Out of a small studio in New Jersey, MTV launched its first music video in 1981: the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."

       Out of a studio in Times Square, 'NSync and the Backstreet Boys jockey for the top position on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL). show title

        From the Buggles to the Backstreet Boys, there have been some memorable videos have aired on MTV: Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Guns N' Roses "November Rain," are three among many.

        To help celebrate MTV's 20th birthday we asked what you thought were the best - and the worst - music videos. Here's what you said:

World premiere

       I still vividly remember sitting on the brown and green plaid couches in our basement with my older brother Jim, sipping Cokes and waiting with excited anticipation for the world premiere of David Bowie's "Let's Dance."

        MTV had been promoting the new release for weeks, and being kids of the '80s, we were enthralled by this new invention of music videos. David Bowie and MTV did not let us down.

        The rhythmic beat of the bass repeating with the refrain "Let's dance. Put on your red shoes and dance the blues" pulsed through our teen-age veins.

        The contrast of the third-world country depicted in the video images with the scarlet pair of pumps the heroine wore was confusing, symbolic and thought-provoking. And, the rock icon David Bowie again wowed audiences with his latest and greatest persona.

        This time his shocking bleached-blond hair and pale suit depicted a strikingly handsome gentleman far from the glitter rock lord of Ziggy Stardust, but equally, if not more, captivating.

- Laura L. Smith, 32, Oxford

Brotherly love

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"If Only" Artist: Hanson

       My vote for best music video in MTV history would have to go to Hanson's "If Only." I feel that video portrays exactly what a summer rock 'n' roll video should look like. Not to mention the song is a fan favorite. That video went to No. 1 27 times on MTV's TRL title of show. I've been a fan of Hanson since 1997, and every video of theirs is great, but "If Only" is my fave.

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"I Drive Myself Crazy," 'NSync

        My vote for worst video would have to go to 'NSync's "I Drive Myself Crazy." I mean nobody is going to take a band seriously if they are standing in silk pajamas in a mental institute singing about teeny-bopper breakups. Why can't 'NSync just learn to play some instruments and not be so cheesy? Justin (Timberlake) needs to tell his girlfriend Britney (Spears) to put some clothes on, as well.

- Sarah Dwyer, 14, Fairfield

Use your imagination

       With the minimalist usage of burning candles set atop 100 6-foot candle holders, flickering languidly before a darkened backdrop, the Police's "Wrapped Around Your Finger" music video allows the viewer to fill in the blanks with their imagination.

        Lyrics like "I can see the destiny you sold turned into a shining band of gold," evoke a zen-like coda that, like the life of one candle, is both here and gone.

- Kurt Hultquist, 45, Elmwood Place

So good, so bad

       Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" with Chevy Chase is everything a music video should be: simple, direct, doesn't interpret the lyrics or tell some story.

        The Rolling Stones "Start Me Up" was so bad it was great. When Bill Wyman mischievously looks over at Charlie Watts and snickers then shakes his head, it's a classic video moment. Also enjoyable was how (Mick) Jagger could not sing in sync with the backing track. This is a video gem for all the wrong reasons. But like a train wreck, it is always interesting - and fun - to watch.

- Bob Theissen, 47, Covington

Lionel vs. Eminem

       My favorite video of all is Lionel Richie's "All Night Long." Everyone seems happy and joyful, and little kids are dancing in the street.

        The set of the video is brightly lit and seems to be taking place in a far-off exotic world - a Shangri-la.

        Whenever I see this video, it lifts my spirit. Although, I never see it being played much anymore.

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"The Real Slim Shady," Eminem

        My least favorite video is Eminem's "Real Slim Shady." A whole bunch of blond Eminem look-alikes gives a zombie-like effect to the video. I think the worst thing that I've ever seen in any video is when the fast-food worker spits in the customer's food before serving the order.

- Charles Michel, 48, Price Hill

Piece of Cake

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"Short Skirt/Long Jacket," Cake

       I really like Cake's new video ("Short Skirt/Long Jacket") where people are listening to the song and saying what they think about it. It's just funny, and it's a good song. It does really look like they picked real people instead of just staging something. It goes along really well, too, with the reality-based thing like Blink-182 just did in (its) new video ("Rock Show").

- Jeff Warshaw, 17, Blue Ash

Strike a pose

       My favorite video wasn't really a video but a performance on the Video Music Awards. It was when Madonna performed "Vogue" in Elizabethan style. She had all these wigs, all these costumes. It was awesome. It was just so different. You could totally tell she was lip syncing, but it didn't matter because the performance and costumes and what she was doing onstage just grabbed your attention.

        My least favorite video right now would have to be any video with half-naked women. It's like come on, can't we come up with something different? I've already watched this with Motley Crue and Cinderella, and now all the rappers are doing it. There's half-naked chicks on cars and motorcycles. Really, can't we be a little more creative?

- Chloe Franklin, 21, Golf Manor

Good old days

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"The Rock Show" Artist: Slick Rick

       I really liked "Children's Story" by Slick Rick. It reminds me of my high school days back in 1990, around the time when I was playing high school football. It brings all those memories back. I had a mullet, long hair. The girls hated me. They still do. Maybe it hasn't all changed.

- Kris Klepper, 27, Oakley

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