Behind the Greatest Hit of 1984: Radio Ga Ga

Radio Ga Ga is a song by the British rock band Queen, written by their drummer
Roger Taylor and released as a single in January 1984. It was one of the biggest
hits of the year, reaching number one in 19 countries and number two in the UK and
Australia. It was also featured on the album The Works and on the band's
compilation albums Greatest Hits II and Classic Queen.

The song is a nostalgic defence of radio, which was losing its popularity and
influence to television and music videos in the early 1980s. Taylor was inspired by
his son, who said "radio ca ca" while listening to a bad song on the radio. Taylor
changed it to "radio ga ga", which he thought sounded better and more catchy.

The lyrics of the song express the singer's love for radio and how it used to be a
source of entertainment, information and inspiration for him and many others. He
recalls listening to radio dramas, news broadcasts and music shows that made him
feel part of a global community. He also references two historical radio events:
the 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds by Orson Welles, which caused a mass
panic among listeners who thought it was a real alien invasion, and the 1940 speech
by Winston Churchill, which rallied the British people during World War II.

The chorus of the song is a catchy and anthemic refrain that repeats the phrase
"radio ga ga" four times, followed by "all we hear is radio ga ga, radio goo goo,
radio ga ga". The words "radio ga ga" are a pun on the term "radio gaga", which
means crazy or nonsensical radio. The words "radio goo goo" are a reference to the
band's previous hit single "Bohemian Rhapsody", which contains the line "Mama, just
killed a man". The words "radio ga ga" are also a homage to the Italian singer
Raffaella Carrà, who had a hit song in 1979 called "Do It Do It Again (A Far
L'Amore Comincia Tu)", which featured the chorus "do it do it again, radio b-b-b,
radio ga ga". ⁴

The song also criticizes the rise of television and music videos, which the singer
sees as a threat to the creativity and diversity of radio. He laments that "we
hardly need to use our ears" and that "our music changes through the years". He
fears that radio will become obsolete and irrelevant, and that "we're all rock
stars now in the wasteland". He urges the listeners to "let's hope you never leave
old friend" and to "stick around old friend". He ends the song with a hopeful note,
saying that "you've yet to have your finest hour", implying that radio still has a
potential to survive and thrive in the future. ⁵

The song was accompanied by a music video that used footage from the 1927 silent
science fiction film Metropolis, directed by Fritz Lang. The video was directed by
David Mallet and edited by Russell Mulcahy, who were both pioneers of the music
video genre. The video features the band members dressed in futuristic outfits and
performing the song on a stage surrounded by a crowd of workers from the film. The
video also includes scenes from the film that illustrate the themes of the song,
such as the contrast between the rich and the poor, the oppression of the masses by
the machines, and the rebellion of the workers. The video was a huge success and
received heavy rotation on music channels such as MTV. It was also nominated for an
MTV Video Music Award in 1984.

The song was a milestone for Queen, as it marked their comeback after a period of
decline in popularity and criticism from the press. It also showcased their ability
to adapt to the changing musical trends and to experiment with new sounds and
styles. The song was praised by critics and fans alike for its originality,
catchiness and message. It also influenced many other artists and genres, such as
synth-pop, pop rock, stadium rock and electronic music. Pop singer Lady Gaga
adopted her stage name from the song.
Radio Ga Ga is a song that celebrates radio as a medium of communication,
entertainment and culture. It is also a song that reflects the social and
technological changes of the 1980s and the challenges and opportunities that they
posed for the music industry and the artists. It is a song that has stood the test
of time and has become a classic of the rock genre and a signature of Queen.