Private Investigations and Brothers In Arms got me thinking. With Sting’s inclusion his background vocals state ‘I want my MTV’ referring to the industry. Money For Nothing is a true 80’s hymn, Sting backvocals included (I do recommend watching the videoclip if you want an extra 80’s nostalgia shot) Let Downs: Portobello Belle and Tunnel Of Love, when compared to the rest of the album, are a bit below the rest and forgettable songs. The most successful Dire Straits single, Money for Nothing is inspired by Mark Knopfler listening to a man complaining about the musicians that emerged in. The lyrics of the song are important because it is from the view of working-class men watching MTV and making comments. “Trudy said to me ‘you know, that’s going to be such a huge hit.’ I said ‘umm… I don’t know, that’s okay.’ Of course, it was the biggest hit of that year and so I was very proud to be on that but, it is a pure function of being in the right place at the right time.“ It was number one on US Billboard Hot 100 and Top Rock Tracks for three weeks and won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal after the 1985. He stated that he thought the song was ‘okay’ but he stated that later, he was very proud of being included and regarded the situation as ‘being in the right place at the right time.’ ‘Money For Nothing’ was released in Dire Straits’ 1985 album ‘Brothers in Arms.’ The song featured Sting adding background vocals to the track and became a huge hit during that year. The songs lyrics are written from the point of view of two working-class men watching music videos and commenting on what they see. It was released as the albums second single on 24 June 1985 through Vertigo Records.
Sting didn’t think that the song would be a hit. 'Money for Nothing' is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, the second track on their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms (1985). Sting came up to the studio, we already had the track in place.
By the time the album was released, CD players had already been made more affordable. Dire Straits was an early adopter of the new technology, and Mark Knopfler insisted on recording their fifth studio album using what was then state-of-the-art digital technology. “I’d seen on MTV The Police doing an ad for it, and I thought ‘well if I stick that to ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’ those notes, that would fit.’ We were recording ‘Money For Nothing,’ and I said to somebody ‘I wish Sting was here’ and somebody said ‘Well he is here, he is on holiday’ and I said that’s great I told him ‘great, get him up here’ Cause I can hear him singing on this thing. The Dire Straits 'Brothers in Arms' album was released on May 13, 1985.