Radio Ga-Ga
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| "Radio Ga Ga" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Missing image Queen_-_Radio_Ga_Ga.gif Single cover | ||
| Single by Queen | ||
| From the album The Works | ||
| Single Released | February 1984 | |
| Single Format | vinyl record (7" / 12") | |
| Recorded | ??? | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Song Length | 5:46 / 6:20 (Extended Version) | |
| Record label | EMI | |
| Producer | ??? | |
| Chart positions | 2 (UK) 16 (USA) | |
| Queen single chronology | ||
| "Life is Real" ??? | "Radio Ga-Ga" 1984 | "I Want To Break Free" 1984 |
| Missing image Electric_Six_-_Radio_Ga_Ga.jpg Single cover | ||
| Single by Electric Six | ||
| From the album Seņor Smoke | ||
| Single Released | December 2004 | |
| Single Format | vinyl record (7"), CD | |
| Recorded | ??? | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Song Length | 3:55 | |
| Record label | Warner | |
| Producer | Peters & Peters | |
| Chart positions | 21 (UK) | |
| Electric Six single chronology | ||
| "Dance Commander" 2003 | "Radio Ga-Ga" 2004 | (most recent single) |
"Radio Ga Ga" is the title of a song by Queen, written by 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.
Taylor begun writing it in Los Angeles when he locked himself with a synthesiser and a drum machine. He thought it probably would fit his solo album but when the band heard it John Deacon came up with a bass-line and Freddie Mercury decided to reconstruct the track, because he thought it could be a big hit. Taylor then took a skiing holiday and let Mercury polish the lyrics, harmony and arrangements of 'Radio Ga Ga'. Recording sessions begun at Record Plant Studios and included session keyboardist Fred Mandel (who worked with Supertramp and Elton John too) programming synth-bass parts.
It and was released as a single and is on the album The Works. The music video for the song features scenes from the film Metropolis. The rights to use the film in the video had to be purchased from the East German government.
The single was an enormous worldwide success for the band; reaching number one in no less than 20 countries and making the top 20 in a total of 36 countries. It reached number 2 in the UK and 16 in the USA.
Queen played a shorter, more uptempo version of "Radio Ga Ga" at the Live Aid charity event in 1985. Many fans think this performance to be the definitive version of the song.
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 that the video is tasteless and that he will "wait for the royalties".
Lyric sample
All we hear is radio ga ga Radio goo goo Radio ga ga All we hear is radio ga ga Radio blah blah Radio what's new? Radio, someone still loves you
External links
- Electric Six's video page (http://www.electric6.com/media_video.html)no:Radio Ga Ga