The Presidents of the United States of America – Video Killed the Radio Star

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  General Comment:i always thought this was a stupid song and i still do. maybe if they had used the f word it would be tolerable

  Flag spinachsaladon October 13, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:They don't use the F-word in this song...

  Flag chowdergrrl101on December 20, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:This is a reeaaaally good cover.
  First heard it off the "wedding singer" soundtrack.
  
  The lyrics certainly,have slight mistakes. and the versions the people write in , get better, but the last one written still has some slight errors, like eg.
  "I heard you on MY wireless back in 52", "intent ON tuning in on you"
  "Rewritten by machine ON new technology".
  Other than these, they're great :)
  
  this song rocks totally

  Flag deludedon August 19, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:i agree with jimmer-the-great.. i've never really thought about what this song had meant until tonight.. I don't really have an idea myself.. but I figured it would be deeper than just talking about media. thats why i came to this site....
  
  but i agree.. i like the pres. of the USA alot better than the bangles.

  Flag mykonstantineon October 23, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:Actually the version of the song I have the lyrics are slightly different:
  
  I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two
  Lying awake intent at tuning in on you.
  If I was young it didn't stop you coming through.
  Oh-a oh
  They took the credit for your second symphony.
  Rewritten by machine and new technology,
  and now I understand the supernova scene.
  Oh-a oh
  I met your children
  Oh-a oh
  What did you tell them?
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  In my mind and in my car
  We can't rewind we've gone to far
  Whoa Oh-a-a-a oh
  And now we meet in an abandoned studio.
  To hear the playback and it seems so long ago.
  AS you remember the jingles used to go.
  Oh-a oh
  You were the first one.
  Oh-a oh
  You were the last one.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  It was in my mind and in my car
  We can't rewind we've gone to far
  Oh-a-aho oh,
  Oh-a-aho oh
  Alright
  
  guitar solo
  
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  It was in my mind and in my car
  We can't rewind we've gone to far.
  Pictures came and broke your heart, so put all the blame on VCR.
  You are radio star.
  You are radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed that radio star yes it did.
  
  
  And i defenitly think it's about one media form giving way to another (this song has been remade into a flash video called "Internet killed the video star). And I always thought that "If I was young it didn't stop you coming through" refered to the availability of the radio and how it was hard for a kid to get a tv. And the going to far works with both going to far in the car (cough back seat cough) and time in general can't rewind oh and "in my mind" might mean you can't rewind back to innocence of youth though i'm tired and probally reading to much into it.

  Flag jimmer-the-greaton September 01, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:i think this is an example of a song with great meaning- it wasnt just a people pleaser song, they wrote it for a reason. all you in disdain of hip hop/rnb will know what i amtalking about. i think, even though it has all ready been mentioned, that this song is about the replacement of radio personalities with television personalities. it was new, entertaining and you could actually see the people. i personally would prefer a radio show, but i am not the majority. i think an interesting line is 'if i was young it didn't stop you coming through' i think this would be in relation to television ratings- although, did they have ratings back then? just a thought. i don'tget the we can't rewind we've gone too far- does that mean in the car, you would listen to radio but it's not as favoured, therefore they can never go back to the way they were? with radio, i mean.

  Flag anotherwannabpunkon May 12, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:Just FYI here are the original lyrics:
  
  I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two
  Lying awake intent at tuning in on you.
  If I was young it didn't stop you coming through.
  Oh-a oh
  They took the credit for your second symphony.
  Rewritten by machine and new technology,
  and now I understand the problems you can see.
  Oh-a oh
  I met your children
  Oh-a oh
  What did you tell them?
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Pictures came and broke your heart.
  Oh-a-a-a oh
  And now we meet in an abandoned studio.
  We hear the playback and it seems so long ago.
  And you remember the jingles used to go.
  Oh-a oh
  You were the first one.
  Oh-a oh
  You were the last one.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far
  Oh-a-aho oh,
  Oh-a-aho oh
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far.
  Pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VTR.
  You are a radio star.
  You are a radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  Video killed the radio star.
  repeat
  Video killed the radio star. (You are a radio star.)

  Flag TonyHelms29624on December 30, 2004   Link

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  General Comment:i like this song! but.. doesn't anyone wonder where they got "supernova scene"? and why they replaced "problems you could see" with it? i like it.. i think it is rather spiffy...

  Flag tyler01durden0on March 06, 2003   Link

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    +1

    The supernova scene refers to a band in California that put on a space alien themed rock show. It was a local rock band called supernova and it was fairly wild and far out for the time.

    Flag ggb667on October 13, 2011  
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  General Comment:true. Its "we cant rewind we've gone too far", not "watch your language"- where the hell did that come from??

  Flag propheton July 01, 2002   Link

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  General Comment:actually, a lot of these lyrics are messed up lol

  Flag emmychloeon June 19, 2002   Link

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