On August 1,1987 MTV Europe was launched and the first video they played was ‘Money for Nothing’ by Dire Straits. The song was released in May of 1985 as part of the phenomenal album ‘Brothers in Arms’. A month after the album’s debut ‘Money for Nothing’ was released as the records second single. It followed ‘So Far Away’ and preceded the epic and eternally evocative track ‘Brothers in Arms’ which I share every November as part of my personal Remembrance Day homage.
For me, when it comes to Dire Straits, everything emanates from the distinct guitar sound provided by Mark Knopfler. For Knopfler, every song has its own story. He is always trying to achieve something unique. In the case of ‘Money for Nothing’ he was aiming to emulate the great Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Gibbons noted in an interview in late 1985 that on a handful of occasions Knopfler reached out with some questions related to how he created his trademark tone. Evidently, he was a little guarded with his advice but when he heard the result, he maintained a grudging admiration in his inimitable joking way.
I gotta hand it to that Mark Knopfler for the “Money for Nothing” number on that last Dire Straits album. That guy must have called me three or four times to find out what I did with my guitar so that he could copy it for that song. ‘He didn’t do a half-bad job, either, considering that I never told him a goddamned thing!”
Billy Gibbons
‘Money for Nothing’ is essentially written around the hook that exists as the main riff. During the verses it is played in a permutation and in full during the chorus. In my opinion, the best versions of ‘Money for Nothing’ are the ones where the introduction is extended. One occasion when this overture was on full display was in July of 1985 during Dire Straits Live Aid performance. You get the extended intro featuring Sting on vocals proclaiming ‘I Want My MTV’ while the band teases the upcoming launch. When Terry Williams hammers out his wicked drum sequence, Knopfler takes ‘Money for Nothing’ into overdrive, and the song never looks back. This song is an air musician’s dream. Pick your instrument and go wild. Better yet. Do it all.
Here is Dire Straits with Sting at Wembley Stadium on the day that brought the world together for a brief period of time.
For Dire Straits, ‘Money for Nothing’ and to a greater extent, the ‘Brothers in Arms’ album represented the band at their peak. The song was their most commercially successful single. It actually served to define an era. It was #1 in the United States and Canada. Dire Straits won a Grammy for Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and in 1986 it won MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year and Best Group Video.
Getting back to Sting, here is a brief explanation as to how he came to perform on ‘Money for Nothing’. Essentially, he was in the right place at the right time. Dire Straits were recording ‘Brothers in Arms’ in Montserrat at the same time as Sting was vacationing in the area, doing a little windsurfing. He dropped by the studio to see what his friends were up to, and they played him a few tracks including ‘Money for Nothing’. Sting was blown away.
You’ve done it this time, you bastards.”
Sting
He stuck around long enough to create the vocal introduction we all know. ‘I Want My MTV’ was sung to a similar melody as The Police hit ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’. Sting added his distinctive voice to the chorus. This was all enough to get him a songwriting credit and his name on the accolades derived from the recording. This association has left Sting moderately embarrassed through the years because it was essentially on a whim. He accepts no credit for the song’s brilliance. Meanwhile the royalty cheques are still pouring in.
The lifestyle of a world-renowned pop star offers a perfect segue into the songs lyrical content. In essence, it was a matter of Mark Knopfler being keenly aware of his surroundings and reflecting the way artists on U.S. MTV were perceived by a working-class individual. Knopfler was in a department store in New York City, and at the back of the store was a wall of display model televisions. An employee was delivering boxes, and as he moved back and forth, he stopped beside Knopfler and offered his commentary on the MTV video content. His observations in the form of a series of candid statements became lines in the song. Knopfler requested a pen and paper and jotted them all down. More or less, the inspiration for these lyrics can be attributed to a hard-working New York department store employee in jeans, a checkered shirt, work boots and a baseball cap.
Now look at them yo-yos, that’s the way you do it
You play the guitar on the MTV
That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it
Money for nothin’ and your chicks for freeNow that ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it
Lemme tell ya, them guys ain’t dumb
Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumbWe gotta install microwave ovens
Custom kitchen deliveries
We’ve got to move these refrigerators
We’ve got to move these colour TVsSee the little faggot with the earring and the makeup
Mark Knopfler
Yeah buddy, that’s his own real hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
The little faggot, he’s a millionaire
Fortunately, Mark Knopfler had the presence of mind to take it all down and craft the presentation in such a powerful way. Here is his recollection from an interview shortly after the release of ‘Brothers in Arms’.
The lead character in “Money for Nothing” is a guy who works in the hardware department in a television/custom kitchen/refrigerator/microwave appliance store. He’s singing the song. I wrote the song when I was actually in the store. I borrowed a bit of paper and started to write the song down in the store. I wanted to use a lot of the language that the real guy actually used when I heard him, because it was more real…”
Mark Knopfler
Through the years the lyrical content of ‘Money for Nothing’ has created a degree of controversy. This is evident in the lines referencing “that little faggot with the earing and the makeup…” and ended with the proclamation that “he gets his money for nothing and his chicks for free.” Knopfler became very torn as it relates to the negative publicity. He recognizes that the term is derogatory. If the song was written in 2021 the lyrics would likely have been presented in a different way. At the time the reference was not intended as a homophobic slur. In fact, the passage itself determines that the artist the department store worker was referencing was clearly not ‘gay’. The irony exists within the statement and exposes the worker as a combination of envious and ignorant. In the mid ‘80s it was an extremely unfortunate term used all too often in the public vernacular. Mark Knopfler was simply reflecting the worker’s observations. Ironically, it was not a writing style he had ever employed before, nor has he used it since. Here is his response from an interview in 2000.
I got an objection from the editor of a gay newspaper in London – he actually said it was below the belt. Apart from the fact that there are stupid gay people as well as stupid other people, it suggests that maybe you can’t let it have so many meanings – you have to be direct. In fact, I’m still in two minds as to whether it’s a good idea to write songs that aren’t in the first person, to take on other characters. The singer in “Money for Nothing” is a real ignoramus, hard hat mentality – somebody who sees everything in financial terms. I mean, this guy has a grudging respect for rock stars. He sees it in terms of, well, that’s not working and yet the guy’s rich: that’s a good scam. He isn’t sneering.”
Mark Knopfler
Closer to home ‘Money for Nothing’ has created controversy within the standards of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CSBC) because it was deemed to be in violation of their ethics and equitable portrayal code. The determination was:
Like other racially driven words in the English language, ‘faggot’ is one that, even if entirely or marginally acceptable in the early days, is no longer so.”
Canadian Broadcast Standards Council
This decision created a maelstrom of opinion and eventually the CSBC left the handling of the song to the discretion of each radio station. Some continue to edit ‘faggot’ out, while others offer the original recording. The panelists on the committee determined that in present day the slur was inappropriate, but when it was written it was presented in a ‘satirical and non-hateful manner’.
In the end, context needs to be considered. We continue to learn and ideally, we evolve.
Moving on to the cover versions of ‘Money for Nothing’, I am able to offer some additional levity to this post. Listen to Weird Al Yankovic as he blends ‘Money for Nothing’ with the ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ theme song. This is a ton of fun. Enjoy!
To conclude, I give you a Ted Tocks Covers favourite. Here is Leo Moracchioli and his quality rendition of ‘Money for Nothing’.
Check out more of Leo’s work. His work is hard edged and the songs he covers are often a contrast to his natural style. No matter the recording, he always delivers quality covers. Ted Tocks has added his work to a handful of posts. He is a Ted Tocks Covers gold mine.
‘Jolene’
‘Rehab’
Tons of great music to enjoy from a diverse range of artists.
Have a great day.
Ted Tocks Covers 
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