I want my MTV.

I paid little attention to MTV when it debuted in 1981. One of the main reasons is because I saw it as a channel featuring only rock bands. At the time, rock was beyond the scope of my musical interests.

Other than a modest collection of old rock ‘n’ roll vinyls my dad owned, which by the way, he amassed by becoming a member of one of those “13 records for $1” promotions, I was completely absorbed by pop.

By the time MTV gained its footing, thanks in part to the likes of Michael Jackson and later Madonna, I started watching and listening to a lot more rock. If not for MTV, it would have taken me years to listen to music by Bruce Springsteen, Def Leppard, Van Halen, and punk groups like Devo.

When the video (pictured here), to the song “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits received air time, it garnered a lot of attention for its use of computer animation. I paid more attention to the images than the lyrics; however, one early Tuesday morning, while I was unloading a truck at work, I started to riff-off several complaints.

My comments caught the attention of our assistant manager, who I didn’t realize was behind me. He said something like “You sound like the song by Dire Straits.” In case you’re unfamiliar with the lyrics, it’s about a guy who works in an appliance store, bitching about his job, dreaming instead about being a rocker on MTV:

“I shoulda learned to play the guitar,
I shoulda learned to play them drums

“That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it
Get your money for nothin’, get your chicks for free”

If only.

While unloading and loading trucks (I even worked a UPS for a stint years ago), and a few other laborious jobs are a part of my past, the idea of being a rock star was never something I even remotely dreamed about pursuing.

Like most of us, I can sing, but not well. I don’t play any instruments; although I did play the flute for a few months in fifth-grade; I purchased a guitar about seven years ago, but only because I like the way it looks. Still, I listen to and appreciate several genres of music.

Today, I am passionate about what I do, and if you feel the same about your job, keep at it — and as Devo said: “Whip it good!”