MTV Killed The Video Star
Witizens:
As I was reading the fabulous column and comments by Will Work for Shoes and the Rogue Scholar, I couldn't help thinking, "Video Killed the Radio Star". Oddly enough "Video Killed..." was the first video ever to air on MTV, and oddlier enough MTV just turned 25 years old yesterday. (Ladies, we're so in touch with everything going on... I heart us.) Since the birth of the music video, everyone's goals changed from wanting to be the best SOUND coming from the radio, to wanting to be the STAR of the video. Oh, what a wicked web we've spun Generation X; I think we've killed a part of music.
The day the music died...
In thinking back to my early days of watching MTV, BET, and VH1, I can recall when they actually still showed videos and it mainly focused on the artists singing or rapping. (Well, except for the mini movies Michael Jackson made, but the whole world LOVES those videos.) Now, the whole thing's gone Pete Tong (aka wrong). There's boat chases, pyrotechnics, half naked chicks, cameos from actors, cars on spinners, and DESIGNER EVERYTHING in every fucking video being made. What's worse is that all of those things have NOTHING to do with the songs and/or artists. There is more attention paid to looking good rather than sounding good, so much that these horrendous songs are being played on the television, but not so much the radio. I don't care how pretty you are, on the radio, musical talent is most welcomed.
When I watch music videos nowadays, it looks like a war in the fashion world has been waged and musicians are the branded foot soldiers. Louis, Gucci, Fendi, Chanel,... House of Derion?! Okay, enough. Even the musicians are becoming fashionistas and making their own (tacky) labels. IT MUST END!! Next, they'll think they're so great that they need their own fragrance of perfume. Ooops! Too late; it's already been done. Let's just everyone realize our TRUE talent and strive to perfect that one. Yeah, it's cool and I'm sure the money is wonderful, but some of these celebs know they can't sing, act, dance, model, design, and create fragrances; yet I go shopping and find Paris Hilton's crappy ass perfume on a shelf, and turn on the tele to find that even Ms. Hilton has a music video. Oy vez!!! Remember people, namely unskilled celebrities: a Jack of all trades is a master of none.
Truly,
Not~So~Cosmo
As I was reading the fabulous column and comments by Will Work for Shoes and the Rogue Scholar, I couldn't help thinking, "Video Killed the Radio Star". Oddly enough "Video Killed..." was the first video ever to air on MTV, and oddlier enough MTV just turned 25 years old yesterday. (Ladies, we're so in touch with everything going on... I heart us.) Since the birth of the music video, everyone's goals changed from wanting to be the best SOUND coming from the radio, to wanting to be the STAR of the video. Oh, what a wicked web we've spun Generation X; I think we've killed a part of music.
The day the music died...
In thinking back to my early days of watching MTV, BET, and VH1, I can recall when they actually still showed videos and it mainly focused on the artists singing or rapping. (Well, except for the mini movies Michael Jackson made, but the whole world LOVES those videos.) Now, the whole thing's gone Pete Tong (aka wrong). There's boat chases, pyrotechnics, half naked chicks, cameos from actors, cars on spinners, and DESIGNER EVERYTHING in every fucking video being made. What's worse is that all of those things have NOTHING to do with the songs and/or artists. There is more attention paid to looking good rather than sounding good
When I watch music videos nowadays, it looks like a war in the fashion world has been waged and musicians are the branded foot soldiers. Louis, Gucci, Fendi, Chanel,... House of Derion?! Okay, enough. Even the musicians are becoming fashionistas and making their own (tacky) labels. IT MUST END!! Next, they'll think they're so great that they need their own fragrance of perfume. Ooops! Too late; it's already been done. Let's just everyone realize our TRUE talent and strive to perfect that one. Yeah, it's cool and I'm sure the money is wonderful, but some of these celebs know they can't sing, act, dance, model, design, and create fragrances; yet I go shopping and find Paris Hilton's crappy ass perfume on a shelf, and turn on the tele to find that even Ms. Hilton has a music video. Oy vez!!! Remember people, namely unskilled celebrities: a Jack of all trades is a master of none.
Truly,
Not~So~Cosmo
posted by Not So Cosmo @ 8:04 AM
3 Comments:
At 11:33 AM,
Anonymous said…
I was thinking the same thing yesterday as I was reading about MTV's top moments in their 25 years. From the 90's on their top moments had NOTHING to do with music (maybe b/c that is when music started to suck in my opinion) but with the artists or all the reality tv that they have. Really, if they aren't going to show videos anymore, then why should the artists be concerned with the "quality" of them. They might as well try to outdo each other with their antics or their outfits and everything else in between. The thing that gets me are the quotes from the MTV people saying that they are the best moves MTV ever made. Perhaps they should switch their name to RTV (reality television) since they are no longer "MUSIC" television. OR CTTSTV (Celebraties Trying To Sing Television) b/c that is CERTANINLY not "music" televison
At 3:26 PM,
Will Work For Shoes said…
You both are in my head. Don't ever leave. Where did our MTV go? Being a child of the 80s, I am a child of MTV. I can't or at least couldn't get enough of it. Coming home from school to watch videos, the countdown on Fridays and omigod, how cool was summertime when you could watch all day. Now I couldn't imagine doing that with most of the crap they have on now. Most of the shows that didn't show videos were cool back in the day and had to do with music. I admit I watched the first 6 seasons of the Real World. I was excited when TRL started because I thought we would get videos again but instead we got video clips. How wrong is that? I mean thousands of kids are calling and emailing to see their favorite video and they don't even show the whole thing. At least show all of the #1 requested video. I stopped watching MTV regularly sometime in college. I watch in the am now before I go to work (they actually show videos then.)
I do have to say in defense of BET, they don't claim to be music television or video hits one. They are just plain old black entertainment television.
Also, whose fault is it anyway. Ours, MTVs, the artist's, the record companies? Let's just blame it on the MAN.
At 8:28 AM,
Will Work For Shoes said…
I have to add that I saw the new Justin Timberlake video for "sexyback" and I don't get it. I mean I guess I get it but I don't get what it has to do with the song. And I hate to say all this because I love Justin, but come on. Would it be that hard to come up with a concept to match the title "Sexyback", is it that hard?
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