Radioactive (Kings of Leon song)

Last updated
"Radioactive"
RadioactiveKOL.jpg
Single by Kings of Leon
from the album Come Around Sundown
ReleasedSeptember 14, 2010 (2010-09-14)
Recorded2010
Genre Southern rock [1]
Length3:27
Label RCA
Songwriter(s) Caleb Followill
Nathan Followill
Jared Followill
Matthew Followill
Producer(s) Angelo Petraglia
Jacquire King
Kings of Leon singles chronology
"Crawl"
(2009)
"Radioactive"
(2010)
"Pyro"
(2010)

"Radioactive" is a song by American rock band Kings of Leon, and was the first single released from their 2010 album Come Around Sundown .

Contents

The song, along with its accompanying music video, premiered on September 8 on the Kings' website. The following day, it received its official radio premiere on Australian radio, and debuted on US Alternative Radio on September 13. The song was released on US iTunes on September 14, and released at a later date in remaining countries.

The song was nominated for the 53rd Grammy Awards in two categories: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Rock Song. The song is used in the films I Am Number Four and Boyhood .

Music video

The music video was released on September 8, 2010 on the Kings of Leon's website. The video that was made in a sepia-tone refers to the band's origins, with a Southern rock sound. [1] [2] It shows the band at a barbecue with a gospel children's choir. Drummer Nathan Followill said, "Gospel music was a big part of us growing up, so to be able to come back and revisit that part of our lives at this stage in our lives is a pretty special thing." [3]

NME named Radioactive's music video the second worst music video ever, commenting, "The music industry gasped in disbelief as the Oklahoma boys leapt into a muddled mise-en-scene of questionable racial subtext." [4]

Live performances

Kings of Leon performed the song on Saturday Night Live on October 23, 2010 and on Late Show with David Letterman on October 25, 2010. [5] [6] On November 25, 2010, the band gave a mini-concert in New York for The Today Show during which they performed a three-song set including "Radioactive". [7] They also sang it on May 13, 2011 on VH1 Storytellers . [8]

Track listings

Digital download
  1. "Radioactive" - 3:27
UK 2-track CD single
  1. "Radioactive" - 3:27
  2. "Radioactive (Remix Featuring West Angeles Mass Choir)" - 3:33

Chart performance

"Radioactive" debuted and peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since re-entered the chart at number 65 upon the release of the album.

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [35] Platinum70,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dolphin's Cry</span> 1999 single by Live

"The Dolphin's Cry" is a song by American alternative rock band Live, released on August 24, 1999, as the lead single from their fourth studio album, The Distance to Here. The song was co-produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, and features Adam Duritz of Counting Crows on backing vocals. It reached number one on the Canadian RPM Top 30 Rock Report and number two on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Internationally, "The Dolphin's Cry" peaked at number one in Iceland, number seven in Flanders, and number 10 in the Netherlands while reaching the top 50 on the Australian and New Zealand music charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patience (Guns N' Roses song)</span> 1989 single by Guns N Roses

"Patience" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses from their second studio album, G N' R Lies (1988), released as a single in April 1989. The song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song is a ballad, played using three acoustic guitars and was recorded in a single session by producer Mike Clink. A music video of the song was shot and appears on the band's music video DVD, Welcome to the Videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Livin' on a Prayer</span> 1986 single by Bon Jovi

"Livin' on a Prayer" is a song by the American rock band Bon Jovi, and is the band's second chart-topping single from their third album Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child, the single, released in late 1986, was well received at both rock and pop radio and its music video was given heavy rotation at MTV, giving the band their first No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and their second consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Friends (Red Hot Chili Peppers song)</span> Song by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"My Friends" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and the fourth track on their sixth studio album, One Hot Minute (1995). It is a melodic ballad and was released as the second single from the album. It is the only song from One Hot Minute to be included on their Greatest Hits compilation, though the music video for "Aeroplane" appears on the DVD. It became the band's third number-one single on the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for four consecutive weeks, and their first number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, making it the band's first single to top both charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold War Kids</span> American indie rock band formed in 2004

Cold War Kids is an American indie rock band from Long Beach, California. Band members are Nathan Willett, Matt Maust, David Quon, Matthew Schwartz, and Joe Plummer. Former members of the band include Dann Gallucci, Matt Aveiro, and Jonnie Russell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings of Leon discography</span>

The discography of Kings of Leon, an American rock band, consists of eight studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, two video album, five extended plays, 26 singles, one promotional single and 26 music videos. As of 2016 the band has sold over 21 million albums worldwide and 38 million singles. The band released their debut extended play Holy Roller Novocaine in February 2003, followed by the release of the extended play What I Saw in May. Their debut studio album, Youth and Young Manhood, was released in July 2003, peaking at number 113 on the US Billboard 200 and number three on the UK Albums Chart. The album has since been certified two times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and three times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Three singles were released from the album, including the UK top 40 hit "Molly's Chambers". In November 2004, Kings of Leon released their second album, Aha Shake Heartbreak. The album peaked at number 55 on the Billboard 200 and number three on the UK Albums Chart. It has been certified double platinum by the BPI and the ARIA. The album's first single, "The Bucket", peaked at number 16 in the UK; it also became the band's first single to chart in the United States, where it peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart.

<i>Only by the Night</i> 2008 studio album by Kings of Leon

Only by the Night is the fourth studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon, released in September 2008 through RCA Records. Writing for the band's fourth album commenced just days after the release of their third, Because of the Times. The album was recorded by producers Jacquire King and Angelo Petraglia in April 2008 at Nashville's Blackbird Studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex on Fire</span> 2008 single by Kings of Leon

"Sex on Fire" is the first single released from American rock band Kings of Leon's fourth studio album, Only by the Night. The song gave Kings of Leon their first number-one single in Australia, Finland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, charting at the top spot on digital downloads alone in the latter country, before its physical release. In September 2009, it was Britain's second most-downloaded digital single ever. The song has sold 1.2 million copies in the United Kingdom as of November 2012. It has also gained significant popularity in the United States, reaching number one on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's second highest-charting song there on the former chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Use Somebody</span> 2008 single by Kings of Leon

"Use Somebody" is a song recorded by the American rock group Kings of Leon. It was the second single from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night, and it entered American and British charts in early October 2008, three weeks after the album release. The single was augmented with a music video released a month later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Know Your Enemy (Green Day song)</span> 2009 single by Green Day

"Know Your Enemy" is a protest song by American rock band Green Day. It is the third track on their eighth album, 21st Century Breakdown, and it was released as the lead single through Reprise Records on April 16, 2009, and the group's first single since "Jesus of Suburbia", released 4 years earlier. Billboard described the song as being lyrically "just as politically charged as last time ", having a "Modern Rock radio-ready chorus", whilst the song's producer Butch Vig "brings enough punk sheen for mass appeal." It was the first, and one of only three songs, to top the Rock Songs, Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock Tracks Billboard charts at the same time. "Know Your Enemy" has been certified Gold by the RIAA and has sold 798,000 copies as of August 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notion (Kings of Leon song)</span> 2009 single by Kings of Leon

"Notion" is a song recorded by American rock band Kings of Leon. The song was released as the fourth single from their album, Only by the Night, on June 29, 2009. The song reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for one week in of September 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uprising (song)</span> 2009 single by Muse

"Uprising" is a song by the English rock band Muse. It was released on 4 August 2009 as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album, The Resistance (2009). The song was written by band member Matt Bellamy, produced by the band, and mixed by Spike Stent. "Uprising" peaked at number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and peaked in the top 10 in seven countries. It was certified platinum in the United Kingdom, gold in four countries, platinum in three countries, and double-platinum in the United States, making it Muse's best-selling single.

<i>Come Around Sundown</i> 2010 studio album by Kings of Leon

Come Around Sundown is the fifth studio album by U.S. rock band Kings of Leon, released in Ireland, Australia and Germany on October 15, 2010, followed by releases in the United Kingdom on October 18 and North America on October 19. Lead single "Radioactive," along with its accompanying music video, premiered Sept. 8 on the band's official website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyro (song)</span> 2010 single by Kings of Leon

"Pyro" is a song by American rock band Kings of Leon, released on December 9, 2010 as the second single from their fifth studio album Come Around Sundown (2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back Down South</span> 2011 single by Kings of Leon

"Back Down South" is a song by American rock band Kings of Leon from their 2010 album Come Around Sundown. It was released as the third and final single from the album May 17, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radioactive (Imagine Dragons song)</span> 2012 single by Imagine Dragons

"Radioactive" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons from their major-label debut EP Continued Silence and later on their debut studio album, Night Visions (2012), as the opening track. It was first sent to modern rock radio on October 29, 2012, and then released to contemporary hit radio on April 9, 2013. Musically, "Radioactive" is an electronic rock and alternative rock song with elements of dubstep. In a 2021 podcast interview called The Turning Point, Dan Reynolds revealed that after almost a decade, he had realized that the lyrics were actually about him not giving up hope after losing faith in Mormonism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demons (Imagine Dragons song)</span> 2013 song by Imagine Dragons

"Demons" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was written by Alex da Kid, Ben McKee, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Josh Mosser and produced by Alex da Kid. The song appears on their major-label debut extended play, Continued Silence, and also makes an appearance on their debut studio album, Night Visions, as the fourth track. "Demons" was solicited to American triple-A radio stations on January 28, 2013 and to modern rock stations two months later, on April 1, 2013. It serves as the album's overall fifth single and was released as the third single from Night Visions in the United States, later released to US contemporary hit radio stations on 17 September 2013 as an official single. The lyrics portray the protagonist warning the significant other of his or her flaws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supersoaker (song)</span> 2013 single by Kings of Leon

"Supersoaker" is a song by American rock band Kings of Leon. The song was written by Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill, Jared Followill, and Matthew Followill and produced by Angelo Petraglia. It was released on July 17, 2013 as the lead single from their sixth studio album Mechanical Bull (2013), and peaked at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Walls</i> (Kings of Leon album) 2016 studio album by Kings of Leon

Walls is the seventh studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon, released on October 14, 2016, through RCA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waste a Moment (Kings of Leon song)</span> 2016 single by Kings of Leon

"Waste a Moment" is a song by American rock band Kings of Leon. The song was released as a digital download on September 9, 2016 through RCA Records as the lead single from their seventh studio album Walls (2016). The song was written by Caleb Followill, Nathan Followill, Jared Followill and Matthew Followill.

References

  1. 1 2 Peter de Saint Phalle (September 8, 2010). "Kings Of Leon 'Radioactive' Video Pays Tribute To Band's Southern Roots". MTV. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  2. Staff (September 17, 2010). "Kings of Leon, 'Radioactive'". Billboard . Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. Goodman, William (September 8, 2010). "WATCH: Kings of Leon Debut 'Radioactive' Video!". Spin . Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  4. "50 Worst Music Videos Ever". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  5. McGee, Ryan (October 24, 2010). "Recap: 'Saturday Night Live' - Emma Stone and Kings of Leon". HitFix . Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  6. "Kings of Leon bring "Radioactive" to Letterman". Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  7. "Kings of Leon perform "Radioactive" on the Today Show". Nova . December 1, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  8. Becque, Elien (May 11, 2011). "Video: First Look at 'Radioactive'". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  9. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  10. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  11. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  13. "Kings of Leon Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive" (in Danish). Tracklisten.
  15. "Billboard". Billboard .
  16. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  17. "Chart Track: Week 38, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
  18. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kings Of Leon" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  20. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  21. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive". Top 40 Singles.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive". Singles Top 100.
  24. "Kings Of Leon – Radioactive". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. "Kings of Leon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  27. "Kings of Leon Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  28. "Kings of Leon Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  29. "Kings of Leon Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  30. "End of Year 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus . Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  31. "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  32. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  33. "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  34. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  35. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 15 November 2021.