On Saturday, August 1, 1981 a revolution of sorts took place in the music world at 12:01 am. It was a transformation of iconic proportions in many peoples lives. With the words "Ladies and Gentlemen......Rock and Roll", images of the space shuttle on the launch pad and video of one of the Apollo missions blasting off, MTV began.
August 1, 1981 - MTV Launch
Here's the very first video: The Buggles - "Video Killed The Radio Star"
Where were you 33 years ago? Many things have changed in that time. You probably don't own the same car. Some of you may not be in the same home. Most of us certainly listen to music differently. (Remember the Walkman?) "O-ah, O" I suggest that you don't even make decisions the same way that you did 33 years ago. Hopefully, your walk with Christ is stronger now than then. It seems, however, just about the time we get used to something (or in our technologically gifted age, finally get it figured out) it is replaced by something new. "O-ah, O" Recently, SoundScan released sales information for physical music formats. At no other time since the first platter rolled off the conveyer belt, has there been this few sales of physical units of music.
US music sales down in 2013, but streaming more than making up for downloads decline- Music:)ally.com
Sometimes the new is better, sometimes, well...not so much.
In 1981, the British duo, the Buggles set their course in history as replacement agents. They were the first band featured on the fledgling MTV. Yes, the network which today brings us such "quality" entertainment as Ridiculousness once featured something called a music video. With the advent of MTV, many in the music industry thought listening to the radio was about to go the way of the silent movie. Many from my generation were glued to the new cable TV station. It featured music videos of some of the most popular radio artists and hits of the day as well as new artists that might never have heard their music played had they not made a great video for the song. The Buggles were one such band.
While "Video Killed The Radio Star" had been around since 1979, it didn't achieve commercial success until the launch of MTV propelled it to be the '80s one hit wonder. It hit #1 in charts all over the world and went as high as #40 on the US Billboard top 100 in 1981 after the music video craze began. It can still be heard in movie soundtracks, TV shows, and video games. It is a song that bemoans the loss of innocence when television took over the radio. Some of you can remember the radio dramas that were prevalent through the '30s, '40s, and '50s. "The Lone Ranger", Superman, and Roy Rogers were all radio stars before television was ever available. MTV had the potential to be the final nail in radio's coffin. But like many things, radio transitioned and still thrives and survives today. In fact, you can find a radio drama that was begun 2 years after MTV's launch. It's called Adventures In
Odyssey. For more information about stations and airings click here:
Adventures In Odyssey from Focus On The Family
Like many musical groups, the Buggles lasted a short period of time before the band members went on to other efforts. They were together from 1978-1981. Band members Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes joined the band Yes after the release of The Buggle's first full album 1980s The Age of Plastic, and were a part of the Yes album Drama and subsequent tour in late 1981. Horn would later produce the most commercially successful Yes album, 90125, while Downes would become one of the founding members of Asia ("The Heat of the Moment", "Only Time Will Tell"(Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Only Time Will Tell")). The Buggles would reunite to make 1 more album, 1981's Adventures in Modern Recording. Horn would dissolve the band in 1981 only to see them reunite for the Prince's Trust charity concert in 2004. "Oh-ah-oh-ah-oh"
As I read through the Bible, I see that God is the ultimate replacement agent. He replaced the darkness of a formless void with light, He replaced the entire world population with one righteous man and his family, He replaced Abram and Sarai's names with their covenant names Abraham and Sarah, He replaced a king who would not serve Him the right way with a shepherd boy who loved music. He replaces my sins with His Son's righteousness, and one day He will replace my physical dust and ash body with a glorified one that cannot be described with words. His replacements are always perfect. In Hebrews 12:1b we are instructed to "....lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us...." (HCSB) in other words we are to replace the things that keep us from being who we are to be in Christ, the things that weigh us down, as well as the sin that keeps us from becoming the people we are to be in Christ, with love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Each day is an opportunity for us to wake up and replace yesterday with a day filled with those fruits. The choice as always is ours......" we can't rewind, we've come too far....."
Just in case you wanted to replace that synth-pop version of "Video Killed the Radio Star" with something a little more modern, check out this incredible all acapella video:
Pentatonix - "Video Killed The Radio Star" courtesy of The Sing-Off
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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