Noticed on Ebay there's "more than 10" or leftover copies of the "MTV 20" VHS boxset found at some factory basement, which I actually own three of the DVDs individually (
the bonus, which is techno/dance from the '90's, which doesn't catch my interest).
Review of the set from about a decade ago.
The selection is more uneven. Not to mention many forgettable songs/videos from 1996 to 1999 with few exception like Blink 182's "All The Small Things", which spoofs "TRL" era pop acts.
Not to mention that music videos were being phased out on the channel by the mid 1990's...
"Pure '80's: The DVD" has a better selection, despite it also has it's own flaws since such a collection would only limit to certain artists from certain labels (ie both sets doesn't have anybody from Atlantic Records from INXS to Debbie Gibson) and also some videos from artists that may be more costly to include than others for whatever reason... (ie Michael Jackson, Madonna, U2).
Granted that non from Britney, N' Sync, Spice Girls, Puff Daddy, Limp Bizkit, nor Marilyn Manson were included on the mediocre "MTV 20" set. Mostly forgettable one hit wonders and artists that I wasn't even aware of as a teenager from the second half of the '90's from Goldfinger, Deborah Cox, Monster Magnet, Semisonic (the overplayed 1997/1998 hit "Closing Time") and the horrid "Barbie Girl" from Aqua.
MTV 20: RockThough the DVD starts off with the memorable "Addicted To Love" video from Robert Palmer, it's mostly alternative (ie Soundgarden, Primus, Everclear, Counting Crows) and features no glam metal or hair bands that dominated the channel from the second part of the '80's. Red Hot Chili Peppers' cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" & The Cult's "Fire Woman", both from 1989, are the only other videos from the 1980's included. Decent songs...
Though few of my favorite '90's videos were included: the surreal "Black Hole Sun" (Soundgarden), "All The Small Things" (Blink 182), "Livin' On The Edge" (Aerosmith...and no Alicia Silverstone!
), and "Right Here, Right Now" (Jesus Jones). Not so much on the rest of the '90's videos, which features mostly forgettable songs/artists from 1995 to 1999. Goldfinger or Monster Magnet, anybody?
Out of 1 to 10: 7
MTV 20: PopWhile it has the most '80's videos on the set (9), the selection is weak and most of the videos are average or mediocre (though I like several of the songs) and the second half of the 1980's was ignored.
Only one video from 1990 included (Lisa Stanfield's version of "All Around The World") and 4 videos from 1997/1998 including the horrid "Barbie Girl" from Aqua & "Tubthumping" from Chumbawamba.
Honestly, "Addicted To Love" & "Right Here, Right Now" wouldn't been out of placeif placed on the disc.
1 to 10: 5
MTV 20: Jams, with the inclusion of a "Yo! MTV" performance (
Eric B & Rakim "Eric B. Is President") the other DVDs should've also included one performance to make the sets a bit more even. Like perhaps from their New Years bash, Spring Break, "Unplugged", VMAs, etc.
Perhaps a performance from
Billy Idol from MTV's 1983/1984 New Years show on the Rock volume, Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" from 1989 VMAs, or atleast something from "Club MTV" (
while the artists lip synced on the show, it's fun to see the dancers with various fashion from the '80's) on the Pop disc. Or better: the bonus tape/disc being just performances (Now back to the "Jams" disc...)
Besides a very small selection of old school hip hop videos from the '80's/early '90's, it's mainly lesser known '90's R&B & hip hop videos from Jodeci, R. Kelly, a Method Man & Mary J. Blige duet, and Deborah Cox.
"This Is How We Do It" from Montell Jordan was included, which I'll admit that I like the song
1 to 10: 5
Plus: some cool MTV bumpers from one that spoofs soda commercials ("Not Known For It's Good Taste"...the irony) and the superhero comic spoof.
Highly doubt that there would be a "MTV 30" set, though would've been cool if they did one for their 10th in 1991...which would've been slightly better.
