Year of RevRad, Part 3: "Revolution Radio"
By Lone /Apr. 16, 2017 / Comments
"Revolution Radio", the title-track and one of the first songs written for the new album, is the the focus of our Year of RevRad this month. The song was inspired by protests that Billie Joe came across while in New York in 2014. He said he joined the protests and "felt like I was on the right side of history. ... it's like something is breaking in the world".
[quote]We will be seen but not be heard
We are the songs of the disturbed
We are revolution radio
Operation no control
In the headline, my love's bullet proof
Give me cherry bombs and gasoline
Debutantes in surgery
In the headline, legalize the truth[/quote]
The song debuted on iTunes and Spotify September 8, 2016. "I was just watching this controlled chaos, and it was going and happening all over the country. I was feeling that people don't want to feel obsolete in the things that we care about. That's sort of what the song is about." - Billie Joe (Rolling Stone, Aug. 11, 2016)
Here's what our staff has to say about the song:
Matt
[quote]'Revolution Radio' is simple, down to Earth Green Day at their finest. When I think of Green Day, this is what comes to mind, in several ways. One, musically, it's straightforward power-pop/punk-rock/pop-punk (or however you want to categorize Green Day) with no frills... what they're good at. And two, it's an in your face, sociopolitical tune that Billie Joe is so good at writing.
This song is definitely one of the more catchy songs on the album and I'm looking forward to it being the next single and hearing it on the radio waves.[/quote]
Jack
"I love this, sounds kinda like if the Beatles made a punk song" - Commenter via GDA's Facebook Page.
A music video is supposed to be in the works but the only clue we have is Billie's Instagram post from the end of last year stating he's working on it. While we wait for that, you can check out the lyric video below. If you'd like to learn a little more about the song check out the music page and the discussion over at GDC. Leave your thoughts on this in the comments below.
Previous "Year of #RevRad" posts:
Part 1: "Somewhere Now"
Part 2: "Bang Bang"
[quote]We will be seen but not be heard
We are the songs of the disturbed
We are revolution radio
Operation no control
In the headline, my love's bullet proof
Give me cherry bombs and gasoline
Debutantes in surgery
In the headline, legalize the truth[/quote]
The song debuted on iTunes and Spotify September 8, 2016. "I was just watching this controlled chaos, and it was going and happening all over the country. I was feeling that people don't want to feel obsolete in the things that we care about. That's sort of what the song is about." - Billie Joe (Rolling Stone, Aug. 11, 2016)
Here's what our staff has to say about the song:
Matt
[quote]'Revolution Radio' is simple, down to Earth Green Day at their finest. When I think of Green Day, this is what comes to mind, in several ways. One, musically, it's straightforward power-pop/punk-rock/pop-punk (or however you want to categorize Green Day) with no frills... what they're good at. And two, it's an in your face, sociopolitical tune that Billie Joe is so good at writing.
This song is definitely one of the more catchy songs on the album and I'm looking forward to it being the next single and hearing it on the radio waves.[/quote]
Jack
Looking back at 'Revolution Radio' as an album, the title track should've been the lead single, in my mind. If "Bang Bang" was a statement, "Revolution Radio" is an anthem. The Clash-esque opening riff careens into lyrics that tug on your arm and beg for a change, no matter your opinion of the current political climate.
"I love this, sounds kinda like if the Beatles made a punk song" - Commenter via GDA's Facebook Page.
A music video is supposed to be in the works but the only clue we have is Billie's Instagram post from the end of last year stating he's working on it. While we wait for that, you can check out the lyric video below. If you'd like to learn a little more about the song check out the music page and the discussion over at GDC. Leave your thoughts on this in the comments below.
Previous "Year of #RevRad" posts:
Part 1: "Somewhere Now"
Part 2: "Bang Bang"
