I Want My MTV

The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution

By: Craig Marks, Rob Tannenbaum

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 20 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Remember the first time you saw Michael Jackson dance with zombies in "Thriller"? Diamond Dave karate kick with Van Halen in "Jump"? Tawny Kitaen turning cartwheels on a Jaguar to Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again"? The Beastie Boys spray beer in "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)"? Axl Rose step off the bus in "Welcome to the Jungle"?

Remember when all you wanted was your MTV?

It was a pretty radical idea - a channel for teenagers, showing nothing but music videos. It was such a radical idea that almost no one thought it would actually succeed, much less become a force in the worlds of music, television, film, fashion, sports, and even politics. But it did work. MTV became more than anyone had ever imagined.

I Want My MTV tells the story of the first decade of MTV, the golden era when MTV's programming was all videos, all the time, and kids watched religiously to see their favorite bands, learn about new music, and have something to talk about at parties. From its start in 1981 with a small cache of videos by mostly unknown British new wave acts to the launch of the reality-television craze with The Real World in 1992, MTV grew into a tastemaker, a career maker, and a mammoth business.

Featuring interviews with nearly 400 artists, directors, VJs, and television and music executives, I Want My MTV is a testament to the channel that changed popular culture forever.

©2012 Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This colorful oral history of MTV’s early years doesn’t pull punches or waste time. A relentlessly entertaining book, an endlessly quotable volume." ( The Onion)

"Wildly entertaining. Music and culture fans of a certain age - you will want this book." ( The Washington Post)

"Here’s all the dirt on MTV’s early days, in one of the funniest books ever written about pop music." ( Rolling Stone)

Great Story - Not Enough Narrators

Great story about the origin and early days of MTV. The narration was well done but it would have been nice to have more than one person doing it because the book is mostly a collection of interviews and short quotes. At the very least it would have been great to have a woman reading the female quotes. Otherwise this was great.

A good book that doesn’t really get too deep

This is an odd audiobook because 90% of it is quotes from people involved with MTV so you have to pay attention to know who said what. A little too much about drugs and parties, not enough about the stories behind the channel, but still interesting.

Great tour down memory lane!

Enjoyed hearing the behind-the-scenes story. Now I’m going back and watching some of the old videos.

You Want It, You Got It

Let's stipulate that if you've reached this review after clicking through on this title, you must be interested in its subject (MTV) and the treatment promised in its subtitle (uncensored). If that's not true, stop right here, this book is not for you. But if your interest has been piqued, you are in for a treat. One great treat. A 20-hour treat.

Do not fret -- this is not 20 hours about how a bunch of executives started a cable network, no matter how influential that may have been throughout all facets of pop culture. That would most decidedly be unfun (though that story is well- and amply-told in a balanced manner).

No, the vast majority of I Want My MTV is about how many of the best known (and worst) videos of the 1980s and early 90s were made. Thriller, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Bohemian Rhapsody, Addicted to Love, Sledgehammer, Rio, We're Not Gonna Take It, Rock Me Tonite -- and on and on and on. The videos -- that's what brought you here, right? That's why you're considering this book. Well the good news is, that's what you're going to get.

What makes it even more fun is that the authors, having interviewed hundreds of insiders -- artists, directors, veejays, TV execs, music execs, managers, crew, et.al. -- stand back and let them tell their own stories. This is what you'd call an oral history, with short 1-2 page intros to each chapter followed by a series of interview excerpts. At its best, multiple sides of a story (often controversial) are presented back to back, in the participants' own words.

I loved parts of the 80s music scene, hated other parts, totally missed some of it. No matter, whether I liked a particular video or genre or not, the way the story is presented here -- no other word for it: Fun. Do yourself a favor -- take the 20 hours and enjoy yourself.

Wow! Unexpected Great Read!

If you could sum up I Want My MTV in three words, what would they be?

Funny, fascinating,educational.

What other book might you compare I Want My MTV to and why?

Not sure there is anything comparable. Perhaps the "making of the President" series?

What does Luke Daniels bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice is far more interesting than the voice in my head.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The rock star sitting on the elephant for a video, and the elephant bolts off to go mate with the rock star still attached. I laughed for HOURS!

Any additional comments?

This is just a FASCINATING book with SOOOO many interesting stories about people from this time!

I WANT MY MTV!

this made me nostalgic Pharrell the old videos and VJs that I grew up with. I found myself pausing the book and going to YouTube and remembering the videos that they're discussing. and seriously, who didn't have a fucking crush on Martha Quinn! what a babe lol

Awesome. Just Awesome 💯💥📺

A lot of great stories
What a great read
Not one chapter was disappointing

Highly Recommend 🎸🤟💯

Great Look Back At The 1980s

80s nostalgia is a big thing now. I really enjoyed this audio, reminding me why I loved MTV, and why I came to hate it when it evolved into something I didn't want.

An awesome look.

An awesome look nto the channel that shaped your childhood, teenage years or early 20s.

Great trip through my childhood

Lots of great material to choose from and this didn’t disappoint. The narration is a little funky, as it basically told in a series of quotes and the narrator has to announce who is saying the quote each time, but after a few minutes, you adjust to it. Lots of great stories and it sent me to YouTube multiple times to watch old videos. My G-d, what were you thinking Billy Squier?!?! Rock me tonight definitely the worst of this art form.