'A Catholic Education' was their debut album, released in 1990. The album received positive reviews from English music journalists and critics. In contrast to the group's later work, the album has a very dark, abrasive, and cynical tone and incorporated a grunge and heavy metal influenced sound. As well, the album's two title tracks are direct attacks on the Catholic Church, which are unique for an otherwise apolitical band. The opening track, "Everything Flows", is a mellow powerpop-influenced song (unlike the rest of the album) that provides a sort of blueprint for their later work.
"Everything Flows" was later included in the compilation albums 'Deep Fried Fanclub' and 'Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six Seconds – A Short Cut to Teenage Fanclub'. Those were released in 1995 and 2003, respectively. Teenage Fanclub's second album, 1991's 'The King', went for a shambolic, alternative rock edge that left many fans and critics cold, though the release also had strong defenders. It took their third album to kick things into high gear.
'Bandwagonesque', released in November 1991 on Creation Records, became famous by beating Nirvana's landmark album 'Nevermind' to be voted "album of the year" by popular American music magazine Spin. It also gave the band substantial U.S. success when the single "Star Sign" reached #4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming their biggest hit in that country. "What You Do to Me" and "The Concept" were also Top 20 hits on that chart. Fans greatly enjoyed the melodic yet melancholy feel of the album.
Although later works have led the group through various highs and lows throughout the 90s and 00s, they're still going strong as of 2014. Tours have been widely successful. Their latest album, 'Shadows', was their ninth studio release. They made it available on 31 May 2010 on the band's own PeMa label in Europe and on Merge Records in North America, the group promoting the single "Baby Lee". Said track shows the band still in touch with the chiming, emotional sounds of their 90s heyday.
There have been a succession of drummers, including:
- Francis MacDonald (a prime-mover in the C86 scene, later of the BMX Bandits), the drummer in the original lineup, and in a later period
- Brendan O’Hare (later of Telstar Ponies, Thrapple , Mogwai and Macrocosmica)
and
- Paul Quinn (later of The Primary 5), who was later replaced by the returning Francis MacDonald.
Keyboardist Finlay MacDonald (no relation to Francis MacDonald) has also been a member.
Radio
Teenage Fanclub Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't relate to yesterday, what we did was wrong
Yeah, mmm
But now you lighten up my day with your views
Just out of school and you're "that's so cool"
Baby, justify the reason behind your style
Find a craze that fits and stay there for awhile
On the A.M.
On the A.M.
On the A.M. (background)
You can't even get it on
I don't know
What all your chances are
And when I try to trip you up
I'm the one who falls
Did you know when I was young
I'd paint my face with the latest craze
Baby, justify the reason behind your style
Find a craze that fits and stay there for awhile
Love to hear your song
On the radio, on the radio
On the radio, on the radio
You on the radio, on the radio
You on the radio, on the radio
In "Radio," Teenage Fanclub express frustration with the repetitive, manufactured pop music that dominates the radio airwaves but find solace in the fresh and genuine perspective of a younger generation. The singer considers killing the radio and avoiding a song he can't relate to, but then encounters a young person who "lightens up his day" with their unique style and ideas. The song suggests that there is hope for music that speaks to real experiences and emotions rather than pandering to the masses.
The second verse has a bit of a self-aware twist. The singer tries to "trip up" the young person but ends up falling themselves, acknowledging that they themselves were once young, impressionable, and eager to follow trends. The chorus repeats the idea of finding a craze that fits and staying there for a while, implying that there is value in exploring and developing your own taste rather than just consuming whatever is popular. The song ends by placing the young person on the radio, implying that perhaps they will be the ones to change the sterile landscape of commercial music.
Overall, "Radio" is a commentary on the state of pop music and the potential for new voices to shake things up. The song encourages listeners to seek out their own passions and resist the pressure to conform to current trends.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I'll kill the radio, don't want to hear this song
I don't like the current music being played on the radio and I want to turn it off.
Can't relate to yesterday, what we did was wrong
I can't identify with the music from the past and I think it was out of line.
But now you lighten up my day with your views
However, I now feel positive and happy when I hear your opinions and outlook on life.
Just out of school and you're "that's so cool"
You're fresh out of school and I think it's amazing how cool you are already.
Baby, justify the reason behind your style
Explain the motives behind how you present yourself and your fashion sense.
Find a craze that fits and stay there for awhile
Discover a trend that suits you and stick to it for a while, don't switch things up too quickly.
Love to hear your song
I really enjoy hearing your point of view and take on things.
On the A.M.
On the radio station that plays in the morning hours.
You can't even get it on
You can't even tune to the same station.
I don't know
I'm uncertain why you can't tune in.
What all your chances are
What the likelihood of you ever hearing it is.
And when I try to trip you up, I'm the one who falls
If I try to challenge your viewpoint or actions, I end up being the one caught off guard and wrong.
Did you know when I was young, I'd paint my face with the latest craze
When I was young, I used to follow popular trends so much that I would even use new fashion as face paint.
You on the radio, on the radio
I extremely admire your ways of thinking and would love to hear more of your views and opinions on the radio.
You on the radio, on the radio
I feel you have a great deal of wisdom and advice to share and think it would be fantastic to hear you over the radio waves.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW NICHOLAS LOVE, TOM BARNES, PETER KELLEHER, BEN KOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruno Hoy
I think I'll kill the radio, don't want to hear this song
Can't relate to yesterday, what we did was wrong
Yeah, mmm
But now you lighten up my day with your views
Just out of school and you're "that's so cool"
Baby, justify the reason behind your style
Find a craze that fits and stay there for awhile
Love to hear your song
On the A.M.
On the A.M.
On the A.M. (background)
You can't even get it on
I don't know
What all your chances are
And when I try to trip you up
I'm the one who falls
Did you know when I was young
I'd paint my face with the latest craze
Baby, justify the reason behind your style
Find a craze that fits and stay there for awhile
Love to hear your song
On the radio, on the radio
On the radio, on the radio
You on the radio, on the radio
You on the radio, on the radio
Gareth Davey
Oh Gerry, please come back. There's a whole army of TF fans who need you. Dude, please......
Bima Putro Pandityo
YESSSS
Backcombed
yes
Steve
...and get back writing this sort of stuff.
todd hutlock
Wow, Brendan just absolutely SLAYING on the kit here! FIRE!
Richard Hall
@Ivan L. Don't forget Cass Browne from Senseless Things / Gorillaz. Incredible
Ivan L.
He is amazing here! He and Loz Colbert from Ride are two of the most underappreciated drummers out there!
juanoeliguano
yep. he hit that shit hard!
Doug Smith
Fantastic song! Bandwagonesque is a masterpiece of sunshine pop rock and roll fer sure...but "RADIO" may just be better than anything on Bandwagonesque...it just TOWERS over most every other song on Thirteen...a brilliant outlier genius and, hook laden paean to the musical gateway of our impressionable youth! And, holy hell is that incredible bridge for real?
Thirteen ain't no Bandwagonesque...but, similarly...as with A Catholic Education's Everything Flows...Radio is HUGE
AK Wilson
Grand Prix is better than Bandwagonesque