#SLS ~ Radio Spirit

~ King Ben's Grandma

Thanks to Jim Adams, for hosting Song Lyric Sunday. In Casa Cuckoo news, I am continuing to rest and heal. Daughter went back to work Thor’sDay night. She actually got her preferred schedule of Thur, Fri, Sat nights for the rest of June. It means I only have to put Ben on the GLYSB on FriedDay mornings, and the consistent schedule will definitely help. I see my Primary Care doctor on Wren’sDay 15th for follow-up. So all is going in the right direction Healthwise. I still need to get my car fixed. The duct tape holding the bumpers on needs to be reapplied after a warm day, and it’s been getting warmer in my corner of SoCal. Luckily I don’t drive often or far. Sven seems to be in his Wonky Summer Brumation, so he’s hiding in his house, occasionally opening one eye to glare at me. Now, let’s get back to the Music, the reason we’re here.

The prompt words this week – Excitement, Pleasure, Sentiment, Spirit

I thought about using a few other songs, but chose The Spirit Of Radio by Rush because I just really like the song. Rush is a band I never got to see in concert, which kinda bums me out.

The Spirit Of Radio is from their 1980 album Permanent Waves. The song only reached #51 in US, but in UK it was #13. Writing credit goes to all three members, singer, bassist, keyboardist Geddy Lee, lead guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer Neil Peart. Peart wrote most of the lyrics for their songs.

Songfacts tells us that in the last verse, the line “The words of the profits are written on the studio wall” is a play on words. Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart wrote it as “profits” rather than “prophets” to expose the money-grubbing side of the music industry. The lyrics were included in the album and the CD.

There is actually a LOT of cool info about the three members of the band on Songfacts, but I’ll spare you the copy pasta… you’re welcome. I will add one bit of trivia that Jeff pointed out to me regarding a couple (few) of the bands I’ve chosen… Alex first met Geddy in a history class at Fisherville Junior High. That would be in Ontario, Canada.

Begin the day with a friendly voice
A companion unobtrusive
Plays that song that’s so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood

Off on your way, hit the open road
There is magic at your fingers
For the Spirit ever lingers
Undemanding contact in your happy solitude

Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antennae bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free

All this machinery making modern music
Can still be open-hearted
Not so coldly charted
It’s really just a question of your honesty, yeah
Your honesty
One likes to believe in the freedom of music
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity

Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antennae bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free

For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall
Concert hall
And echoes with the sound of salesmen…of salesmen…of salesmen.

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What song would you choose for this prompt?? Are you a Rush fan? Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see ya in comments!

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HUGS!!

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25 thoughts on “#SLS ~ Radio Spirit”

    1. Thank you Sadje! It’s moving much slower than I’d like, but I’m behaving and not pushing myself.
      The hospital may not have figured out what caused the sudden drop in hemoglobin, but they cured me of EVER wanting to be back in hospital 😂😂😂🤗🥰

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  2. Thanks for the update! I haven’t been bugging you by email, but I will once you’re better. Hehe. My view of Rush is that they wrote wonderful, intellectual lyrics… but I simply can’t stand the way they sound. Geddy’s voice is nails/chalkboard to me. Eesh!

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    1. You don’t have to wait… bug me any time!! I seem to be spending a LOT of time sitting around. The girls are still “restricting” my activities 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️ And I’m still allowing them to think they have ANY say in the matter😉🤣🤣🤣

      That sucks about Geddy’s voice, but I get it. Kate Bush does the same thing to me🤷🏼‍♀️
      💗🦋🎶

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  3. Ooh, this is a wonderful choice. And it’s new to me! Can you imagine growing up to make music with someone you knew when you were 11?? Wow. Many hugs and thanks for the music 🎶💫🤗

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    1. I wish I could make music period!😂😂😂 My partial hearing loss, or genetics, makes me so tone deaf it hurts MY ears to hear me sing. I imagine that I’d never be able to get or keep an instrument in tune either🤷🏼‍♀️
      I’ll just have to continue being a Music Appreciator😂😂
      🧚‍♀️🦋🎶🥳💃🏼

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  4. I would not classify myself as being a big fan of Rush, but all of their songs that I know, I like a lot, the problem is that I don’t know many. They had a very loyal following before Pert died and the band ended, and their followers would sing along with every song, which must have been really nice.

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    1. I’m not a mega fan, like with Led Zeppelin or Green Day, but Rush, along with Journey & ACDC were always on the radio or someone was playing a record from about age 11 or 12 on… they’re one of those “Soundtrack Of My Life” bands.

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  6. So my knee-jerk reaction is to say no, I don’t like Rush, but that probably isn’t fair because the only song I can name is Tom Sawyer. I actually know this song from years of listening to rock radio, and after listening to it, I can say I liked it, although that “Rush sound” and the singing voice would certainly get old for me after a while. I think the Simon and Garfunkel nod (or maybe slam) is brilliant. Eli and I have this conversation frequently. He listens to lots of 70s rock, which I was rebelling against at that time–I was influenced by an alternative radio station from the DC area that focused on bands like the Dead, CSNY, Thorogood, and the growing punk and new wave movements. There are a lot of bands/songs that I discount without really listening and giving a fair chance. Now I’m starting to grow more respect for those bands. If I were playing, I’d be tempted to write about smells like teen spirit and Nirvana and how it was difficult for me to accept such a mainstream band as the face of punk. I’m sure that would have come off as pretty obnoxious so it’s probably just as well that I’m not playing the game. Glad you’re healing and things are getting ‘back to normal’.

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    1. I’m sure you know a LOT of Rush songs. You’re not the only one who has issue with Geddy Lee’s voice. He reminds me of Jon Anderson of Yes. Rush is one of those “soundtrack” bands for me… always playing in the background.
      I was fortunate that we had a great Rock radio station and a rare New Wave/Alternative radio station, so I had access to both, plus MTV. The 80s, and early 90s were a time of music saturation for me.

      I was anti Nirvana😂😂😂 I always go against stuff that “Everybody Loves”🤷🏼‍♀️ just one of my Things😂 I like their stuff more now, but still think Pearl Jam was/is a better “Grunge” band.

      I couldn’t believe it when I read that Alex & Geddy went to school together. 😂😂😂 I thought “Jeff will get a kick outta this”

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  7. What are the chances of The Spirit of Rado showing up twice. As is the case I will post the smae comments here as I did for the first entry…

    Rush was by far my favorite band growing up. I remember hanging out by Metalworks studio in the band’s hometown of Mississauga, Ontario just to get a glimpse of Rush when they were recording there.
    The song Spirit of Radio was written as an ode to a small local radio station 102.1 CNFY-FM with roots in Brampton, Ontario. The station played Rush songs early on in its career when many of the major stations wouldn’t. CFNY would go on to become The Edge, one of a handful of influential Alternative Rock stations across the globe. If you are ever looking for a great music-based podcast, check out “The Ongoing History of New Music” by Alan Cross. There is likely an episode or two on Rush in there somewhere too.

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    1. Awesome! I didn’t get to see all the SLS posts, who else was on my wavelength??
      I was very lucky that I live in an area San Diego, California area, that had a great “Rock” station, and in 1983, a great “Alternative/New Wave” station. As I wrote in another comment, add in MTV and I was saturated with all kinds of new music along with old classics.

      The Alternative/New Wave station had fallen into the trap that all the corporate radio stations follow. They’ve always been an independent station, and recently they decided to dump the corporate formula and get back to their roots… playing whatever they want to play, and everyone is LOVING it!! We Gen-X and older are stoked to hear old favorites, and the younger generations are discovering music that’s new to them. Oh, that station is 91X in San Diego. They run some pretty cool special programing too… Local bands, a reggae program, and a B-sides, “deep cuts” of albums, more complete dive into some records or bands.

      I’m still bummed that out of ALL the concerts I’ve been to, I somehow missed Rush☹️

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        1. Yes. Remember that they had me drink a gallon of golytely, then nothing by mouth… no water, no nothing, then after the gunk cleaned me out (into a bedside commode… with a roommate🤦🏼‍♀️) I had a colonoscopy AND an endoscopy… double violation. They were forever coming to draw blood, had to move my IV cuz the 1st one was in a bad spot, the nurses didn’t want to give me my pain meds or sleeping med… the usual ones that I take at home… cuz the dosage made them uncomfortable 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️…

          It was a relatively short stay, but it was chock full of unpleasantness!! And now the bills are coming in🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ Even with Medicare which is Federal Government Insurance, the total I owe so far is just shy of $10,000. I hope they’ll take $50/month cuz that’s about all I can afford🙄🤦🏼‍♀️

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