Radio Radio

"Radio Radio" (sometimes written "Radio, Radio") is a single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions released in the United Kingdom in October 1978. The song had already appeared on the US version of their second album, This Year's Model, released earlier that year. The song is a protest song concerning the commercialisation 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 veiled reference to the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen".^{[citation needed]} .

1977 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 17 December 1977 broadcast (hosted by Miskel Spillman, an elderly woman who won SNL's "Anybody Can Host" contest), 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). A reference to the Sex Pistols' manager Malcolm McLaren's inability to keep his band's performance schedule was made by drummer Pete Thomas who, during the performance, wore a shirt with the words "Thanks Malc", in reference to McLaren, ironed on.

Costello wanted to play "Radio Radio" on SNL. Columbia Records, however, was interested in having an already-established song performed on SNL, to increase interest in the band before 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 referring to the fact "Less than Zero" was written as a reply to British fascist politician Oswald Mosley. However, SNL music director Howard Shore attributes the move to Costello's bucking pressure by his music company to play "Less than Zero" on the show.^[1] He then led the band in a performance of "Radio Radio." Costello did not appear on Saturday Night Live again until 1989 (one of only three people to have their ban from SNL lifted). 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.

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 intended, Hendrix said after a bit, "We're being pulled off the air", and the broadcast was stopped.

The 10th season of SNL poked fun at the Costello incident with Martin Short (who was a cast member at the time) as Costello; a part of this sketch was briefly shown in the 15th anniversary show in 1990.

On SNL's 25th anniversary show in 1999, Costello burst in on Beastie Boys — 'sabotaging' their performance of "Sabotage" — and they performed "Radio Radio" together.

Costello's own account of this performance appears in the sleeve notes for the 2002 reissue of This Year's Model.^[2]

In reference to this performance, "Weird Al" Yankovic and his band will launch into a cover of "Radio, Radio" when technical difficulties, such as a server crash, force him to stop a song midway during a live performance.^[3]

On 16 January 2012, indie rock musician St. Vincent performed a version of her song "Cheerleader" on Conan, before which she started with a cover of "Radio, Radio" stopping seconds later and stating "I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, there's no reason to play that song."^[4]

References

↑ Saturday Night Live 25 Years of Music Volume I DVD
↑ Costello, Elvis. "Liner Notes: This Year's Model (2002)".
↑ Itzkoff, Dave (9 June 2011). "Serving Pop Stars, but on a Skewer". New York Times.
↑ "Video: St. Vincent performs "Cheerleader" on Conan". Consequence of Sound. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.

External links

v t e Elvis Costello

The Imposters: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Davey Faragher The Attractions: Steve Nieve Bruce Thomas Pete Thomas

Studio albums	My Aim Is True This Year's Model Armed Forces Get Happy!! Trust Almost Blue Imperial Bedroom Punch the Clock Goodbye Cruel World King of America Blood & Chocolate Spike Mighty Like a Rose Brutal Youth Kojak Variety All This Useless Beauty When I Was Cruel North The Delivery Man Momofuku Secret, Profane & Sugarcane National Ransom

Live albums	Live at the El Mocambo Deep Dead Blue with Bill Frisell Costello & Nieve My Flame Burns Blue with Metropole Orkest Live at Hollywood High

Collaborations	The Juliet Letters with The Brodsky Quartet Painted from Memory with Burt Bacharach For the Stars with Anne Sofie von Otter The River in Reverse with Allen Toussaint Wise Up Ghost with The Roots

Singles	"Less Than Zero" "Alison" "Red Shoes" "Watching the Detectives" "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" "Pump It Up" "Radio Radio" "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" "Oliver's Army" "Accidents Will Happen" "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" "High Fidelity" "New Amsterdam" "Clubland" "From a Whisper to a Scream" "Sweet Dreams" "You Little Fool" "Man Out of Time" "Pills and Soap" (as The Imposter) "Everyday I Write the Book" "Let Them All Talk" "Peace in Our Time" (as The Imposter) "I Wanna Be Loved" / "Turning the Town Red" "The Only Flame in Town" "The People's Limousine" (as The Coward Brothers) "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" "Seven-Day Weekend" with Jimmy Cliff "Lovable" "Tokyo Storm Warning" "I Want You" "Blue Chair" "A Town Called Big Nothing" (as The MacManus Gang) "Veronica" "Baby Plays Around" "...This Town..." "The Other Side of Summer" "So Like Candy" "Jacksons, Monk & Rowe" with The Brodsky Quartet "Sulky Girl" "13 Steps Lead Down" "You Tripped at Every Step" "London's Brilliant Parade" "It's Time" "Little Atoms" "The Other End of the Telescope" "Distorted Angel" "All This Useless Beauty" "You Bowed Down" "Toledo" with Burt Bacharach "She" "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)" "45" "Still" "Monkey to Man" "She's Pulling Out the Pin" "Brilliant Mistake" "Who Are These People?" with Burt Bacharach "Bedlam" "Complicated Shadows" "My All Time Doll"

Classical works	Il Sogno performed by the London Symphony Orchestra

Scores	G.B.H. with Richard Harvey Jake's Progress with Richard Harvey

Collaborations	Terror + Magnificence by John Harle The Sweetest Punch by Bill Frisell Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland

Compilations	Taking Liberties Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers The Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions Out of Our Idiot Girls Girls Girls 2½ Years The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86 Extreme Honey The Very Best of Elvis Costello Cruel Smile The Best of Elvis Costello: The First Ten Years

Related articles	Discography "Lipstick Vogue" "Shipbuilding" Ghost Brothers of Darkland County

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