RADIO RIOT [Intro — Crackling vintage radio static, faint swinging piano, slap upright bass slowly emerging] [Spoken female voice through old radio filter] Testing, testing… Is anybody out there? They told me to keep it quiet… [Sharp trumpet blast] Well, THAT’S unfortunate! [Full band erupts — Furious walking bass, punchy ska guitar, explosive brass riff] [Verse 1 — Fast, cheeky rhythmic female vocals] It’s a quarter past twelve and the town’s tucked in, Got a pocket full of matches and a Cheshire grin. Everybody’s got a secret that they’re dying to keep, But the rhythm’s got a habit of disturbing the sleep. Mr. Jones on the corner wears a five-dollar crown, Mrs. Smith says she’s proper when the lights go down. Everybody plays innocent, everybody plays nice, But I heard what you did on a Saturday night! [Horns — Three sharp syncopated blasts] BAH! BAH! BA-DAH! [Pre-Chorus — Bass bouncing, clapping rhythm] Turn that dial! (What’s that sound?) Shake those walls! (Wake this town!) Got a little transmission And a BIG confession coming down! [Chorus — Huge unforgettable brass hook, powerful female harmonies] RA-DI-O! RIOT! Turn it up, don’t keep it quiet! SHAKE IT LEFT! SHAKE IT RIGHT! We’re gonna wake the dead tonight! RA-DI-O! RIOT! Everybody wanna try it! One more beat! One more night! We’re gonna set the airwaves ALIGHT! [Instrumental Hook — Screaming trumpets and baritone sax play a syncopated melody] [Verse 2 — Rapid-fire ska-pop delivery] Got a preacher on the dance floor, tapping his shoes, Got a banker in the corner singing rhythm and blues. Got the mayor in his pajamas shouting, “TURN THAT DOWN!” But his daughter stole the microphone and started dancing around! Now the clock struck one and the cops rolled in, The sergeant heard the bass and started tapping his chin. Said, “I’ve got a complaint about the racket you’re making.” I said, “Get yourself a partner, ’cause the floorboards are shaking!” [Brass stop — Spoken female voice] He said, “Ma’am, this is highly irregular.” [Slap bass — Two funky notes] I said… “Then you’re gonna LOVE the next part!” [Explosive brass fill] [Pre-Chorus — Rising horns and background shouts] Turn that dial! (What’s that sound?) Shake those walls! (Wake this town!) Every little rule they wrote Is getting turned upside down! [Chorus — Massive horns, dancing groove] RA-DI-O! RIOT! Turn it up, don’t keep it quiet! SHAKE IT LEFT! SHAKE IT RIGHT! We’re gonna wake the dead tonight! RA-DI-O! RIOT! Everybody wanna try it! One more beat! One more night! We’re gonna set the airwaves ALIGHT! [Instrumental Dance Break — 40 seconds, upright bass slapping furiously, explosive ska rhythm, trumpet and tenor sax trading fiery solos, pounding electro-swing dance beat] [Sudden silence] [Spoken female voice — Sweet and innocent] Oh dear… Did I wake you? [Whisper] Good. [Half-Time Breakdown — Deep double bass, finger snaps, reggae-influenced ska guitar, smoky jazz vocal] [Bridge] You can lock every door, You can turn out every light. You can tell the whole world To behave and be polite. But you can’t stop a heartbeat, Can’t keep thunder in a jar. And you can’t make a dancer Forget who they are. [Background harmonies — Gradually building] (Ooh, let it roll…) (Ooh, lose control…) [Spoken female voice] Ladies and gentlemen… For your listening pleasure… THE WHOLE DAMN BAND! [Explosive full-band return — Double-time brass, pounding drums] [Final Chorus — Massive female harmonies, crowd chanting] RA-DI-O! RIOT! TURN IT UP, DON’T KEEP IT QUIET! SHAKE IT LEFT! SHAKE IT RIGHT! WE’RE GONNA WAKE THE DEAD TONIGHT! RA-DI-O! RIOT! EVERYBODY WANNA TRY IT! ONE MORE BEAT! ONE MORE NIGHT! WE’RE GONNA SET THE AIRWAVES ALIGHT! [Call and Response — Female lead versus brass section] WHO’S GOT THE RHYTHM? (WE GOT THE RHYTHM!) WHO’S GOT THE SOUND? (WE GOT THE SOUND!) WHO’S GONNA STOP US? (NOBODY IN THIS TOWN!) [Extended Outro — Roaring brass section, relentless slap upright bass, ska guitar and wild syncopated drums] [Spoken female voice through radio filter] This is your midnight transmission… No rules. No apologies. And absolutely… [Band stops] NO REFUNDS! [Final blazing horn riff — Entire band hits a perfectly synchronized ending] [Radio static fades] [End]
