Every one who ever lifted a 80s Color TV, Fridge or Microwaveoven knows what they are talking about. Dude that stuff was heavy back in the days 😓

Mark Knopfler was in an appliance store. They had music videos playing on the TV sets, and he overheard the salesmen talking about the musicians. It was written from the salesman's perspective. They were complaining about having to do heavy lifting while the musicians didn't have to do any work, and got all the girls, jet airplanes, and millions of dollars.

The official video for this is really unique. It’s a classic.

Back when MTV played music videos 24/7 .....

That opening riff is one of the most recognizable riffs in music in my opinion.

Mark K heard a delivery guy in a store saying that rock stars did not have to work and that is where he got his idea for this song.

Sting from the Police is doing the back up vocals.

The gay slur was a backhanded compliment. Remember that the song is in the character of a stereotypical blue-collar worker in the early 80s. For a time, writer Mark Knoppler decided it wasn't a good idea to keep that second verse in the best of CD, so he removed it. he has since reversed his thinking.

ONE OF THE FIRST VIDEOS I SAW ON MTV...WHEN MTV WAS JUST THAT...MUSIC TELEVISION 📺

"Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff beer." ~ Doulas Adams

Sultans of swing is one of my favs

The video version is a classic and a must watch. Any version is great.

Us 80s kids will always remember seeing our favorite musicians saying “I WANT MY MTV!” ♥️

This was when MTV played Videos 24/7. The good ole days, gotta love the 80’s

One of the most iconic guitar riffs ever

Lady Writer, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love, Your Latest Trick, Ride Across the River, Brothers in Arms.... So many more, this is a deep one.

Mark Knopfler first job was writing copy for a small newspaper in the U.K. His first assignment was writing an obituary for Jimi Hendrix

I love Dire Straits! My favorite songs by them are this on, Sultans of Swing, Brothers in Arms and Walk of Life.

Sting sings on this and helped write it (he and Knopfler are the credited writers). That's him at the beginning singing "I want my MTV."

"What instrument is this?" Nine times out of ten, especially if it's an 80's tune, it's probably a synthesizer/keyboard.

The story behind this song is that Mark Knopfler was in a big department store and in the television department, MTV was on every television (this was back when MTV was music videos 24/7) so he noticed two workmen who were busy unloading a truck full of merchandise - microwave ovens, refrigerators, color TVs, etc. And as they walked by the TV department, they were commenting on the MTV music videos and those comments became this song! “That ain’t working! That’s the way you do it ! Playin’ the guitar on the MTV... “ real comments by real workmen - it’s a classic! By the way Mark Knopfler is considered one of the great guitarists of all time. He is one of the few guitarists who don’t use picks, he just strums and picks the guitar with his fingers... also I love his voice!! Great Song

The best Guitar lick ever, it starts up like a V8 and just powers through the song.

80's my man. That sound is bad ass guitar playing. Bass, lead, rhythm jamming!

One of the best electric guitar sounds ever recorded, and an absurdly good lick to go with it.

Bro you did the song I requested LITERALLY YESTERDAY! You're awesome!

I can't wait until you go watch the video that goes with this. It was huge when they dropped it.

This song was made before people became overly sensitive. When people still had a sense of humor.

The video is a must with this. Just not the same without it.

the 80s didnt matter what genre u was, had to have at least one song with a synth keyboard

Spandex and wrist bands were big in the 80s. Especially when Olivia Newton John came out with "Physical".

Back when MTV Meant MUSIC!

MTV was relatively young when this came out and they played the hell out of it - i don't know if the word faggot made it into the MV version because i don't recall hearing it. The song was inspired, from what i recall, from the group hearing a conversation about rockstars etc The genre of music that uses synthesizers a lot is 80s music. The person singing featured on this song is Sting from The Police

Early 80s. Similar songs are Working for the Weekend by Nightranger or Turn Me loose by Loverboy. The names we called each other back then would make most people cringe today but they were not the least bit offensive to us. Kind of like terms of brotherhood and endearment.

This is the longer version, the shorter version does not have any of the controversial part . Awsome song when MTV actually had music.

Mark Knopfler is a brilliant guitarist, and it showed very much in the stuff he did for Dire Straits. But he is also an extraordinary storyteller, satirist, and songwriter, and now that he's gone off on his own, his albums are really exceptional collections of his own songs. I have them all, and I listen to them. Highly recommended.

Mark Knopfler--one of the most underrated and unappreciated guitar talents out there. Saw him solo in concert many years ago, and he put on an incredible show. Don't miss seeing him if you ever get the chance.

Finger plucking on this song Knoffler is a genius

MTV used to be my jam bag today...lol....First video ever played on MTV was “video killed the radio star”

Now do the Weird Al Parody “ Beverly Hillbillies “

Back when MTV actually played music videos and "I want my MTV!" was the catch phrase.

At first, MTV filled a lawsuit against them for the use of there "I want my MTV" slogan, but pulled it when they realized the free publicity they were receiving due to it being such a big hit

I remember this! They were jamming on those instruments 🎹🥁 🎸

This song was use for MTV when it first started

Mark Knopfler one of the greatest guitar players ever.

NO NO NO, you missed out! The official music video is what makes this song complete.

There's a little known Amish version where the lyrics are, "Get your honey for nothing and your chickens for free."

The louder it’s played the better it gets!!

Someone recently informed me that 'Sting' is the soprano that comes in big near the end of the song. This song screams 80's, from someone that lived thru it.

Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits is one of those songs that singlehandedly changed the trajectory of my music enjoyment for life. Definitely check that one out.

OMG THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Love this.... saw these guys back in 1985 on this tour...... Check out their song Brothers in Arms and WALK OF LIFE..... love this channel... start my day with your videos.... keep it real mate!!! Greetings from Australia

Sting is singing the background vocals

This is great! First one of their songs I ever heard, and I was hooked👍

A great song with Sting singing that iconic line. The video is classic, too

Really needed to official video dude!!!

He was clownin "cool" people who degrade others for being unique when he dropped the f.

Oh, and that picture of the guitar, is a classic "Doe Brow!!"

I must add to the comments that Mark Knoffler is a phenomenal guitarist. He has a unique style all his own plucking and fingerpicking on an electric guitar. If you want proof, try to recreate this riff accurately. And if you see the live versions, they play off of this for over 10 minutes. Add to this, he is singing while playing and Sting comes in for the high notes (I want my MTV). Not their best song, but got a lot of air play and video play on MTV. I prefer Romeo and Juliette.

I want my MY MTV!!! I remember when MTV was all new and played music 🎶

You’re missing out by not reacting to the videos or even a live performance!

Back in the 80s, you had a lot of guys dressing a certain way on stage performing music (Poison, Motley Crue, etc.). Even though they were making great music and had more groupies than could be imagined, they got blasted for looking that way by the average joe worker. Those lines are mock response to one of those average joes, "Yeah buddy, that f***** is a millionaire, while you gotta move tvs around for a living." The guy hes also specifically referencing is Sting (also of The Police), whos also the guy doing vocals in the background.

In recent years, when Dire Straits plays this song live, the f word is replaced with the more PC "maggots". Also, the background vocals are sung by Sting, the lead singer of the band The Police.

The audio version is the full length album version of the song, the official video is the 'radio edit' shorter version for playing on radio. By the way, that's Sting from the Police singing "I want my MTV". This album is from the mid 80's.

“Sultans Of Swing” another classic by them

Sir you listened to the full album version. I salute you👍

One of the most classic RIFFS of all time and that is STING backing him up on vocals, I want my MTV...... Mark Knopfler made EVH bow in a speed picking contest in the mid eighties. It was a friendly thing. One of the best pickers ever.

Weird Al has a parody of this called “Beverly Hillbillies”

This is from an era prior to the politically correct society we find ourselves in today. Boy I miss those days. 😊✌

He's legit The vibing cat as soon as the intro is over LMAO

The delivery guy he overheard was also the source of the slurs...a lot of rock stars/musicians in general were painted with that brush for their 'long hair/hippie ways'...so he used it in the song not as a slam against LGBTQ but against the ignorance of some people.

Also love Weird Al Yankovic's cover of this song with the Beverley Hillbillies

Dire Straits Awesome Rock Band My Favorite 😀👍🏼

All of who us grew up in the 80s can remember our parents and grandparents talking like this about Culture Club, Prince, Sting, Michael Jackson etc lol Dire Straits created a parody rock song about the how silly elders can be about Rock and Roll. Rock and Roll Forever!!! lol

Some Songs have “radio edits” and “album version”. Radio songs tend to be under 4:30 so if you wrote a 7:56 song it would be edited to be played on top 40 radio

This is the album that kicked-off serious sales of the new format that was CD. It sold millions.

"Weird" Al Yankovic " B E V E R L Y ... H I L L B I L L I E S " 🤠🐈

My Dire Straits story. Was on my way to see them at the Concord Pavilion in concord, CA in 1989. Driving on Highway 80, the '89 earthquake happened. Got to the venue, and it was cancelled due to damage to the venue. Was eerie driving back to Marin county and looking at SF in flames. Fast forward to the rescheduled concert at the same venue. October 25th, 1991. I was driving and as we inched our way in several lanes into parking, I looked to my left and there was Huey Lewis in the car next to me. Front passenger seat. Heavily stoned. And his finger buried to the second knuckle in his nose! Digging he was! I told everyone in my car to look. Then I yelled REAL LOUD "HUEY"! He looked over to his right, surprised, and still with his finger in his nose! Priceless!!! Oh yeah, the Dire Straits concert was Fu*&^in' awesome! That same night, rock promoter Bill Graham was killed in a helicopter, crashing high tension power lines flying in heavy fog. Sad.

Brothers In Arms the song is one of the best they ever did

Dire Straits " Walk of life." Try it.

It was written from the perspective of the blue collar, under educated workers in the manual labor market, hence the language

Mark Knopfler when he performs the song today, will rework the song with something like "that little cowboy has got his own jet airplane, that little cowboy is a millionaire ". So he knows he can't repeat the same line, in the way he use to sing it 36 years ago.

“I want my Mtv”was the slogan for Mtv back in the day when they used to play music videos back in the day. There were commercials on tv with various rock stars saying I WANT MY MTV. It was basically a message to cable networks to add Mtv to their channel lineups.

That's Sting from the POLICE on back ground vocals singing 'I want my MTV'. You see, back then MTV actually played music and not reality show crap.

Just saw on Professor of Rock that Mark Knopfler, who wrote the song, said the song was based on a conversation he overheard by two delivery guys at a Sears store. He did not edit what they said, including the controversial lyrics. And that verse was controversial in 1985 as well. That is why there is a 4 minute radio edit of the song without that verse. Awesome song, and it still blows me away (36 years later)!

This was kind of a gimmick song for air play, but they are a legit amazing band. The Moog synthesizer was and still is used in many songs.

The beginning where it's saying "I want my . . . I want my MTV," is a reference to ads from back before MTV was everywhere. Their jingle was "Call your cable company and say I WANT MY MTV!"

When I saw the thumbnail, I knew the exact part you were reacting to. I didn't expect it to take that long, but then I clicked and now my sides hurt lol

You always provide great analysis and deep personal insights. Really appreciate it.

An awesome song. One of my favorites by them is “Brothers in Arms”.

Now this is the jam

When MTV was in its prime... loved this video

This song was so popular at one point that I saw the lead singer play this with Phil Collins on drums, Eric Clapton on lead guitar and Sting singing backups.

Mark Knopfler (the song writer) was once a reporter working on the Yorkshire Evening Post. He told Uncut magazine that his journalistic experience fed into this song. "I was reporting, verbatim, what a particular guy thought about music," he said. "I transcribed his words there and then. He was a meathead. To him being a rock star was easy, hence 'that ain't working.'"

I worked at a kitchen design store aaah. This was my life in 1986. Mark knofpler came uo with one of the most nuancedguitar riffs of the decade.

First time I heard this it was just released and I had my headphones on and I was delivering furniture for my uncle in his van, thinking it was all TV’s and Fridges. Freaking out that Sting was singing with Dire Straits!!!

That's STING on backing vocals (yeah, that English guy who wrote and sung "Every Breath You Take" in THE POLICE! ;-)

The "I want my MTV" was the tagline for MTV back when they used to play music videos 24/7. They had "VJs" , Video Jockeys, who would intro the video and give some "color commentary". They actually got pretty famous in the 1980s. Mark Goodman, Martha Quinn, J.J. Jackson, Nina Blackwood, and Alan Hunter. Oh, and the 1st video ever played was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles.

Watching the Original Video clears up a lot of questions and adds context to some lyrics!

Early 80's. Synth sounds became infamously used. It was the new wave in sound at that time. Lived it. I was there saying, "I want my Mtv!" But had to go to grandma's to watch lol. Grandma was cool!

Yes it was the era of girls dressed that way. The instrument making that sound is I believe synthesizer. I may be wrong but I think it was the first video played on MTV

This is 80's rock/80's pop. The 80s had a lot of popular music from a bunch of genres: rock, new wave, general pop, etc.