Radio (Rammstein song)

"Radio" is a song by German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein. It was released as the second single from the band's untitled seventh studio album on 26 April 2019.

"Radio"
Single by Rammstein
from the album Untitled
B-side"twocolors Remix"
Released26 April 2019
Recorded2018
StudioLa Fabrique (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France)
Genre
Length4:37
LabelUniversal
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Olsen Involtini
  • Rammstein
Rammstein singles chronology
"Deutschland"
(2019)		 "Radio"
(2019)		 "Ausländer"
(2019)

Lyrically, the song addresses the cultural situation of the German Democratic Republic, in which secretly listening to western radio stations and their music, which were deemed illegal by the East German government, was a way to escape the political restrictions.[1] Metal Hammer stated the song's riff may have been influenced by "Love Like Blood", by Killing Joke.[1]

Music video

The video, which is almost entirely black and white, was released online on 26 April 2019 at 11:00 CET following a 26-second black and white preview[2] for the video two days prior, containing Kraftwerk and Klaus Nomi references.[3] On selected radio stations the song premiered on 25 April 2019 at 21:00 CET,[4] while the video was shown exclusively on the wall of a house - without sound - in Berlin.[5] The video was directed by Jörn Heitmann.

The video opens with a radio announcement (absent in the album version) that says "Achtung, Achtung. Hier ist Berlin Königs Wusterhausen und der Deutsche Kurzwellensender. Wir senden Tanzmusik", which translates as "Attention, Attention. This is Berlin Königs Wusterhausen and the German shortwave transmitter. We're broadcasting dance music".[1] Königs Wusterhausen is the site where the first German radio transmitter was built, in 1920. In 1933 it was seized by the Nazi regime in order to broadcast propaganda. After the Reunification of Germany, it became a museum.[1]

It depicts the band dressed up in tuxedos (with the notable exception of bassist Oliver Riedel who wears a black turtleneck sweater and performs barefoot) at a radio performance set roughly in the 1960s. During the final chorus the performance is set to be shut down by a police squad but it is revealed that the band members are holograms and thus unaffected by the use of violent force. The performance scenes are intercut with scenes of citizens being obsessed with their radios to a manic degree as well as riots demanding free and open airwaves, echoing the lyrical themes of the song.

Track listing
  1. "Radio" – 4:37
  2. "Radio (Remix by twocolors)" – 5:00[6]

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 13
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[8] 17
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[9] 36
Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[10] 11
Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 4
Hungary (Single Top 40)[12] 4
Poland (Lista Przebojów Programu 3)[13] 1
Scotland (OCC)[14] 47
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[15] 35
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 100
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 17
UK Rock and Metal (OCC)[18] 9
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[19] 27

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Various 26 April 2019
Universal

References
  1. Edwards, Briony; Lewry, Lewry; Pattillo, Alice (19 May 2020). "Rammstein - Rammstein: your ultimate track-by-track guide". Louder. Future plc. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. "Rammstein - Radio (Official Trailer)". Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. "Rammstein - Radio (Official Facebook Trailer)". Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  4. "Rammstein - Radio (radio station premiere)". Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  5. "Worldpremiere - New Rammstein song on Radioeins". Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  6. "Radio by Rammstein on Tidal". Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  7. "Austriancharts.at – Rammstein – Radio" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Rammstein – Radio" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  9. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201918 into search. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  10. "Rammstein Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Rammstein – Radio". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  12. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  13. "Lista Przebojów Trójki - Polskie Radio Online". lp3.polskieradio.pl. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  14. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  15. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201918 into search. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  16. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 18". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  17. "Swisscharts.com – Rammstein – Radio". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  18. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  19. "Rammstein Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
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