Radioactive by Imagine Dragons is one of those songs you hear and see. Everyone visualizes something similar but but a bit different.
The lyrics tell you as much as the music does. From the way the beat hesitates before it drops the the way overall lulls and crests until it’s all on-your-feet self-empowerment.
No matter what you see, the story to accompany Radioactive always has the same basic bones:
- An underdog is unsure
- Then conditions align and it’s time to step forward or stay down
- The underdog finds their voice…
- Then they find that bass in their voice.
- In time that voice carries across the masses until it’s a battle cry
- Finally, that battle cry becomes the victory chant of the once down-trodden masses
The quiet rise from unknown to greatness from unsure to leader in Radioactive is well-trodden but beloved. The song was used for The Host, Assassin’s Creed III, and a slew of other soundtracks.
So what was Imagine Dragons picturing when they wrote and heard Radioactive? Check out the video and be surprised by their version of a standard trope.
I loved this music video SO much. My sister is an an art doll artist – and she made a doll / plush inspired by the music video. You should totally check it out! It’s a pink teddy with a dolls face and radioactive symbol on its belly – in the photos section of my twitter profile @pabkins