Dire Straits' Money For Nothing and the Problematic F Word Artwork

Sick Burns!: An 80's Podcast

Two Gen X'ers take a critical look at the songs of the late 20th century’s best known decade -- the 80’s -- breaking down lyrics, considering whether they hold up in a 21st century context... and delivering some choice critique, aka sick burns.

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Sick Burns!: An 80's Podcast

Dire Straits' Money For Nothing and the Problematic F Word

August 30, 2020 • L'Eighties Night Productions • Season 1 • Episode 12

Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” went to #1 in the US and Canada in 1985. Driven by frontman Mark Knopfler’s strong guitar riff and an iconic guest vocal from Sting, it was incredibly popular on the new music television channel, MTV. This was not only because of its groundbreaking animated video but also because it name-dropped MTV in the lyrics. Inspired by a conversation Knopfler heard at an electronics store and written in a persona, the song also features a nasty homophobic slur that you may or may not hear in the version your local radio station plays today.

Check out the Money For Nothing video, featuring the “F word.”

Here’s the song’s “Clean Radio Edit” which removes the problematic verse altogether.

Check out the original MTV commercial featuring Sting and The Police that inspired the opening line/chorus of the song: “I want my MTV!”.

Recommendations:

Private Dancer from Tina Turner

Alone on The History Channel

Levon Helm’s Dirt Farmer Video

Donny & Marie punch up Reelin’ in the Years

Sha Na Na Welcomes Chuck Berry

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