Video resurrected the radio star.

Video not only demolished the music industry's original process of hit-making, but elevated the artist's opportunity to become recognized. Video crucified the radio star. However, it also revitalized them. Even in the digital age, we can easily point out the radio star's resurgence process. The radio star eventually became their "own personal Jesus" in the sense that they were ultimately resurrected by video's enhancement powers (not to mention the nearly literal "Rock n' Roll Jesus" effect).

Photo by: mojicollo

It was The Buggles' groundbreaking "Video Killed the Radio Star" that first aired on MTV. The symbolical "kill" originates in the fact that rock video would forever transform the radio star. "The title and lyrics of that video are at once prophetic and paradoxical." [Williams, K. (2003) Why I [Still] Want My MTV] Music video would now become the new experience of not only listening, but seeing music happen. Music video was essentially in radio format, but a televised form of video. This televised form is what ultimately made it such a paradox. Today we see some of our favorite artists writing, directing, and producing their own music videos. Take Lady Gaga's music video "Born This Way" into account. We've come to an age of time where artists can use their groundbreaking art and transform it into virtually anything they desire.



MTV and music video brought about the resurrection of the "radio star" in the attempts to build on the iconography of the "rock star." This is where the whole sex, drugs, and rock n' roll theme originates. As a sign, the rock star is ultimately used as a sexual symbol and cultural icon. Sexual connotations are purposfully communicated from the phallic shapes of the guitar and microphone to the perverted movements in which these instruments are played. "If wit is the spoken or oral manifestation of stardom, then sex appeal is the tacit, and yet vital, manifestation. Rock stars dress and act in ways that are designed and culturally determined to be sexy." [Williams, K.]

The legacy of the radio star would ultimately become a bigger picture once they became visualized as a rock star represented in their own music video. Therefore, the dead radio star was ultimately resurrected into the visual and the iconographic destiny set for them by none other than the televised music video. Perhaps each and every digital enhancement of stardom can be considered the radio star's own Easter (in the sense that the radio star becomes resurrected. I'm referencing this in comparison to Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead in biblical studies). Talent is currently being discovered on YouTube and television shows such as American Idol. Therefore, the radio star may have died in the radio realm, but lives on in the digital age.