Theater Of The Mindless (continued)

To me, when television touches something, it is irrevocably changed, and usually not for the better.

As an example, do you think half the nonsense that went on with the O.J. Simpson criminal trial would have taken place if Judge Lance Ito had allowed cameras in the courtroom? Does anyone not believe that allowing cameras into the U.S. Congress, a move that has been partly beneficial, has also spawned a whole generation of know-nothing blowhards who have no clue about formulating policy or legislation but know very well how to pose and smile for a camera?

As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of MTV today, these thoughts come to my mind.

The network came up with some truly fascinating, groundbreaking and highly unusual visuals for 80s-era contemporary hits (some of my favorites were the cows wandering around for no apparent reason in "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics, the guy jumping off a building ledge who then turned into a bird in flight in "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" by Yes, Peter Wolf getting pelted with the girlie mags in "Angel Is A Centerfold," and anything by Devo).

Some of the "three-and-a-half-minute-movie" types of videos of a conceptual nature were interesting also, and the two that stood out for me that I can recall immediately were "Time After Time," Cyndi Lauper's performance of a song by The Hooters, and Glenn Frey's "Smuggler's Blues," which had dramatic scenes, and a highly dramatic resolution, right out of "Miami Vice."

But to me, someone else's interpretation of the visuals in the mind of the songwriter usually distracted from the song itself. As an example, could you imagine if someone had made a video of "My Girl" by The Temptations when the song was originally recorded? Part of the joy of the song is in the mental exercise you perform when conjuring up the images in the wonderful lyrics as sung by David Ruffin: "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day...when it's cold outside, I've got the month of May...I've got sooo much honey, the bees envy me...I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees."

If some pseudo-Hollywood hack had made the video, there might have been eruptions of plastic explosives and mist of dry ice everywhere leading into the fabulous bass line that begins the song.

Still, though, I come to praise MTV, not to bury it. It provided a diversion at times that was usually pleasing, despite the fact that it gave birth to a lot of acts that were marginal from a musical point of view but exceptional when it came to acting and dramatic production (can you say, "Men At Work"?). Also, I know the network was responsible for all kinds of pop/trash culture highlights/lowlights, but the CNN article seems to do a good job of recounting all of that.

And for the record, launching Beavis and Butt-head was truly inspired also.