He is remembered now mostly for his more explicit work, but many of his songs are very ironic and some contain clever, albeit unpolished, social commentary. Norstedt also recorded serious rockabilly songs with a distinct 1950s flavour in his own studio, called Studio Ronka (ronka referring to runka, which is Swedish slang for masturbation). He played most of the instruments himself. He often got bad reviews from the press, notably Expressen journalist Mats Olsson, to which Norstedt replied by writing even more offensive songs, such as Kuken står på Mats Olsson (Mats Olsson's got a hard-on). He reportedly said that no matter what he did it was never good enough for the critics.
Despite this he was considered an accomplished musician and songwriter, in particular by Swedish record company executive Bert Karlsson who, with mixed results, tried to foster that talent in Norstedt. He never had a major breakthrough and this is commonly attributed to his increasingly obscene songwriting. According to himself, he developed alcoholism in the late 1970s during periods of intensive touring. After collapsing on his way to a show he changed his lifestyle completely. He sobered up and started working out. However, despite his efforts the years of alcohol abuse eventually took their toll and he passed away in his home. He was survived by his wife and children.
Roll Over Beethoven
Eddie Meduza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna mail it to my local D.J.
It's a rockin' little record
I want my jockey to play
Roll over Beethoven
I gotta hear it again today
You know my temperature's risin'
My hearts beatin' rhythm
And my soul keeps singing the blues
Roll over Beethoven
And tell Tchaikovsky the news
I got a rockin' pneumonia
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
I think I got it off the writer
Sittin' down by the rhythm review
Roll over Beethoven
We're rockin' in two by two
Well if you feel you like it
Well get your lover and reel and rock it
Roll it over and move on up
Just jump around and reel and rock it
Roll it over
Roll over Beethoven
A rockin' in two by two, oh
Well early in the mornin'
I'm a givin' you the warnin'
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Hey diddle diddle
Gonna play my fiddle
Ain't got nothing to lose
Roll over Beethoven
And tell Tchaikovsky the news
You know she wiggles like a glow worm
Dance like a spinnin' top
She got a crazy partner
Oughta see 'em reel an rock
Long as she's got a dime
The music will never stop
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
And dig these rhythm and blues
In Eddie Meduza's song Roll Over Beethoven, the lyrics express a desire for music that gets the heart racing and the soul singing the blues. The singer is convinced that the perfect remedy for their ailment lies in the rhythm and blues sound of Roll Over Beethoven. The song begins with the singer announcing their intention to send a rockin' little record to their local DJ, hoping to get it played on air. They express the urgency of their desire to hear the song, declaring that they need to listen to Roll Over Beethoven again today. The singer goes on to describe how the jukebox's rhythm is blowing a fuse and their heart is beating rhythm, indicating their fanaticism for the rhythm and blues sound of the song.
As the song progresses, the singer imagines communicating with two of the greatest composers of all time, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. They tell Beethoven to roll over and make space for this new sound, which clearly affects them more than some of his traditional work. They also suggest that Tchaikovsky might learn something new from the rhythm and blues within the song. The singer is insistent in their need for this sound, and even compares their ailment to a rockin' pneumonia that they believe can only be cured by the rhythm and blues sound of Roll Over Beethoven.
Overall, Eddie Meduza's Roll Over Beethoven is a tribute to the rhythm and blues sound that has stood the test of time, and long may its legacy continue to impact people.
Line by Line Meaning
Well gonna write a little letter
I'm going to compose a message on paper
Gonna mail it to my local D.J.
I'll send it to the radio station DJ
It's a rockin' little record
It's a musical piece with a lively beat
I want my jockey to play
I desire for the disk jockey to broadcast it
Roll over Beethoven
Move out the way for a new musician to take over
I gotta hear it again today
I need to listen to it right now
You know my temperature's risin'
You understand that I'm excited
And the jukebox's blowin' a fuse
The jukebox is malfunctioning because of the tune
My hearts beatin' rhythm
My heart is throbbing to the beat
And my soul keeps singing the blues
I feel melancholy inside
And tell Tchaikovsky the news
Inform Tchaikovsky about the rock and roll music craze
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
I'm in want of a dose of energetic, soulful tunes
I think I got it off the writer
I suspect I learned it from the composer
Sittin' down by the rhythm review
Sitting and taking in the rhythmic performance
We're rockin' in two by two
We're dancing in pairs
Well if you feel you like it
If you enjoy the music
Well get your lover and reel and rock it
Get your partner and dance energetically
Roll it over and move on up
Switch to another song and keep dancing
Just jump around and reel and rock it
Hop around while dancing energetically
A rockin' in two by two, oh
Dance with a partner in pairs
Well early in the mornin'
At the break of dawn
I'm a givin' you the warnin'
I'm alerting you ahead of time
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Don't damage my fancy shoes
Hey diddle diddle
An exclamation without a specific meaning
Gonna play my fiddle
I'm going to perform on my violin
Ain't got nothing to lose
I don't stand to lose anything
You know she wiggles like a glow worm
She moves sensuously like an insect
Dance like a spinnin' top
She moves in circles rapidly
She got a crazy partner
She has a wild dance partner
Oughta see 'em reel an rock
You should see them dance with extravagance
Long as she's got a dime
As long as she has some money
The music will never stop
The songs will keep playing continuously
And dig these rhythm and blues
Appreciate these lively and soulful songs
Contributed by Charlotte H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.