The song was written when MTV was starting to become a big deal and changed how people interacted with music. Mark Knopfler overheard some delivery man complaining about how rock stars make all this money and get all sorts of special treatment without doing any real work and even included some of what he actually said into the lyrics. Short version: it's a song about how musicians get to live excessively and easily while everyone else has to work for a living.

I’ve been having issues with restricted/blocked videos as of recent. Pls bear with me☺️😁. Lots of love from your favorite bby girl, always!♥️

It's strange, how we forget how much better music was back in the day!

This song is so iconic, fusion of great music and sophisticated lyrics. Brilliant!!

Got to see Mark Knopfler perform this in concert, backed by Eric Clapton and Phil Collins in Dallas, last century. It was AMAZING! One of the greatest riffs of all time! Great reaction "M"

The album this song is from, "Brothers in Arms", was one of the first digitally recorded CDs, and one of the first CDs I ever bought. It sounded absolutely amazing on my huge LOUD home stereo system! The whole house was shaking and rattling!

Wow, you actually played the uncensored version. This song was so different and catchy. Great reaction!

I didn't fully understand until i heard Mark himself describe in an interview what happened. He had stopped into an electronics store and was unnoticed by the 2 men working in the store as he browsed the equipment. MTV was playing on one of the TV sets in the store and he overheard the conversation between the 2 store clerks. One was complaining about how hard they have to work to earn a living, while the singers and musicians make fortunes playing their instruments and singing on MTV. Mark said he immediately took out an ink pen and pad and began writing down as many of the comments as he could, because he thought it would make great lyrics for a song. And several of the comments in the song are from the 2 men. Mark turned out to be correct that it would make great fun lyrics, because we still listen to it and smile to this day.

That intro is Top 5 intros of ALL TIME. Spine tingling no cap.

Hi Mo, do not worry about getting confused by lyrics at times, it adds to the 'mystique' trying to figure out the meaning!. Think you would also like 'Skateaway' ( original video for it ) and Tunnel of Love. Keep smiling beautiful, oh and turn the fan back on lol!!

the song its about of a conversation that the guitarrist and singer mark knopfler heard in shop of electodomestics , great song and video , and also in coros its Sting.

The very beginning, the guy singing "I want my MTV"...is Sting from The Police.

You bring smile with your attitude thank you for that...

You're somebody's reason to smile! Thank you, Morenikeji!

If you are too young to know MTV was a cable television channel that showed music videos in the early 80s. The song itself was talking about the working class guys who had to work hard every day versus musicians who could play their music on TV and make lots of money.

This is probably my favorite rock/pop song of all time. It is just so amazing.

Brilliant Band Great Track. Love Your Reviews😊👍

Always love them ! Thanks for this !

Marks guitar playing and mind is next level. What a humble man he is. Glad you all found yourself some Dire Straits.

Hi Morenikeji. I love your choice of Dire Sraits , this was a wonderful number ! I like your music choice of music that I a little bit was forgotten. But you wake me up ! Thank you very much ! Love from Holland and a Big 💋. 👍🙋🏼‍♂️👏💐😘🇳🇱

That intro is one of the best in rock.

I want to thank you for your input on Money For Nothing

This is a pleasant birthday present for me. Thank you!

If you want a similar "classic music video" from the era, check out Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer".

Great song! Love this band! Nice job Mo! Thank you!! 😊🌹

Great old song 🎵👌❤♥

You actually ARE… my favorite “Bebe Girl”.. ! I love your reactions.. thank you so much!

I got to see a solo Mark show in Indy about 20 years ago. Was absolutely fantastic.

Thanks!

LEGENDARY / BIG CLASSIC / GUITAR HERO / BIG RESPECT

Hi BBGrl, hope you and your family are well. The opening to this song is legendary! Kinda brings back memories from when MTV actually had music videos

Others have already explained about MTV and the delivery man so I'll just add one tidbit. The term "heavy rotation", when used in regards to music and videos, means it gets played a lot. So when the worker selects heavy on the microwave, that's what the video is referring to.

I saw Dire Straights in Ipswich UK, they were fantastic....and you are fantastic darling. x

Get up and shake it baby girl ☺️

That intro is pure gold

Hey good to see you. One of my favorites from one my favorite bands. MTV was a video music channel." Money for nothing but the chicks for free".

Thats Sting doing backing vocals and the I Want My MTV at the end.

i want my MTV!

I was a teen ager in the 80's...I had dropped out of high school and got my 1st job in a factory that manufactured nails. This song really hit home to me when it came out lol. I shoulda learned to play the guitar...I shoulda learned to play them drums!

The others singer as you can her is STING who is co composer with Mark on this tune

for some weird reason MTV really liked playing this video back in the day, no clue why, but..... having Sting, from the Police, doing back up vocals doesn't hurt. plenty more to explore if you wanna go down the Mark Knopfler rabbit hole..... so many big hits with Dire Straits and as solo artist. he also did one of my all-time favourite film soundtracks for the movie Local Hero that I've treasured for almost 40 years now..... have fun and thanks for your reaction to this great song.

Imagine Dire Straits, being in the studio about to record 'Money For Nothing' and Sting is in the next studio recording and you happen to ask if he would like to sing on this song. Now that's awesome because that is what happened.

Hello, my favourite baby girl ♥ I've been checking the comments and can't see any explanations about what you're seeing and hearing in this video. Until the late 1970s, bands on TV were mostly seen when they appeared on the shows themselves. There were some videos that were filmed but not many. Though the concept of the modern music video was mostly created by former Monkee, Mike Nesmith, it was the UK Punk/New Wave bands of the late 70s and early 80s that really began using the medium to promote their music. By about 1982, many small TV stations throughout North America began showing these videos and soon the major music labels began to promote their groups and singers this way. The American channel MTV was the first to broadcast music videos as it's only content and it quickly became the way to showcase new music at the time. This is why the videos you react to from the 80s and newer tend to be more of a short movie story with the song. Money For Nothing is one of those. The video's story is about a couple of guys whose job is to move furniture, kitchen appliances, televisions for people. The lyrics are from the point of view of the working person who watches the celebrities in the music videos and mocks them in jealousy, wishing he had the same luxuries. He sees them as not really working, earning money for doing nothing and getting all the women they want just because they're rich and famous. What he doesn't see is all the hard work that goes into learning to play, rehearsing, playing sweaty little clubs for almost no pay, months travelling from town to town, playing and playing and hoping to get that one big break to make them rich and famous. It's a commentary on how MTV and music videos were beginning to focus more on looks than on talent. It's interesting to note that the music industry has gone that exact route, where talent isn't important anymore. If you can't sing, autotune will fix that. It doesn't even matter if you can't play an instrument as computers create the sounds for you. Music has become all about image and not about talent or hard work to get to the top. At the time this video was made, the images here were the cutting edge of computer generated animation. That added to the impact of the song, but has lost its edge over the years as it just looks like old school cartooning. Take care and stay safe, dear Morenikeji. ♥ My Kenyan friend here has gone home to visit his mum and sister, but he still says hi. ☺

Thanks for this reaction, now im going to sleep whith a smile on mi face 🙂🤗🤗🤗🙂🙂 mi💃🕊⚘ , 🛌🧙‍♂️☃️

You should try "Unbreak my Heart" by Toni Braxton (official HD version), or Spandau Ballet's 'Only When you leave' HD remastered or Live Q2 arena london (20 years after the song debut)

🐻 ing with you

Another lovely reaction, Morenikeji, to one of my favourite groups of all time. Try their awesome track "Tunnel of Love", I think you'll like it. Also: repeating my suggestion that you should react to Andy Gibb - "Shadow Dancing" (the live performance version).

Your still the best

Nice to hear the original. You won't hear it on broadcast radio. Only the P.C. version.

great video baby girl been watching your videos for awhile now and cant get enough of them !!! you should check out the band judas priest song you got another thing coming

That was Sting from the Police doing backround vocals, as well as i want my Mtv

les années 70/80/90 tellement prolifiques en tous Genres. Voici un exemple.

You should check out “Dire Straits - Money for Nothing Live at Knebworth” Eric Clapton is one of the back up guitarists.

That was a first music clip with a 3D graphics btw. Looks goofy now, but it hit different in 80s

You need to check out if you haven’t already Tuunel of Love, Romeo andJuliet, Telegraph Road, Private Investigations. Brothers in Arms was a great album, but personally prefer there earlier music! As usual great reaction. Drums at the start kick arse!

Please try Telegraph Road and Romeo & Juliet. They are amazing songs.

Sting singing harmony.

Morenikeji Taiwo by now you probably know that Mark Knofler was looking at guitars in Seattle, observing the workers, moving the fridges around, in the shop - so he wrote about them & what they were thinking!

One of the first really fun videos during the early years of MTV. #LatchkeyCrew

Morenikeji, You are a very beautiful lady and I love your reactions !!!

Mark on " Once upon a time in the West"

Da waren wir noch jung. 🤣😍

The jist of the video and lyrics..is about 2 laborers...appliance and furniture movers...wishing they had learned to be in a band to get "money for nothing and chics(ladies) for free"

I cannot dance, but if I were there I would learn as best I could so I could dance with you to these 80's songs. Your reaction smiles are so precious! And your presentation is so genuine. Anyway, yeah, the point of the lyrics and video are blue-collar workers (like installing kitchens) being a bit jealous of rock stars, who in their view don't really work and get money for nothing and chicks for free!

Hi, hey another one from Dire Straits, Walk of Life

Suggestion: Londonbeat - I've Been Thinking About You

Hi Mo 👋💃🏿

Mark Knopfler, the brilliant lead singer and guitarists, wrote this after seeing workers in appliance store making fun of musicians on the TV screens ( on MTV at the time). They were saying that what they did was real work and that musicians by contrast lived an easy life basically getting money for nothing. Hope that helps beautiful lady!

This is the first video to play on MTV CHANNEL IN 1980

this track was the first i heard from dire straits back in the day.

This song is about the "music video" era when the focus was more on the videos and less on the music. Dire Straits was mocking music videos, but in the process, made one of the most iconic videos.

Amen to Pslams 96:6

That is sting singing back up btw

😍❤️😍❤️

Morenikeji, I would like to hear and see your reaction to Roy Orbison. "Pretty Woman" is an older song, and "She's a Mystery to Me" is from his last album. Morenikeji you will be amazed at the sound and range of his voice. Please consider either or both of these songs. Thank you.

Hello Morenikeji, please react to DEAD OR ALIVE - YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD).

That was some amazing computer graphics for the 1980's

No gimmicks, just good old fashioned rock and roll.

Check out BLACKPINK kill this love BOOMBAYAH or live at Coachella Coachella

So you know, the high voice is Sting.

I would like you to listen to David Bowie's Heroes, with Gail Ann Dorsey

Please check out a song from the group called sneaker. The song is called “ more than just the two of us” a great song from early 80’s

This is probably their most played on radio song. IMO, I reckon it just scrapes into their top 10 songs. You’re very cool, even when the room’s hot 😅

Keep in mind that the ideals of Mark Knopfler or Sting are not explicitly reflected, but that "f******" is expressed by a merely fictional character. That makes us in a really complicated place, since it makes us have to understand that an artist can sing or interpret a song by putting himself in someone else's shoes. In this case, we are talking about a somewhat lazy and quite homophobic guy. In the song 'Money for nothing' it is reflected that, for this protagonist, that a musician wears long hair, earrings and makeup is already "a f******". One thing to keep in mind is that in 2011 a false news was shared in which it was claimed that the CBSC had come to ban the song. Something that offended, and a lot, the most faithful followers of Dire Straits. What is a fact is that Knopfler came to understand that "f******", even though it was "justified" in the song, is a term that has long been used as a way of hatred and intolerance. In addition, he also realized that the fact of changing it did not alter the purest essence of 'Money for nothing'. During a large number of live shows, Dire Straits offered a series of terms to substitute that "f******". Each time it was a different one! The important thing is that they knew how to back down and adapt to the circumstances.

Your reaction when they drop the f bomb 😅. (Not saying it's right or wrong just your reaction lol)

So, Dire Straits BABY GIRL :), how did you like the start of this song? One of the greatest guitar rifts in human history.

The lyrics are about rock stars apparently getting everything for free (playing guitar on MTV, a music channel), while us normal folk actually have to work for our money (got to install microwave ovens etc). If you want to go down the Dire Straights rabit hole I really recommend Walk of Life (a feelgood song) or Romeo and Juliet (a song about love).

Hi Ms. Moren, The Commenter jvondd has it correct, the story behind the lyrics.. I think this video is one of the 1st. to have computer generated characters.. ♠W.G.

In fairness you probably wouldn’t understand the lyrics. It’s a 40 year old song and you’re a baby girl born only 22 years ago. It’s not complicated it’s just a song about working men being envious of rockstars lifestyles with the money, the women etc. All they do is play their guitar on MTV and they don’t do proper jobs. It’s Mark Knopfler the singer’s joke. It also features Sting on vocals. This was the era before the internet, before KZfaq when bands sold records or tge recently invented CDs by the million and their videos were played on MTV. That was a massive worldwide hit from the album Brothers in Arms in the mid 80s. I enjoyed the return of the Morenikeji patented cross shoulder sweep shot by the way. Very distinctive.

I'd like to suggest a unique song! It's by The UK Disco band Eruption, and the song is One Way Ticket! I'm sure you'll dig it!

Hi have you listened to Amy wine house, vocals wow,

My favorite lady ☺️

Check out RUSH.

I think this was just supposed to be a band making fun of their own profession. Before MTV, which originally was all music videos all the time, and band could only be seen regularly by constantly touring.

That intro was cute, but you don't know Dire Straits until you have listened to the whole catalogue. You might find a few songs that are similar, but in the end they are all unique.

Don't worry. All You Tubers are having problems. I love that you play the whole song through but maybe pause or shrink the video. I've heard certain artists such as Led Zeppelin and the Beatles are easily blocked. Crazy. They are getting all this free publicity from the reaction channels. As for the song, it was a huge hit. The video was great. The guy singing "I Want My MTV" (a music video channel) and the background vocals is Sting. React to him in his group the Police (Every Breath You Take, Message in a Bottle, Roxanne, Spirits in the Material World) or him solo with his gorgeous song "Fields of Gold".

2:01 BABY QUIERO QUESO ROÑOOOSO XD

Please react to ‘Torn’ by Natalie Imbruglia

Lyrics are simply a reply to people who believe that rock band players, musicians, are looked at by others as having life as easy. Just think of your beauty, and others say, and because of what you do here on your channel, that's easy, that's money for nothing.

Please listen to Dire Straits “ On every street”