While they were still a formidable live draw in the US and their fanbase throughout the rest of the world was as large as ever, Queen's profile on American radio had rarely been lower as they released their album The Works in 1984. Part of the reason was the failure of their previous release, Hot Space to elicit much attention outside of the #11 hit "Body Language" and part of it was radio's embrace of new sounds during this period.

With The Works, Queen made a strong bid to regain lost ground, blending elements of the various styles in which they had previously dabbled with a few nods to the recent success of synthesizer acts. The album was preceeded by the single "Radio Ga Ga," which quickly becamea Top Ten single around the world.

In the US, "Radio Ga Ga" garnered Queen some of their most solid airplay in some time, finding favor with pop and edgier rock stations. The vocals are unmistakeably Freddie Mercury while the sound is built around a shuffling melody with electronic washes signifying the band's attempt to incorporate the feel of the times. "Radio Ga Ga" is a wistful song, longing for a time when radio was a lifeline to many music fans and lamenting the rise of music video. In truth, the subject matter is similar to The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star" even though "Radio Ga Ga" opts for a more nostalgic, even defiant tone. Ironically, it was the video for "Radio Ga Ga," which set the band members in the futuristic setting of Fritz Lang's movie "Metropolis," that helped the song find an audience.

"Radio Ga Ga" eventually peaked inside the US Top 20 at #16, hardly equalling its success in other countries, but providing Queen with what would be their final Top 40 hit in the US until "Bohemian Rhapsody" was re-issued more than a decade later.

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