Radio Ga-Ga

"Radio Ga Ga" is the a song performed and recorded by the band Queen, written by their drummer Roger Taylor. The song was a commentary of the invention of television overtaking radio's popularity, and how one would listen to radio for their favorite comedy, drama, sci-fi programs etc... as well as the advent of the music video and MTV. Taylor originally conceived it as "Radio Ca-Ca" (apparently from something his toddler son once said), a slam against radio for the decrease in variety of programming and the type of music being played. It was eventually changed to Radio Ga-Ga, because it sounded better, clearer, and rolled off the tongue easier.

Related Topics:
Queen - Roger Taylor - MTV

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Taylor began writing the song in Los Angeles when he locked himself in a room with a synthesiser and a drum machine. He thought it would fit his solo album, but when the band heard it, John Deacon wrote a bass-line and Freddie Mercury reconstructed the track, thinking it could be a big hit. Taylor then took a skiing holiday and let Mercury polish the lyrics, harmony, and arrangements of the song. Recording sessions began at Record Plant Studios and included session keyboardist Fred Mandel, who previously worked with Supertramp and Elton John. Mandel programmed the synth-bass parts. The recording features prominent use of the Roland VP330+ vocoder.

Related Topics:
John Deacon - Freddie Mercury - Supertramp - Elton John - Roland - Vocoder

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It was released as a single and was including on the album The Works. The music video for the song features scenes from the film Metropolis—Freddie Mercury's solo song "Love Kills" was used in Giorgio Moroder's restored version of the film, and in exchange Queen were granted the rights to use footage from it in their Radio Ga Ga video.

Related Topics:
The Works - Music video - Metropolis - Giorgio Moroder's

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The single was an enormous worldwide success for the band, reaching number one in 20 countries and making the top 20 in 36 countries. It reached number 2 in the UK and 16 in the USA.

Related Topics:
UK - USA

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Queen played a shorter, uptempo version of "Radio Ga Ga" at the Live Aid charity event in 1985. It became a live favourite thanks largely to the audience participation potential of the clapping sequence prompted by the rhythm of the chorus (copied from the video).

Related Topics:
Live Aid - 1985

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A modified version is played for We Will Rock You, a musical currently playing in London and Las Vegas.

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Paul Young performed the song at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992.

Related Topics:
Paul Young - 1992

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The song was covered in 2004 by Electric Six. The video depicts Electric Six frontman, Dick Valentine, as the ghost of Freddie Mercury dancing on his own grave. Roger Taylor has voiced his opinions of this version of the song, saying the video is tasteless and that he will "wait for the royalties".

Related Topics:
2004 - Electric Six - Dick Valentine - Freddie Mercury

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