The first music video shown on MTV was the Buggles' iconic and aptly titled single "Video Killed the Radio Star." From then on, the once fledgling channel would become the de facto visual arm of the music industry and in effect an integral part of pop culture.
Michael Jackson, the late great King of Pop and MTV trailblazer, immensely benefited from the new medium and so did innovative new wave acts like Talking Heads, Duran Duran, and Split Enz.
Sadly, MTV also had its fair share of casualties, most notably Christopher Cross and Billy Squier. Make no mistake about it, the two were no one-hit wonders at the time. Both were bonafide solo acts with million selling albums and hit singles to boot at the peak of their respective careers.
What happened?
Christopher Cross' self-titled debut album topped the charts, spawned three top ten singles and also won Grammy album of the year honors but by the time his sophomore effort Another Page came out, his popularity was already on the wane.
With the advent of music videos, being "that" voice on the radio simply wasn't enough anymore. Then again, how can he compete aesthetically with the telegenic Brits led by John Taylor, Tony Hadley et al?
Billy Squier on the other hand suffered the same fate primarily due to an ill-conceived music video. If you want to know why, go ahead and watch "Rock Me Tonite." Whoever conceptualized that music video deserved to be hung upside down! For heaven's sake, the rock star and guitar hero lying on satin sheets, gyrating, prancing around in pink tank tops amidst a backdrop of pastel colors?
He would eventually go on record to disown the cursed video. Capitol Records' ploy perhaps was for him to gain more female following a la Rick Springfield. After all it was the 80's, right? Not!
Video killed the radio star. Video killed the rock star.
