Radio Radio (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Radio Radio" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions | ||
| B-side(s) | "Tiny Steps" | |
| Released | October 20, 1978 | |
| Format | 7" Single | |
| Recorded | 1978 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 3:04 | |
| Label | Radar Records | |
| Writer(s) | Elvis Costello | |
| Producer(s) | Nick Lowe | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Elvis Costello and The Attractions singles chronology | ||
| "Pump It Up" (1978) |
"Radio Radio" (1978) |
"This Year's Girl" (1978) |
"Radio Radio" was an A-side 7" 45 rpm single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions in the UK in October 1978. The song had already appeared on the American version of their second album, This Year's Model, released earlier that year. The song is a protest song concerning the commercialization of radio broadcasts and the power wielded by the recording studios and radio companies who decided what songs were heard over the airwaves, especially the more politically explicit side of punk rock. The lyrics claim, "You better shut up or get cut out/They don't wanna hear about it/It's only inches on the reel-to-reel" and "They don't give you any choice 'cause they think that it's treason," a clear reference to the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen").
[edit] The Saturday Night Live Appearance
The song made waves in the United States after Costello's appearance on Saturday Night Live. Originally, the Sex Pistols had been invited to perform on the December 17, 1977 broadcast, but problems with the Pistols' various criminal records made getting visas in time difficult, and so the invitation was extended to Costello and The Attractions, who were touring Canada and the US at the time. Costello's album was only available on import (My Aim Is True, released in the UK in July).
Costello wanted to play "Radio Radio" on SNL. Columbia Records, Costello's US label, on the other hand, was interested in having an already-established song performed on SNL to stoke the fires of interest in the band prior to the American release of My Aim Is True and This Year's Model. In the event, Costello began the SNL performance by playing "Less than Zero." However, after a few bars, he turned to the Attractions, waving his hand and yelling "Stop! Stop!," then said to the audience, "I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, there's no reason to do this song here." Possibly a reference to the obscure story behind "Less than Zero", which was written as a reply to Brittish neo-fascist Oswald Mosley. He then led the band in a performance of "Radio Radio." Costello was banned from Saturday Night Live for twelve years. This version of Radio Radio (fading into the "false start") can be found (in monaural) on Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Musical Performances, Vol. 1 (track time - 3:08).
Costello said later that the inspiration for the last-minute song change came from a similar episode years earlier, concerning Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was on the BBC television show hosted by pop-star Lulu, and was supposed to play his hit, "Hey Joe." Hendrix started the song, stopped, said, "We’d like to stop playing this rubbish and dedicate a song to the Cream regardless of what kind of group they might be. I’d like to dedicate this to Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce." and then launched into a feedback-laden version of "Sunshine of Your Love" by the group Cream, which had just announced its break-up. The song ran far longer (and louder) than the show's producers had in mind, Hendrix said after a bit, "We’re being pulled off the air,” and the BBC pulled the plug (literally) on Hendrix's performance.
In a bizarre and comic twist, on SNL's 25th anniversary show in 2000, Costello burst in on Beastie Boys—sabotaging their performance of "Sabotage"— and they performed Radio Radio together.
