SFTD: "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits

I have decided to move the SFTD (Song for the Day) thread to this rather neglected blog, so that there is some action going on. I have previously dabbled on about an obscure Bruce Dickinson song. You can find it here.

Today's song is none other than the MTV-bashing Dire Straits classic, "Money for Nothing".

I want my MTV, chimes Sting before some rather dynamic pop drumming leads to one of the most underrated riffs of all time. Mark Knopfler's old school, fuzzy blues riff contrasts the song's proud 80s pedigree - monotone drums and occasional busts of synth.

Sting returns ocasionally to help Knopfler, but the contrast is also evident here - drawling Knopfler versus high-pitched Sting.

Dire Straits is not adored by fans or critics alike, but the album from which this stand-out track is taken from, Brothers in Arms (1985), is one of the biggest selling albums of all time - and deservedly so. The band is severely underrated and underexposed and this song proves that perfectly - especially poignant considering the current state of MTV. It makes you wish that it was 1985 and you could watch music videos on TV. Sigh...