April 15–22, 1999

music issue

A Radio That Really Sucks

Thomas Edison imagined many brilliant inventions that shape the way we live—the electric light, the movie projector, the phonograph, to name just a few. But could such a genius have ever foreseen a lollipop that broadcasts FM radio directly into one's mouth?

Interestingly enough, he inspired a new novelty that does just that—Pop Radio Sound Bites. Edison's "bite bar" enabled the near-deaf inventor to hear the sound of his phonograph through his inner ear by clamping his teeth onto a plate wired to vibrate. Sound Bites co-founder Andrew Filo brought the idea to his partner, David Capper, who recognized its potential in the burgeoning interactive candy market. Together, the two created novelty candies that allow you to listen to sound samples while licking a lollipop (Looney Tunes Sound Bites and Rugrats Sound Bites) and, now, Pop Radio Sound Bites. (OK, so the Sound Bites tale isn't as thrilling as that story about Watson and the invention of the telephone, but most telephones aren't sugary sweet, either.)

Pop Radio Sound Bites has a plastic base that secures the lollipop in place and enables you to tune in different stations. Now, stick that sucker between molars and start rocking. Don't worry, once you're done with one lollipop you don't need to throw the whole $14.99 contraption away, you can just replace the candy. It doesn't exactly offer quadraphonic sound, but it'll certainly impress most ravers (and, of course, kids).

Pop Radio Sound Bites will be available in September.

-Neil Gladstone