Someone Wants His MTV...

Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" single, which would spend 3 weeks at #1 in 1985

Anyone who was alive in 1985 surely remembers the immortal Dire Straits song "Money For Nothing" -- 'money for nothing and your chicks for free' and so on and so on.  The opening of the song features a faint voice repeating the line 'I want my MTV' over and over, until Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler breaks in with the song's signature guitar riff.

Who is the mysterious voice who 'wants his MTV'?  None other than the incomparable Sting.  Sting was invited to contribute some vocals during the recording of the song, leading to his addition of the 'MTV' line at the opening.  He sings the line to the melody of the Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me", which he wrote.  He would also receive a songwriting credit on "Money For Nothing", making it the second #1 song bearing his name (the Police's "Every Breath You Take" was the first).

In the early 80s, MTV ran a series of ads with various pop music stars, including Sting, repeating the line 'I want my MTV'.