Spirit of Radio
Rush
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Begin the day with a friendly voice A companion unobtrusive Plays that song that's so elusive And the magic music makes your morning mood Off on your way, hit the open road There is magic at your fingers For the spirit ever lingers Undemanding contact in your happy solitude Invisible airwaves crackle with life Bright antennae bristle with the energy Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free All this machinery making modern music can still be open-hearted Not so boldly charted It's really just a question of your honesty Yeah, your honesty One likes to believe in the freedom of music But glittering prizes and endless compromises Shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah Invisible airwaves crackle with life Bright antennae bristle with the energy Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free For the words of the profits were written on the studio walls And concert halls And echoes with the sound of salesmen Of salesmen Of salesmen
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
17 fans
Written by: Alex Zivojinovich, Gary Lee Weinrib, Neil Elwood Peart
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Release History"The Spirit of Radio" is a song by Canadian rock band Rush from their 1980 album, "Permanent Waves". It was the first track on the album and was released as a single in 1980.
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Source of TitleThe song's title came from the slogan of a Toronto radio station, CFNY-FM, which is known as 'The Spirit of Radio'.
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Chart PerformanceThe song peaked at #51 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making it Rush's second highest charting song in the U.S. It also reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart, the band's highest position on this chart.
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Grammy Nomination"The Spirit of Radio" earned Rush a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1981.
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Musical StructureThe song is notable for its use of a reggae style bridge in the middle, quite unusual for a rock band at that time.
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LyricsThe lyrics of "The Spirit of Radio" pay homage to the rise of FM radio and the excitement surrounding rock music in the late 70s and early 80s.
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Signature SongSince its release, the song has become one of the most popular and enduring pieces in Rush's discography and is usually played as the opening song during their live performances.
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Cover Versions"The Spirit of Radio" has been covered by several bands, including the punk rock band NOFX and British rock band The Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr.
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Inclusion in Video GamesThe song is featured in video games like 'Rock Band' and 'Guitar Hero 5'.
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Induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of FameIn 2017, "The Spirit of Radio" and another Rush instrumental "Tom Sawyer" were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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Use in AdvertisingDespite the song's lyrics decrying the commercialization of music, it has been used in various advertising campaigns - something that Rush has acknowledged with humor and grace.
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Citation
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"Spirit of Radio Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/1658171/Rush/Spirit+of+Radio>.
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