The year 1984 was an unforgettable one in the history of pop music, as several of the biggest stars released landmark albums, while other new faces contributed major works as well. MTV was at the center of it, a star-making phenomenon that seemed to hit its peak influence in that magical year as music videos became huge drivers of success.
Never a band to follow trends, Queen released a hit single in 1984 entitled “Radio Ga Ga.” But even as it was accompanied by a memorable video, the song played up the charms of a medium that seemed to be getting pushed aside by the prevalence of videos.
Videos by American Songwriter
Watch Your Mouth, Kid
The old adage “out of the mouths of babes” certainly applies to the creation of “Radio Ga Ga.” Queen was relatively unique among their rock-band peers in that all four members contributed to the songwriting on an individual basis. Drummer Roger Taylor was the guy responsible for this one.
But he needed some help from his young son. One day, the boy came in and heard some music his father was playing. As anyone with young children can attest, the youngsters often can’t understand the musical tastes of their parents. And Taylor’s son expressed his displeasure that fateful day by calling the music “radio ca-ca.”
The phrase stuck with Taylor, and somehow it tapped into some feelings that had been burbling up inside him about the emphasis on music videos at that time. Taylor felt that this turn of events had left the medium somewhat out in the cold, as he related in an interview with Modern Drummer:
“Radio was the first place I heard rock ‘n’ roll. Today it seems that video has become more important than the music itself—too much so, really. Music is supposed to be an experience for the ears more than the eyes.”
The Meaning Behind the Lyrics of “Radio Ga Ga”
“Radio Ga Ga” features a pretty broad concept to hang on a pop song. But Queen stood as one of the few bands who could tackle such subjects and not sound preposterous. It helped that they could turn to Freddie Mercury, whose vocals could always win the day. He sings the lyrics here with just the right touch of hurt at how things have transpired, balanced with smoldering defiance in the face of it.
Taylor’s lyrics play off the nostalgia of a time when radio was king: I’d sit alone and watch your light / My only friend through teenage nights. He also hints at the power and impact that the medium once possessed by referencing a famous Orson Welles broadcast: You gave them all those old-time stars / Through wars of worlds, invaded by Mars.
The song is structured ingeniously in that the narrator is singing directly to radio as a medium personified. (Again, Mercury’s presence helps all of this go down a lot smoother than it might in other hands). He begs radio to stand its ground: So don’t become some background noise / A backdrop for the girls and boys.
Taylor later contrasts that with what’s replaced it in the cultural landscape: We hardly need to use your ears / How music changes through the years. But Queen imagines a brighter future, one in which radio rises even beyond its former level of importance: You’ve had your time, you’ve had your power / You’ve yet to have your finest hour.
The great irony is that Queen did indeed put together a video for the song, and it was so iconic the fans at their memorable Live Aid performance mimicked the video’s choreography. Maybe “Radio Ga Ga” was more powerful than we thought. After all, it’s much easier to find a radio station these days than it is to locate a television channel playing music videos.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
Most Popular
Comments / 0