The Buggles' sound was characterised by a deliberately synthetic quality in keeping with the technological subject matter of their songs. The group had a smash hit with the first single from their debut album The Age of Plastic. Song Video Killed The Radio star famously provided the 1st music video ever played on MTV (on August 1, 1981).
The novelty value of their most popular song has led to the Buggles being perceived as being a one-hit-wonder. They did release three further singles, but none came close to emulating the success of their debut track. Specifically, "The Age of Plastic" reached #16 in the UK, "Clean Clean" stalled at #38, and "Elstree" failed to enter the top 40. Still, they've been well received by the later cult audience of new wave revival devotees.
After joining progressive rock group Yes for their 1980 Drama album and tour and then recording the second Buggles album Adventures in Modern Recording, in 1981, The Buggles members parted ways to explore other projects. Horn has been a highly successful record producer (working with ABC's The Look of Love, Yes' Owner of a Lonely Heart, Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax, Rod Stewart's Down Town Train, Pet Shop Boys' Always On My Mind, Seal's Kiss From A Rose, LeAnne Rimes' Can't Fight The Moonlight and many more) while Downes has served as a key member of the supergroup Asia. Both of them have revisited their Buggles material to enthusiastic audiences.
On TV
The Buggles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sit down cousy kill that light
Watch a movie watch a fight
Feeling safe as well you might
When you dream in black and white
It can only happen
On TV
In the bathroom in your bed
Wall to wall we're in your head
Finger on remote control
We are wired to your soul
We got idols we got dreams
It can only happen
On TV
On TV
On TV
We got idols we got dreams
Keep your eyes fixed on the screen
Squeeze your life there in between
On TV
On TV
On TV TV TV
Ecstasy for you and me
Here at home on your TV
TV TV TV
Turning up the volume ''cause it's blowing up your head
Look at your eyes they're going red
Turn it on!
Turn it off!
Turn it on!
Turn it off!
The Buggles' song "On TV" is a commentary on the impact of television on our lives. The lyrics suggest that we are increasingly consumed by television, turning it into an idol and a source of ecstasy. The song starts by describing people watching television late at night, feeling safe and dreamy as they indulge themselves in the medium that has become more real than reality itself.
The chorus "it can only happen, on TV" emphasizes the idea that television creates a world that can't exist in real life. Television is where we find our idols and our dreams, and we sit glued to the screen, with our finger on the remote control that gives us the power to control what we see. The song's lyrics then suggest that television becomes an obsession to a point that it becomes ingrained in our heads, and we can't escape its impact on our psyche, even when we're in the bathroom or in bed.
The final stanza of the lyrics emphasizes the overwhelming power of television, urging the listeners to turn it on and turn it off repeatedly, as though trying to break free of its grip. The message of the song is that TV has become an addiction, and it's affecting our lives in ways we may not even realize.
Line by Line Meaning
In your houses late at night
At night, when you are in your houses.
Sit down cousy kill that light
Get comfortable, turn off the lights.
Watch a movie watch a fight
Watch movies and fights on TV.
Feeling safe as well you might
Feeling safe is possible when watching TV.
When you dream in black and white
When you dream, it can be in black and white because of the influence of what you see on TV.
It can only happen
The things that happen on TV can only happen on TV.
On TV
This phrase is repeated throughout the song emphasizing that everything they are singing about only occurs on TV.
In the bathroom in your bed
You can even watch TV in the bathroom or in bed.
Wall to wall we're in your head
The things you see on TV can fill your mind and thoughts wall to wall.
Finger on remote control
With the remote control, you can easily change what you watch on TV.
We are wired to your soul
TV programming can influence and affect what is deep in your soul.
We got idols we got dreams
On TV, there are people and things that are idolized and dreams that can be put on screen.
Keep your eyes fixed on the screen
Do not take your eyes away from the TV screen.
Squeeze your life there in between
Try to fit your entire life between the TV programming you watch.
Ecstasy for you and me
Watching TV can be a shared pleasure and satisfaction.
Here at home on your TV
You can watch and experience everything on TV from the comfort of your own home.
Turning up the volume ''cause it's blowing up your head
Increase the volume on TV, it can feel like it is filling and taking over your entire head.
Look at your eyes they're going red
Watching too much TV can make your eyes tired and red.
Turn it on!
Turn on the TV.
Turn it off!
Turn off the TV.
Turn it on!
Turn on the TV.
Turn it off!
Turn off the TV.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HORN, BRUCE WOOLEY, ROD THOMPSON, TREVOR HORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
EYTPS
Please upload more Buggles clips!
Bob William
Well lads... I feel like listening to a symbiosis of Kraftwerk/80'sYES/ThePolice while playing old video games... damn, never felt so good!
Anthony Clark
If you don't love Trevor Horne, you don't love music.
Paul Williams
For the record its "Trevor Horn"
Without the letter E @ the end Dopey ;(
And secondly i have always admired "Trevor Horn,s" music
Since 1979 , just don't like the way his Production company Treated FGTH in the early days!
Just Sayin......................................................................
Lona Andersen
Love this - thanks for posting ;-)You have to turn it up LOUD lol
MrKayley10
Does anyone know who the people in the video are apart from Trevor? Thanks!
Paul Souranis
The British Kraftwerk LOL
Paul
Is that Hans Zimmer on the right?
Michele Laraia
I absolutely think so.
Michele Laraia
Ivan Graziani inglese che fa elettropop