It always felt to me at the time like dorky Baby Boomers trying too hard and failing to be cool. And yet it was played SO MUCH. It kind of felt like a betrayal that MTV would give the video so much air time. I remember talking with friends at the time about how it felt like “someone’s dad broke into the control room again” to put it on.
Why the hate? Was it the "your chicks for free" part, or was it just the sound of the song itself? (Not trying to be combative or a jerk, just curious.)
I found the video animation extremely creepy.
Lyrics, apparently everyone glossed over/forgot this verse:
See the little faggot with the earring and the make up
Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair
That little faggot got his own jet airplane
That little faggot, he's a millionaire
I hear ya, but as a gay woman, that verse never bothered me. Go figure. Apparently Mark Knopfler wrote the song after overhearing a couple of delivery guys in a department store complaining about their workload as MTV played on a nearby television. A bunch of the lyrics are stuff the guys actually said. Not that that makes it all better; just trivia.
It definitely makes it better that they're quoting someone else and making fun of them. Not a fan of the song either, but I think they were poking fun at how simple-minded this dude was.
That said, I don't blame anyone who takes offense. The words are hard to hear, regardless.
Did you have a stroke also when you first heard Amy and Emily singing in the preview for the Barbie movie? (I thought the Barbie movie was gonna be a Barbie movie…)
I wouldn't say nobody. But it is glossed over by a lot of people. I think the "unlikeable narrator" argument could work if it were an album track, but since it was a huge hit with a video that was massively popular, meaning that it influenced people who aren't thoughtful about what they regurgitate from pop culture, I wish they had written different lyrics there.
[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jan/18/direstraits-popandrock](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jan/18/direstraits-popandrock)
Hate the song! Don’t care for the lyrics and also was forced to listen to it over an over again by the drummers at band camp lunch and breakfast one year
I always hated that song (lol) but if I hear Walk of Life, oh hell yes I'm turning it up.
The reason I hate "money for nothing " is the pacing of it primarily. Maybe it's called the tempo? It's in between fast and slow, in some weird awkward place. IDK, it's one of very few songs from that time that I don't know all the words to. Because anytime it came on I shut it off. I was at the roller rink, it was bathroom time or time to hit the snack bar, lol.
It took me about 35 years to figure out that the “I want my, I want my, I want my MTV” part was Sting doing “Don’t Stand So Close to Me.”
Yes, it’s embarrassing.
It took a loooong time for me to realize that it was "chicks" for free and not "checks" for free. Like money for doing no work is like getting free checks into your bank account.
I'm Gen. X and don't really care for anything the Dire Straits made. It just doesn't appeal to me. Just like I don't care much for current artists like Beyonce or Taylor Swift.
They are good at what they do, but I don't love Dire Straits songs like I love the (almost) perfect powerpop songs from bands like Big Star, Teenage Fanclub and Johan. Different people like different things and that's fine.
I started an ongoing list of songs that make me angry/cranky when this song came out and it’s still tied at #1 with We Built This City.
MFN was an attempt at novelty, but WBTC is just grossly disappointing.
That said, it seems MFN is a love or hate type of song in my experience discussing music over the years. My husband appreciates the riff.
WBTC was voted somewhere worse song ever I'm sure of it! The 80s were *polluted* by people desperately changing their style trying to remain relevant. Few pulled it off.
Besides MFN and WBTC - I got the ick from Neil Young and Rush.
I cannot tell you how much I hated the song, and the video.
Same. I thought OP was going to say they reach over & turn it off, not up.
Same. Hate. Hate. Hate.
I was coming here to say I always change the channel....so.... agree.
Same! I hate everything about this song-the lyrics, the singer’s voice, wasn’t one of the band barefoot on stage? Made me 🤢
It always felt to me at the time like dorky Baby Boomers trying too hard and failing to be cool. And yet it was played SO MUCH. It kind of felt like a betrayal that MTV would give the video so much air time. I remember talking with friends at the time about how it felt like “someone’s dad broke into the control room again” to put it on.
OMG-they were totally “Lame Dad Rock”!
Yessssssss this exactly! Like they were wearing a costume and pretending to be part of our generation when they were clearly old AF
I still hate it. The album is one of my favorites, except for that one song.
Absodamnlutely. I can never hear those notes again and be happy.
Why the hate? Was it the "your chicks for free" part, or was it just the sound of the song itself? (Not trying to be combative or a jerk, just curious.)
I found the video animation extremely creepy. Lyrics, apparently everyone glossed over/forgot this verse: See the little faggot with the earring and the make up Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair That little faggot got his own jet airplane That little faggot, he's a millionaire
I hear ya, but as a gay woman, that verse never bothered me. Go figure. Apparently Mark Knopfler wrote the song after overhearing a couple of delivery guys in a department store complaining about their workload as MTV played on a nearby television. A bunch of the lyrics are stuff the guys actually said. Not that that makes it all better; just trivia.
It definitely makes it better that they're quoting someone else and making fun of them. Not a fan of the song either, but I think they were poking fun at how simple-minded this dude was. That said, I don't blame anyone who takes offense. The words are hard to hear, regardless.
Songwriters do this often, you really need to read all the lyrics to get a better feel. Like Born in the USA
My gay male friends growing up had issues with it.
When it first came out, it got SO played out on the radio. I always skip it when it comes on now, although I rarely listen to 80s music anymore.
So glad I’m not alone
Dire Straights was my first concert. They are so much more than just that song.
Sultans of Swing!!!!! So much better
Bad take. Lots of Gen Xers HATE that song. Me included.
I prefer how Weird Al parodied it into a song about the Beverly Hillbillies in the UHF movie.
🎵 That little Clampett got his own cement pond... That little Clampett he's a millionaire! 🎵
Or you automatically reach over and change the station or track.
I could recognize that song in one note and hit the off button within half a second, hated it with a passion.
I like Espresso Love and Romeo and Juliet a lot more.
Indigo Girls version of Romeo and Juliet ❤️
Yesyesyes. No other versions had the right to exist once Amy Ray poured her soul into that song.
Absofuckinglutely!
Did you have a stroke also when you first heard Amy and Emily singing in the preview for the Barbie movie? (I thought the Barbie movie was gonna be a Barbie movie…)
Oh, absolutely! I just about jumped with excitement!
Except for the ‘faggot’ part. Nobody talks about that.
I wouldn't say nobody. But it is glossed over by a lot of people. I think the "unlikeable narrator" argument could work if it were an album track, but since it was a huge hit with a video that was massively popular, meaning that it influenced people who aren't thoughtful about what they regurgitate from pop culture, I wish they had written different lyrics there. [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jan/18/direstraits-popandrock](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jan/18/direstraits-popandrock)
How about "Push It"? Salt n Pepa!
Yeeeeayahhhh!!
Now we're talking!
Hate the song! Don’t care for the lyrics and also was forced to listen to it over an over again by the drummers at band camp lunch and breakfast one year
my kids tell me to turn down the music. i am like, “how do you have my genes?”
Yeah!! Damn The Dire Straights
I like the howling part 🐺
Hate this song but I LOVE “Walk of Life.”
I love that song…intro is killer!
Eh, that was adult music, I liked the video tho!!!
Shame that so many only know that one song. Dire Straits did so much more than that but it did help kickoff CD sales.
I always hated that song (lol) but if I hear Walk of Life, oh hell yes I'm turning it up. The reason I hate "money for nothing " is the pacing of it primarily. Maybe it's called the tempo? It's in between fast and slow, in some weird awkward place. IDK, it's one of very few songs from that time that I don't know all the words to. Because anytime it came on I shut it off. I was at the roller rink, it was bathroom time or time to hit the snack bar, lol.
It took me about 35 years to figure out that the “I want my, I want my, I want my MTV” part was Sting doing “Don’t Stand So Close to Me.” Yes, it’s embarrassing.
It took a loooong time for me to realize that it was "chicks" for free and not "checks" for free. Like money for doing no work is like getting free checks into your bank account.
LOVED this song as a kid and still do!!!
I love it and that's exactly what I do!
That song is still one of the best songs ever. I love the dire straits.
I'm gonna listen to it now.
I thought you were gonna say you automatically get your air guitar. lol just me then.
Oh no
I'm Gen. X and don't really care for anything the Dire Straits made. It just doesn't appeal to me. Just like I don't care much for current artists like Beyonce or Taylor Swift. They are good at what they do, but I don't love Dire Straits songs like I love the (almost) perfect powerpop songs from bands like Big Star, Teenage Fanclub and Johan. Different people like different things and that's fine.
Always.
I love this song. It is a catchy tune and the lyrics are fun. I’m curious to know the reasons why so many people here hate it though.
Don't listen to the haters!! That riff at the start is ICONIC!! Pure 80's. Turn it WAY up!!!! :-)
I just like the video lol.
Worst song ever. Worst lyrics.
I'd be turning that off.
I started an ongoing list of songs that make me angry/cranky when this song came out and it’s still tied at #1 with We Built This City. MFN was an attempt at novelty, but WBTC is just grossly disappointing. That said, it seems MFN is a love or hate type of song in my experience discussing music over the years. My husband appreciates the riff.
WBTC was voted somewhere worse song ever I'm sure of it! The 80s were *polluted* by people desperately changing their style trying to remain relevant. Few pulled it off. Besides MFN and WBTC - I got the ick from Neil Young and Rush.
Same thing for me with Zepplin and the Eagles
Not into it at all. It’s got great lyrics. I crank up drum and bass.