Ever heard that amazing fact? The very first music video ever shown on MTV was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles! It's like, the ultimate 'before' photo of modern music. But why that song? And did it really change everything? Let's dive in!

First off, picture this: August 1, 1981. MTV launches, and the world is about to get a whole lot more visual. But why "Video Killed the Radio Star"? Well, it wasn't some random choice. It had a few things going for it:

• It was catchy: The song itself is pretty memorable. It's got a cool, upbeat sound, and that's important when you're trying to get people hooked on a brand-new thing.

• The video was good (for the time): Music videos were still pretty new, so the video for "Video Killed the Radio Star" was surprisingly polished. It wasn't a blockbuster, but for 1981, it was very impressive. Think grainy but stylish, a bit like an early 80s home video. That mattered a lot back then.

• It fit the vibe: The song's theme is all about the changing times – how video technology was changing how we consumed music. It's super ironic, really! It was like MTV was announcing its own arrival.

"The song's message was a perfect, almost prophetic fit for the start of a television network that was poised to change how the world consumed music." – A music historian, probably.

Now, did it really change music? Absolutely! But not in the way you might think. It didn't suddenly make everyone start making music videos (although that certainly happened later). What it did do was kickstart a visual revolution. Before MTV, music was primarily an audio experience. Suddenly, it had a face, a look, a story. It changed everything.

Think about it: before MTV, bands relied on radio play, album sales, and live shows. After MTV? The music video became a HUGE promotional tool. Artists started to invest more in their visuals. They understood that what you saw could be just as important as what you heard.

"MTV didn't just play music videos; it made music videos essential." – A wise old music lover.

Some people say MTV also had a hand in the rise of certain genres, like pop and rock. Some artists who got a lot of airplay on MTV were catapulted to international stardom. It's a chicken-or-egg situation, but the impact is undeniable.

But it wasn't all rainbows and sunshine. MTV has had its critics, of course. Some say it focused too much on certain artists and styles of music, neglecting others. Others say the emphasis on visual spectacle sometimes took away from the music itself. But that's a whole other story!

So, "Video Killed the Radio Star" as MTV's first video wasn't just a random song; it was a brilliant, albeit somewhat accidental, way to launch a visual revolution in music. It wasn't the only thing that changed the music industry, but it sure played a massive role. And that, my friend, is a pretty catchy tune in itself.

Think about all the iconic music videos that followed: Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Madonna's "Like a Virgin," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"… all influenced, at least in part, by that first little spark on MTV. The legacy of that first video lives on, a testament to the power of a catchy tune, a great video, and the right moment in time. It truly was the beginning of a visual revolution!