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Dire Straits
About Money for Nothing
"Money for Nothing" is a single by British rock band Dire Straits, taken from their 1985 studio album Brothers in Arms. The song's lyrics are written from the point of view of two working-class men watching music videos and commenting on what they see. The song features a guest appearance by Sting singing background vocals, providing both the signature falsetto introduction and backing chorus of "I want my MTV." The groundbreaking video was the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network launched on 1 August 1987. It was Dire Straits' most commercially successful single, peaking at number 1 for three weeks in the United States, number 1 for three weeks on the US Top Rock Tracks chart and number 4 in the band's native UK. "Money for Nothing" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1986 at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards and the video won Video of the Year at the 3rd MTV Video Music Awards.more »
- Year:
- 1988
- 4:06
- 6,568Views
- Playlists:
- #18
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(I want my MTV)Now look at them yo-yo's that's the way you do itYou play the guitar on the MTVThat ain't workin' that's the way you do itMoney for nothin' and your chicks for freeNow that ain't workin' that's the way you do itLemme tell ya them guys ain't dumbMaybe get a blister on your little fingerMaybe get a blister on your thumbWe gotta install microwave ovensCustom kitchen deliveriesWe gotta move these refrigeratorsWe gotta move these color TV'sWe gotta install microwave ovensCustom kitchen deliveriesWe gotta move these refrigeratorsWe gotta move these color TV'sI shoulda learned to play the guitarI shoulda learned to play them drumsLook at that mama she got it stickin' in the cameraMan, we could have some funAnd he's up there, what's that? Hawaiian noises?You bangin' on the bongos like a chimpanzeeOh, that ain't workin' that's the way you do itGet your money for nothin' get your chicks for freeWe gotta install microwave ovensCustom kitchen deliveriesWe gotta move these refrigeratorsWe gotta move these color TV'sListen here, now that ain't workin' that's the way to do itYou play the guitar on the MTVThat ain't workin' that's the way you do itMoney for nothin' and your chicks for freeMoney for nothin' and the chicks for freeGet your money for nothin' and chicks for freeMoney for nothin' and the chicks for free (I want my, I want my MTV)Money for nothin' and the chicks for free (I want my, I want my MTV)
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band, formed in 1977 by former journalist and teacher Mark Knopfler, initially composed of Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion). more »
8 fans
Genre »
Rock
Style »
Blues Rock, Pop Rock
Sheet Music PDF Playlist
Written by: Mark Knopfler, Gordon Sumner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Release Information"Money for Nothing" was released in 1985 as the lead single from Dire Straits' fifth album "Brothers in Arms." |
Song AchievementThe song became Dire Straits' most commercially successful single, reaching number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and the UK Singles Chart in Britain. |
Music Video NotablityThe pivotal music video of "Money for Nothing" was one of the first to be aired on MTV Europe and largely contributed to the success of the song. |
CollaborationThe song features background vocals by Sting, the lead vocalist and bassist for The Police. His famous line, "I want my MTV," is sung to the melody of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" by The Police. |
Controversial lyricsSome lyrics of the song have attracted controversy and accusations of hom*ophobia, which led to altered or censored versions of the song being released in some markets. |
Song InspirationThe lyrics of "Money for Nothing" were reportedly inspired by a conversation Dire Straits' lead vocalist Mark Knopfler overheard in an appliance store, where blue-collar workers were commenting on music videos playing on the store's televisions. |
Grammy Award"Money for Nothing" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1986. |
Animation in Music VideoThe music video for "Money for Nothing" was one of the earliest examples of computationally animated human characters, a technique that later became common in the music and film industries. |
Songwriting CreditDue to Sting's significant input to the song, particularly the "I want my MTV" hook, he was given a songwriting credit, resulting in royalties from the song's earnings. |
Lifespan of the songDespite the controversy surrounding the song's lyrics, "Money for Nothing" has remained popular, being covered by numerous artists and featuring in various television shows and films. |
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