8.01.2006

Playing on empty and where is my MTV?

(Updated on August 2, 2006)

Egads, I'm getting older.

And, I have the body to show for it. Last weekend, I played racquetball with a (young) Baby boomer and a Generation "Y"er from church. We played cutthroat competition where three people play against each other in an indoor court. My baby boomer friend took three games, while I won 2 games. The generation Y guy is not even close to 25 years yet. Still in college.

For me, that means experience does count during a lifetime.

So, I am still recovering with an aching lower back and calluses on fingers, and my feet are less swollen. (I wouldn't change a thing.) Even with dire thirst, I never felt such satisfaction.

I know that I'm getting older. It's MTV's 25th Anniversary. Guess where they are celebrating it? They are celebrating on VH-1 classic.


Yes. I am a recovering child of the 80s. I was in 8th grade when cable tv arrived to the Dale City, Virginia, area. The kids were excited to check what it was really all about. Music videos for 24 hours.

Wow, I thought.

Actually, as I now recall it, most videos were pretty boring. Nothing really that great, but it was just so different. I was awed at the channel. So visual and access to different musical genres.

Well, that's not totally true for MTV's infant years.

Even the music industry can be segregated, but that's another story.

The music video scene during that time has revolutionized how we experience music today.

MTV is doing the smart thing and not identifying itself as 25 years old. For their catered audiences, it's always about the youngsters.

Always striving to be "hip" and relevant to youth.

More details about the history of MTV can be found here.

I still recall the old VJs fondly like J.J. Jackson, Nina Blackwood, and, of course, Martha Quinn. Ah, yes. They were cool.

It was about the discovery of music then, and not about the on-air personalities like now or about the latest reality show. MTV has become a strong business brand. With different enterprises from music shows, reality TV, and movie productions, it has developed to be a world household name. In fact, international versions and competitors of the music channel have come up since MTV's inception.

Come to think of it... The Dire Strait's song may say, "I want my MTV, money for nothing."

As I've grown older, I will listen to other media, such as mp3s, CDs, DVDs, online radio, or websites to listen to music or find out about my favorite music groups. I no longer need MTV or VH-1 to find cutting edge stuff or reminisce with former tunes, but they no longer need me. I'm no longer part of their market anymore.

Money for nothing, eh?

I would like to get a refund, please.


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