Radio Birdman formed in 1974 and began recording in 1976 when the single Burn My Eye was released. They took their name from a misheard lyric in The Stooges song, 1970. (The actual line is "Radio burnin'") Their first LP, "Radios Appear" showed diverse influences, including Blue Öyster Cult and Detroit bands of the late 1960s, such as The MC5 and The Stooges. The album was totally ignored by commercial radio but was championed by Sydney station 2JJ (Double Jay) and became sufficiently successful in Australia to lead to a contract with Sire Records (US label, home of The Ramones), who released a different version of Radios Appear internationally. It took three years to record a follow-up, Living Eyes, and by then, the Australian punk scene had diversified and the band broke up before the LP was released in 1978.
The band's lyrics reference US-born guitarist/main songwriter Deniz Tek's home state of Michigan, with lyrics from tracks such as "Murder City Nights" referring to Woodward Avenue in Detroit:
"Cruising down Woodward gotta find me some action/Looking for a lover with a power reaction."
Many of their other songs, such as "Hand Of Law" & "Descent Into The Maelstrom" deal in apocalyptic images of war and violence, but these are more than balanced by the lighter pop culture references of tunes such as "Aloha Steve & Danno", an ode to the TV show Hawaii 5-0. "Man With Golden Helmet" (which Tek wrote in high school) is one of their most cryptic efforts: "Man with golden helmet/drinks water from the faucet..plays with tiny children/on his way home from work...he's a top man/in the language department". Deniz Tek wrote most of the lyrics and music for the band
All members went on to other bands. Younger's New Christs would be more oriented towards hard-edged, blues-based rock and roll. Tek and Keeley and keyboardist Pip Hoyle's band, The Visitors, and guitarist Chris Masuak and bass guitarist Warwick Gilbert's The Hitmen continued the Radio Birdman sound. Tek, Younger & Gilbert played in a one-shot touring band called New Race, with Dennis Thompson of the MC5 & Ron Asheton of the Stooges.
In the 1996, the band reformed sporadically to play gigs, but a full-fledged reunion didn't surface until the 00's, with the 2006 album Zeno Beach being enthusiastically received. The band split once again in 2008.
In 2014, the band announced that Younger, Tek, Hoyle and Dickson announced that they would tour Australia as Radio Birdman to coincide with the reissue of their back catalogue.
Dark Surprises
Radio Birdman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I start to see through the haze
Stay alive everytime and I got no time to waste
Stay alone in the city
Cause I get around better that way
The eyes narrowed down
Behind Saigon Mirror shades
And nothing more to say
Drowned in blood radiation
As it fades and seeps away
The night is comin'
And it's filled with Dark Surprise
Nights all oozin
Like oil in the neon sky
Tonight's the one
We've waited all our lives
The song Dark Surprise by Radio Birdman is about staying awake, staying alive and staying alone in the city under the dark and gloomy night sky. The lyrics talk about the singer staying awake for days and seeing through the haze which depicts how he is constantly alert and aware of his surroundings. The lyrics also highlight the fact that the singer has no time to waste and hence he stays alive every time he can. He chooses to stay alone in the city as he gets around better that way which shows that he is self-sufficient and does not need anyone to rely upon.
The lyrics also describe a menacing character with eyes narrowed down behind Saigon mirror shades who reflects the death of the sun and nothing more to say. This symbolizes how the singer is encountering a darkness that seems never-ending and is consuming everything that comes in its path. The lyrics further describe how the character is drowned in blood radiation as it fades and seeps away which shows that he is engulfed in a dark and sinister world that is gradually taking over his life.
In conclusion, the lyrics of the song Dark Surprise talks about staying awake, staying alive, and staying alone in a world that is filled with darkness and uncertainty. The lyrics depict a world that is constantly changing, and the singer has no choice but to adapt to it. The overall tone of the song is dark, and it highlights the singer's struggle to survive in a world that is filled with danger and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Stay awake for days
I am purposely staying awake for days in order to better understand my surroundings and gain clarity in my perspective.
And I start to see through the haze
As a result of consciously not sleeping, I can now see through the mental fog and confusion that previously existed.
Stay alive every time and I got no time to waste
I strive to maintain a sense of urgency and use every moment efficiently.
Stay alone in the city
I prefer to remain independent and navigate the city on my own, without the influence or interdependence of others.
Cause I get around better that way
Being by myself allows for more efficient movement and exploration of the city.
The eyes narrowed down
My vision becomes more focused and determined.
Behind Saigon Mirror shades
My eyes are hidden behind mirrored shades, perhaps for protection or anonymity.
Reflect the death of the sun
The shades reflect the end of the day, as the sun sets and night approaches.
And nothing more to say
There is nothing left to discuss or elaborate upon.
Drowned in blood radiation
The city is consumed by the effects of modern technological advancement, to the point of physical degradation and harm.
As it fades and seeps away
The effects of technology fade and become less intense over time.
The night is comin'
The sun has set and darkness is approaching.
And it's filled with Dark Surprise
The night is unpredictable and full of unknown dangers and surprises.
Nights all oozin
The night appears to be dripping or oozing into the city, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.
Like oil in the neon sky
The darkness seems to mix with the neon lights of the city, creating an unusual and unsettling visual effect.
Tonight's the one
This particular night is significant or different from other nights.
We've waited all our lives
This night has been highly anticipated and signifies a significant moment in our lives.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENIZ TEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind