Cornershop is an Indie Rock band formed in 1991 from Leicester, UK, consist… Read Full Bio ↴Cornershop is an Indie Rock band formed in 1991 from Leicester, UK, consisting of Tjinder Singh (singer, songwriter, and dholki player), Ben Ayres (guitar, keyboards, and tamboura), Anthony Saffery (sitar, keyboards and harmonium), Nick Simms (drums) and Peter Bengry (percussion). Most of the original members were also in the Preston band General Havoc.

Their name comes from a term that refers to Indian immigrants that move to England, in that they often own street corner stores. Their music is a fusion of Indian music, British indie rock, and electronic dance.

In 1997, Cornershop shot into the UK charts with the song 'Brimful of Asha' reaching number 60! Things changed when DJ Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) remixed the track for re-release in 1998. The remix topped the chart, selling over 200,000 copies in 7 days! The track featured lyrics about Bollywood playback singer, Asha Bhosle.

Who Fingered Rock 'n' Roll
Cornershop Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Rock solid is the good-lookin' slow ballad
Who fingered rock and roll
Rock solid is the slow ballad
Who fingered rock and roll
Who put the finger on

Who put the band back on the road
The watts of power

Who put the band back on the road
Who built the CD
Who fingered rock and roll
Who put the finger on

Two in the jukebox one at a time
?
Two in the jukebox
Who fingered rock and roll
Who put the finger on
Who fingered rock and roll

Who flicked the birds to remote control
The same hand that fingered rock and roll
10cc to?

Who built the CD
Who fingered rock and roll

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cornershop's song "Who Fingered Rock 'n' Roll" are cryptic and difficult to decipher, making them open to interpretation. The song seems to be asking who played a role in the inception and continued existence of rock and roll music. The lyrics mention a "slow ballad" that is "rock solid," suggesting that rock and roll is sometimes understood to be a simpler, more primal form of the ballad. The singer also asks who put the band back on the road and built the CD, referencing the technological advancements that have enabled rock and roll music to evolve and continue to be enjoyed by audiences around the world.

The lyrics suggest a nostalgia for the early days of rock and roll but also acknowledge that the music has been shaped and molded by many different forces. The two lines, "Two in the jukebox one at a time, who fingered rock and roll," may be referencing the idea that rock and roll was initially heard in small, confined spaces like jukeboxes, and that its popularity gradually spread over time. The line "Who flicked the birds to remote control" is more difficult to interpret but could be referencing the idea that the rebellious nature of rock and roll became more mainstream and commercialized over time, becoming something that could be controlled.

In all, the lyrics to "Who Fingered Rock 'n' Roll" are enigmatic and open to interpretation, making it a fascinating song to analyze and explore.

Line by Line Meaning

Rock solid is the good-lookin' slow ballad
A smooth and steady song that captivates listeners' attention

Who fingered rock and roll
Who is responsible for the development of rock and roll music

Rock solid is the slow ballad
The slow ballads in rock and roll that have a solid base

Who put the finger on
Who is to blame for a certain action

Who put the band back on the road
Who got the band back in action to perform live shows

The watts of power
The powerful and electrifying energy that music generates

Who built the CD
Who created the CD format that revolutionized music distribution

Two in the jukebox one at a time
Two different songs in the jukebox, played one at a time

Who fingered rock and roll
Who created the genre of rock and roll music

Who put the finger on
Who is being accused of wrongdoing or blame