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As music television emerged, everyone was chanting "I want my MTV". The first video played on that fateful summer day in 1981 was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. Reflecting back I can't help but wonder if this was a premonition of about what was to unfold.

I was one of those teens who wanted their music television, but didn't have it. Thankfully, my best friend did! We spent hours upon days glued to the tube watching the glorious songs we loved come alive in front of our eyes. My friend and I used to sit down with a huge bowl of chips and watched the cool lunar moon landing images and rocket ships blast into space as they hyped us up for the audio-visual treats we were about to receive.

Music videos in the early part of the decade started off simplistic, augmenting the songs putting a visual to the music. This magic of the early 80s video was a special time as we watched hip VJs, such as Martha Quinn and Nina Blackwood, present debut videos which were a highly awaited event. With each debut we were bursting with anticipation waiting for the new videos to be unveiled. People all over were mesmerized as videos evolved from music performances into storytelling. By the mid-80s most videos had montages of images showing the musicians telling a narrative, and the popularity of videos continued to soar. By the latter part of the decade, however, videos began to highlight the special effects that technology could provide. The very evolution of how videos progressed had a direct impact on the music.

In the early 80s, the music was primary, but with the addition of the visual enhancements video provided throughout the decade, did music become more about the image? Technology continued to progress and as a result more ornate visuals were used, putting even more emphasis on images and less on music. The culminating event was in 1989 when rumors surfaced that the lead singers of "Milli Vanilli" didn't actually sing on their albums. This was confirmed by "singers" Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan in 1990. Had the promotional images of video not been paramount, such an occurrence would not have happened. It was an interesting way to end the decade that started the magic of it all. Video transformed not only the music, but effectively altered the nature of the business too.

The greatness, wonderment and "innocence" of the early 1980s would never be the same where music and videos were concerned. MTV isn't even about the video or the music anymore as they've branched off into reality shows and political causes. The early 80s were THE true age of video and I don't think any other generation will quite get that same sense of excitement. I miss my MTV.

What happened, did the music get lost? It seems while the early 80s experienced the thrilling transformation of putting music to video, at the same time it also removed the mystery. Since those amazing days, music has certainly evolved. Pop-stars rely on synthesized vocals and computer editing in their recordings. Lip sync is an accepted practice because the musicians are more focused on their physical performances and the images they want to project to their fans.

Perhaps video truly did kill the radio star.

Learn more about this author, Leigh Goessl.
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