one song that flipped the laws of nature - #acnotes

A thunder by itself would make one shudder and run for cover. However, it's scientifically proven over the years that sound travels slower than light. So thunder became a mere accompaniment for the visual extravaganza called lightning. However, this wasn't the case for music. The audio preceded the video era. And Dire Straits, especially Mark Knopler, did believe that a video took away the purity of the music. I strongly believe that too. And if you've read my previous #acnotes you'll notice my focus has been on listening mindfully.

Anyway, Dire Straits had to make a video and in its pursuit they even managed to bag the MTV Music Video Award for Money for Nothing in 1986. What's ironic yet iconic is the inspiration for the lyrics, which came to Mark Knopler when he was at an electronics store and he over heard two sales men discussing about what was labour (which is what they did at the store) while watching some video of musicians performing on MTV (which was looked down upon as not real work). In fact, the initial draft of that song was their conversation written on a piece of paper which Mark borrowed at the store and then later developed, maybe at the studio. Now, the video does drop a visual cue of the salesmen and their discussion (you could catch up on the video later). What a way to make money out of nothing. Or, perhaps to draw a parallel, like Seinfeld said about his sitcom "a show about nothing", this was a song based on a conversation on nothing.

Perhaps, you know about the "I want my MTV" intro already. If not, then here it goes. That intro was sung by Sting. And that intro tune alone was inspired by Police's hit single "Don't stand too close to me". Maybe, if you listen to the later you would be able to relate. Also, Sting accompanied with backing vocals for that same line through the song. Now what really stung later was the lawsuit. But that's a story for another day, another song.

Now to tie this back to where I started, recline and listen to the audio alone. You'll hear the thunder roll first, followed by the lightning riffs that might give you an impression that the laws of nature were flipped, for once.

https://lynkify.in/song/money-for-nothing-single-edit-2022-remaster/1fZd6MtG

#acnotes