“I want my MTV.”

After it’s launch at 12:01am on August 1st, 1981, MTV had America picking up their red rotary phones and calling up their cable operator for music television… in stereo! They made the bold statement that “You’ll never look at music the same way again,” and they were right.

But sadly, MTV doesn’t let us look at our music anymore, unless watching pregnant teens and an orange Mogwai roam the Jersey Shore is music to your ears.

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Next time you’re perusing through your extensive premium channel package, have a look at the MTV logo. You’ll notice something is missing… the “Music Television” under the logo. In 2010, MTV rebranded itself to make sure it was perfectly clear that “music” was no longer part of the equation.

Sir, we did not need a memo. We were fully aware of your shift in programming.

But let us not partake in such a bitter pill. MTV had its glory days, but college is over. It had to get a job, pay the bills, and move out of its parent’s basement. Acid washed jeans have been replaced by khakis and our rebel yell has been quieted down to our “inside voice.”

Alas, like Robert Frost/Pony Boy once said, “Nothing gold can stay.”

But we still have the memories. And the internet, because without it, we probably would have totally forgotten about the first epic hour of MTV in our advanced age.

Here it is, VHS quality and all.

NEXT PAGE Part One!