First Music Video on MTV- Video Killed the Radio Star

Brought up in class, Video Killed the Radio Star is one of my most favorite songs and for a long time, I've never paid attention to the story within the lyrics. The main idea of the story is that technology is rapidly changing. TV and videos are replacing the old, archaic technology: Radios. The video and lyrics both express this story in ways important to interactive storytelling. Lets begin by looking at what is shown in the video. In the beginning of the video, we observe a young girl fiddling with what appears to be a washing machine. As the song progresses towards the chorus, we then see the washing machine explode behind the girl as she looks towards the viewer. We then later see the same young girl standing among a pile of old radios and jukeboxes followed by the machine exploding again. As we can see, the washing machine represents the radios that no longer apply to the world of technology. Then, the video progresses to a radio studio, which appears to be destroyed as if it collapsed. This is when two ladies with futuristic hairdos sing on TV "Video Killed The Radio Star." The ladies seem to be convincing the public on TV that videos became so well known that soon the radio was neglected. In addition, the lyrics showed the main perspective with examples of complaints about the new technology. Based on these lyrics, the perspective here is that we should go back to listening to those "wireless" radios just like "back in Fifty Two." With a new technology at hand, there were no more listening to radios, which then "killed the radio star." This is where the song gets its title. At the time, we pretty much want our "radio stars" to be back live on our once favorite stations. Without the help of the radio stations, these classic "radio stars" will just become ordinary people in desperate need of a job.

Overall, I liked the way the story was represented in the video. Being the first video to air on MTV, Video Killed the Radio Star provided me a classic way of creating a music video. Even though most of the video showed the band and singer, it provided basic, unique metaphors that made the story compelling. This video is such a classic that no one should miss!

Lyrics:

I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two
Lying awake intent at tuning in on you.
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through.

Oh-a oh

They took the credit for your second symphony.
Rewritten by machine and new technology,
and now I understand the problems you can see.

Oh-a oh

I met your children
Oh-a oh
What did you tell them?
(Washing Machine Explodes as girl faces the viewer)
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.

Pictures came and broke your heart.
Oh-a-a-a oh

(Video shows studio as appears to be destroyed by building collapse)
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.

Oh-a oh

You were the first one.
Oh-a oh

You were the last one.

(Ladies sing on TV)
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far
Oh-a-aho oh,
(Ladies sing on TV)
Oh-a-aho oh

(Girl stand upon pile of radios, followed by explosion of washing machine)

Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
(TVs rise up, guy sings)

In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far.
Pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VTR.

You are a radio star.
(Girl from experimental tube flies overhead the abandoned studio)
You are a radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.

Video killed the radio star. (You are a radio star.)