<Table> <Tr> <Td> "So Far Away" (1985) </Td> <Td> "Money for Nothing" (1985) </Td> <Td> "Brothers in Arms" (1985) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> "So Far Away" (1985) </Td> <Td> "Money for Nothing" (1985) </Td> <Td> "Brothers in Arms" (1985) </Td> </Tr> <P> "Money for Nothing" is a single by British rock band Dire Straits, taken from their 1985 studio album Brothers in Arms . The song's lyrics, considered controversial at the time of the song's release, are written from the point of view of a working - class man watching music videos and commenting on what he sees . The song features a guest appearance by Sting singing background vocals, providing both the signature falsetto introduction and backing chorus of, "I want my MTV ." The groundbreaking video was the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network launched on 1 August 1987 . </P> <P> It was Dire Straits' most commercially successful single, peaking at number 1 for three weeks in the United States, number 1 for three weeks on the US Top Rock Tracks chart and number 4 in the band's native UK . "Money for Nothing" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1986 at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards and the video won Video of the Year at the 3rd MTV Video Music Awards . </P>

Was money for nothing the first video on mtv