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.
Do The Pop
Radio Birdman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You been saying there's nothing to do
Don't be afraid of bustin' out of your cage
Gonna cruise around gonna burn up the stage
Do the Pop
Come on baby I said squeeze the weez
So messed up I'm gonna do some dives
Gonna do the Pop gonna burn alive
We saw the Stooges and the MC5
Drove themselves insane alive
Nova, blow-torch, A-bomb eyes
The Pop's the way, the truth and the light
The lyrics of Radio Birdman's song Do The Pop are an invitation to the listeners to break free from their routine and enjoy the excitement and energy of the rock scene. The opening lines encourage the audience to join the band on a journey of rebellion and self-expression, urging them to escape the confines of their lives and explore new possibilities. The lyrics emphasize the importance of taking risks and living life to the fullest, avoiding complacency, and taking an active role in shaping one's own destiny.
The chorus, "Do the Pop," is a call to action, inviting the listeners to join in and participate in the experience of the Pop - a type of music that's described as a fusion of punk rock, garage rock, and surf rock. The imagery in the song suggests that the Pop is all about energy and excitement. It's a kind of music that's meant to make you feel alive, to ignite your passions and drive you to take risks.
The verses of the song provide a glimpse into the band's influences, referencing legendary rock acts such as The Stooges and the MC5. These references suggest that the Pop is part of a broader tradition of rock and roll, a lineage of fierce and exciting music that has been passed down from one generation to the next.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on baby it's time to move
Encouraging someone to start taking action towards something
You been saying there's nothing to do
Challenging someone's claim that there's nothing adventurous to do
Don't be afraid of bustin' out of your cage
Urging someone to break the routine and escape their comfort zone
Gonna cruise around gonna burn up the stage
Going on a wild ride and causing a stir
Do the Pop
Performing a style of music or dance known as the Pop
Come on baby I said squeeze the weez
Encouraging someone to fully commit to wild and impulsive behavior
On your feet or on your knees
Leaving the choice of how to act up to the individual
So messed up I'm gonna do some dives
Feeling so energized and wild that physical stunts are tempting
Gonna do the Pop gonna burn alive
Continuing to play the Pop and express oneself intensely
We saw the Stooges and the MC5
Referencing the influence of the bands The Stooges and MC5
Drove themselves insane alive
Implying that these bands pushed themselves too hard and were intense
Nova, blow-torch, A-bomb eyes
Describing something that burns bright and harsh like a blowtorch, atomic bomb or a Nova star
The Pop's the way, the truth and the light
The Pop is a guiding style and way of living that is essential for the band and its followers
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENIZ TEK, MARK SISTO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind