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When MTV first arrived on the airwaves on August 1, 1981, the network certainly didn't invent the music video, but it definitely went on popularize and legitimize the video as an additional method of artistic expression for musicians and - perhaps more importantly - an incredibly successful way to sell a song to the masses. That process, however, wasn't an instantaneous one, which meant that when it came time to program the day's video playlist, the pickings were a little slim.

MTV: When It Began

What artist made 16 appearances - with 11 different videos aired, five of them played twice - during the course of MTV's first 24 hours?

Whether he was a rock 'n' roll Nostradamus or just had a team behind him who was prescient of pop music trends, when MTV went on the air, Rod Stewart was cocked and ready with videos for "She Won't Dance With Me” (played twice, the first time as MTV's third-ever video), "Sailing" (played twice), "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (played twice), "Passion" (played twice), "Ain't Love a Bitch,” "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright),” “Oh, God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight” (played twice), "I Was Only Joking," "You're in My Heart,” "Blondes Have More Fun,” and “You're Insane." And it's good that he was, because they played every last one of 'em.

Rod Stewart

Limited Options

Who was the oldest solo artist to have a video in rotation during MTV's first day?

The man often described as "the Peter Pan of Pop" - well, until he was knighted, anyway: now they call call him Sir Cliff - actually turned up three times during the course of Day 1, offering videos for "We Don't Talk Anymore," "Dreamin'," and "A Little in Love." Not bad for the only solo artist that day who was - gasp! - 40.

Cliff Richard

Old and All Alone

What future TV theme was part of the playlist for MTV's first day?

You might be surprised to learn that Andrew Gold actually had FOUR videos on MTV during that first 24 hours - the others were "Go Back Home Again," "Never Let Her Slip Away," and "Lonely Boy" - but "Thank You for Being a Friend" was the first of the four out of the gate, and - as fans of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia can testify - it's the one that's had the longest shelf life for TV fans.

Andrew Gold's "Thank You for Being a Friend"

TV Tune

Everyone knows that The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" kicked off MTV, and you probably also know that it was their only Top 40 hit in the US, but which of these other noted one-hit wonders was also played on Day One?

Indeed, not only did The Vapors' "Turning Japanese" get a play, so did the video for one of their other singles, "Waiting for the Weekend."

The Vapors

One and Done

The following songs were all performed during Live Aid, but of the four, which video did not air during MTV's first 24 hours?

The illustrious Mr. Bowie did have two videos that aired during those first 24 hours, but they were for "Boys Keep Swinging" and "Fashion," not "Heroes."

David Bowie, "Heroes"

The Day the Global Jukebox Came Alive

These four artists have spent time both as performers and producers. Three of them were represented in both capacities during MTV's first 24 hours. Which one wasn't?

Rundgren's "Time Heals" was played, as was The Tubes' "Prime Time." Nick Lowe's "Cruel to be Kind" was played, as were a couple of tracks that he produced for Elvis Costello, who in turn produced The Specials' "A Message to You, Rudy." Oddly enough, while there were no Rupert Hine productions played on Day One, Hine himself was represented, courtesy of his single "Surface Tension."

Rupert Hine

Big Production

What was the first duet ever played on MTV?

All told, the famed collaboration between Nicks and Petty aired four times during that first day of MTV.

It Takes Two, Baby

Which future winner of the MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year had a video played on the network's first day of programming?

Of the above artists, Robert Palmer was also played on Day One ("Looking for Clues" and "Johnny & Mary"), but while he did win a Video Music Award in 1986 for "Addicted to Love," that was for Best Male Video. It was the Cars, however, who took home the Video of the Year Award in '84 for "You Might Think." (For the record, their first-day videos were "Double Life," "Dangerous Type," and "Let's Go.")

The Cars

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

What was the first song played during MTV's first 24 hours to have already been a top-40 hit for another artist?

The Rascals' follow-up to "Good Lovin'" went to #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 after its release in May 1966. (Sadly, Benatar's version stalled at #42.)

Pat Benatar, "You Better Run" (for The Rascals)

Why Does That Sound Familiar?

What was the last video played on MTV before the clock ticked over to Day Two?

And before you ask, no, we don't know what the first video played on MTV's \*second\* day of programming was. (For some reason, that's not nearly as well documented.)

Andrew Gold, "Lonely Boy"

To Wrap Things Up...

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MTV: When It Began

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