Music Monday – Version Control: Radar Love

This Music Monday I’m doing my first “Version Control”.  [I’m not really controlling anything other than which versions of the songs and the videos I add, but the name was cooler than others I could come up with.]  Version Control will consist of me picking a song that has multiple versions, posting those versions (in video format), maybe discuss what I like/dislike each, post the lyrics, and pick the version I like best.

“Radar Love”:  I like Golden Earring’s version of this song, and, often, I prefer original versions of songs, but in this case, my favorite is White Lion’s.  I don’t recall hearing White Lion’s version of this song on the radio when it was released, but I do recall seeing the video on MTV.  Yes, I said ‘the video on MTV.’  It was 1989 and MTV hadn’t managed to completely ruin their brand yet.

Radar Love

I’ve been driving all night, my hands ‘re wet on the wheel
There’s a voice in my head that drives my heel
And my baby calls says she needs me here
And it’s half past four and I’m shifting gear

When she gets lonely and the longing gets too much
She sends a cable coming in from above
We don’t need to talk at all

We got a thing that’s called radar love
We got a wave in the air radar love

Radio’s playing some forgotten song
Brenda Lee’s “Coming on Strong”
The road has got me hypnotized
And I’m spinning into a new sunrise

When I get lonely and I’m sure I’ve had enough
She sends her comfort coming in from above
We don’t need a letter at all

We got a thing that’s called radar love
We got a line in the sky radar love

[Solo]

No more speed I ‘m almost there
Gotta keep cool now, gotta take care
Last car to pass here I go
And the line of cars goes down real slow

And the radio played some forgotten song
Brenda Lee’s “Coming on Strong”
And the newsman sang his same song
Oh, one more radar lover gone

When I get lonely and I’m sure I’ve had enough
She sends her comfort coming in from above
We don’t need a letter at all

We got a thing that’s called radar love
We got a line in the sky
We got a thing that’s called radar love
We got a thing that’s called radar love

by Golden Earring

(released 1973; peaked #1 Netherlands, #5 Germany, #7 UK, #10 Austria, #13 US Hot 100)

by White Lion

(released 1989; peaked #59 US Hot 100)

According to the Wikipedia entry for the song, a number of other bands have also recorded versions of “Radar Love”, but I’ve never heard any of them.