I Want my MTV

The birth of a media revolution. August 1, 1981, video footage of the first Space Shuttle Launch of Columbia and it’s countdown with the added quote, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll”by John Lack, creator of MTV. Next the iconic Moon Man and the unforgettable music, “Man on the Moon (MTV Theme) by Jonathan Elias and John Petersen as we zoom into the MTV flag and watch the MTV logo change outfits in fun flashes of 1980s graphic art. Mark Goodman introduces us to the concept, “The best of tv combined with the best of radio” and promises that, “starting right now, you’ll never look at music the same way again” a quick break and introduction to the other original VJs, including Alan Hunter, Martha Quinn, J.J. Jackson and Nina Blackwood. What followed was the airing of the very first music video on MTV, very aptly titled, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. What was your favorite video?

I often think about how lucky I was to grow up in the 80s and not have the kind of access kids have these days. Part of the fun was the anticipation of waiting to see your favorite video again. There was no YouTube to pull up the video on the spot and while we have grown so accustomed to the comforts of modern technology and unlimited hi-speed access to movies, shows, music videos and any media really there was something special about waiting and hoping. I’ve written and shared before about running from the bus stop to catch a favorite video once the video countdown days started. There was finally a show that pretty much promised you’d catch your favorite video within that certain hour as long as it was on the top 20 chart. Like the story I mention, it was usually a George Michael video at the top of my list but there were so many others. Among my favorites were “Take on Me” by a-ha, my dad really loved that video and song also. Pretty much any Madonna video was a favorite for me, especially Borderline, Material Girl, Vogue, La Isla Bonita, Cherish, shoot, seriously let’s just say all of them. The funky ones like Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer”, comedic ones like Cindy Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, Prince’s Raspberry Beret was so fun and colorful, I always loved that cloud suit. Of all the videos whether 80s and 90s or current none made such an impression as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. It was more than a music video it was an experience, a Hollywood movie premier. We were so invested as a family that my dad used to wake my younger brother and I up if it came on after hours. He would come get us and let us know, “hey, get up, its on!” We sprang out of bed like it was Christmas morning and run down the hall so fast to not miss too much. We watched in awe and excitement and a bit of fear. Once the video was over it was time to go back to sleep but what cruel joke is that? It was a terrifying walk back down the hall to our bedrooms. That childhood house as small as it may have been, on these nights that short hallway seemed to go forever. With each trembling step I could still hear Vincent Price and his evil laugh ringing in my ears.

About a decade after our introduction to MTV, we were introduced to what most consider the birth of reality TV, The Real World: New York. Much more programming options to find on MTV throughout the years to follow including game shows and talk shows. Many more personalities were presented after the first five mentioned above including Kurt Loder, Downtown Julie Brown, Carson Daly, La La Anthony, Kennedy and one of my favorites because I loved seeing a Cuban American girl on my favorite channel Daisy Fuentes to name a few. Sadly, MTV shut down it’s news department earlier this year. I guess it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, MTV was the pioneer but these days I find myself watching new music videos released by VEVO on YouTube. Times, media, channels change but the interest and love for videos like Jackson, Madonna George Michael is still there for me when watching the new Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo etc video, but I still think streaming instantly isn’t as emotionally exciting as the anticipation I had as a kid in the MTV glory days. Like Dire Straits said, “I want my MTV”.

VMAs and a Special Appearance

As far back as I can remember I’ve heard the stories from my mother and my aunts about generations of women in our family and their gifts and abilities to see spirits, see the future, know the truth. It’s much more than that really. If you heard all the stories, you might feel as though giving you a tweaked version of Isabel Allende’s The House of Spirits. After years of listening to endless stories, on the night of the 1990 MTV VMAs,  I finally had my first encounter with a spirit.

1990 was the year I started having premonitions and dreams that came true. It was definitely different from deja vu, not foggy but clear images and detailed descriptive events that would play out exactly as I had dreamt mere nights before. This time of clairvoyance didn’t last very long. I think one of the reasons it was a short-lived phase is because of what happened on the night of the VMAs and how intense it felt. I think I forced that door shut, choosing to no longer be open to those experiences. 

The MTV Video Music Awards were coming up and I was so excited about them that year because there would be a very special appearance. Not quite as special as the previous year when Madonna presented my beloved, George Michael with the MTV Video Vanguard (Career Achievement Award). This specific year was special because New Edition would have a reunion performance live on the VMA stage. I loved New Edition and the news that they would be together again for one special night had me feeling very eager for the occasion. This and Madonna to perform ‘Vogue’ , how awesome was that? The MTV VMAs were always a special night, I had made a tradition of watching with my cousins at my Tio Hugo and Tia Evelyn’s house and this year would be no exception. This house had a reputation for possible paranormal activity and the tales of how these activities came to be grew more and more elaborate over the years. I had yet to experience anything concrete and just had fun with the possibilities. On this very exciting night, it became a reality for me. As I sat on the family room floor watching New Edition perform a medley of their greatest hits, I sang and bopped to the rhythm until my cousin, Corin’s cat, Sebastian started freaking out. Sebastian was a very fluffy, very fancy Persian who spent most of his time lazily wandering around with no real emotion as so many adult Persian cats do. No kitten energy for this cat. But on this night, out of nowhere it seemed, Sebastian went wild. Sebastian ran up the walls and curtains, across the back of the sofa and around the living room in a frenzied feline marathon. Everyone was very surprised with this behavior and as my aunt and cousins commented and wondered what could possibly be the cause of all the raucous, I suddenly felt a presence and feeling as if I had been hypnotized. I turned to see what was behind me, beckoning me. I stared at the hall at the back of the room through an open door and waited as if I knew something was coming. Suddenly, he appeared, the man in the white suit. A man dressed in a white pant suit walked past the doorway toward the dining room. This is where it gets really strange in case the start wasn’t strange enough for you. For reasons I can’t explain, I stood up and followed the man. I was in some sort of trance it seemed and I followed into a dark dining room and into the formal living room. It didn’t take long before I snapped out of it and was overcome with fear. Why had I done that? What was I thinking? I started to cry as I told my Tia and cousins what I had just seen and that I had tried to follow him. I described how I had seen very detailed clothing and hands with veins and knuckles. I repeated that it wasn't like the typical ghost floating with a white sheet you hear about in stories. My Tia Evelyn recited the Our Father prayer and told me that if he was wearing white he was a good spirit. The stories of more ghost encounters at that house continued, nothing terrifying ever happened, more like cohabitation with a trapped soul. I wonder if he ever made it out of there? I wonder what’s in store for tonight’s VMAs.