This episode is about music videos that were produced in the years immediately prior to the debut of MTV in 1981, and serves as sort of a prequel to the second episode of "Music Raygun" from four years ago, which was about music videos from MTV's first few years.

Music Raygun

82: Music Videos 1979-81

This week, Kirk and Paul take a look at the work of legendary music video director Hype Williams, the creative genius behind some of the music iconic hip-hop and R&B videos of the 1990s and beyond.

Video playlist: https://bit.ly/3p2m7bg

97: Hype Williams

This week, Kirk and Paul finally discuss country music. Does that mean they won't talk about the 1980s this time? Nope!

99: Country and Western

In this episode, Kirk and Paul talk about Snoop Dogg. We apologize for waiting so long to make this episode. There's so much great Snoop Dogg content in the world that "Music Raygun" should be releasing "Snoop Dogg VII" by now.

134: Snoop Dogg

Put on your eyeliner and your black nail polish and stuff, because in this episode, Kirk and Paul are talking about goth rock.

135: Goth

In this episode, Kirk and Paul reach back into the ol' grab bag for 10 great video clips with no unifying theme.

140: Grab Bag XIV

In this episode, Kirk watch a few really good music videos for truly atrocious songs. But wait: Isn't this an audio-only podcast? Yep!

141: Bad Songs With Great Videos

In this episode, Kirk and Paul talk Prince, Milli Vanilli, and more.

Miniepisode: Best New Artist Is Always Jive

In this episode, Kirk and Paul time-travel 46 years into the past to explore some of the great music of the year 1977, one of the greatest years in music yet one that offers a few underappreciated gems

142: Music of 1977

In this episode, Kirk feels melancholy, "Where Dey From?" returns, and Paul tries to win candy.

Miniepisode: Miles of Smiles

In this season finale episode, Kirk and Paul revisit the episode topics from throughout season 11 for one more bite at the apple.

143: B-Sides XI

In this episode, Kirk and Paul review their Spotify Wrapped lists to discuss their top five most played artists and songs of 2023.

Miniepisode: Did You Get Wrapped?

In this episode, Kirk and Paul look at the late '80s, early '90s Afrocentric and jazz-influenced hip-hop collective known as the Native Tongues, including music from De La Soul, Jungle Brothers and A Tribe Called Quest.

144: Native Tongues

In this episode, Kirk and Paul talk about ODB recording his feature on the "Fantasy" remix, then Paul plays the laser round and Kirk seeks to keep his streak going in the music trivia quiz.

Miniepisode: Taylor Swift Guava São Paulo

In this episode, Kirk and Paul listen to 50 years of hit songs featuring the inescapable — no that you'd want to escape it — Bo Diddley beat.

145: The Bo Diddley Beat

In this episode, the "Purple Rain" musical, Trading Card Corner and the music trivia quiz.

Miniepisode: 9 Years of Hard Knocks

In this episode, Kirk and Paul watch the MTV News Year in Rock '94 special and reminisce about things that happened in the world, on MTV and in their own lives 30 years ago.

146: MTV News Year in Rock '94

In this episode, Kirk and Paul discuss the music videos from MTV's first hours of broadcasting in 1981 and the truly interesting thing about hair metal also-rans Steelheart. Then it's time for the music trivia quiz.

Miniepisode: A Sweet Little Rock-and-Roll Machine

In this episode, Kirk and Paul talk musical acts that consist of two people.

147: Duos

In this episode: a documentary recommendation, a laser round and a music trivia quiz. It's fun!

Miniepisode: It's Art

In this episode, Kirk and Paul watch music videos the include various forms of animation, including traditional animation, computer animation, laser animation and more.

148: Animation

In this episode, Kirk and Paul talk some more about "The Greatest Night in Pop" as well as the "Thriller 40" documentary.

Miniepisode: Michael Jackson's Thirst for Vengeance

In this episode, Kirk and Paul celebrate the seventh anniversary of "Music Raygun" with another Prince-adjacent topic, or dual topic in this case: Prince's Paisley Park label and the early-'80s Los Angeles-based Paisley Underground indie-rock scene. And yes, the two topics are related.

149: Paisley Park and the Paisley Underground

In this episode, Paul solves a decade-old musical mystery, and there's a music trivia quiz.

Miniepisode: I Would Love a Complete Change

In this episode, Kirk and Paul celebrate 150 episodes of "Music Raygun" with the show's 15th grab bag.

150: Grab Bag XV

In this episode, the Waterboiz are back to say new seltzer ideas, Kirk and Paul play dual laser rounds, the music trivia quiz resets, and a soft rock legends dies during the recording.

Miniepisode: Return of the Waterboiz

In this episode, Kirk and Paul review the music video oeuvre of filmmaker Michael Bay. Spoiler alert: His music videos suck as much as his movies. April Fools? Afraid not. Fuck you, Michael Bay, you piece of shit.

151: Michael Bay

In this episode, "Music Raygun" goes international.

Miniepisode: Sitting on Concrete at My Age

Break out your pentagrams and turn your crucifixes upside-down, because in this episode of "Music Raygun," Kirk and Paul are worshiping the prince of demons, Beelzebub, aka Satan!

152: Hail Satan!

In this episode, Dave Holmes' new podcast "Who Killed the Video Star?" has Kirk and Paul taking off on MTV nostalgia. There's also a music trivia quiz.

Miniepisode: Money Going Up

In this episode, Kirk and Paul talk about the work of music video director Mark Romanek.

153: Mark Romanek

Each episode of Music Raygun explores a different musical artist, topic or concept. Hosts Paul Ciampanelli and Kirk Pynchon watch and discuss related music videos, TV clips, commercials, interviews and other pop-culture ephemera on YouTube.

Music Raygun

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