Pilot of the Airwaves explained

Pilot of the Airwaves
Cover:Pilot_of_the_Airwaves_-_Charlie_Dore.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Charlie Dore
Album:Where to Now
B-Side:"Falling"
Recorded:1979
Studio:Crazy Mama's
Venue:Nashville, Tennessee, US
Label:Island
Producer:Alan Tarney, Bruce Welch
Next Title:Fear of Flying
Next Year:1979

"Pilot of the Airwaves" is a song by English singer-songwriter Charlie Dore. It was released as a single in 1979 from her album Where to Now.[1]

The song reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and earned her the Record World New Female Artist of the Year, and an ASCAP award.[2] The single also charted in Canada, Australia, and Europe.[3]

Content

The lyrics are from the point of view of a woman who frequently listens, late at night, to a radio disc jockey whom she calls a "pilot of the airwaves", keeping what has often been called the "dawn patrol". She admits that she has few real-life friends and that the DJ keeps her as much company as she believes she needs, describing her life and the feelings she has2 surrounding the fact that she considers the radio DJ her only true friend. The DJ does not need to play the selection she has requested; she does hope the DJ will do his best along those lines, adding:

I've been listening to your show on the radio,And you seem like a friend to me.

In history

On 5 November 1990, "Pilot of the Airwaves" was the final track played by Radio Caroline as an unlicensed offshore radio station.[4]

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1979–1980)Peak
position
Australia (KMR)28
Canada RPM Top 100[5] 3
New Zealand (RIANZ)[6] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 66
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 13
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[9] 4
US Cash Box Top 10012

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)Rank
Canada RPM Top 100[10] 38
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 77

Cover versions

French singer Sheila recorded a version, entitled "Pilote sur les ondes", in 1980. Ingrid Peters recorded a German cover version, entitled "Weißt Du Wo Du Hingehst", in 1980.[12]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Blume, Dan. Making it in Radio: Your Future in the Modern Medium. 66–67. 1983. Continental Media Company. 9780912349008. January 22, 2021. Google Books.
  2. Book: Jancik, Wayne. The Billboard Book of One-hit Wonders. 397. 1998. Billboard Books. 9780823076222. January 22, 2021. Google Books.
  3. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 166.
  4. Web site: Pilots of the Airwaves – a tribute to Deejays. Pugetsound.media. June 11, 2019. January 22, 2021.
  5. Web site: Top Singles - Volume 33, No. 13, June 21 1980. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208154017/https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0189a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=5gkfg8v40o0q32ej9r1d2f2b53. 2015-12-08.
  6. Web site: The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Nztop40.co.nz.
  7. Web site: Search | Official Charts. Officialcharts.com.
  8. Pilot of the Airwaves. Billboard. January 22, 2021.
  9. Pilot of the Airwaves (US AC). Billboard. January 20, 2021.
  10. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-10-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160425051319/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0272&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 . 2016-04-25 .
  11. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1980/Top 100 Songs of 1980. Musicoutfitters.com. 2015-12-02.
  12. Web site: "Pilot of the Airwaves" von Charlie Dore. Mdr.de. June 10, 2020. January 22, 2021.