Throughout the band's history, members have regularly been replaced, with the only constant member being the band's founder, singer and guitarist Ginger. Several band members have appeared in the line-up more than once. The band has also been split up or placed on hiatus by Ginger multiple times. In the 2010s, the band convened occasionally for various anniversary tours. A 2018 anniversary tour by the band's 1995 lineup led to a return to the studio. They released a new album in 2019 after a ten-year hiatus. Their most recent album, 21st Century Love Songs, was released in September 2021.
Current line-up:
Ginger - vocals, guitar (1989β1997, 1998, 1999, 2001β2004, 2005, 2006β2009, 2012βpresent)
CJ - guitar, vocals (1989β1994, 2001β2004, 2005, 2006β2009, 2012βpresent)
Ritch Battersby - drums (1993β1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006β2009, 2012βpresent)
Danny McCormack - bass, vocals (1991β1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002β2003, 2005, 2018βpresent)
Discography
Earth vs the Wildhearts (1993)
P.H.U.Q. (1995)
Fishing for Luckies (1996)
Endless, Nameless (1997)
The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed (2003)
The Wildhearts (2007)
Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before Vol. 1 (2008)
Β‘Chutzpah! (2009)
Renaissance Men (2019)
21st Century Love Songs (2021)
http://www.thewildhearts.com
Vanilla Radio
The Wildhearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn the radio down, down
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
Down with the music go round
Down with the music go round, now
(Vanilla Radio) woah-oh
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
Vanilla Radio
You're lost in the audio
(I want my radio)
Where's my Elvis? (x8)
All that the kids will allow
All that the kids will allow now
(Vanilla Radio) woah-oh
So turn the radio down
Turn the radio down, down
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
Vanilla Radio
You're lost in the audio
(I want my radio)
Where's my Elvis? (x8)
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
Vanilla Radio
You're lost in the audio
(I want my radio)
Where's my Elvis? (x8)
The Wildheartsβ song Vanilla Radio is a powerful protest against the homogenization of popular music. The lyrics express a deep dissatisfaction with the lack of diversity and creativity in contemporary music. The opening line, βTurn the radio down,β sets the tone for the entire song as a call to turn away from the bland, generic music that is being played. The repetition of the words βVanilla Radioβ reinforce the sense of sameness that the song is railing against. The singer of the song describes being βlost in the audio,β which suggests a kind of hypnosis or spell that the music has cast over the masses, impeding them from thinking critically about what theyβre consuming. The repeated plea for βWhereβs my Elvis?β serves as an invocation for a return to the roots of rock and roll, to a time when music was raw, passionate, and full of personality.
The song expresses an important cultural critique that resonates beyond the indie rock world. It confronts the pervasive commercialism and superficiality that have come to define contemporary popular music. The song boldly demands more from our artists and seeks to challenge the status quo of the music industry. The Wildhearts' lyrics emphasize the importance of individuality and creativity in music, concepts that are often overlooked in the push for conformity and marketability. Ultimately, the song ends with a sense of hope and defiance as the band continues to push for a more diverse and dynamic music world.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn the radio down
Lower the volume of the radio
Turn the radio down, down
Lower the volume of the radio even more
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
Down with the music go round
Reject the repetitiveness of mainstream music
Down with the music go round, now
Reject the repetitiveness of mainstream music immediately
(Vanilla Radio) woah-oh
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
Vanilla Radio
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
You're lost in the audio
You're so consumed by the music that you're not paying attention to anything else
(I want my radio)
I want to listen to music but not the generic type that's being played
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
All that the kids will allow
The type of music being played is what's currently popular and acceptable among young people
All that the kids will allow now
The type of music being played is what's currently popular and acceptable among young people, and only that
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
Vanilla Radio
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
You're lost in the audio
You're so consumed by the music that you're not paying attention to anything else
(I want my radio)
I want to listen to music but not the generic type that's being played
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
Vanilla Radio woah-oh
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
Vanilla Radio
The type of music being played is generic and uninteresting
You're lost in the audio
You're so consumed by the music that you're not paying attention to anything else
(I want my radio)
I want to listen to music but not the generic type that's being played
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Where's my Elvis?
Where's the unique and quality music that we used to have?
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Craig MacDonald
One of the most underrated British bands of all time
Richard Munro
Absolutely with you brother
Ray Elliott
Criminally underrated.
Steve Wingate
Thank fuck for the Wildhearts - been a fan since '93. Best fuckin' band on the planet - full stop!
Mike R
Amen to that
Minihoggers 007
Abso-bloody-lutely
Arfa Tunn
Cracking tune!!! The definition of a British Rock band getting it spot on!!!
adrct
I have just found this band, so many years after their heyday. Life's good. They should have been more popular.
Mike R
Who's still loving the Wildhearts in 2020? I fucking am!
S C
and in 2022