Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Radio, Radio

The new deluxe album ‘Look Now’ out now, order here: ElvisCostello.lnk.to/LookNow
Explore more music from Elvis Costello: lnk.to/wWTFS
Music video by Elvis Costello & The Attractions performing Radio, Radio. (C) 1978 Elvis Costello under exclusive license to Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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[@samsquanch1996]

The true pioneer of alternative rock!

[@hugovandofficial8865]

I genuinely (and I actually mean this) think this is one of the greatest songs every written

[@Brownd55]

Agreed

[@marklaroche7981]

Elvis was the man

[@Kimariesings]

​@@marklaroche7981IS the man He is still with us.

[@Kimariesings]

​@@marklaroche7981IS the man He is still with us.

[@jackster1212]

One of the greatest... singers, songwriters, composers, entertainers... great sense of humor, great showman live, and the height of genuine cool...

[@watyes7546]

blud this guy is unknown stop the cap

[@billhorstkamp98]

@@watyes7546😂

[@alabamaisyourdaddy6137]

@@watyes7546 just because you are ignorant does not mean everyone is

[@watyes7546]

@@alabamaisyourdaddy6137 This song alone has like 1.2 million views, and again, no one knows about it. Keep yapping if you want but the facts stand 🥱

[@123peppermill]

😅😅​@@watyes7546

[@lonnyjaw]

THIS is how I'll always remember Elvis Costello & The Attractions - the sound and the cool high energy, new wave 'punkish' style of presence that they had back in those good days of this genre of music.

[@vernpascal1531]

Yup. I'll always miss those days 78' to about 84' one great song after one great song. The days when critics would go Bananas over Costello,Petty,Springsteen,Joe Jackson, and Graham Parker. Rightly so, all are fantastic and their average songs then, would be considered classics now.

[@stevengoulding5965]

This record is more relevant now than it was in 1978.

[@yummyyum36719]

Oh yeah...there are like 4 song writers who write every fucking song for every pop princess. It's always the same chords, and the same harmonies. Musical Hell.

[@1viridis]

Yep, he tried to warn us. Look where we are now.

[@np-bl7qc]

​@1viridis they can only warn, and hope to not be silcenced. The power's that be have made it that way. Clearly succeeding. Using the "radio" to control us for a century. They figured out identity politics and we will never recuperate from it.

[@bobconnor1210]

Not ironically just before this was recorded, I broke out of the commercial radio haze and started listening to college radio stations that played what was not top 40 or even top 100, stuff that wasn’t on the charts…yet…like Elvis Costello.

[@springinfialta106]

RIP KXLU. They used to play so much diverse stuff. Now it's just PC "World" music which is just an updated version of elevator muzak.

[@misfit2022]

40 years of Elvis Costello but can’t beat those early albums with The Attractions

[@pellelindbergh4455]

no you can't can you? what a master songwriter

[@misfit2022]

@pelle Lindbergh I completely agree

[@aarondavis8943]

If Woody Allen started a punk band.

[@msminmichigan]

True but the diversity in Costello's 40 year career is great.

[@Soundofsilver2007]

One of the 10-20 greatest songwriters of the70s & 80s..

[@joechaos13]

Long time lover of punk rock just now getting around to listening to EC. I’m blown away by how ahead of his time he was.

[@sunnavailable]

Punk Nerd Rock! When you talk about Elvis they think you are talking about Presley whoever he is!

[@sarafinasegale9537]

He was before and after his time ..... Radio free Europe, was the best pipeline for some music in the eastern block......Elvis Costello was one of the most popular to be piped......thank you.....Radio free Europe......

[@kevin-yf2gx]

I am a 64 year old American and it's been "FOREVER" since I hear the about Radio Free Europe. There are generations that have no idea how hard it was to hear Western music in The Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc Countries.

[@johnguerin1960]

This song is timeless and eternally relevant

[@szqsk8]

john guerin No more relevant than now, that's for sure.

[@gabe_s_videos]

How? Radio is less popular now than it's ever been. It broke. Cuz it's old.

[@BennieWilll]

@@gabe_s_videos Mainstream media

[@gabe_s_videos]

@@BennieWilll We certainly do live in a society.

[@itsathing3369]

@@gabe_s_videos where gamers don’t rule the world

[@markthompson7727]

In the middle of “disco” this was the heart of rock and roll!

[@ZInChat]

That keyboardist nearly destroying the synth had me floored

[@andriealinsangao613]

Nuh-uh, it's a Vox Continental organ!

[@alans9806]

That 's Steve Nieve (naive) called that by Ian Dury for asking 'What's a groupie'?

[@tsartodd]

Elvis Costello was such a smart-ass when he was a young man. i love it, of course.

[@kiefgringo]

Lyrics still hold meaning, to this very day.

[@ditesvritinela]

Oh yeah...

[@lurx2024]

The voice that inspired a generation of people to bite the hand that feeds them.

[@rubedogg6969]

One of the pioneers of New Wave music!

[@musicis.4045]

Leader!

[@tammieclark916]

you all do know , I listened to him back in 1970 something , Elvis will always rule

[@christopherferreira7104]

Elvis Costello and Robyn Hitchcock are the true pioneers.

[@jamesconnor2278]

THE Pioneer...

[@jeffkersh7790]

@@christopherferreira7104 Don't forget Joe Jackson...

[@duffymoony]

45 years after it was released, absolutely spot on

[@cattycorner8]

late 70's early 80's brilliant.

[@stantheman5657]

Steve Nieve’s keyboards always added so much to the songs. Costello is the best songwriter of his generation

[@tedleimbach3724]

I was young but I used to watch SNL and the lyrics of this song blew my mind. Lead me down the path of the Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, Dylan, Springsteen, and you. Thank you for what is now a life time of good taste in music that has enriched my life.

[@905Alive]

The SNL show got him banned from SNL for 10 years, the establishment did not want him to play this song on tv because of it's message like Rush's Spirit of the Radio, the corporate takeover eventually led to all rap crap and classic rock radio repeats, no new rock music played or promoted, nor jazz, nor fusion, nor prog rock, only what brings the highest return and is the cheapest to make.

[@jeffreybarkin3177]

Hey... He's TIMELESS, with or without THE ATTRACTIONS... ELVIS always walked to his Own Drums (plural, YES)... Too Many CLASSIC SONGS!!! Wish he'd get back on the Road and Tour... His kids likely "Need A Break"!!! Hopefully, not his Wife, our Canadian SUPERSTAR "CROONER".

[@JKTube]

@@905Alive: Harder to fit in commercials if you're playing sidelong epics.

[@juanosorio]

Before Rage Against the Machine, there was Elvis Costello. Every generation has that someone that let's us know it's ok to give the middle finger to establishment.

[@nickmitsialis]

But Does RATM have those flexible ankles?

[@Boblobblaw88]

Yeah I bet the establishment was really worried about little Elvis.

[@nickmitsialis]

@@Boblobblaw88 I hear ya! And that Rocha punk too, with his poser dreads. They're all about 'The Revolution' until somebody touches THEIR money.

[@jayk.2608]

The band looks like Weezer before Weezer in this video.

[@jimfromdiscord.8904]

RATM? Giving the middle finger to the Establishment? Nah, more like sucking the Establishment's middle finger when it benefits them. They're signed to Epic, a subsidiary of Sony, they charge folks a hundred bucks to see their middle-aged washed-up asses tell us why muh Orange man bad, as if they're unique. Oh, and not to mention the irony of so-called "Socialists" espousing said idea despite all of the members being worth at least 20 million dollars. And Tom Morello being a dick to restaurant owners because they wouldn't give him special treatment.

[@simonpalling3215]

From a great album.... this years model.

[@longlivetheunderdog3673]

Apologies for being pedantic but it wasn’t originally on the album at the time of release. It’s been added ‘bonus track’ style since.

[@yummyyum36719]

@@longlivetheunderdog3673 We Americans got it as the final cut of the album because "Night Rally" would not have made sense. It's very much like when Elvis and the Attractions staged that last minute song switch. They knew that the average American would not know who the fuck Oswald Mosley was so they switched...to Radio Radio.... and dedicated it to Stevie Nicks I have no doubt.

[@MadMan731]

This is my preferred Elvis thank you very much.

[@sensey07]

I saw Elvis at the NY Palladium on 14th St back in 1980 - they were on for 90 minutes and played non-stop. Did almost all the hits he'd had out at that time. When I left the place I thought, "that's what rock and roll is supposed to be".

[@danielmaher7108]

Wow, I'm jealous- I never got to see Elvis Costello! I DID see The Clash, The English Beat ( on the same bill!), The Police, Madness, Oingo Boingo- but somehow I missed EC! I don't him playing San Diego ( where I grew up), but I'm sure he must have at some point. This Year's Model is one of the greatest records ever made.

[@maryb6872]

Elvis Costello's videos are so bad, they're good.

[@GEAsolar]

Amen

[@georgestaunton6994]

It is around 40 years old. This was really cool back in the day.

[@ceephaxx]

@@georgestaunton6994 Exactly. Younger viewers should compare and contrast with other artists' promo videos from 1978 before passing judgement!

[@gordons-alive4940]

Pretty typical video for the time, really. The music holds up, though.

[@sardonicus76]

This was back when it cost about $40 to make a music video. By the early nineties, you could almost make a feature length film for the price of one, three minute clip for the MTV generation.

[@opinionday0079]

his first 5 or 6 albums were great.

[@Taperack123]

This song couldn't be more revelant to our current situation with our government

[@octoberspooks1771]

lol

[@unclesquatch7934]

SNL doesn't ban Elvis Costello, Elvis Costello bans SNL.

[@katydawson5687]

This.

[@scottleipski1015]

I cry almost every time I hear this great song........used to love the radio back in the 80's.......today it makes me sick! Elvis Costello Forever!!!!!!!

[@lowfrrequency2235]

Been listening since I was a tater tot, now I’m a almost a fully baked potato and I still just can’t get enough of him

[@haroldsalch7382]

Elvis Costello's sound is very unique !

[@tonyrobson4681]

+Harold Salch He cannot be " very unique". He is either unique or not unique. "We don't need no education". Tony Robson

[@billsmith5410]

It’s only inches on the reel to reel.

[@dianecristina3319]

Also in the time when there was offshore pirate stations to compete with the the pablum the BBC would provide.

[@joshokc]

"...and the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools trying to anesthetize the way that you feel!"

[@vernpascal1531]

I can remember at the time..Armed Forces came out and it caused a sensation as it should and I believe went to no.15, and it looked like it might go top ten,but the powers that be always do the predictable and knew they couldn;t sell Product to someone this brilliant and honest. So,it was back to Foreigner and Eddie Rabbit.

[@naomiburn8386]

Josh Barrett still true!

[@SkeebWilcox]

I thank God everyday that I was NEVER one of those "fools". This song (and about 90% of all the other Elvis Costello singles) were in Heavy Rotation the day they entered the radio station. I have been told that I have been nominated many times for inclusion in to a certain Broadcasting Hall Of Fame, but yet have never been inducted. I think it might have something to do with my career-long assessment as to the reason I got in to radio: "I got in to radio not because I loved it. I got in to radio to CHANGE IT because I hated it"...

[@richholoch8230]

Insanely great. Everyone in this band is a legend

[@lsimon5305]

These early Elvis Costello songs and videos are some of the best ever.The music performance infused with comedy are extremely entertaining and elicit a laugh from me even after tons of viewing.Just recently tuned into the early videos during the pandemic even though I knew of him when these songs were released but during my earlier years I had my favorites like McCartney,Billy Joel,and Clapton,etc.These are truly a work of Art and I believe as more time goes on they may be enshrined along with the other great works like the ones from the Beatles, Led Zeppelin,etc and may be continuously rediscovered repeatedly for decades to come.

[@steveryan1746]

Best Song of 1978

[@zeldafan1942]

One of the hits of the year, and the birth of Swedish singer Emilia, and the late great NBA legend Kobe Bryant!

[@betadatadigitaljohn312]

I can't wait till we have bands like this again.

[@oliveeisner8964]

it won't ever happen again. it was a product of a simpler time, ANALOG baby! artists were forced to rely on their own creativity using basic amplification & gadgetry. Everyone was SUPER EXCITED to be able to make music their own way..hence the New Wave.

[@acw7120]

Love Elvis. He is cool.

[@redskies4530]

Hi I recommend a song called 'Where I Come From' By Robert Nix kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmPdemasqtd9g6s

[@apathyintheuk265]

Master of his game. THE master.

[@Dreadandcircuses]

2nd most famous Elvis ever!

[@tillman5079]

Outstanding... takes me back to a better place in time

[@ed.z.]

So darn good. Beyond words.

[@ehspaul6106]

Best song about radio ever written!

[@SaintHarless]

This and “Radio”, by Sylvan Esso*

[@Dave-ti2ue]

My two faves: this and Spirit of Radio by Rush.

[@jonathanbirch2022]

rock n roll radio - ramones

[@atomaalatonal]

little did tehy know what shit comes along after the radio era :D

[@chrisprice-pfister5492]

ahhh Elvis Costello the guy who made nerdy geeky soooo kewl.. and this is one the best tracks in a long career that still is producing..

[@marlonrando9272]

Buddy Holly*

[@patrickgill8231]

And Joe Jackson. One cool looking geek. Def on par with Elvis Costello. And in my opinion...better

[@jeffkersh7790]

He was involved in the Dylan Basement Tapes project just recently. Brilliant musician.

[@1viridis]

Love Joe Jackson too, a very similar vibe!

[@robertquinn2528]

Superb record

[@tripzville7569]

No doubt one of best songwriters and what a band the attractions were. Today these lyrics are rather relevant, and you could rename the track 'media media '.

[@Diomede-Lefort]

That's right, Tripzville, It's the characteristic of great creators, great artists, they feel things before others, have a finer perception, and their work still proves to be just as relevant after decades. Elvis Costello and the Attractions are a Big One, their contribution to Culture is magnificent and worthy of praise and respect, Thanks Mr MacManus and all the band.

[@pauliejay4161]

What an ending!!

[@Staszu13]

Still the best SNL moment - "Sorry, there's no reason for this song...."

[@betadatadigitaljohn312]

In the very eloquent expressions of a childhood chum; "Word."

[@skinzz2573]

I was 13 when I saw the original airing of this episode. I always remember that interrupting the first song and at the time I thought it was so bizarre!! It must have been the first spontaneous thing I saw on TV.

[@wayneheyward900]

His story several years ago was that they were getting annoyed because they were shoved into a corner while the show was in prep and decided to "do a Lulu". (Lulu famously did the same thing back in the 60s on a UK TV show). They got into deep trouble for it because the lyrics for the song had not been cleared by NBC censors, and I think NBC banned them for years.

[@nbcouch]

@@wayneheyward900 It was Jimi Hendrix on the live BBC show "Happening for Lulu," in early 1969, who did the Lulu. Jimi, Mitch & Noel were supposed to do Hey Joe, with Lulu joining them onstage for a duet - imagine that! They got through the first verse and a solo when Jimi abruptly called for the band to stop playing "this rubbish," and they launched into Sunshine of Your Love, as a tribute to the recently deceased Cream. It got them banned from the BBC.

[@dougtaylor2803]

Martin Fuller He eventually got back on there so I think he had the last word.

[@warrennotes3575]

Watching this now I can see some early signs of the coming New Wave sound and fashions.

[@stoneyll]

Elvis is King~!

[@bYtealiEnSzen]

Righteous beauty!!! Sometimes British musicians have a deeper and keener understanding of American music than Americans do. A good example.🙃

[@drstevie]

So GOOD !

[@talkman288]

He's like a great synthesis of 64 Brit Invasion and Roxy Music

[@MegaElvisd]

Dude singlehandedly revived that mid 60's Farfisa Tex Mex style.

[@charleslewis36]

One of Steve Wrights favourites

[@jamesgray9950]

The best artist of his generation.

[@yummyyum36719]

And the best band The Attractions were top notch musicians.

[@leslielenahan2619]

Love it great music

[@redskies4530]

Hi I recommend a song called 'Where I Come From' By Robert Nix

[@lisaclifford3088]

Are you joking? This man's songs lyrics beat. Can't be compared. Love Lisa x

[@rainstein3680]

Another great tasty classic from the sinfully talented Elvis Costello!! Yummy!!

[@markwest9569]

Ahh....so good! Alivs Costello at his best. Just luv it!!!

[@thewkovacs316]

the evolution of this song is very cool started off as "radio soul" with clear springstein influence and filled with hope and morphed into an angry anthem

[@Kimariesings]

I highly doubt Springsteen was an influence on any part of this song, but I understand that you mean the first part is "story like".

[@thewkovacs316]

@@Kimariesings have you ever heard the original version?

[@willbrink]

Boy that brings back some memories! Elvis was the soundtrack to my teens/early adulthood for sure.

[@frankvalli1876]

This beat,,,so powerful

[@frankrizzo739]

Hard to pick a favorite EC song but this is it!

[@yummyyum36719]

This one, Pump It Up, Lipstick Vogue, and Chelsea are my favorites from this period. A for the whole catalog there are too many to choose a fave.

[@paddyjamieson5877]

Shipbuilding Pump it up Also his cover of (what's so funny) bout peace love and understanding are better imo. But top tune all the same. I know the world's moved on and people change with time but I'd be interested to know if he's still as passionate about hating the tories today or if the North of 🇮🇪 means as much to him as It did when he wrote Olivers army. I know probably not but to what degree. The EC of the late 70s would never accept an MBE for example. God the full 'armed forces'lp was a diatribe against british imperialism.

[@Kimariesings]

Oliver's Army is one of my favorites as well as Allison

[@frankrizzo739]

#1 Radio Radio #2 (I Don't Want to go to) Chelsea It only took me a year to come up with #2! lol

[@blinksstayfresh2524]

Why is this under a million views? Am I missing something?

[@dalejones9919]

This is the song that got Elvis kicked off Saturday Night Live.. And this is why Elvis Is King~!

[@2degucitas]

"It's Still Rock n Roll to Me" by Billy Joel is all about this man and his band.

[@robyrobinson8692]

Pure talent.lasting quality.

[@hughmcaloon6506]

Love, love, love this song. So true.

[@philipmcevoy7206]

It's Elvis Jim but not as we know it😍

[@maxmoon2254]

June (maybe July) 1978 is the first time I heard several cuts of this album. It was playing over the PA at Redrocks before a Springsteen concert. I loved what I was hearing and went and asked the soundman who it was. I bought the album next day. One of my all time favorites, but Bruce is still the only Boss I listen to.

[@cyninbend]

I discovered this album earlier that year just as I was starting my 1st job. Hours of traffic--this made me feel young, happy in spite of working with people twice my age. Then one of the Corporate Directors (Corporate Finance) knew and loved Elvis Costello! I didn't feel so alien after that.

[@williamthelast1]

The best of them all since 1978 !!!!

[@DennisOnMaui]

Can anyone verify? I’ve heard that sss sss sss sound in the chorus was made with a bike pump.

[@johnscott33]

I need to shout out to fellow Elvis fans. Around 2000 I downloaded a bunch of Costello tunes from Napster and there were a handful of songs that, I don't believe, were ever published. These were Solo Acoustic tunes that may not have been full songs. They were Fantastic Sadly, I lost them over the years and I'd really like get a hold of them. Any help would be appreciated.

[@jamesconnor2278]

The BEST song of all 2,984 Elvis Costello best songs ever!

[@yummyyum36719]

LOL. Yup the man can write em.

[@user-wx9ky9lr1y]

Fantastic track and Elvis at his best

[@donreed]

GIVE this drummer a STANDING OVATION!

[@janeelliott1548]

This is the 1st song that I saw/heard Elvis Costello perform. SNL Christmas show in 1977 or so. It was love at first sight. Huge fan ever since.

[@jonasdeluca2224]

I was today years old when I found this legend

[@timcrowther8475]

That's charisma

[@R1ZR1Z]

40年聞き返しても飽きずに心拍上げてくれる

[@adamhaggstrom7598]

Holy poop, this vid has the best sound quality of this song I've ever heard.

[@richsackett3423]

You're kidding, right?

[@fritzstuber3012]

I've always loved the bass line in this song

[@larrymckinney148]

That bass player is Pete Thomas. If you can, you will find his playing is very innovative and very active on virtually every piece. Absolutely top drawer. Sadly the Attractions were left behind because of the arguing between this bassist, and Elvis’ longtime drummer.

[@TheMusicianTom]

Bruce Thomas. I think Pete Thomas was the drummer.

[@yummyyum36719]

@@larrymckinney148 Bruce. Pete Thomas is the drummer and they are not related.

[@yummyyum36719]

@@TheMusicianTom And the arguments were really not between Pete and Bruce, who got along well but between EC and Bruce, perhaps made worse by EC's wife at the time, who was ...an inferior bass player.

[@alans9806]

@@yummyyum36719 Bit of a Yoko?

[@80sVidLover]

Love this song!!! Great work with The Attractions.

[@mariesmith8678]

Went to see Elivis Costello in my youth days, he's was amazing then and still is amazing now...timeless artist !!!

[@nancystedman6028]

Seeing him in early November, can't wait!

[@TheNerdStorm]

Elvis Costello, the Godfather of Alternative Rock Music, Long Live the King

[@redskies4530]

Hi Michael I recommend a song & video called 'Where I Come From' By Robert Nix

[@user-wx9ky9lr1y]

Elvis at his best

[@jbrockhausen4761]

LOVE YOU ELVIS!!!!!

[@cotiaratv3651]

The King.

[@americanAlienBoy]

It's Bricktop as a young man!

[@chocolatemilk9889]

Amazing

[@thuleanulven1742]

I usually listen to Metal but i heard the lyrics in a iHop at 4am and i loved it!

[@carelessdreamer]

The second half of this sentence made me take 1D6 psychic damage.

[@jonathanbirch2022]

good for yoh

[@RohanGillett]

Seeing this gave me a flashback to the Kenny Everett Video Show for some reason.

[@CleomarRibeiroXX]

... Sacred Song!!!...

[@bananacar6118]

This lyric described radio play exactly in the late 70s, so safe and conservative, only playing "classic rock" and crappy bands like Kansas. "And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools Tryin' to anaesthetise the way that you feel"

[@stevengoulding5965]

Radio 1 and local radio were playing crappy music by the likes of Boney M, Brotherhood of Man as well as disco and the soundtrack from Grease.

[@mikebrideson6512]

No dude I like Kansas and progressive rock

[@stevengoulding5965]

So do I

[@yurik1994]

So relevant nowadays lol

[@TheJaimee1317]

First fav song of his just sad I've known him and his music only around 2013. But I will still explore his music.

[@finylvinyl66]

There's a LOT to explore. His best tends to be early on IMHO.

[@vernpascal1531]

He's incredible. I agree his early stuff has the bite-the intellect-passion-use of language- sense of melody that no one has been able to top since.

[@RedGoldGreen-Dub]

Great song 😎🤙🏻

[@jamiemartinez8674]

One of EC's best..