Mexican Radio - Wall of Voodoo, 1982

 
 

I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
And the touch of a world that is older
I turn the switch and check the number
I leave it on when in bed I slumber
I hear the rhythms of the music
I buy the product and never use it
I hear the talking of the DJ
Can't understand just what does he say?

I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio

I dial it in and tune the station
They talk about the U.S. inflation
I understand just a little
No comprende, it's a riddle

I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio

I wish I was in Tijuana
Eating barbequed iguana
I'd take requests on the telephone
I'm on a wavelength far from home
I feel a hot wind on my shoulder
I dial it in from south of the border
I hear the talking of the DJ
Can't understand just what does he say?

I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio

Radio radio...

I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio
I'm on a Mexican radio

What does he say?

 
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Wall of Voodoo was a L. A. based group started by Stan Ridgeway in 1977. His unsuccessful film score business, Acme Soundtracks, was the inspiration for the new band fusing synthesizer New Wave and spaghetti western style music. The band enjoyed moderate success until Ridgeway left for a solo career in 1983.

The band's name came from Ridgeway's attempted comparason to Phil Spector's famous Wall of Sound productions. A friend commented that it sounded more like a Wall of Voodoo....

The inspiration for Mexican Radio was the outlaw stations south of the border. Starting back before WWII, there were a series of unregulated, high-wattage Mexican radio stations along the U.S. border. Using up to one million watts (20 times higher than allowed in America), these stations were heard around the world. Taking advantage of being outside U.S. broadcast laws, various individuals used these stations for their own political and religious ends, and in the case of Wolfman Jack, kick-start their D. J. careers.

Connections: Wolfman Jack was featured in various songs, including this 50s-tribute.