The Spirit of Radio (Live) - Rush

WARNING: VERY LOUD! (muwahahaha)

"The Spirit of Radio" is a song first released in 1980 by popular Canadian rock band Rush on their album Permanent Waves. The song's name was inspired by Toronto radio station CFNY's catchphrase.

The song was significant in the growing popularity of the band. The band had grazed the UK Top 40 two years earlier with "Closer to the Heart", but when issued as a single in March 1980, "The Spirit of Radio" became their breakthrough hit at the time, and soon raced to No.13 in the UK singles chart.
The final lines of the song (For the words of the profits/Were written on the studio walls./Concert Hall) are an allusion to the famous lines from the Simon and Garfunkel classic "The Sound of Silence": ...the words of the prophets/Are written on the subway walls./And tenement halls.
The lyric "a question of your honesty... yeah, your honesty", where the second part is sung in a slightly lower voice (with a New York accent), is a tongue-in-cheek jab at Billy Joel and his 1978 hit "Honesty".
"The Spirit of Radio" was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, Rush's only such entry.
The song was subsequently covered by the UK alternative rock band Catherine Wheel, as an exclusive track for CFNY's second Ongoing History of New Music compilation.

In the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode "Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary", Meatwad sings the ending lyrics of the song ("of salesmen!") as well as the keyboard solo from Tom Sawyer. He also mentions Fly By Night and Geddy Lee many times.
The opening riffs of "The Spirit Of Radio" were sampled on the track "Conchita Martinez" which featured on St. Etienne's 1993 album So Tough.
The opening riff is also found in "Grade 9" by the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies on their Gordon album.
The song is sung by a choir of children in White Noise: The Light.
The song was the main influence behind the naming of the popular Long Island-based band The Radio Spirit.
In the episode "I'm With the Band" of TV series Freaks and Geeks, the opening scene features Nick Andopolis playing along with "The Spirit Of Radio" on drums in his basement with a drumset comparable to that of Neil Peart.
The song is featured at every New York Rangers home game of the 2007-2008 year, during the announcements of the team's starting lineup. Info courtesy: wikipedia.org]

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  Music

[Lefisorz]

Awesome :) i wished i was born in 1960 or something. The music now sucks

[thisdayjustbelongedt]

i dont understand how this isnt their most popular song

[thebiggestqueenfan]

But it is.. This, Tom Sawyer and Limelight are probably their most popular songs.

[JWGames]

This may be the perfect song.

[valencepegasus]

I was so close to seeing them in Tennessee next week...

[gilfurtado78]

Awesome show

[mattaki]

i saw them on this tour. it was full on badass.

[LARRYtheBRAVE]

POSITIVE energy!!!!!!!!

[paulmadryga]

Thanks for posting. Any idea which tour this is?

[Elsa Figueroa]

OMG *w* Esa guitarra suena tan bien wn ><

[Thompsongs]

....how many current live Rush concerts have you been to? They still sound great.

[Lynn Pesely]

Ya i am 13 Rush is the best band su to my new channel AllRushdrums