How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

About

Genius Annotation

The first song on Imagine Dragons' debut album Night Visions gives off a revolutionary vibe, but leaves what is being changed up to interpretation. Some argue it is about nuclear war, others say it is about Wall Street and similar protests, and some think it is really talking about the end of the world. Regardless, it is a powerful song bound to inspire debate on its meaning.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Imagine Dragons say about "Radioactive"?
Genius Answer

[“Radioactive” is] basically a song about my struggle with anxiety and depression. It’s about becoming self-empowered and rising above that. I wanted to write a masculine and primal song about conjuring and rising above human weakness. Alex really helped us with that one. It has a dubstep vibe to it. We’d try something like that and it wouldn’t be heavy enough. Alex can come in and say, ‘Let’s add this distortion,’ and then suddenly it clicks."

–Dan Reynolds via Rolling Stone (2013)

Did the song fair well on the Billboard Hot 100?
Genius Answer

Despite “Radioactive” only peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100, the song holds the record for the Longest Time Spent on the Hot 100 at 87 weeks.

What RIAA certification does "Radioactive" have?
Genius Answer

On July 6, 2015, “Radioactive” was certified Diamond for reaching x10 Multi-platinum. It was the band’s first song to be certified Diamond.

How has the meaning of the song changed?
Credits
Produced By
Recording Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Additional Guitars
Synthesizer
Recorded At
Westlake Recording Studios (West Hollywood, California, United States)
Release Date
February 14, 2012
View Radioactive samples
Tags
Comments