About this song
- “Video Killed the Radio Star” is a song written by Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes, and Bruce Woolley in 1978. It was first recorded by Bruce Woolley and The Camera Club, with Thomas Dolby on keyboards for their album English Garden. The song was later re-recorded by the British duo The Buggles, consisting of Horn and Downes. The Buggles’ version was recorded and mixed in 1979, released as their debut single on 7 September 1979 by Island Records, and included on their first album, The Age of Plastic. The backing track was recorded at Virgin’s Town House Studios in West London, with vocals and final mixing completed at Sarm East Studios. “Video Killed the Radio Star” is a synth-pop/New Wave song that reflects nostalgically on the golden age of radio, telling the story of a singer whose career is eclipsed by the rise of television. The song topped charts in multiple countries, has been widely covered, and has become a lasting cultural reference point. Notably, it was the first music video broadcast on MTV in North America at 12:01 a.m. on 1 August 1981 and has been frequently parodied in popular media. The song has also received critical recognition, including a ranking at number 40 on VH1’s 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the ’80s. . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply. — lastfm
Countdown appearances
Featured in
- their first album · film
