The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
Video Killed the Radio Star
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lyin' awake intent on tuning in on you
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through
oh a oh
They took the credit for your second symphony
Rewritten by machine on new technology
And now I understand the supernova scene
oh a oh
oh-a-oh
What did you tell them?
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Pictures came and broke your heart,
we can't rewind we've gone too far
Whoa!
Oh, aoh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, aoh, oh, oh, oh
And now we meet in an abandoned studio
You hear the playback and it seems so long ago
And you remember, the jingles used to go,
oh a oh
You were the first one
oh a oh
You were the last one
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Pictures came and broke your heart,
we can't rewind we've gone too far
Too far!
Oh, aoh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, aoh, oh, oh, oh
Alright
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Pictures came and broke your heart,
We can't rewind we've gone too far
Pictures came and broke your heart
Put all the blame on VCR
You are, the radio star
You are, the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed that radio star, yes it did
The song "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Presidents of the United States of America is a cover of the original song by The Buggles. The first verse of the song talks about the radio being the main medium to transmit music and how in 1952, the singer heard the music through his "wireless." The next line, "If I was young it didn't stop you coming through," suggests that age was not a barrier to enjoying music through the radio. The song then jumps to a supernova scene, which might be a reference to the technology and changes that occur in the recording industry.
The second verse talks about a visit to an abandoned studio where old jingles were playing back as if it was "so long ago." The mention of jingles is a nod to the radio industry, where jingles and sponsored station IDs were broadcast frequently. The line "You were the first one," references the singer's first meeting with the radio star, and "You were the last one" hints at the star's possible downfall in the face of new technology. The chorus repeats the statement that "video killed the radio star" and highlights the inescapable impact of technology that has caused the shift from radio to television. The final lines repeat the statement that video killed the radio star and end the song on that note.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard you on my wireless back in '52
I listened to you on my radio in 1952
Lyin' awake intent on tuning in on you
I was lying awake trying to find your station
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through
Even though I was young, I could still listen to your music
They took the credit for your second symphony
Someone else was credited for your music
Rewritten by machine on new technology
Your music was remade using new technology
And now I understand the supernova scene
Now I understand how famous you were
I met your children
I met your offspring
What did you tell them?
What did you say to your children?
Video killed the radio star
The advent of music videos made radio less important
Pictures came and broke your heart,
Images replaced the feeling and emotion in your music
we can't rewind we've gone too far
We can't go back in time to fix this
Whoa!
Interjection to emphasize the point above
And now we meet in an abandoned studio
We meet here because the music scene has changed so much
You hear the playback and it seems so long ago
Listening to old music feels like an eternity ago
And you remember, the jingles used to go,
You remember when your music was famous and catchy
You were the first one
You were the first to be famous through music
You were the last one
You were the last to be famous through music before things changed
Pictures came and broke your heart,
Images replaced the feeling and emotion in your music
we can't rewind we've gone too far
We can't go back in time to fix this
Too far!
Interjection to emphasize the point above
Put all the blame on VCR
Blaming the VCR for the video revolution
You are, the radio star
You were the star of the radio era
Video killed that radio star, yes it did
Videos really did make radio less important
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Geoffrey Downes, Trevor Charles Horn, Bruce Woolley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@btsballin_n_cant_get_up1289
Lyrics:
I heard you on my wireless back in '52
Lying awake intent on tuning in on you
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through
Oh oh
They took the credit for your second symphony
Rewritten by machine on new technology
And now I understand the supernova scene
Oh oh
I met the children
Oh oh
What did you tell them
Video killed the radio star (x2)
In my mind and in my car
We can't rewind we've gone too far
And now we meet in an abandoned studio
You hear the playback and it seems so long ago
And you remember the jingles used to go
Oh oh
You were the first one
Oh oh
You were the last one
Video killed the radio star (x2)
In my mind and in my car
We can't rewind we've gone too far
Too far!
Alright
Video killed the radio star (x2)
It's my mind and in my car
We can't rewind we've gone too far
Pictures came and broke your heart
So put all the blame on this VCR
You are radio star (x2)
Video killed the radio star (x7)
Yes video killed that radio star, yes it did
@freshenigma9635
I heard you on my wireless back in '52
Lying awake, intent at tuning in on you
If I was young, it didn't stop you coming through
Oh-a, oh-a
They took the credit for your second symphony
Rewritten by machine and new technology
And now I understand the problems you can see
Oh-a oh-a
I met your children
Oh-a oh-a
What did you tell them?
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Pictures came and broke your heart
Oh-a-a-a oh
And now we meet in an abandoned studio
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago
And you remember the jingles used to go
Oh-a oh-a
You were the first one
Oh-a oh-a
You are the last one
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
In my mind and in my car
We can't rewind, we've gone too far
Oh-a-aho oh
Oh-a-aho oh
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
In my mind and in my car
We can't rewind, we've gone too far
Pictures came and broke your heart
Put the blame on VCR
You are a radio star
You are a radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
Video killed the radio star
@kevinswift8654
My interpretation of this song. Of course, leaving this on the POTUS version, because I was born in '91 and this is the version that I identify with:
"I don't remember when I first heard this version of the song, but it was definitely when I was young. Maybe it was in The Wedding Singer? But, no matter where it was, it has always meant something to me. I was never really able to put my finger on it until today.
So we all know what this is about on the surface. New technology came and killed the old. Well, I was just thinking today... we're all sort of the "radio stars" in our own lives. What ever happened to that 12 year old kid who use to rock out to this song on his iPod mini? "If I was young, it didn't stop you comin' through!"
Well, that 12 year old kid has been "killed" by the new 27 year old me. The old me is no more. The "radio star" is gone.
So this song isn't just about the advance of technology... it's about the inevitable march forward of TIME.
This song, for me, brings up nostalgia, and maybe sadness for the loss of an innocence that once was. But at the same time, it's delivered in such a way that makes you wanna say... damn, it's been a wild ride. And it still IS a wild ride. Let's keep the march going. Let's mourn the past and cherish it for what it was... but let's keep this thing moving forward.
It captures all those emotions and feeling for me. Perhaps that's why the song is so timeless."
@VinnyH4158
Netflix killed the blockbuster star
@FloppyRodrigo
Netflix killed the video store
@lonelypotato520
VinTheGamer Netflix killed my productivity
@arizonaFIREent
VinTheGamer haha yes they did!!! and Go Celtics!!!
@ramdev4537
It sure did, Adam Sandler
@lumox7
Amazon killed Sears, Monkey Ward, Borders Books, Circuit City, Best Buy, Toys Are Us, K Mart, Barnes & Noble, Radio Shack Many Large Shopping Malls, ETC.
@Reyaar
This is easily my favorite version of this song. <3 this band.
@EzraThompsonkizbee
lol i was hoping someone would say that
@johnvrolijk2582
I second that.
@Vincent-2057
yeah, not heard this cover before. it's rather good though