The song is about the callousness of network television news reporting as well as the tabloidization of all news. Henley sings from the standpoint of a news anchorman who "could have been an actor, but I wound up here". The song's theme is that TV news coverage focuses too much on negative and sensationalist news; in particular, deaths, disasters, and scandals, with little regard to the consequences or for what is important ("We all know that crap is king"). The song was inspired by the intrusive press coverage surrounding the deaths of John Belushi and Natalie Wood, and Henley's own arrest in 1980 when he was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of marijuana, cocaine, and Quaaludes after a 16-year-old girl overdosed at his Los Angeles home.[3] The "bubbleheaded bleach blonde" mentioned in the song was rumored to have been Christine Lundstedt (Christine Lund) of KABC-TV in Los Angeles, but Henley has categorically denied this. [4]
Although an official music video was never made, Global News produced a parody video in 1985 (credited to the "News Brothers", all Global News reporters) featuring the song.[6][7][8]
Versions
The original vinyl LP version is a slightly different mix than the single version, which is the version commonly released on CD. They run about the same duration. There is also a German 7" single with a unique 4:40 edit.
Among the differences in the single version are added keyboards on the intro, no teletype noises at 1:32 and 3:29, a slightly longer delay on the vocal echo throughout the song, a slightly different vocal take on the line "you don't really want to know just how far it's gone" at 3:00, removed or quieted guitar chord on the down beats during the verses at 1:57–2:14 and 2:55–3:13, and a differently panned and slightly louder telephone ringer noise at 3:36 & 5:17–end.
