Nostalgic Sighs & Bittersweet Longing Mark MTV's 25th Anniversary

So I'm watching some of the first 24 hours of MTV programming on VH1 Classic tonight, filtered conveniently through my trusty DVR (man, I'm glad it's 2006 instead of 1981 in some ways, at least). Having promised myself I'd try to cut back a bit on my "Music First, My Rectum!" rants regarding the current versions of VH1 and MTV, an organic occurrence reminded me just why I feel so compelled to deliver those rants in the first place.

I realize that it's not so much what gets aired now on these channels instead of music programming (well, it's partially that, of course), but more what we're missing because of the omissions of current video music television. I saw a video aired during the first hour of MTV's existence that, naturally, seemed to be the only one that failed to display song title and artist information at the beginning and end of the clip. Of course, it happened to be a song I enjoyed greatly and that inspired me to file this blog. All I know is that the song is performed by a tuneful, soulful jangle-pop band with a blond female, Christine McVie-looking lead singer and reminded me a bit of Concrete Blonde. I searched the web frantically, to no avail, to find out who this great lost artist was so I could enrich my music collection, but Google searches for the primary repeated lyric, "I don't know how to do any more for you, You say I don't love you enough" were decidedly fruitless. Now, when's the last time you had an experience like that while watching the current incarnation of MTV or VH1? Oh well, I guess that's why I rely on satellite radio for that kind of thing these days.

Still, being able to see clips from the initial lineup of Iron Maiden played alongside REO Speedwagon, Split Enz and Cliff Richard is really quite a singular thrill. Not to mention receiving the answer to my musical question above just moments after I posted this blog entry, courtesy of a reader: Robin Lane & the Chartbusters' "When Things Go Wrong".