| This is the classic opening sequence of the groundbreaking program "Video Music Box", which began in 1983 on WNYC-TV (the old channel 31, now called WPXN-TV) in New York City. "VMB" ran on channel 31 until 1996, when when the program moved to WNYE-TV (channel 25) after WNYC-TV was sold by the City of New York. This opening was recorded off-air from WNYC-TV in 1989. This clip starts off with a promo for the British comedy "Shelley", one of many such programs aired on channel 31 at the time. After the station identification, Ralph McDaniels welcomes us to "New York's number one video show". The classic opening montage, which is soundtracked by the instrumental version of Whodini's "Five Minutes of Funk", features the following clips: -- Breakdancers -- "You Talk Too Much", Run DMC -- "Stick 'Em", The Fat Boys -- LL Cool J -- "Sun City" with Bruce Springsteen and former Temptations David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks -- "Kiss", Prince and the Revolution -- "Once in a Lifetime", Talking Heads -- "And She Was", Talking Heads -- "Dress You Up", Madonna -- "Take on Me", A-ha -- Jimi Hendrix -- James Brown performing on "American Bandstand" -- Bob Marley -- "Who Do You Love", Bernard Wright -- breakdancing clip from "Beat Street" Yes, most of us remember "Video Music Box" as a Hip-Hop and R&B show, but the opening recalls its early eclectic format and the overall black music origins of Hip-Hop. Thanks to "pachwi25" for naming everyone in the montage. |
