Back in 2001, I actually auditioned to be in "The Real World" (or one of those other MTV shows), despite having never watched an episode. The folks that came to audition were already primed and in their characters that they would play on the show (if selected), and I was there - a bored kid with ZERO expectation that I would be picked - saying that it looked like fun being on television.
Needless to say, I didn't make it past the first round. (Same year I also auditioned to be an extra in "A Beautiful Mind" - I failed that too, as I apparently didn't have the period look the casting folks were looking for. My mentor and senior thesis advisor IS in the final scene where John Nash gets his big award.)
If you want to scratch that MTV itch, let me recommend the "60 Songs that Explain the '90s" podcast.[1] Fun, evergreen listens, that explain the behind the scenes of so many songs that are etched into our brains, whether we like it or not. Rob Harvilla might be the last of a dying breed of fun opinionated music journalists.
Love the shout-out for Saga’s On the Loose! Sure, you’re bemoaning that it was overplayed, but what a great, great song and album.
That’s what I miss about the early days of MTV - hearing the first of bands I’d never heard of like Split Enz, Tarney Spencer Band, Art of Noise, Spandau Ballet, and so many more!
I have trouble relating to that. You must be about the same age as my son who was not much of a music fan. His twentieth birthday was in 1986. I do remember it was about the time the music changed so drastically from what I grew up with that I switched almost exclusively to country music. Meat Loaf was an exception. Another artist that was sort of an exception was Tom Russell although many of his songs were country themed. Some of his songs expressed support for illegal aliens - "Stealing Electricity" (still on my playlist) and "Who's Gonna Build Your Wall". Another favorite still on my playlist has a country theme but doesn't sound country is "The Death of Jimmy Martin".
There are excellent, I mean EXCELLENT, cover bands on Youtube now. Check out HSCC (Hindley Street Country Club) from Adelaide and Leonid & Friends from Russia/Ukraine (they sing in English).
Don't forget the 90s kids: we also only had MTV as the source for music/music videos, as the Internet was still nascent and YouTube didn't debut until 2005 when we older Millennials were already out of high school (or college for the oldest).
It was definitely past its peak, but still near it.
Back in 2001, I actually auditioned to be in "The Real World" (or one of those other MTV shows), despite having never watched an episode. The folks that came to audition were already primed and in their characters that they would play on the show (if selected), and I was there - a bored kid with ZERO expectation that I would be picked - saying that it looked like fun being on television.
Needless to say, I didn't make it past the first round. (Same year I also auditioned to be an extra in "A Beautiful Mind" - I failed that too, as I apparently didn't have the period look the casting folks were looking for. My mentor and senior thesis advisor IS in the final scene where John Nash gets his big award.)
If you want to scratch that MTV itch, let me recommend the "60 Songs that Explain the '90s" podcast.[1] Fun, evergreen listens, that explain the behind the scenes of so many songs that are etched into our brains, whether we like it or not. Rob Harvilla might be the last of a dying breed of fun opinionated music journalists.
[1] https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/60-songs-that-explain-the-90s-the-2000s
Thanks for the trip down MTV memory lane. You left me with many video links to catch up with here.
Look at the downfall of this one great country and prove to me it didn't all start with Puck on The Real World.
Hard to prove a negative but in any case I never watched the show.
Love the shout-out for Saga’s On the Loose! Sure, you’re bemoaning that it was overplayed, but what a great, great song and album.
That’s what I miss about the early days of MTV - hearing the first of bands I’d never heard of like Split Enz, Tarney Spencer Band, Art of Noise, Spandau Ballet, and so many more!
I have trouble relating to that. You must be about the same age as my son who was not much of a music fan. His twentieth birthday was in 1986. I do remember it was about the time the music changed so drastically from what I grew up with that I switched almost exclusively to country music. Meat Loaf was an exception. Another artist that was sort of an exception was Tom Russell although many of his songs were country themed. Some of his songs expressed support for illegal aliens - "Stealing Electricity" (still on my playlist) and "Who's Gonna Build Your Wall". Another favorite still on my playlist has a country theme but doesn't sound country is "The Death of Jimmy Martin".
There are excellent, I mean EXCELLENT, cover bands on Youtube now. Check out HSCC (Hindley Street Country Club) from Adelaide and Leonid & Friends from Russia/Ukraine (they sing in English).
Here is a 2024 HSCC interview...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3aMPqBzyeU
Here is a Leonid & Friends sample...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_torOTK5qc&list=PL_lu88CYCO49t9aYp4N_40615W5h6TtLK&index=5
Both are touring now and selling out. I saw HSCC earlier this year; it was a fantastic evening.
Don't forget the 90s kids: we also only had MTV as the source for music/music videos, as the Internet was still nascent and YouTube didn't debut until 2005 when we older Millennials were already out of high school (or college for the oldest).
It was definitely past its peak, but still near it.
Qube had channel P-10 we all tried to hack with a paperclip!