Music5 Curiosities about ‘Money for Nothing’, Direct Straits hit 40 years ago was one of the great hits of the album Brothers in Arms, the first in history to sell more than 1 million copies on CDPOR Writing

Released as single on June 28, 1985, the music “Money for Nothing” became one of the greatest successes of Direct Straits.

She was the flagship of the album Brothers in Arms (1985), the first in history to sell more than 1 million CD copies. The format began to emerge as a novelty in the music industry and soon would overcome the LP.

“Money for Nothing” It was composed of Mark Knopfler in partnership with Stingfrom The Policewhich appears as a guest in music. Check out this and other curiosities about it:

1)

“Money for Nothing” It has an ironic letter written from the point of view of two working class men who make comments about celebrities while watching music videos on television.

According to Mark Knopfler, the inspiration came after he actually heard two deliveryrs from a department store in New York complain of the conditions of his jobs as they watched the MTVat the time a novelty.

2) Special participation

Credited as co -author of “Money for Nothing”the singer, songwriter and bassist Sting also appears in the song. It is his voice that precedes the riff of the song whispering the excerpt “I Want My MTV”.

With the separation of The Police in 1984, Sting started solo career and in 1985 also released a album, The Dream of the Blue Turtlesyour first solo work.

3) Free advertising

Despite the ironic content of the letter of “Money for Nothing”the hit eventually served as a great free advertising for MTV. The channel had been founded in 1981 and unleashed over the decade, consolidating itself as one of the main vehicles dedicated to the music world.

Les Garland, an executive who commanded MTV at the time, stated that the company loved the music and was flattered by the “tribute” of Dire Straits. The clip of “Money for Nothing”It was even the first to be shown on MTV Europa.

4) Homophobia

“Money for Nothing”However, it was not only involved in a sea of ​​roses. The song generated controversy and was accused of homophobia due to the following excerpt: “See The Little F#Ggot With the Earring and the Make Up” (“See Viada#Nho with earring and makeup”in Portuguese).

The word “f#ggot” (viad#nho) still appears twice in the letter: “That Little Faggot Got His Own Jet Airplane / That Little F#Ggot, He’s A Millionaire” (“That viadinho has its own jet plane / that viada#nho is a millionaire”in Portuguese). The song was even banned in Canada.

5) Live Aid just before Queen

High after the launch of Brothers in ArmsDire Straits performed in the Live Aid In 1985, a charity concert that was intended to raise funds to combat hunger and poverty in Ethiopia.

“Money for Nothing”of course, it was one of the songs performed by the band at the time. Also rolled an extended version of “Sultans of swing”.

But little has been said about this presence at the event. The reason? Dire Straits, curiously, performed soon before the Queenwhich would perform a historical performance at the Wembley Stadium in London.

+++ Read more: the controversial history of “Money for Nothing”, from Dire Straits
+++ Read more: The 3 best guitarists in history, according to Mark Knopfler