Over the last two years, Paul Riismandel, Jennifer Waits, Helen Yamamoto, and I have posted various mentions and lists of popular songs about radio (Paul, Jennifer, Jennifer, Helen, and me). Many of you wrote in with your own personal favorites. After noting one of Spotify’s best features—letting subscribers publish playlists on the web via embedded HTML—I thought I would do just that with these selections. To wit:
If you have a Spotify account, you can log in and listen to these selections right here. They are, in no particular order:
- “Radio, Radio” – Elvis Costello
- “On the Radio” – Donna Summer
- “Roadrunner” – Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers
- “Roadrunner” – cover by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
- “This is Radio Clash” – The Clash
- “I Love My Radio” – Taffy
- “The Last DJ” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- “Left Of the Dial” – The Replacements
- “Listening to Levon” – Marc Cohn
- “The Spirit of Radio” – Rush
- “Mexican Radio” – Wall of Voodoo
- “Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio?” – Ramones
- “Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life” – Indeep
- “Heard It on the X” – ZZ Top
- “Guerilla Radio” – Rage Against the Machine
- “FM” – Steely Dan
- “Pirate Radio” – Mojo Nixon
- “Radio” – Alkaline Trio
- “Video Killed the Radio Star” – The Buggles
- “Liberation Frequency” – The Refused
- “American Hi-Fi” – Hi-Fi Killer
- “Cold War Transmissions” – Anberlin
- “Static on the Radio” – Chronic Future
- “Aqueous Transmission” – Incubus
- “Boombox Generation” – Motion City Soundtrack
- “God is on The Radio” – Queens of the Stone Age
- “Tum Up The Stereo” – Useless ID
- “Modern Industry” – Fishbone
- “Radio” – Beyoncé
- “That’s Why God Made the Radio” – The Beach Boys
- “Who Stole My Radio?” – Shemekia Copeland
A few tunes did not make this list because Spotify doesn’t appear to have them. If you have further suggestions or reactions, the comment box is below. Please add your favorites!
one that was missed – Journey’s Raised on Radio!
Joy Division – Transmission
Springsteen-Radio Nowhere
Clash-Capital Radio
Ramones-We Want the Airwaves
Kraftwerk-Radio Activity
Regina Spektor-On the Radio
And two of my favorite love songs to radio:
The Buggles-Video Killed the Radio Star
Queen-Radio Ga Ga
Steely Dan also did “King of the World” which I suppose is a bit about radio.
“Sound System” by Operation Ivy could technically count, but it’s a bit of a stretch.
Shoot, I thought I had more, but most of the ones I can think of are more about the music industry in general.
Oh: Radio Free Europe and Radio Song by REM.
Also:
Anti-Flag, “Underground Network”
Carol Denney, “Set Your Radio Free”
Cheap Sex, “Raped By The FCC”
Countdown and the Blastoffs, “Airwaves”
David Rovics, “Seize The Airwaves”
The Gods Hate Kansas, “Never Start A Sentence With, ‘My Old Rap Metal Band’”
Gun Street Radio: “Radio Caroline”
Hot Water Music: “Free Radio Gainesville”
Jiker, “Pirate Radio”
John Hiatt, “Pirate Radio”
Molotov Cocktail, “FCC”
Pauline Black with Sunday Best, “Pirate on the Airwaves”
Popman with The Disciples, “Pirate”
The Ray Gradys, “Pirate Radio”
Shabba Ranks, “Pirates’ Anthem”
The Smugglers, “Pirate Ships”
Spearhead, “Listener Supported”
Super Seed, “Pirate Radio”
The Toasters, “Pirate Radio”
Transfixr, “No Radio God”
U.K. Subs, “Rebel Radio”
Utah Phillips, “NPR Talkin’ Blues”
These and others can be found at http://www.diymedia.net/audio/featuredmp3s.htm
“Are you out there?” Dar Williams – she says it’s about Pacifica radio
Joe Jackson – On Your Radio
Latin Quarter – Radio Africa
Roxy Music – Oh Yeah
Tom Robinson – Atmospherics (Listen to the Radio)
Nina Hagen – Universelles Radio
Hall & Oates – Portable Radio
M+M – Black Stations White Stations
Woodhead Munro – Mumbo Jumbo
Teenage Fanclub – Radio
Wonder Stuff – Radio Ass Kiss
The Selecter – On My Radio
Thompson – Isolation Radio
Negativland – The Perfect Cut (Rooty Poops)
Joe Walsh – The Radio Song
Harry Chapin – W*O*L*D
Tranzmittors – Look What You’re Doing
Don Bowman – Hello DJ
Bill Anderson – Country DJ
Numerous Artists – Turn Your Radio On
L.C. Smith, Ralph Mayo & The Southern Mountain Boys – Radio Boogie
The Blasters – Border Radio
Warren Zevon – Mohammed’s Radio
Neil Young – Payola Blues
Joni Mitchell – You Turn Me On (I’m A Radio)
Modern Music-Be Bop Deluxe
great list!
also:
“I Swear” by Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside
“A.M. Radio” by Everclear