Roadrunner

The song "Roadrunner" by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers in 1972 captures the freedom and wonder of cruising down the highway late at night with the radio on. Cultural theorist and poet Joshua Clover charts the song's emotional power and its elaborate history, tracing its place in popular music from Chuck Berry to M.I.A. He also locates "Roadrunner" at the intersection of car culture, industrialization, consumption, mobility, and politics, telling a story about love and the modern world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2021
Publisher: Duke University Press

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers' 1972 song "Roadrunner" encapsulates the exhilarating experience of cruising down the highway at night, accompanied by the vibrant sound of the radio. While the song may revolve around Boston's beltway, its profound significance extends far beyond Richman's seemingly straightforward expressions of love for modern moonlight, the artificial world, and rock and roll. Cultural theorist and poet Joshua Clover delves into the emotional resonance and intricate history of "Roadrunner," exploring its place within the realm of popular music, spanning from Chuck Berry to M.I.A. Moreover, Clover situates "Roadrunner" at the crossroads of car culture, industrialization, consumerism, mobility, and politics. Similar to the song itself, Clover weaves a narrative that captures a specific era—the American era symbolized by rock and roll—and transforms it into a tale about love and the contemporary world.

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers' 1972 song "Roadrunner" captures the freedom and wonder of cruising down the highway late at night, accompanied by the vibrant sound of the radio. While the song may revolve around Boston's beltway, its profound significance extends far beyond Richman's seemingly straightforward expressions of love for modern moonlight, the artificial world, and rock and roll. Cultural theorist and poet Joshua Clover delves into the emotional resonance and intricate history of "Roadrunner," exploring its place within the realm of popular music, spanning from Chuck Berry to M.I.A. Moreover, Clover situates "Roadrunner" at the crossroads of car culture, industrialization, consumerism, mobility, and politics. Similar to the song itself, Clover weaves a narrative that captures a specific era—the American era symbolized by rock and roll—and transforms it into a tale about love and the contemporary world.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 178 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478013471