Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)

You can thank Mr. David McRobie at Xenorama for my introduction to "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" by the studio group Reunion. It was on a vinyl record he sent me (remember those?), and it sort of dazzled me from the get-go.

By now, surely you have clicked the link to the fan video for the song. It's a nice little montage related to the song's content, which is chock-full of all sorts of references delivered in rapid fire style. Some writers have compared this to the rap music which was just in its embryonic development in clubs, but I just don't see it. Blondie's "Rapture" was definitely influenced by the hip hop scene, but this tune sounds more like just a coincidence to me. 1974 isn't too early for rap, but it sounds way too early for either that movement to influence "Life Is A Rock" or for the song to influence the development of the style.

Listening to this now, it strikes me as a little poignant in our day and age. More music is available than ever, but you wonder if it will ever achieve the widespread cultural status that it did back in the times the song celebrates. Will today's pop stars earn their place alongside the icons namechecked by Joey Levine in "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)"? What will the music scene be like in another 35 years? And will there be a radio to roll you?