The Return of Roxanne

New Music

Not many bands can say they are releasing their third album thirty-five years after their debut. Originally formed in the late 80’s, “Roxanne” garnered commercial success with their 1988 self-titled debut album which was well received with two songs charting on rock radio in the US; Cherry Bay and Sweet Maria, as well as a cover of the “Wild Cherry” song Play That Funky Music.

“Roxanne” has returned with Stereo typical. Released last month it is their first album in five years and features ten new songs. Only a Call Away, a ballad on the album featuring the vocals of dUg Pinnick from the band “King’s X,” is new this week on RadiJohan. It is a song about friendship and the importance of spending time with the ones who matter most while you can.

Nothing Compares To U

Flashback

On the 20th of March 1990 Sinead O’Connor released her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got. The album’s second single, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” written by Prince, became a worldwide hit and propelled her to stardom. The song topped charts in O’Connor’s native Ireland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Geronimo!!! Sheppard are Back!

New Music

One of Australia’s most successful musical exports, with millions of record sales and over a billion streams worldwide, are back! “Sheppard,” formed in 2009, have released Good Time, the first single from the band’s upcoming fourth studio album. The song has an undeniable singalong chorus that will soon be lodged in the heads of millions of people around the world.

In the midst of all that’s been happening in the world, the band wanted to write a pop song that lifts spirits and encourages enjoying good times with those who matter most. They may well have succeeded. Sheppard’s Good Time is new this week on RadiJohan.

RadiJohan Top 10 on 18 March 2023

Top 10
TWLWArtistTitle
10NewIan HunterBed of Roses
9NewThe Interrupters ft The SkintsLove Never Dies
8NewLyrreCall In The Wind
7NewInhalerIf You’re Gonna Break My Heart
610RiversideFriend or Foe
54Belle and SebastianI Don’t Know What You See In Me
45Those Damn CrowsThis Time I’m Ready
31Six60Never Been Tonight
23Noel Gallagher’s High Flying BirdsEasy Now
12DMA’sFading Like a Picture

Watch this week’s Top 10 by clicking the play button below.

Where There Is Smoke…

Flashback

In 1963 “Peter, Paul and Mary” released the single, Puff The Magic Dragon. The song was written by Peter (Yarrow) based on a 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton. The lyrics tell the story of an ageless dragon named Puff and his friend, a young boy named Jackie Paper. Sadly, as Jackie grows up, he loses interest in Puff, leaving him to be alone.

Through the years, controversy has surrounded this song. It was banned by a number of radio stations whose management thought that the song was about smoking marijuana. The American folk trio denied this . Yarrow has frequently explained that the song is about the hardships of growing older and has no relationship to drug-taking. He has also said that the song has “never had any meaning other than the obvious one” and is about the “loss of innocence in children.” Mary Travers, who along with Yarrow and Paul Stookey made the song famous, said, “Believe me, if he (Yarrow) wanted to write a song about marijuana, he would have written a song about marijuana.”

Peter, Paul and Mary recorded a dozen hits that charted between 1962 and 1969. Other hits included their versions of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind and, their biggest hit, John Denver’s Leaving on a Jet Plane.

Delain Returns From The Shadow

New Music

“Delain” are a Dutch Symphonic metal band formed in 2002 by former “Within Temptation” keyboardist “Martijn Westerholt.” The band’s name comes from the Kingdom of Delain in Stephen King’s novel The Eyes of the Dragon. A major shake-up in 2021 saw all band members, except it’s founder, Westerholt, quit the band. A few months later, Westerholt announced that there would be a new lineup involving former and new members.

Delain’s new line up recently released the band’s 7th studio album, Dark Waters. Their latest single, Queen of Shadow, is new this week on RadiJohan.

Adam’s Got Getting Older Covered

New Music

Adam Lambert’s latest album, High Drama, is a collection of covers. RadiJohan recently featured Adam’s version of Duran Duran’s 1993 classic, Ordinary World.

“The idea came up to do an album of covers, and I haven’t done that before,” Adam said. “Some are obscure, some are new, some are really well-known.”

Getting Older, the latest single to be released of High Drama, is a glam rendition of a song by Billie Eilish which lyrically explores the complexities of getting older, harnessed by Adam Lambert’s outstanding vocal talent. In the video for the song he uses makeup and prosthetics to transform into an older version of himself, complete with wrinkles and gray hair.

Getting Older by Adam Lambert is new this week on RadiJohan.

RadiJohan Top 10 on 11 March 2023

Top 10
TWLWArtistTitle
10NewRiversideFriend or Foe
910Cat BurnsPeople Pleaser
84KrezipIn The Water
71TenThe Tidal Wave
63RouletteReady For Friday Night
58Those Damn CrowsThis Time I’m Ready
49Belle and SebastianI Don’t Know What You See In Me
36Noel Gallagher’s High Flying BirdsEasy Now
25DMA’sFading Like a Picture
12Six60Never Been Tonight

Watch this week’s Top 10 by clicking the play button below.

You Might As Well Jump!

Flashback

This week in 1984 Jump by “Van Halen” was the number one song in the USA.

Although “Jump” is a fairly lighthearted rock single, in January 2010 a DJ who played it at an “inappropriate time” found himself in hot water. The song was requested by a driver stuck in traffic on the M60 motorway, and played by the DJ, who came under fire because the delay in traffic had been caused by police closing several lanes of the motorway while attempting to talk down a woman who was threatening to jump from a bridge. After nearly nine hours, she did indeed jump, shortly after the song was played. Amazingly she survived, albeit with serious leg injuries.

Manfred’s Man turns 75

Flashback

Singer and guitarist Chris Thompson celebrates his birthday today. Chris was born in England but raised in New Zealand and is known both for his work with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, specifically for his lead vocal on the classic hit Blinded By the Light and for his solo accomplishments.

Blinded By the Light was written by Bruce Springsteen for his album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. but it was Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s cover that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in February 1977 and was also a top ten hit in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.