Elvis Costello - Radio Radio

First performance: 25/09/2009

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song only once:
 
 
2009-09-25 Apollo Theater, New York City, NY 
 
Taping for Elvis Costello’s "Spectacle" Bruce plays a Radio medley with full band: Bruce, Roy and Nils plus Elvis Costello & the Imposters. Plenty of discussion between Costello and Springsteen. The song was part of a medley that included Radio Silence (snippet, sung by Elvis Costello), followed by Radio nowhere, partial, sung by Bruce, followed by Radio Radio (snippet, sung by Elvis Costello). Bruce was backed by Roy Bittan and Nils Lofgren on "Wild Billy's Circus Story". "American Skin (41 Shots)" is Bruce solo. "Galveston Bay" is Bruce and Roy. Elvis Costello sings "Black Ladder" and "Brilliant Disguise" with Bruce and Nils backing. "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down", "Seeds", and the Radio medley are full band: Bruce, Roy and Nils plus Elvis Costello & the Imposters. Costello also performed Springsteen's "Point Blank" with the Imposters. "Spectacle" : "Elvis Costello with..." is a UK/Canadian television series that was shown on Channel 4 in the UK, CTV in Canada. The show features intimate interviews between the host, Elvis Costello, and various musical guests intertwined with performances by Costello and the guests, separately and together.Elvis Costello ’s spectacle.
 
 
 
 

Songinfo

"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 commercialization of radio broadcasts and the restrictions that prevented many punk songs from being played. It includes a reference to the BBC's ban of the Sex Pistols' 1977 single "God Save the Queen".
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

2021-05-26 SiriusXM Studio, New York City
Bruce played the song during the 22nd Episode 'From My Home to Yours', themed "Radio Radio".
Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen:
Their history together : www.njarts.net
 
2009-09-25 Apollo Theater, New York City 
Officially released on DVD and Blu-ray as Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… (Season 2). 
Appearing on the "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With …" television show in 2009, Springsteen said:
" Elvis’ first three records were a hurricane. He’s made great ones, since, all of ’em. But you had the perfect storm, the first three records … It was just like, ‘Whoah.’ "
 
 
Bruce performed 8 times live with Elvis Costello
 
Brucebase: click here

2012-10-16 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City
2009-11-07 Madison Square Garden, New York City
2009-09-25 Apollo Theater, New York City
2006-02-08 Staples Center, Los Angeles
2003-02-23 Madison Square Garden, New York City
2001-12-08 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
1987-09-30 Cocoanut Grove, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles
1984-04-29 Warfield Theatre, San Francisco
 
 
Costello first released his version of Springsteen’s "Brilliant Disguise" as the B-side of his "It’s Time" single in 1996. It was also on the 2003 compilation, Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen.
 
 
   

Lyrics

I was tuning in the shine on the light night dial doing anything my radio advised
With every one of those late night stations playing songs bringing tears to my eyes
I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver when the switch broke 'cause it's old
They're saying things that I can hardly believe, they really think we're getting out of control

Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice
'cause they think that it's treason
So you had better do as you are told
You better listen to the radio

I wanna bite the hand that feeds me
I wanna bite that hand so badly
I wanna make them wish they'd never seen me

Some of my friends sit around every evening and they worry about the times ahead
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference and the promise of an early bed
You either shut up or get cut out, they don't wanna hear about it, it's only inches on the reel-to-reel
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools tryin' to anaesthetise the way that you feel

Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice
'cause they think that it's treason
So you had better do as you are told
You better listen to the radio

Wonderful radio
Marvelous radio
Wonderful radio
Radio, radio