Saying that these are from my past makes it sound like I had something to do with them. Sorry, my media production history is strictly in the subtitle world (but thanks for asking).
But just like everything else was better in the past, MTV used to occasionally have things on it that were strange, unusual, hard to find, and interesting. They wouldn’t do it often, and they stopped too soon – but there was a chance, for some small while, of discovering music on MTV that wasn’t bought and paid for by huge corporations (it was small corporations).
1. Yello – “I Love You”
I am second to none in loving this weird, stupid, funny video. Yello were a Euro-synth duo that is still apparently together. Whether they still wear stools on their asses is anyone’s guess.
2. Wall of Voodoo – “Mexican Radio”
This one is more famous (and properly American), but it’s still a strange, strange song and video. Mexican beans, men.
3. Golden Earring – “Radar Love”
This is the extended edition of a song that has a ton of creepy atmosphere. It was goth for an American kid who wouldn’t hear of Goth for another decade.
4. Fields of the Nephilim – “Preacher Man”
This video is terrible. One of the early shots is of a bunch of cardboard cutouts of the band. But I love the song.
5. I don’t have a fifth.
