About
Written by Robbie Williams and Stephen Duffy, Radio was released on 4 October 2004 as the lead single from Greatest Hits. It debuted at number one in the UK and topped charts in Portugal and Denmark, while reaching the Top 5 across Europe. The track marked Williams’ first collaboration with Duffy, a former founding member of Duran Duran, signalling a departure from his earlier partnership with Guy Chambers and the start of a more experimental pop sound.
Built around an electronic bassline inspired by Harold Faltermeyer’s 1980s hit Axel F, Radio fuses glam-pop eccentricity with sharp humour. Williams conceived the song as “a soundtrack to an entertainer going mad,” blending paranoia and playfulness. Its surreal lyrics — “You’ve stolen my attic, I live in my basement” — reflect his fascination with fame and identity, while the pulsing synths and robotic rhythm foreshadowed the left-field direction of later albums like Rudebox.
It’s mental. That’s why I love it. Kids are going to buy it in droves because it sounds like nothing else. It’s dark, mad and fun all at once.Robbie Williams
The Vaughan Arnell-directed video amplified the song’s strangeness, featuring Williams with sharpened teeth, reptilian eyes and a troupe of masked cheerleaders — imagery inspired by his obsession with conspiracy theorist David Icke. Performed as the opening number on his 2006 Close Encounters tour, Radio remains one of his boldest and most unconventional singles, a fearless reintroduction of Williams as both pop provocateur and self-aware showman.
Lyrics
He's chosen my attic
I feel it in the static
He lives in my basement
And I can hardly face it
My performance is easy
I am the god of romance
And in my confusion
I have the right to reign
He's stolen my Oscar's
He trades all my jokes
He makes all my engines
Go wo-ho-ho-ho
He puts an e in the arsenal
A comb in my 'fro
Divine retribution
And away we go
Something's happening and I can feel it
Moving out of time you won't hear it
Falling in the way you fear it
Jumping, thumping, shout at something
Jumping, thumping, shout at something
Listen to the radio
And you will hear the songs you know
Make it effervescent here
And you may have a job my dear, my dear
I'm searching for something
Beyond my understanding
Looking for meaning
When nothing is demanding
There are no surprises
When nothing is expected
If you offer nothing
Everyone accepts
He stole up my Oscar's
He trades up my jokes
He makes all my engines
Go wo-ho-ho-ho
He puts a e in the arsenal
A comb in my 'fro
Divine retribution
And away we go
Something's happening and I can feel it
Moving on a time you will hear it
Falling in the way you fear it
Jumping, thumping, shout at something
Jumping, thumping, shout at something
Listen to the radio
And you will hear the songs you know
Make it effervescent to hear
And you may have a job my dear, my dear
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
Radio-o
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
Radio-o
Something's happening and I can feel it
Moving on a time you won't hear it
Falling in the way you fear it
Jumping, thumping, shout at something
Jumping, thumping, shout at something
Something's happening and I can feel it
Moving on a time you won't hear it
Falling in the way you fear it
Jumping, thumping, shout at something
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Listen to the radio
Credits
-
Vocalist
Robbie Williams -
Songwriter
Robbie Williams, Stephen Duffy