Lyrical: “FM” (Part One)

“My Church,” the breakout debut single by Maren Morris, was co-written and co-produced with the late songwriter Busbee and released in January 2016 as the lead single from her major-label debut album, Hero . The song uses the metaphor of a car ride with the radio playing classic country legends like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams

to depict a spiritual experience, likening it to a church revival . Critically acclaimed for its soulful blend of country and pop, “My Church” earned Morris a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance and a nomination for Best Country Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards . The track achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number 5 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart

and number 9 on the Country Airplay chart, while also setting a record for the most first-week radio adds for a debut single by a female artist, with 107 stations . In the UK, it reached number 70 on the Official Singles Chart . “My Church” has been streamed over 220 million times on Spotify and was notably covered by Kelly Clarkson at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, a performance that Morris described as “epic”.

“Make Me Wanna” is a 2014 single by Thomas Rhett, co-written with Bart Butler and Larry McCoy, and produced by Jay Joyce. Released as the fifth and final single from his debut album It Goes Like This, the song blends country pop with disco influences, drawing inspiration from the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” after Rhett watched the movie Airplane! the night before the writing session.

The lyrics depict a man’s irresistible attraction to a woman, expressing a desire to pull over his truck and spend intimate moments with her. Critically, the song received mixed reviews; while some praised its catchy melody and genre fusion, others criticized its lyrical content.

Commercially, “Make Me Wanna” achieved significant success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in March 2015, marking Rhett’s third consecutive No. 1 and his first as a co-writer . It also peaked at No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning a Gold certification from the RIAA in February 2015 . The accompanying music video, directed by TK McKamy, features Rhett dancing in a tuxedo, embracing the song’s disco vibe and showcasing a playful side of the artist.

“Slow Rollin'” is a 2014 country rock single by Canadian artist Dallas Smith, written by Rodney Clawson and Luke Laird. Produced by Joey Moi, the track was released as the second single from Smith’s EP Tippin’ Point and later featured on his album Lifted . The song’s lyrics depict a laid-back, romantic drive through town,

blending country themes with rock influences . Critics praised its catchy, summer-ready vibe, noting its restrained guitar-driven production and Smith’s engaging vocals . Commercially, “Slow Rollin'” reached No. 5 on the Canada Country chart and No. 65 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 .

The accompanying music video, directed by Stephano Barberis, debuted at No. 6 on the CMT Chevrolet Countdown . American country group Lady Antebellum (now Lady A) covered the song for the deluxe edition of their 2014 album 747, after hearing Smith’s version and appreciating its appeal .

“Avalon Hideaway” is a track by ZZ Top from their 1976 album Tejas, written by band members Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. The song paints a vivid picture of a clandestine Texas roadhouse, possibly inspired by real locales along FM 92, a rural highway connecting Tyler and Hardin.

With lyrics referencing gambling, a character named Linda Lou, and a hidden spot “back in the timber,” it continues ZZ Top’s tradition of celebrating the state’s colorful, offbeat venues, akin to their earlier song “La Grange.” Musically, it blends blues-rock with country influences, reflecting the band’s

experimental approach on Tejas, which marked a stylistic shift from their earlier boogie-blues sound. Despite its evocative storytelling, “Avalon Hideaway” was not released as a single and was performed live only once, on October 10, 1981, in Hamburg, Germany . The song was later included in the 1987 compilation The ZZ Top Sixpack, where it was remixed with added 1980s-style production elements.

“Wired for Sound” is a 1981 pop-rock single by British singer Cliff Richard, written by Alan Tarney and B.A. Robertson, and produced by Tarney. Released on August 17, 1981, as the lead single from Richard’s 24th studio album of the same name, the song celebrates the joy of personal music listening, inspired by the advent of

portable cassette players like the Sony Walkman. Its lyrics, such as “I like small speakers, I like tall speakers,” reflect the newfound freedom of enjoying music on the go. The accompanying music video, featuring Richard roller-skating through Milton Keynes while wearing headphones, became iconic and emblematic of early 1980s pop culture.

Commercially, “Wired for Sound” achieved significant success, peaking at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and earning a silver certification from the BPI for sales over 250,000. Internationally, it reached number 2 in both Australia and South Africa, and charted within the top 10 in several other countries, including Ireland and Belgium.

The song’s enduring popularity led to various cover versions, notably by Australian electronic duo B(if)tek featuring Julee Cruise in 2000, and English alternative rock band Shed Seven, whose rendition appeared on a bonus CD of their 1999 greatest hits compilation. A live version of “Wired for Sound” was also released in 1990 as an extra track on Richard’s CD and 12″ single of “From a Distance”.

“FM (No Static at All)” is a 1978 single by Steely Dan, written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker as the title track for the film FM. The song critiques the commercialization of FM radio, contrasting its once-freeform nature with its then-current homogenized state, encapsulated in the line

“Nothing but blues and Elvis / And somebody else’s favorite song” . Musically, it blends jazz-rock elements with sophisticated arrangements, featuring contributions from Jeff Porcaro on drums, Pete Christlieb on saxophone, and backing vocals by Eagles members Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Timothy B. Schmit.

The track peaked at No. 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 in Spain . Despite the film’s lackluster performance, the song gained acclaim, with engineer Roger Nichols winning a Grammy for Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical . Over the years, multiple versions have been released, including edits with varying lengths and instrumental arrangements .

In 2015, “FM” was featured in a synchronized light show on the Empire State Building, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its master FM antenna .