Songs with Radio in the Title

The popular radio program called "Little Steven's Underground Garage" recently did a show dedicated to Marconi's revolutionary invention. The show was well-researched, and I actually learned a lot about the developmental history of radio.

As usual, an eclectic mix of rock songs were played, but I had a better idea for the show. I thought that the program should have focused on songs about radio. I began to make a mental list of songs about radio, and I have now completed a written list as well.

10. "Mohammad's Radio" by Warren Zevon: This song comes from Zevon's debut album, a year before he hit the charts with

Excitable Boy. My favorite line from the jazz-tinged song is "The sheriff has his problems too, And he will surely take them out on you."

9. "Radio Clash" by The Clash: The British new wave/punk band manages to effectively use its own name in this song title. The choppy rhythm resembles an irregular heartbeat, suffocating with the ugly imagery in lyrics accusing the authorities of using "ghettology as an urban Vietnam, Giving deadly exhibitions of murder by napalm."

8. "Radio Nowhere" by Bruce Springsteen: The song opens the Boss' recent album

Magic with a kind of energy that exudes the rest of the tracks. His message is the same one Queen delivered in "Radio Gaga" twenty years ago: There is no worthwhile music on the radio.

7. "Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voodoo: The song has quite unusual lyrics and an even stranger rhythm. What has always made it appealing to me is the video from back in the early days of MTV. The image of the guy's face appearing from under a pot of beans has kept me from consuming legumes from then on.

6. "Face for the Radio" by The View: This indie band addresses the song to, one would assume, an ex-girlfriend. In spite of the lovely melody, the song's title pretty much indicates that it is not a nice love song.

5. "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion: This track from the early 70s is best remembered for its fast-paced vocal deliverance. The singer rolls off a huge list of celebrities and pop culture icons from the times, sounding like a sweet-voiced auctioneer.

4. "Turn on Your Radio" by Nillsson: The song fits right in on Nillsson's masterpiece, Son of Schmillsson. The guitar riff introduces a beautiful acoustic rhythm that invites the listener to tune in to hear Harry Nillsson, who is actually on the radio. Unfortunately the radio, as it often does, pretty much ignored this song.

3. "On Your Radio" by Joe Jackson: The singer here gets his revenge on past enemies (ex-friends, ex-lovers, enemies, and ex-bosses) by getting his songs played on the radio. The track from

I'm Your Man actually did get some air play.

2. "Radio Radio" by Elvis Costello: The closing song to Costello's second album This Year's Model reinforces the fact that "radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools trying to anesthetize the way that you feel." The song caused controversy on Saturday Night Live when Costello and his Attractions were instructed not to perform it. They actually had begun to play a different song when Costello told them to stop, and they performed this jab at the radio stations and record companies.

1. "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles: It's the first video to be aired on MTV, and the title is often considered to be true. Most of the stars for the next decade or so (acts such as Duran Duran, Men at Work) reached the top because of their videos.