When they appeared in the early '80s, Asia seemed to be a holdover from the… Read Full Bio ↴When they appeared in the early '80s, Asia seemed to be a holdover from the '70s, when supergroups and self-important progressive rockers reigned supreme. Featuring members of such seminal art rock bands as King Crimson (John Wetton), Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Carl Palmer), and Yes (Steve Howe), as well as Geoff Downes from the Buggles, Asia did feature stretches of indulgent instrumentals on their records. However, they also could be surprisingly poppy, and that is what brought them to the top of the charts with their debut album, Asia, and its hit single, "Heat of the Moment."

Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.

Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

There is another band with the same name:
2) Asia was an excellent hard rock band with a drive for epic, pomp-filled rock tunes. The band was from Rapid City, South Dakota and should not be confused with the famous U.K. one, which sadly outshone them and ended up rendering the U.S. group highly obscure despite the U.S. one's critical support. Going for a loose instrumental energy similar to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, their eventual line-up was made up of Michael English (vocals, bass, percussion), Larry Galbraith (vocals, guitars, mandolin), Mike Coates (guitars, mandolin, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, vocals), and Doug Johnson (percussion). They released two albums: 'Asia' (1979) and 'Armed to the Teeth' (1980).

Voice Of America
Asia Lyrics

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I heard you on the radio
Some other time
From some forgotten studio
Way down the line
So long, so long I've waited now
To hear you again
That song, that song will still remain
It's become an old friend

And now, the tears are in my eyes
The sound you can't disguise
The truth comes back from lies
And all I want to hear

Voice of America, ooh, America
Voice of America, ooh, America

And then you came in stereo
Calling to me
And so I watch the videos
Across the TV
That sound, still ringing in my ears
From a decade ago
Around, around my head, the sound from my radio
I thought, that after all these years
The tears, the growing fears
That I would never hear
Never again

Voice of America, ooh, America
Voice of America, ooh, America

Overall Meaning

The song "Voice of America" by Asia is an emotional tribute to the power of music and the impact it can have on our lives. The lyrics describe the longing of a listener who hears a song on the radio by a long-forgotten artist. The song triggers memories and emotions, becoming an old friend that brings comfort and solace. The verses express the power of a voice and its ability to connect people across time and distance. The chorus emphasizes the message of the song, which is about the enduring quality of music and its ability to transcend boundaries and speak to our hearts.

The song was written by John Wetton and Geoff Downes, who are both members of Asia, a British rock band that was formed in 1981. Wetton sings the lead vocals on the track with a soulful intensity that reflects the emotion of the song. The music is dominated by Downes' keyboard work, which has a distinctive sound that is instantly recognizable. The song is driven by a powerful melody that is both catchy and memorable, making it a classic of the 80s rock music era.

Line by Line Meaning

I heard you on the radio
I listened to you on the radio in the past

Some other time
It was at a different time that I heard you on the radio

From some forgotten studio
It was from a studio that I cannot remember

Way down the line
It was a long time ago when I heard you on the radio

So long, so long I've waited now
I have been waiting for a long time

To hear you again
I want to listen to you again

That song, that song will still remain
The song I heard on the radio is still memorable

Become an old friend
It feels like an old friend to me

And now, the tears are in my eyes
I am emotional and shedding tears

The sound you can't disguise
The sound of your voice cannot be hidden

The truth comes back from lies
I am reminded of the truth despite lies