Wikipedia

Radioactive (Imagine Dragons song)

song by American rock band Imagine Dragons

"Radioactive" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It is from their major-label debut EP Continued Silence and later on their album, Night Visions (2012). It was first sent to modern rock radio on October 29, 2012.[1] "Radioactive" is an electronic rock and pop rock song with parts of dubstep. In a 2021 podcast interview called The Turning Point, Dan Reynolds said that he had seen that the lyrics were actually about him not giving up hope after losing faith in Mormonism.

"Radioactive"
Single by Imagine Dragons
from the album Night Visions
ReleasedOctober 29, 2012
Recorded2011
Genre
Length3:07
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Alex da Kid
Imagine Dragons singles chronology
"It's Time"
(2012) 		"Radioactive"
(2012) 		"Hear Me"
(2012)
Music video
"Radioactive" on YouTube

The song got positive reviews from critics. They praised the production, lyrics, and vocals. Because of high usage on many commercials and trailers, the song became a sleeper hit. It got to number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and became the band's first top 10 single. It was also the third best selling song in the United States in 2013.[2] It also held the record for most weeks spent on the Billboard Hot 100 at 87 weeks, a record for 7 years.[3] The song has also reached number one in Sweden and in the top 20 in many countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It became Imagine Dragons' most successful single to date. It has since been certified Diamond by the RIAA. It is one of the best selling singles of all time.[4]

"Radioactive" got two Grammy Awards nominations for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance.[5] It won the award for Best Rock Performance. This was Imagine Dragons' first time being nominated.

It has a music video that came out on December 10, 2012.[6] As of December 2021, the music video has over 1.4 billion views on YouTube. It is the group's third most viewed video. It also has over 9 million likes.

Composition

change

"Radioactive" was written by Imagine Dragons and producer Alex Da Kid.[7] It is one of the more electronic tracks on Night Visions. It is also one of the darkest on the album. The song is an electronic rock and alternative rock song with parts of dubstep.[8][9] The song's lyrics have apocalyptic and revolutionist themes. Examples for these themes from the lyrics are: 'I'm waking up to ash and dust' and 'This is it, the apocalypse'. Though the band has publicly kept its secularity, NPR music critic Ann Powers has said that the song has strong "religious or spiritual imagery". This imagery has, however, been common throughout the history of rock music.[10]

Speaking on the song, lead singer Dan Reynolds said:

“ "Radioactive, to me, it's very masculine, powerful-sounding song, and the lyrics behind it, there's a lot of personal story behind it, but generally speaking, it's a song about having an awakening; kind of waking up one day and deciding to do something new, and see life in a fresh way," ”

Critical reception

change

"Radioactive" was released to positive reviews. AbsolutePunk gave it a positive review, saying that the acoustic part of the song was "haunting". They also said the chorus was "hypnotizing".[11] Dara Hickey of Unreality Shout also reviewed it positively. She said the song was the "darkest moment" on the album. She also said that, like all the other songs on the album, "Radioactive" was successful in creating a sound that "never fails to take off and send fists skyward".[12] IGN said that the song was "strangely intense and abrasive". They said that "Radioactive" was "perhaps the greatest calling card of Imagine Dragons".[13]

Crave Online said the song was an "opening throb", saying that the song "sexes up the dub-flirtation with a verse hingeing on the line 'this is it, the apocalypse' and a triumphant chorus, with more than a few shades of Hip-Hop in the production", and that the song was as "radio-ready as they come".[14] Our Vinyl said that the "power of this song is outstanding with heavy drums and more of an electronic feel than the rest of the album and strong, impressive vocals from front-man Dan Reynolds which are reciprocated throughout the LP."[15] Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone was critical of the song, saying it was "a dour moaner that sound[s] like Chris Martin trying to write an Eminem ballad about the end of the world."[16]

In 2018, Billboard ranked the song number two and Louder Sound number one on their lists of the 10 greatest Imagine Dragons songs.[17][18]

It is also on the soundtrack for NBA 2K14, the first NBA 2K game on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Credits

change

From Night Visions liner notes.[7]

Remixes and covers

change

"Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody of the song named "Inactive" for his 2014 album Mandatory Fun. "Radioactive" was covered by American violinist Lindsey Stirling with Texan a cappella group Pentatonix and uploaded to Stirling's YouTube channel, becoming very successful and as of December 2018 has over 170 million views.[19] The recording earned a 2013 YouTube Award. Jason Derulo covered the song live on BBC.[20] Daughtry covered the song live on SiriusXM.[21] Lady Antebellum covered the song live backstage on their Take Me Downtown Tour and put the video on their YouTube channel.[22] Jake Bugg covered the song live on BBC Radio 1.[23] Radioactive (The Dirty Tees Remix) featured on the film The Host's soundtrack.

American production duo Synchronice released a melodic dubstep remix of the song which accumulated over 20,000,000 plays on YouTube and over 15,000,000 plays on their own SoundCloud page.[24]

Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation recorded a version on their cover album The Q-Music Sessions released in April 2013 and released again on their album Hydra. American post-hardcore band Our Last Night covered the song.[25] Masha covered "Radioactive" on her popular YouTube channel on May 25, 2013. The video has received 130,000 views as of December 2018.[26] The Radioactive Chicken Heads recorded a punk rock cover of "Radioactive" and released a music video for their version on YouTube.[27] Ed Kowalczyk (of Live) covered the song for an Australian radio station.[28] Country music artist Dallas Smith covered the song on his Tippin' Point tour.

Independent American singer Madilyn Bailey recorded an acoustic cover that reached number 36 on SNEP, the official French singles chart, in June 2015.[29] Kelly Clarkson covered the song as part of her "Fan Requests" on July 12, 2015, during her Piece by Piece Tour.[30]

Welsh Metalcore band Bullet for My Valentine recorded a cover in 2018 on their sixth studio album Gravity.

In 2022, Just Dance 2023 Edition was released with Radioactive as one of its playable tracks.

Charts

change
See also: List of best-selling singles, List of best-selling singles in the United States, and List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones

Certifications

change
Certifications and sales for "Radioactive"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[100] 10× Platinum 700,000 
Austria (IFPI Austria)[101] 2× Platinum 60,000*
Belgium (BEA)[102] Gold 15,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[103] Diamond 800,000 
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[104] Gold 15,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[105]
Streaming 		4× Platinum 7,200,000†
Germany (BVMI)[106] Diamond 0 
Italy (FIMI)[107] 4× Platinum 200,000 
Mexico (AMPROFON)[108] Platinum 60,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[109] 3× Platinum 45,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[110] 5× Platinum 50,000*
Sweden (GLF)[111] 6× Platinum 240,000 
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[112] Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[113] 3× Platinum 1,800,000 
United States (RIAA)[114] 14× Platinum 14,000,000 

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
 sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

change

References

change
  1. ↑ "Available for Airplay Archive – Modern Rock". FMQB. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  2. ↑ Hot 100 Songs Year End 2013 (2013-12-31). "Hot 100 Songs: 2013 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-05-21.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Imagine Dragons' 'Radioactive' Breaks Record For Longest Hot 100 Run". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  4. ↑ Paul Grein (2014-05-07). "Chart Watch: John Legend Wins A Squeaker". Yahoo. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  5. ↑ "Grammy Awards 2014: Full Nominations List". Billboard. December 6, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Platinum-Selling Band Imagine Dragons Announce First-Ever Headlining Tour For Spring 2013". PR Newswire. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Imagine Dragons (2013). Night Visions (Deluxe Edition) (liner notes). Interscope Records.
  8. ↑ Ryan Reed (October 7, 2013). "Imagine Dragons Announce 2014 Arena Tour Dates". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 28, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  9. ↑ Heaney, Gregory. "Radioactive – AllMusic Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ NPR Staff (February 21, 2014). "Hearing Devotion in Pop's Details". NPR Music. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ Explode (July 25, 2012). "Imagine Dragons – Continued Silence – Album Review". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Album Review: Imagine Dragons – 'Night Visions'". Unreality Shout. September 3, 2012. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  13. ↑ PushxShove (February 5, 2013). "Imagine Dragons: Night Visions Review". Blog by PushxShove. IGN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  14. ↑ Johnny Firecloud (September 10, 2012). "Review: Imagine Dragons – Night Visions". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  15. ↑ Jack Ryan. "Imagine Dragon's 'Night Visions' – Album Review". Our Vinyl. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  16. ↑ Dolan, Jon (17 February 2015). "Album Review: Imagine Dragons, Smoke + Mirrors". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Olivier, Bobby (June 26, 2018). "Imagine Dragons' 10 Greatest Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  18. ↑ Everley, Dave (August 14, 2018). "The 10 best Imagine Dragons songs". Louder Sound. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  19. ↑ Video on YouTube
  20. ↑ "BBC Radio 1 – Huw Stephens, Jason Derulo in the Live Lounge". Bbc.co.uk. September 7, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Daughtry – Radioactive (Acoustic Cover)". YouTube. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  22. ↑ Video on YouTube
  23. ↑ "Jake Bugg covers Imagine Dragons' Radioactive (Live Lounge)". YouTube. 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  24. ↑ "Imagine Dragons - Radioactive (Synchronice Remix) [Exclusive]". YouTube. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  25. ↑ "STREAM: OUR LAST NIGHT – "RADIOACTIVE" (IMAGINE DRAGONS COVER)". underthegunreview.net. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Radioactive – Imagine Dragons (Cover by Masha)". YouTube. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Radioactive Chicken Heads RADIOACTIVE (Imagine Dragons) Punk Rock Cover". YouTube. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Live's Ed Kowalczyk Is Still Around And He's Covering Imagine Dragons". Stereogum. 2014-04-05. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  29. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Madilyn Bailey – "Radioactive" song". Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  30. ↑ Rodman, Sarah (July 13, 2014). "Kelly Clarkson's versatile voice delivers pop anthems, album cuts with cheer". bostonglobe.com. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC.
  31. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  40. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201333 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  41. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201423 into search. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". Tracklisten. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  47. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Radioactive". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". Top Digital Download. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Lebanese Chart Top 20 History". The Official Lebanese Top 20. August 4, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  51. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Luxembourg Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2014. [dead link]
  52. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  54. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". VG-lista. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  56. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201439 into search. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  57. ↑ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  58. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  59. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  61. ↑ "Imagine Dragons: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  62. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  63. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  64. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  65. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  67. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  68. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  69. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  70. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2012" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  71. ↑ "End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2013". ARIA. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  72. ↑ "JAHRESHITPARADE SINGLES 2013" (in German). Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  73. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts – Top Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  74. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2013" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  75. ↑ "Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 2013" (in German). VIVA. Viacom International Media Networks. Archived from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  76. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  77. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2013" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  78. ↑ "SCHWEIZER JAHRESHITPARADE 2013" (in German). Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  79. ↑ "The Official Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles of 2013". Official Charts. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  80. ↑ "Triple A Songs: 2013 (Year-End)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  81. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts – Top Billboard Adult Pop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  82. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts – Top Billboard Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  83. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts – Top Billboard Pop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  84. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  85. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts – Top Billboard Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  86. ↑ "RAPPORTS ANNUELS 2014". Ultratop (in French). Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  87. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  88. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2014" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  89. ↑ "FIMI – Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  90. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 2014" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  91. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 – Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  92. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts – Top Billboard Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  93. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2015" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  94. ↑ "2019 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart". ARIA. January 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  95. ↑ "Platz 4️⃣7️⃣ der erfolgreichsten Alben und Singles des Jahrzehnts +++ "Die 30 besten Spiel- und Bewegungslieder" von Simone Sommerland, Karsten Glück & den Kita-Fröschen ist mit 320 Wochen ein echter Dauerbrenner +++ "Radioactive" von Imagine Dragons räumt bei den Singles ab" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved November 18, 2019 – via Twitter.
  96. ↑ Copsey, Rob (December 11, 2019). "The UK's Official Top 100 biggest songs of the decade". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  97. ↑ "Decade-End Charts: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  98. ↑ "The Decade in Rock Charts: Imagine Dragons On Fire, High-Flying Twenty One Pilots & More". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  99. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  100. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  101. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  102. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2014". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  103. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". Music Canada. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  104. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  105. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive (streaming)". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  106. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Imagine Dragons; 'Radioactive')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  107. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 23, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Radioactive" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  108. ↑ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved May 16, 2014. Type Imagine Dragons in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Radioactive in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  109. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  110. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  111. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 2, 2015 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Scroll to position 75 to view certification.
  112. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Radioactive')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  113. ↑ "British single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". British Phonographic Industry.
  114. ↑ "American single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Radioactive". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 31, 2021.

Other websites

change
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Radioactive_(Imagine_Dragons_song)&oldid=9931420"