised and proud from our generation that the single crossed over to pop and non-black radio play. MTV gave Prince props pretty early for 1999 and the Little Red Corvette, which set the stage for what eventually became on full on embrace for Purple Rain.

Now...who the heck was on first??? hmmm
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Reply #74 posted 02/10/10 1:43am

SoulAlive

I remember watching MTV in the summer of 1982 and they often showed the Paul McCartney/Stevie Wonder video "Ebony And Ivory" lol This was months before '1999' and 'Thriller' were released.Granted,it was Paul's song but still.
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Reply #75 posted 02/10/10 1:45am

Ottensen

ernestsewell said:

scriptgirl said:

Eddie Grant sang electric Avenue?

No, but Eddy Grant did. lol

He also has this song which so few people remember. "Romancing The Stone", which was supposed to be the theme to the movie of the same name, but the producers didn't like it enough. It is IN the movie though, but not the theme song. I love that song.


Don't. even. play! I TOTALLY remember that song! When I read the post the chorus popped up in my mind just like it was yesterday...fuck, I feel sooooo old now...and I have to youtube the video to get the melody out of my head lol

Holy Bejeebus if that ain't a blast from the past!
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Reply #76 posted 02/10/10 1:48am

SoulAlive

Ottensen said:

ernestsewell said:


No, but Eddy Grant did. lol

He also has this song which so few people remember. "Romancing The Stone", which was supposed to be the theme to the movie of the same name, but the producers didn't like it enough. It is IN the movie though, but not the theme song. I love that song.


Don't. even. play! I TOTALLY remember that song! When I read the post the chorus popped up in my mind just like it was yesterday...fuck, I feel sooooo old now...and I have to youtube the video to get the melody out of my head lol

Holy Bejeebus if that ain't a blast from the past!


80s pop classic of the day: "Romancing The Stone" by Eddy Grant (1984)
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Reply #77 posted 02/10/10 1:51am

scriptgirl

avatar

I think the reason that MTV got behind P was because so many white artists, like Mellencamp, adored him. And according to my older cousin Reena, Mellencamp was a fixture on MTV back then. Reena also told me that 1999 is what broke P in the black community. We had 2 main RnB stations out of Philly-I grew up about an hour away from Philly-WDAS played damn near every cut from that cd religiously, esp Lady Cab Driver. They pimped The Time and Vanity 6 as well. Power 99, I don't think pimped it as hard, according to Reena, but they were all over Irrestible Bitch and his other b sides from what she said.
"Lack of home training crosses all boundaries."
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Reply #78 posted 02/10/10 3:55am

SoulAlive

Timmy84 said:

SoulAlive said:

Other "black" songs that really should have been shown on MTV:

"Super Freak" by Rick James (1981)
"Alligator Woman" by Cameo (1982)
"Controversy" by Prince (1981)

These are songs that cannot be easily categorized as funk or R&B.There's definitely a New Wave/pop sound in these songs.


It's interesting to see if they even presented the videos to MTV. hmmm BESIDES from Rick...


hmmm
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Reply #79 posted 02/10/10 4:01am

SoulAlive

Timmy84 said:

Playlist from MTV's first date:
# The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star
# Pat Benatar - You Better Run
# Rod Stewart - She Won't Dance
# The Who - You Better You Bet
# Phd - Little Susie's on the Up
# Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
# The Pretenders - Brass in Pocket
# Todd Rundgren - Time Heals
# REO Speedwagon - Take it on the Run
# Styx - Rockin' the Paradise
# Robiin Lane & The Chartbusters - When Things Go Wrong
# Split Enz - History Never Repeats.
# .38 Special - Hold on Loosely
# April Wine - Just Between You & Me
# Rod Stewart - Sailing
# Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
# REO Speedwagon - Keep on Loving You
# The Pretenders - Message of Love
# Lee Ritenour - Mr. Briefcase
# The Cars - Double Life
# Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
# Robert Palmer - Looking for Clues
# The Shoes - Too Late
# Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty - Stop Draggin' my Heart Around.
# Rupert Hines - Surface Tension

# Madness - One Step Beyond
# Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
# Pat Benatar - I'm Gonna Follow You
# Tom Johnson - Savannah Nights
# Rockestra - Lucille
# Styx - The Best of Times
# Carly Simon - Vengeance
# Iron Maiden - Wrathchild
# Blotto - I Wanna Be a Lifeguard
# Rod Stewart - Passion
# Elvis Costello - Oliver's Army
# REO Speedwagon - Don't Let Him Go
# The Silencers - Remote Control/I'm Too Legal
# Juice Newton - Angel of the Morning
# Rockestra - Little Sister
# Bootcamp - Hold on to the Night
# Cliff Richard - Dreaming
# Lee Ritenour - Is it You?
# Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
# Michael Stanley Band - He Can't Love You
# REO Speedwagon - Tough Guys
# Blondie - Rapture
# The Who - Don't Let Go the Coat
# Rod Stewart - Ain't Love a Bitch
# The Pretenders - Talk of the Town
# Rainbow - Can't Happen Here
# Andrew Gold - Thank You for Being a Friend
# Gerry Rafferty - Bring it all Home
# April Wine - Sign of the Gypsy Queen
# Kate Bush - The Man With the Child in His Eyes
# David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
# April Wine - Just Between You and Me
# The Specials - Rat Race
# Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
# Bootcamp - Victim
# Rod Stewart - Tonight's the Night
# Nick Lowe - Cruel to be Kind

List: http://stereogum.com/arch...02995.html

I think partially the reason MTV failed to take off was because Rod Stewart had at least five videos. Some of the videos weren't even rock, it was either pop or pre-new age (Kate Bush) or country (Juice Newton). Most may have been new wave. And CLIFF RICHARD?! lol



MTV was really boring in its earliest days.Most of these videos were cheap and dull,consisting of the artist lip-synching the song in a studio with their bandmembers.Michael Jackson was the first artist to take it to another level.His videos looked like scenes from a movie.He was one of the first artists to spend ALOT of money on music videos.The budget for "Billie Jean" was massive,if I recall correctly.And of course,"Thriller" cost a million dollars to make.That was unheard of back then.
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Reply #80 posted 02/10/10 4:53am

SoulAlive

VinnyM27 said:

Donna"s "The Wanderer" (the album with the video/single) came out in late 1980. It was the only video released from the set and the song was a top ten hit. If MTV was truly at a loss for videos early on (that was a claim and the reason why Rod Stewart got a ton of play, possibly with concert clips), that would be one that could have popped up in the first day or two, or least in the first week. Also, on top of that, "Donna Summer" (the album that precedded "Thriller" and was used as a template for that album as well as having a single that inspired MJ's "We Are the World") had two video singles (maybe three...did "The Woman In Me" have a video) before "Thriller".


Surprisingly,MTV never showed "The Wanderer" video,despite the fact that it's the most New Wave-sounding song that Donna ever released.Donna didn't make it onto MTV until July 1983,when the "She Works Hard For The Money" video was placed in heavy rotation.

The 'Donna Summer' album had videos for all three singles,including "The Woman In Me",but MTV rejected these clips.It's too bad that there was no video for "Protection".That's a pure rock song,written by Bruce Springsteen.It would have been difficult for MTV to claim that it doesn't fit their format.

After "She Works Hard...",Donna was shown on MTV regularly."Unconditional Love","There Goes My Baby" and even the (horrible) "Supernatural Love" video made it onto MTV.
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Reply #81 posted 02/10/10 4:55am

SoulAlive

Timmy84 said:

trueiopian said:

Wasn't it Run DMC in 1983?


Run DMC didn't hit MTV until 1984.


with "King Of Rock",right?
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Reply #82 posted 02/10/10 4:57am

SoulAlive

Timmy84 said:

SoulAlive said:



Shalamar didn't make it onto MTV until the summer of 1983,with their New Wave-styled hit "Dead Giveaway".Around this time,MTV also started airing Donna Summer's "She Works Hard For The Money" video.This was months after Michael's videos for "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" were added to their playlist.


Well we know for sure Tina Turner was among the first to be on MTV. I think MTV played her version of "Ball of Confusion" a lot and they also played "Let's Stay Together" if briefly. It's funny that they give Whitney Houston credit for being the VERY first black female act on MTV but that's a lie too. You could say like Michael, she helped to bring attention to black female acts on MTV, then again they probably played Patti LaBelle's "New Attitude" before then.


I remember in 1982,seeing Joan Armatrading videos on MTV.She's a black female singer who does rock music.Betcha never heard of her lol
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Reply #83 posted 02/10/10 4:59am

SoulAlive

MTV Video of the day: "Drop The Pilot" by Joan Armatrading (1983)
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Reply #84 posted 02/10/10 5:39am

SoulAlive

# Lee Ritenour - Is it You?


see,this is one of the problems with MTV's early 80s "rock only" policy.They played this video in 1981 when they first came on the air,yet this song is obviously not rock.It leans closer to R&B/smooth jazz.I doubt that many rock stations were playing this song at all...lol...on the other hand,it became a staple on R&B and Quiet storm stations.Ask yourself....if this same song had been recorded by George Benson (with the same music and arrangement),would MTV have shown the video?

hmmm
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Reply #85 posted 02/10/10 6:03am

shorttrini

avatar

SoulAlive said:

# Lee Ritenour - Is it You?


see,this is one of the problems with MTV's early 80s "rock only" policy.They played this video in 1981 when they first came on the air,yet this song is obviously not rock.It leans closer to R&B/smooth jazz.I doubt that many rock stations were playing this song at all...lol...on the other hand,it became a staple on R&B and Quiet storm stations.Ask yourself....if this same song had been recorded by George Benson (with the same music and arrangement),would MTV have shown the video?

hmmm


Ironically, this song WAS intended for Benson.
"Love is like peeing in your pants, everyone sees it but only you feel its warmth"
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Reply #86 posted 02/10/10 6:07am

SoulAlive

shorttrini said:

SoulAlive said:



see,this is one of the problems with MTV's early 80s "rock only" policy.They played this video in 1981 when they first came on the air,yet this song is obviously not rock.It leans closer to R&B/smooth jazz.I doubt that many rock stations were playing this song at all...lol...on the other hand,it became a staple on R&B and Quiet storm stations.Ask yourself....if this same song had been recorded by George Benson (with the same music and arrangement),would MTV have shown the video?

hmmm


Ironically, this song WAS intended for Benson.


nod
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Reply #87 posted 02/10/10 10:40am

scriptgirl

avatar

This whole thing is such a history lesson!
"Lack of home training crosses all boundaries."
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Reply #88 posted 02/10/10 11:05am

VinnyM27

avatar

ernestsewell said:

scriptgirl said:

Eddie Grant sang electric Avenue?

No, but Eddy Grant did. lol

He also has this song which so few people remember. "Romancing The Stone", which was supposed to be the theme to the movie of the same name, but the producers didn't like it enough. It is IN the movie though, but not the theme song. I love that song.

I heard that one on the Sirius 80s station and dug it. I bought a collection of his. He is a very talented guy.
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Reply #89 posted 02/10/10 11:10am

VinnyM27

avatar

Timmy84 said:

lowkey said:



i know for a fact 'she works hard for the money' was on there before whitney even came out


Yeah Donna was popular on MTV long before the arrival of Whitney. "Unconditional Love", her duet with Musical Youth, was also played on MTV. Donna's appeal was probably because she was never categorized as "R&B", many of her early '80s recordings were not played on the R&B stations anyway except for "She Works Hard for the Money". With other acts like Diana Ross, it was also because Diana was still more connected to "black music" then to the format that MJ, Prince and Tina were appealing to.

Whenever I see Donna in the R&B category I think "Are you out of your mind?". Maybe "Donna Summer" was considered an 80s R&B album (and "Mistaken Identity" was very New Jack/Pop). That being said, the store I saw Donna in the R&B catogery in also placed Pink in there....
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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Who was the first black artist played on MTV