I Want My MTV Back!

I was thrilled when I discovered this book and couldn't wait to go back and rekindle the excitement associated with those glorious days of my teen years, when MTV flourished. I WANT MY MTV not only gave me a fix of nostalgia, but left me smugly smirking with the realization that my generation got to ride the MTV wave when it was at its peak from 1981 to 1992.

The degree of impact I WANT MY MTV has on the reader is likely to be relative to the reader's age. I am probably not alone in saying that the launch of MTV was a seminal moment for many in my generation. At 15 years of age, I was a prime target for the network in 1981 ... too young to drive + being a typical bored teenager = a lot of TV watching. MTV scratched an itch for many of us who listened to radio and purchased albums, but wanted more than the occasional concert (American Bandstand and Midnight Special didn't cut it). The network was designed for teenagers ... we watched it when we came home from school, after football/baseball practice and we all hovered around the set when Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video was released. We were visually enticed to a myriad of bands and music we'd normally never get to hear on the radio ... the musical Pandora's Box was unleashed. I wonder how many high-schools across the country had kids bravely sporting "Flock of Seagulls" haircuts. Having latched its claws into me as a teenager, it followed me through high-school and onto college ... the network appeared to mature with me. Then it ended. I WANT MY MTV reveals how and why the network succeeded in becoming a music and television leviathan and then, somehow lost its way.

Written in a format that is both organized and entertaining; the reader might be amazed to see how quickly they can digest such a hefty book (570+ pages). Presented chronologically, the books is broken down into small chapters that define a particular event or era in the network's early history, like the introduction of rap music to the network or one of MTV's more infamous annual award shows. Each chapter begins with a somewhat brief summary that is supported by the commentary of a huge cast of characters that include network execs, video directors, producers, VJs and a large pool of music stars themselves ... an oral history. The commentary is quite entertaining, frequently humorous and occasionally shocking (I didn't know Michael Jackson being lionized as the "King of Pop" was his own doing or that former Monkey, Michael Nesmith, was so important in formulating the concept of music television). Everything is exposed, whether it be behind-the-scenes "sexploits", drug use, feuding or embarrassments. The book reveals a recurring tone of nostalgia as many of the musicians and network employees fondly recall those exciting early days when the network was just taking off and the attitude was "anything goes". We also get to see how rock stars were not the only ones enjoying the decadence of the 1980s. Hearing first-hand accounts of those involved allows readers to see the inner-workings of an industry that merged sight and sound for millions and made millionaires out of some unlikely individuals and bands. The best part about the book is that none of the people involved (network execs, VJs or the music talent) seem to take themselves too seriously, then or now. Sadly, as the ideas for creative videos diminished, the network's dabbling in reality television (the Real World) marked a new direction for the network at the expense of the formula that made MTV a household name (the music videos) ... the golden days of MTV had ended. The final chapter consists of pleadings from artists to "bring back" the MTV of their formative years ... allowing me to realize I'm not the only one who misses what MTV used to represent: the music.

I WANT MY MTV is an oral history geared toward the niche (mainly people who are in their late 30s to mid 40s) that was entertained by the network in its "heyday" (the 1980s and early 1990s). For those who fall into this category, the book should serve as a sweet, nostalgic trip. Subsequent generations may find I WANT MY MTV as nothing more than a boring footnote to the advent of internet-fused music and videos; for them, MTV is likely to be just another outlet for teen-related reality shows ... they missed all the fun. With that being said, I want MY MTV back!