Queen – Radio GaGa – Live Aid : Wembley London 1985

Queen rocks Wembley Stadium

Written by Queen’s drummer in 1984, Roger Taylor, “Radio GaGa” reached worldwide success.

The song reached number one in 19 COUNTRIES, number two in the UK, and number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America. It is said that the band played “Radio Gaga” at every single one of their concerts up until Mercury’s death.

The song was a commentary on television overtaking radio’s popularity and how one would listen to radio in the past for a favorite comedy, drama, or science fiction programme. It also pertained to the advent of the music video and MTV, which was now competing with radio as an important medium for promoting records.

Roger Taylor was quoted: “That’s part of what the song’s about, really. The fact that they videos seem to be taking over almost from the aural side, the visual side seems to be almost more important.” And, how true is that today? Video killed the radio star, right?

+Radio GaGa lyrics below+

Radio.

I’d sit alone and watch your light
My only friend through teenage nights
And everything I had to know
I heard it on my radio

You gave them all those old time stars
Through wars of worlds invaded by Mars
You made ’em laugh, you made ’em cry
You made us feel like we could fly.
Radio.

So don’t become some background noise
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don’t know or just don’t care
And just complain when you’re not there

You had your time, you had the power
You’ve yet to have your finest hour
Radio, Radio.

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!

We watch the shows, we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
How music changes through the years.

Let’s hope you never leave old friend
Like all good things on you we depend
So stick around ’cause we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual

You had your time, you had the power
You’ve yet to have your finest hour
Radio, Radio.

All we hear is Radio ga ga
Radio goo goo
Radio ga ga
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?
Someone still loves you!