I don't know if I'm "Old School," or merely geriatric, but I sure miss the MTV (Music Television) of my youth.  Yep, back in the good old days,  they actually played  music videos.  And as good as old MTV was, Video Concert Hall was even better!  Video Concert Hall introduced me to artists like Kate Bush and Split Enz.  I remember being transfixed by Kate singing "Wuthering Heights."  I had never seen anyone like her before.  Split Enz was fresh and original.  There was an amazing variety to their music.

 

MTV and Video Concert Hall gave me an opportunity to explore different music.  A lot of good music wasn't getting radio airplay in the late 70's/early 80's.  And of course, back then we had no internet, or ipods.

 

Uncle Rico, from Napoleon Dynamite,  wanted to time travel back to 1982.  It *is* tempting, but I have another idea.  If I could gather a collection of vintage videos, then I could make my own MTV/Video Concert Hall.  Here's part of what I've been able to find!

 

DVDs collections by Abba. David Bowie, Def Leppard,  Michael Jackson, Queen, Rush, Styx, and The Who.  Oh, and I also have two DVDs that feature some of the videos from the 80's, like "The Safety Dance" and "Take On Me."

 

Now, to anyone who likes the music from the "Video Era" ---what am I leaving out?  Does any other artist have video collections that I should know about?  I live in the United States, so I don't think my DVD player will play DVDs from other regions. 

 

I'm an avid reader, and my book for today is about the Aztec and Mayan civilizations.   They accomplished so much in so many different fields.  Their architecture, sculptures, pottery, illustrations, murals, farming methods, astronomy,  and calendar systems are certainly impressive.  It all thrills my heart. 

 

And yet....  their religion depresses me.  Now, the Mesoamericans were pious people, and I can't fault them for that, but the way they expressed their piety...!  Human sacrifice?   I realize that other cultures worshipped in the same way, but I don't think they did on the same scale as the Mayas and especially the Aztecs.  

 

You may wonder why I care about this so much.  Isn't this ancient history?  And yet...  according to  Aunt Margaret, I myself am part Aztec.  Their history is my history.  And so I continue to read, looking for answers...