This Dire Straits Performance Leaves Me Broke! 'Money For Nothing' Vocal ANALYSIS

I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people that watched my first Dire Straits video on "Sultans of Swing" that I am heeding your call for the next one. The first video I thought I had a live performance, but it seemed to be the studio recording dubbed in... so today we're taking the most viewed live performance of "Money For Nothing" Live at Knebworth!

Join professional opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff, as she listens to Dire Straits performing "Money For Nothing" for the first time.
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Written and Performed by Dire Straits
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WANT MY CHAIR? I don’t blame you…and here’s a link to make it even sweeter:
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🎵MUSIC APPRECIATION COURSE🎵

🎶DEMYSTIFYING SINGING🎶
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Elizabeth Zharoff is an international opera singer and voice coach, with 3 degrees in voice, opera, and music production. She's performed in 18 languages throughout major venues in Europe, America, and Asia. Currently based somewhere between Los Angeles and Tucson, Arizona, Elizabeth spends her days researching voice, singing, teaching, writing music, and recording TONS. She also plays Diablo and Dungeons & Dragons.
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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#direstraits #Reaction #TheCharismaticVoice
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[cphoover]

The obliviousness to Eric Clapton was so frustrating and funny lol

[PiraticalBob]

*Brothers In Arms* is the song that will have you in tears.

[johnhmaloney]

Sting was not on stage at this performance. The percussionist is Ray Cooper and, as others have pointed out, the other lead guitarist is Eric Clapton. The "I want my MTV" countermelody is what Sting sang on the studio version of the song. That was MTV's advertising slogan at the time and the melody was taken from the Police song, Don't Stand So Close To Me. Sting did perform it onstage with Dire Straits at Live Aid in 1985.

[ypaisley]

You should have done the video. That was a monumentally iconic piece of 80’s pop art. To this day, the imagery from that video appears in my mind whenever I hear this song.

[ragingcyclone]

Sting is not in this particular performance, that man in pink is Mr. Slow Hand himself...Eric Clapton.

[marcianisenbaum]

2 of the greatest rock guitarists on the planet playing together needs to be mentioned!!! Beyond awesome 🥰

[scotthaynes]

I love how humble Clapton is on stage. Not trying to upstage Knopfler at all, just hanging out and jamming. Phenominal storytellers and legendary guitarists having a good time.

[Dragon_Werks]

You definitely need to revisit this song via the official music video. The studio version of this song is THE best version. You have to see/hear it. It's a moral imperative.

[utha]

The studio version is a lot higher tempo and the introduction is amazing. Headphones with the sound full on is just incredible.

The inspiration for the song was Mark Koffler overhearing some workers in an electronics store commenting on the lives of rock stars, speaking in a somewhat resentful and dismissive tone about how musicians "get money for nothing and chicks for free." He started writing down the worker’s words verbatim, capturing the tone of someone who viewed rock stars as lazy or undeserving of their success. The lyrics are written from the perspective of this character, a working-class man who is envious of the seemingly effortless success of rock stars. He criticizes the ease of their lifestyle compared to the hard labor he performs daily, with phrases like “That ain’t workin’” and “Money for nothin’ and chicks for free” capturing his frustration.

FYI, the guitarist you think is Sting is Eric Clapton, a world renowned guitarist in his own right and worth a look at, he has some beautiful melodies, Tears In Heaven, written for his young son that died.

[davehadley]

And another vote for Brothers in Arms, oh and you know your good when Eric Clapton guests and plays rhythm for you!

[kevinL]

Here is another vote for “Brothers in Arms”. It would be a perfect song for the November 11 Armistice Day / Remembrance Day celebration coming soon in many commonwealth countries. (Veteran’s Day in the USA).

[eddiearthur]

Knopfler is an outstanding songwriter. His songs with Emmy Lou Harris are outstanding; the way the two mature voices weave together is a wonder to behold

[erlenken]

"I want my MTV" was it's slogan and The Police did a TV ad. Knopfler then used the melody of The Police's "Don't stand so close to me" for the hook that Sting sings "I want my MTV". It was a coincidence that Sting was on the same island when Dire Straits recorded the song, so he spontaneously joined.

[gwooledge]

Hello, Elizabeth. As penance for not recognizing Eric Clapton, please review the song "Layla". Originally by the band Derek and the Dominoes (which included Eric Clapton), it has become one of his most iconic signature songs. The original version has a lovely piano section as well.

[jayarmstrong]

In the 80s, some cable tv providers still weren't carrying MTV in their channel lineup, so there were always airing promos about calling your cable company and demanding "I want my MTV!". That's where that line came from. Adorable that Elizabeth isn't old enough to recognize that's Eric Clapton on guitar!

[kenbrandon]

This song is worth a second visit with the video version. Sting actually did some of the backing vocals, mainly the “I want my MTV.”, which was a huge part of the channels marketing. “Tell your cable operators, ‘I want my MTV!’” And you were right, he overheard a conversation in an appliance store between a couple guys in the tv section and wrote down everything they said, some of which had to be changed with the times.

[thinman]

Elizabeth's naivete about particular famous rock stars is charming. Much appreciate her analysis. Learning to understand the why behind music and performances that are so popular.

[DukeNukum]

Love to see that this band has been becoming more popular to react to these days, back when they were still a band (I wansnt around of course) I heard they were actually quite popular, and really exploded in the 80s especially. I got so hooked on this band when I first found out about them. So far its taken me like 6 1/2 years of practice to get anywhere close to decent in terms of Knopflers fingerpicking, Dude is like in his 70s and still a freaking wizard at the guitar. I loved his playing so much i litterally built a replica of his 61 Strat. The whole band all together with the way they combined all kinds of talented musicality from 1977 all the way to 95, i personaly prefer the earlier bands vibe, with the exception of a few of thier new ones, bottom line, the name dire straits really suits the band, as I've noticed every time I'm in "dire straits" or I'm feeling desperate or lonely or sad, I find myself listening to them, because not only does this band do a really good job with telling the moral of the story in each of their songs. But I've noticed a good amount of their songs are very different. And it was the way that they were able to combine the mood of the song to fit the story behind it which made them even more impactful for me, it made the song More relatable and it gave them depth. Telegraph road by the way is one of Knopflers masterpieces, funny thing I actually live about 2 mi away from telegraph road, and when i heard about the song, i was thrilled that it just so happens to be his best guitar solo ever. That's not the only one of course tunnel of love has a great emotional roller coaster to it, as does Brothers in arms, and countless others.

[HiFiListener]

First: This track is at it's best, going with the studio version. Second: Sting's voice sets more melodic moods to it. Third: It was a big success, because the sound of the drum intro and the guitars are pleasing every good HiFi setup. But as I mentioned: this all goes with the studio version.

[waynefinnicumbb]

Brothers In Arms is a great song by them, one of my favorites and my late dad's favorites. He was a disabled Vietnam Vet, and that song was emotional to him.