Let’s take a trip back to 1986. Nintendo video games were first introduced in the United States. While you were playing Donkey Kong, Dire Straits was on your radio.  And it was on this day (September 5th 1986) that the video for "Money For Nothing" was awarded "Video of the Year" at the third annual MTV Video Music Awards.

"Money for Nothing" was one of Dire Straits' most successful singles, peaking at number one for three weeks in the United States, and reaching number one for three weeks on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart. In the band's native UK, the song peaked at number four.

The recording was notable for its controversial lyrics, groundbreaking music video and cameo appearance by Sting singing the song's falsetto introduction and backing chorus, "I want my MTV." The video was also the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network started on 1 August 1987. "Money for Nothing" won the Grammy for the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with a Vocal in 1985 at the 28th annual Grammy Awards.”

This music video featured early computer animation illustrating the lyrics. The video was one of the first uses of computer-animated human characters and was considered ground-breaking at the time of its release. The video was awarded "Video of the Year" (among many other nominations) at the third annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1986.

 

 

[via Wikipedia]

 

More From 96.1 The Eagle