"The Spirit Of Radio"

I love song that pays tribute to music and that explains the love for music:)

so the song "The Spirit Of Radio" by Rush was released in 1980 on the album "Permanent Waves".

The song talks about the music industry, in general. It's saying that music can be a wonderful form of expression, and can make life better, when made for the right reasons.

"Begin the day with a friendly voice,
A companion unobtrusive
Plays the song that's so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood."
this first part really talks about how music can make your day if you waking up and hearing the DJ's voice on the radio and then music start playing and you feel so happy. This have happened to me countless times:)

The song is also saying that the music industry can ruin music. It can fill people with the wish to make music solely for money, for profit, and no other reason.
the last line:
"and the words of the profits were written on the studio hall
and echoes with the sounds of salesmen"
it's that this makes many musicians compromise their art, their music, for the money.
"glittering prizes and endless compromises" It's also saying that it doesn't need to be this way, "it's really just a matter of your honesty". It's up to the musicians to make the music for the right reasons.

it's the horrid truth of what music has come down to: money/fame/profit. The song explains music doesn't have to be this way it shouldn't be about this. The chorus...
"Invisible airwaves crackle with life
Bright antenna bristle with the energy
Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free."
that there explains the beauty of music. It's invisible air waves but yet music means so much to people. It shouldn't be about the price of money, but about the passion of music, the love for music, the freedom they get, but mostly how it affects them as a person and their fans...these things are priceless...

"...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...."
I think this part is for all those who think capitalism & technology are at fault for any decline in "soul" music might have. Music can have soul regardless of the medium involved, and money can even be made off of it if done with honesty and integrity.

"One likes to believe in the freedom of music,
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity."
This statement describes many many artists in the music industry, they begin with integrity, but then lose it by "selling out".... they have lost their integrity, artists such as Brittany Spears, Ashlee Simpson. They and many more have proven the point that musicians seeking "glittering prizes" will end up with "endless compromises" ultimately end up "shattering" their careers and loosing many of their once adoring fans.

I can just say that this is what music should be about: the freedom, life, emotions and a gift beyond price...

No music, No Life...