They incorporated the sounds of string ensembles, vocoders and dub echos into rock songs, thereby creating a very sophisticated studio version of rock. The musical content of ELO songs often went far beyond usual chord structures, mixing pop songwriting with classical romanticism and synthesized sounds. The band claim that their music "picks up where The Beatles' 1967 song I Am the Walrus left off."
Formed in 1970 by Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan (the remaining members of the 1960s rock group The Move). The band used cellos, violin, horns and woodwinds to give their music a classical sound. This was an idea Roy Wood initially had while with The Move, to take rock music in a new direction. In 1970 when Carl Wayne left the The Move, Jeff Lynne, front man with fellow Brum band Idle Race, responded to Wood's second invitation to join the line-up, with the lure of starting the new band. To help finance the fledgling project, two more Move albums were released during the recording of their eponymous first album in 1971 which produced the UK hit 10538 Overture. In the US this album was released with the mistaken title of No Answer, due to a mix-up with an uncompleted telephone call to the American label and subsequent secretarial message.
However, tensions soon surfaced between Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne. With most of the media attention focused on Roy Wood, differences in musical direction, and a disastrous first live outing, it was no surprise when the band went through the first of its many line-up changes as Wood took Hugh McDowell and Bill Hunt with him to form Wizzard. Despite the music press's predictions that the band would fold without Wood, Jeff Lynne stepped up to lead the band, with Bevan remaining on drums, bassist Richard Tandy switching to moog synthesizer, Michael d'Albuquerque on bass, Mike Edwards, Colin Walker (cello) and Wilfred Gibson replacing Steve Woolam on violin. They released ELO 2 in 1973, from which came their first U.S. chart hit, a hugely elaborate version of the Chuck Berry classic Roll Over Beethoven. After their second album, violinist Gibson was dismissed and replaced by Mik Kaminski. They also released On The Third Day in 1973, with Mike Edwards playing all the cello parts due to Colin Walker leaving the band. Later that same year saw the return of Hugh McDowell, who had jumped ship the year previous, to replace cellist Colin Walker.
In 1974 Lynne hired a thirty-piece orchestra, choir and Louis Clark, then began work on the next LP Eldorado, A Symphony, a concept album about dreams, scoring their first U.S. Top Ten hit with Can't Get It Out Of My Head in 1975. Eldorado would become ELO's first gold album.
After the release of Eldorado, bassist and vocalist Kelly Groucutt and cellist Melvyn Gale joined, replacing de Albuquerque and Edwards respectively.
The band split in 1983. In 1985, Lynne, Tandy and Bevan reunited and recorded the album "Balance of Power". This reunion was short lived and the band split once more in 1986. Bev Bevan and Louis Clark, with the consent of Lynne, toured and recorded as ELO Part II from 1988 until Bevan's retirement in 1999. In 2000, Lynne and Tandy reformed Electric Light Orchestra and released a new record, "Zoom". "Zoom" proved to be a commercial failure, and the duo split once more in 2001.
In 2014, following support from BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, Lynne and Tandy reunited as a part of BBC Radio 2's "Festival in a Day" to perform under the new billing, "Jeff Lynne's ELO", a name Lynne devised as a response to ELO tributes, imitation bands, and offshoots who used ELO to promote their own tours.
In February 2015, Jeff Lynne's ELO performed at the Grammy Awards with Ed Sheeran, and in September of that year they announced a new album would be released under Columbia Records. Jeff Lynne's ELO - Alone in the Universe was released on November 13, 2015, and was ELO’s first album of new material in almost 15 years.
The second album under Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Jeff Lynne's ELO - From Out of Nowhere, was released on November 1, 2019.
There is more than one artist with the name "ELO". The vast majority of scrobbles to "Electric Light Orchestra" are for the rock band from England.
ELO, is a South Korean singer, who debuted with the album, 8 Femmes, on August 26, 2016.
Rock 'n Roll Is King
Electric Light Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel that rhythm and it's really gonna thrill your soul
Come along with me, to a land of make believe
She said rock 'n' roll is king
She loves that rock 'n' roll and she plays it all night long
Oh that's all she ever tells me when I call her on the telephone
She says feel that jumpin' beat, and get up on your feet
Oh let those guitars play
Play for me, play for me
Oh let that song ring out
And that's how it's meant to be
It rolls like a train that's comin' on down the track
She rolled over Beethoven and she gave Tchaikovsky back
Oh, she loves that drivin' beat, she goes dancin' on down the street
She said rock 'n' roll is king
Oh let those guitars play
Play for me, play for me
Oh let that song ring out
That's how it's meant to be
Well, when she comes around and I'm listenin' to the radio
She says you can't do that 'cause all I wanna do is rock 'n' roll
Now here I'm gonna stay where that music starts to play
She says rock 'n' roll is king
Rock 'n' roll is king
Rock 'n' roll is king
Rock 'n' roll is king
She said rock 'n' roll is king
"Rock 'n' Roll Is King" by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) conveys the essence of classic rock and roll music that has the power to move and thrill the soul. The song is all about a girl who is crazy about rock and roll music, claiming that it is the king of all genres of music. She loves the rhythm and the sound of the guitars with a driving beat that makes her want to dance. The song invites the listener to be a part of a land of make-believe, which is an imagined place where one can live and breathe rock and roll music.
The lyrics paint a picture of a world where music reigns and the only thing that matters is the sound of the guitars and the beating of the drums. The girl in the song is so enamored with rock and roll music that it is all she ever talks about, making the singer want to join her in her world. The chorus of the song is a call for the guitars to keep playing, to keep that rhythm and beat alive, and to let the song ring out because that is how it is meant to be. The song reflects the true essence of rock and roll music, which is to unite people and get them moving.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen everybody let me tell you 'bout the rock 'n' roll
The singer is excited to share their passion for rock 'n' roll with others.
Feel that rhythm and it's really gonna thrill your soul
The singer is telling listeners to let themselves feel the energy of the music and how it can excite and move them.
Come along with me, to a land of make believe
The singer invites listeners to let their imaginations take over and experience the fun and fantasy of rock 'n' roll.
She said rock 'n' roll is king
The artist quotes someone else's enthusiasm for rock 'n' roll and how it is the ultimate music genre.
She loves that rock 'n' roll and she plays it all night long
The artist is describing someone who has an intense passion and dedication to rock 'n' roll music.
Oh that's all she ever tells me when I call her on the telephone
The singer laments that the rock 'n' roll enthusiast is always talking about and listening to music, even when they are not together in person.
She says feel that jumpin' beat, and get up on your feet
The rock 'n' roll enthusiast is encouraging others to move along with the music and let it take control of their bodies.
Oh let those guitars play
The artist expresses the joy and importance of the sound of electric guitars in creating rock 'n' roll music.
Play for me, play for me
The artist is addressing the musicians and asking them to keep playing music for their enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.
Oh let that song ring out
The artist wants the music to be heard far and wide and for people to experience the full sound of rock 'n' roll songs.
And that's how it's meant to be
The singer believes that rock 'n' roll music is inherently exciting and meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
It rolls like a train that's comin' on down the track
The music is compared to a powerful train, with its strong beat and momentum driving forward like a locomotive.
She rolled over Beethoven and she gave Tchaikovsky back
The rock 'n' roll enthusiast is rejecting traditional classical music forms and embracing the new music style of rock 'n' roll.
Oh, she loves that drivin' beat, she goes dancin' on down the street
The singer describes how the rock 'n' roll enthusiast is so taken by the music that she dances and moves to the beat even when out in public.
Well, when she comes around and I'm listenin' to the radio
The singer is describing a situation where the rock 'n' roll enthusiast comes over while the singer is listening to the radio.
She says you can't do that 'cause all I wanna do is rock 'n' roll
The rock 'n' roll enthusiast wants to listen to rock 'n' roll music exclusively and does not want to hear other genres or styles.
Now here I'm gonna stay where that music starts to play
The artist is committing to staying in the same place where rock 'n' roll music is being played, in order to fully enjoy it.
She says rock 'n' roll is king
The rock 'n' roll enthusiast declares again how important and powerful rock 'n' roll music is to her.
Rock 'n' roll is king
A repetition of the previously stated declaration of the power and significance of rock 'n' roll music.
Rock 'n' roll is king
A repetition of the previously stated declaration of the power and significance of rock 'n' roll music.
She said rock 'n' roll is king
A repetition of the previously stated declaration of the power and significance of rock 'n' roll music, which was originally said by the rock 'n' roll enthusiast and being repeated by the artist.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@livefreeordiehardkor
I was born on 1-15-1984 and here I am on 1-15-2024 listening to this amazing song!
@kristinadraguniene808
I was born on 1951 and I'm listening too...
@mireyagonzalez5483
Yo nací en 1967 y acá estoy, maravillosa música.
@terryallen5328
40 years old and still as good now as it was then. Rock on guys.
@xanthippe9757
We`ll do it!🙃
@hhill4413
Love it, still rocking to it at 86, rocked to it today ,afore I helped with housework and did garden. This music is best medicine I can get
@pierre-jeandacquin8761
Oui, c'est toujours aussi bon !!
@danwedderburn5550
Jeff Lynne is simply a genius & a Legend. Thank you Jeff for all the fantastic music you have brought this world. I take my hat off to you.
@mattschneider6773
If The Beatles stayed together into the 80s, they'd make songs like this.
@hmackie6823
@@mattschneider6773 they wish,Jeff was ahead of the BEATLES at this point and not lookin' back