Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Donielle Flynn

Tesla Songs – The 5 Best Requests

By Donielle Flynn
Tesla' Jeff Keith performs at Universal Amphitheatre on November 26 2004 in Universal City, California.

What are your favorite Tesla songs? Tesla has a lot of great jams. The songs on this list are the most-requested songs based on my decades in rock radio speaking with listeners and taking requests.

Tesla History

Tesla is one of those few bands from the ’80s that has kept the majority of their lineup in tact. The five-man band had a string of hits and then broke up in the mid ’90s. It was a radio DJ that helped bring the band back together around 2000 got them back out touring.

The band called themselves “City Kidd,” but changed their name to Tesla. Their manager wasn’t crazy about the name “City Kidd” and another band was already using it.

One of my favorite Tesla history points: not only did the band name themselves after Nikola Tesla, they had a bust of him made and tried to donate to the Smithsonian… only to be rejected. Having said that, The Smithsonian does have a bust of Tesla.

A mural on a brick wall in Ann Arbor, Michigan feature a picture of Nikola Tesla... used in an article talking about Tesla songs.
Tesla rocks in Ann Arbor! We’d love to get a picture of Tesla (the band) in front of this.

Two of Tesla’s best known songs are actually cover songs. “Signs” was originally done by the Canadian band, Five Man Electrical Band and “Little Suzi” was written by the English band, Ph.D. They called it “Little Suzi’s On the Up” and it was one of the first videos aired on MTV.

Tesla has had two top-ten songs. “Signs” went to number eight in 1991 and “Love Song” went to number ten in 1989.

The 5 Most-Requested Tesla Songs

  • "Modern Day Cowboy"

    Tesla music has always been deeper than the stereotypical “hair band.” The lyrics of “Modern Day Cowboy” reference, Al Capone, Billy The Kidd and the Cold War. it was the debut song from their debut album, Mechanical Resonance.

  • "Little Suzi"

    “Little Suzi” is a personal favorite.  Here’s a link to Ph.D’s original. Tesla has always brought rock and grit to the songs they wrote and the songs they covered.

  • "What You Give"

    Many of Tesla’s video were live performance videos (they’ve always been known for their live shows). “What You Give” from the album, Psychotic Supper, was one of the few videos that incorporated more of a video shoot than a live capture. “It’s not what you got, it’s what you give… It ain’t the life you choose, it’s the life you live.” I love those lyrics… they make for a defining moment in the song.

  • "Signs"

    “And the sign said, ‘Long-haired freaky people need not apply.” Talk about a signature opening. Five Man Electrical Band released the song in 1970. Tesla revived it in 1991. Tesla’s unedited version changes the phrase “Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind” to “F–kin’ up the scenery, breakin’ my mind.” The song was written after the lead singer of Five Man Electrical Band traveled Route 66 and was annoyed by all the billboards blocking the natural scenery.

  • "Love Song"

    Tesla vocalist Jeff Keith and guitarist/keyboardist Frank Hannon wrote most of Tesla’s songs including “Love Song.” “Tesla’s always been about the love,” Keith said in an interview with Songfacts. “We will forever play ‘Love Song’ every time we ever play. Because love is how we all got here. Love’s what makes the world go ’round. Love stands above everything, even the hate.”

Sign Up For The 94.7 WCSX Classic Rock Insider Newsletter

Get the latest Classic Rock and local stories you need to know about, plus exclusive contests, games, and more!

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Tags
,,