Radio Ga Ga Single: 1984

Queen's Nostalgic Radio Anthem

Released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by EMI Records (catalog number QUEEN 1) on January 23, 1984, Queen’s “Radio Ga Ga” — backed with “I Go Crazy” — served as the lead single from their album The Works. Written by Roger Taylor, the track nostalgically defends the radio format amid the rise of MTV and video. It became a global smash, topping charts in 19 countries, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and Australian Kent Music Report, and No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

It was the band’s last original single to enter the US Top 40 during Freddie Mercury’s lifetime. The song was performed at every Queen concert from 1984 until their final show with Freddie in 1986, including the iconic 1985 Live Aid performance. The music video, directed by David Mallet, heavily featured footage from Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent film Metropolis and earned an MTV Video Music Award nomination in 1984.

Track Listing

A: Radio Ga Ga

B: I Go Crazy

Production and Context

From The Works (1984). Also featured on Greatest Hits II and Classic Queen. The song’s handclap rhythm and synth-driven sound made it a staple of Queen’s live shows.

Chart Performance

UK Singles Chart: No. 2

US Billboard Hot 100: No. 16

Topped charts in 19 countries worldwide

Legacy

“Radio Ga Ga” is one of Queen’s most enduring anthems — a celebration of radio, crowd participation, and timeless melody. Verify catalogue QUEEN 1.

Do you have Radio Ga Ga in your vinyl collection? Ready to wave your hands? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia and BBC Official Charts Company

Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, mistakes do happen. Simply leave a comment and the post will be updated. Thank you.