The Selecter, a ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in the late… Read Full Bio ↴The Selecter, a ska revival band from Coventry, England, formed in the late 1970s as one of the essential bands of the British ska movement. The profilic lead singer is Pauline Black. The Selecter are known for hits as 'On My Radio', 'Too Much Pressure', 'Missing Words', 'Three Minute Hero' and 'Celebrate The Bullet'. The Selecter featured a racially mixed line up, and the name of the band is a reference to the Jamaican word for a music selecter, known elsewhere as the DJ.
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The Selecter are a British ska revival band from Coventry, formed in the late 1970s as one of the essential bands of the British ska movement.

Much of what set apart The Selecter from many of the other ska bands at the time was the voice of Pauline Black. She had to disguise herself as a man in order for the band to get gigs, but once they did, there was no disguising her voice. Like other ska bands of this movement, The Selecter featured a racially mixed line up, and songs about violence, politics, marijuana, a fictional spy's theme song, James Bond, and reggae classics. The name of the band is a reference to the Jamaican word for a music selecter, known elsewhere as the DJ. Also typical to the style is the mix of one vocalist singing, and the other toasting in a Jamaican style, a precursor to rapping.

The Selecter's first recording Too Much Pressure was recorded at the end of 1979 and beginning of 1980 and issued on the pre-eminent 2 Tone/Chrysalis label. Their second recording Celebrate the Bullet was issued in 1981. Though the band has continued to regroup and reform on and off, most of the many recordings available are recompiled selections from these first two albums, either live or studio recordings. The Selecter's first two albums are essential British ska recordings.

Pauline Black has been the singer in The Selecter since its formation in 1979 when the band spearheaded the Two Tone movement alongside The Specials releasing the singles "The Selecter", "Three Minute Hero", "The Whisper", "Missing Words" and "On My Radio" as well as two albums; "Too Much Pressure" and "Celebrate The Bullet". The Selecter were also featured in the cult film Dance Craze. The band split in 1982, Pauline carved out a career in TV and theatre, appearing in dramas like The Vice, The Bill, Hearts and Minds and 2000 Acres of Sky. She won the 1991 Time Out award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in the play All or Nothing At All and starred next to Christopher Lee in the schlock horror film The Funny Man. She reformed The Selecter in 1991 and has released several new albums and has toured all over the world.

Nick Welsh is probably best known for being the bassist in The Selecter and formerly Bad Manners but he has worked with some of the biggest names in Ska and Reggae, Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, Rico Rodriguez, Dave Barker and most recently Lee "Scratch" Perry with whom he received a Grammy Award Certificate for his work on the CD Jamaican ET which won The Best Reggae Category in 2002. Nick also writes music for TV which has been used world-wide on shows as diverse as WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), The Osbournes and even adverts for Ariel soap powder.

Neol Davies the founder and writer of the classic hits returns with a brand new band in 2010.

neoldaviesakatheselecter plays the mainstage at Bestival 2011 with new album and remixes.

Original line-up

Pauline Black : vocals
Compton Amanor: guitar
Charley Anderson: bass guitar
Charley Bembridge: drums
Desmond Brown: Hammond keyboard
Neol Davies: guitar
Arthur Hendrickson: vocals

Anderson and Brown left The Selecter in 1980. They were replaced by James Mackie: Hammond organ and Adam Williams: bass guitar

Reformed line-up: 1991

Pauline Black: vocals
Neol Davies: guitar
Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson - vocals
Martin Stewart: keyboards
Nick Welsh : bass
Perry Melius : drums

The Selecter 2010 lineup includes

Founder and songwriter Neol Davies- vocals/guitars
Lead Vocals- John Gibbons
Daniel Crosby- Drums
Andre Buyani- Bass
Tim Cansfield- Guitar
Victor Travino- Congas & Percussion
Dean Ross- Hammond Organ
Selecter Horns

On My Radio '91
The Selecter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Someone who loves me switched the radio on
Someone who loves me

Someone who loves me switched the radio on
Someone who loves me switched the radio on
Someone who loves me switched the radio on
Someone who loves me

I bought my baby a red radio
He played it all day a-go-go a-go-go
He liked to dance to it down in the streets
He said he loved me but he loved the beat

But when I switch on I rotate the dial
I could see it there driving him so wild
I bought my baby a red radio
He said he loved me but he had to go

It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
On my radio on my radio on my radio

I bought my baby a red radio
He played it all day a-go-go a-go-go
He liked to dance to it down in the streets
He said he loved me but he loved the beat

It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
On my radio on my radio on my radio

It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
On my radio on my radio on my radio

Someone who loves me switched the radio on
Someone who loves me switched the radio on
Someone who loves me switched the radio on
Someone who loves me

It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio
It's just the same old show on my radio

I bought my baby a red radio
A red radio a-go-go a-go-go
A red radio I rotate the dial
A red radio driving him so wild

I bought my baby a red radio
A red radio a-go-go a-go-go

A red radio I rotate the dial
A red radio driving him so wild

Overall Meaning

The Selecter's song "On My Radio" is a commentary on the power and ubiquity of broadcast media, and the ways in which it can both unite and divide us. The first verse celebrates the personal connection that the radio can create, with the repeated refrain of "Someone who loves me switched the radio on." It suggests that the radio is a way for individuals to share their love and taste in music with each other. The next verse introduces a romantic story of a woman who bought her lover a red radio, which he enjoyed dancing to in the streets. However, she soon realizes that the radio's repetitive programming has become a source of frustration and ultimately drove him away, as "he said he loved me but he had to go."

The song's chorus expresses the frustration and sense of sameness that can come from listening to the radio too much, with the repeated refrain of "It's just the same old show on my radio." The final verse again brings together the personal and the societal, suggesting that the medium of broadcast radio can both divide and unite us: "A red radio driving him so wild." The lyrics suggest that radio is a powerful tool for communication and connection, but also a source of repetition and ennui.

Overall, the song can be interpreted as a commentary on the power of media to shape our tastes and our relationships, and the need for individual agency and diversity in our cultural consumption.

Line by Line Meaning

Someone who loves me switched the radio on
A person who cares for me turned on the radio

I bought my baby a red radio
I purchased a red radio for my lover

He played it all day a-go-go a-go-go
He listened to it continuously with enthusiasm

He liked to dance to it down in the streets
He enjoyed moving his body to the music outside

He said he loved me but he loved the beat
He claimed to have affection for me, but was more fascinated with the rhythm

But when I switch on I rotate the dial
Whenever I turn it on, I change the channel

I could see it there driving him so wild
It was evident that it was arousing extreme excitement in him

He said he loved me but he had to go
He professed his love for me, but had to leave for some reason

It's just the same old show on my radio
The programming on my radio is unchanging and repetitive

Someone who loves me switched the radio on
A person who loves me turned on the radio

A red radio a-go-go a-go-go
A lively red radio that gives off an energetic vibe