Background:
In order to fully understand the purpose behind our selection, you must first understand the forum where the song was 'officially' introduced to the world.
-MTV music television was launched, changing the entire face of the music industry and pop culture. The first/ original broadcast was aired on August
1, 1981.
-The show kicked off with a 27 second countdown and a black and whit original clip of the Apollo 11 launch, and Neil Armstrong jumping down to the moon's surface. A calm voiceover says: "Ladies and
gentlemen, rock and roll." It was the voice of Warner
Cable executive John Lack said as the channel kicked off. Appropriately, the first music video to air was The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” — introducing an entirely new concept of television, hosted by the first group of five MTV video jockeys, also known as VJs: Mark Goodman, Martha Quinn, Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson and Nina Blackwood.
-The first video ever played on MTV
was "Video Killed the Radio Star." It played at 1minute, 13 seconds following the MTV intro
About the song "Video Killed the Radio Star"
When the song was initially written in 1979, it was meant
to refer to the transition of everyday digital media. In the '60s, American
households slowly transitioned from radio to video as televisions became more
accessible for the average family.
Instead of
tuning into the radio for the nightly news or entertainment, families were
turning on their televisions, thus signaling the beginning of a shift in media
consumption, technology, and technology’s impact on society.
The
lyrics to "Video killed the radio star" are meant to be taken quite
literally — the increased popularity of television as a form of information and
entertainment ultimately "killed" the radio industry.
Prompt:
(ONLY use the lyrics/ words below). In a well-developed
essay, analyze the rhetorical choices The Buggles use to convey their message.
________________________________________________________________
"Video Killed
The Radio Star"
By The Buggles
I heard
you on the wireless back in '52
Lying awake intently tuning in on you
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through
They took
the credit for your second symphony
Rewritten by machine on new technology
And now I understand the problems you can see
I met your children
What did you tell them?
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Pictures came and broke your heart
And now we meet in an abandoned studio
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago
And you remember the jingles used to go:
You were the first one
You were the last one
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
In my mind and in my car
We can't rewind, we've gone too far
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
In my mind and in my car
We can't rewind, we've gone too far
Pictures came and broke your heart
Put the blame on VTR...
You are
the radio star
Video killed the radio star
You are
the radio star
Video killed the radio star
*VTR =
VIDEO TAPE RECORDER, SIMILAR TO THE VCR
Song Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs
Enjoy analyzing this auditory gem!
-Mrs. C
