Radioactive (Imagine Dragons song)#Kendrick Lamar Remix

"Radioactive" was written by Imagine Dragons and producer Alex Da Kid. It is one of the more electronically influenced tracks on Night Visions as well as one of the darkest, similar to fourth track "Demons". The song is an electronic rock, alternative rock and stadium rock song with elements of dubstep.{{cite magazine |author=Ryan Reed |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/imagine-dragons-announce-arena-tour-20131007 |title=Imagine Dragons Announce 2014 Arena Tour Dates |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 7, 2013 |access-date=November 1, 2013}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/radioactive-mw0002495543/ |title=Radioactive – AllMusic Review |work=AllMusic|access-date=July 12, 2016 |first=Gregory |last=Heaney |publisher=All Media Network}}{{cite magazine|last= Rolling Stone Staff|title= The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time: Staff List|magazine= Rolling Stone|date= February 8, 2024|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-jock-jams-sports-songs-all-time/|accessdate= December 29, 2024|quote=["Radtioactive" is o]ne of the few obvious stadium-rock classics of this decade, with a dystopian lyric, booming beat and shout-along refrain.}} The song's lyrics speak of apocalyptic themes: 'I'm waking up to ash and dust' and 'This is it, the apocalypse'. Though the band has publicly maintained its secularity, NPR music critic Ann Powers has opined that the song features strong "religious or spiritual imagery", the likes of which have been common throughout the history of rock music.{{cite web |last=NPR Staff |title=Hearing Devotion in Pop's Details |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2014/02/21/280279386/hearing-devotion-in-pops-details |work=NPR Music|access-date=February 22, 2014 |date=February 21, 2014}}

Speaking on the song, lead singer Dan Reynolds said:

{{cquote|"Radioactive, to me, it's very masculine, powerful-sounding song, and the lyrics behind it, there's a lot of personal story behind it, but generally speaking, it's a song about having an awakening; kind of waking up one day and deciding to do something new, and see life in a fresh way."|author=Dan Reynolds{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698938/imagine-dragons-radioactive-video-set.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101121944/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698938/imagine-dragons-radioactive-video-set.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 1, 2013 |title=Imagine Dragons' 'Radioactive' Video: Empowerment, Lou Diamonds Phillips-Style |publisher=MTV|access-date=August 11, 2013}}}}

In a 2021 interview, Reynolds revealed that, on looking back at the song after almost a decade, he had realized that its lyrics were actually about him not giving up hope after losing faith in Mormonism.{{Cite podcast |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/2tryjbbrPO3RsogtWIMcvR?si=tkxnCekvQpq4-HckmegNAQ&dl_branch=1 |title=Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons |series=My Turning Point}}

Sheet music for "Radioactive" shows the key of B Dorian (a mode of F# minor or A major, in which B is used as the tonic), in 4/4 common time, and a tempo of 132bpm, with a chord progression of Bm-DSus2-A-E, and vocals spanning from E4 to B5.{{cite web |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0112537 |title=Imagine Dragons "Radioactive" Sheet Music in B Minor |date=December 18, 2012 |publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=March 23, 2024}}

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"Radioactive" was released to positive reviews. Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio gave the song a rating of 4.5 out of 5, calling it "hook-y [and] emotional", and stated that the "drama" and "excitement" of the song would allow "Radioactive" to appeal to both alternative pop fans and hard rockers.{{cite web |url=http://audioinkradio.com/2013/02/imagine-dragons-radioactive-song-review |title=Imagine Dragons, 'Radioactive' – Song Review |publisher=Audio Ink Radio |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=March 14, 2013}} AbsolutePunk gave a positive review, calling the acoustic section of the song "haunting", and called the chorus "hypnotizing".{{cite web |author=Explode |url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2831002 |title=Imagine Dragons – Continued Silence – Album Review |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |date=July 25, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2013}} Dara Hickey of Unreality Shout also reacted positively, calling the song the "darkest moment" on the album, and stated that, like all the other songs on the album, "Radioactive" was successful in creating a sound that "never fails to take off and send fists skyward".{{cite web |url=http://unrealityshout.com/blogs/album-review-imagine-dragons-night-visions |title=Album Review: Imagine Dragons – 'Night Visions' |publisher=Unreality Shout |date=September 3, 2012 |access-date=March 14, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907150035/http://unrealityshout.com/blogs/album-review-imagine-dragons-night-visions |archive-date=September 7, 2012}} IGN lauded the song, calling it "strangely intense and abrasive", and stated that "Radioactive" was "perhaps the greatest calling card of Imagine Dragons".{{cite web |author=PushxShove |url=https://www.ign.com/blogs/pushxshove/2013/02/05/imagine-dragons-night-visions-review-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223063618/http://www.ign.com/blogs/pushxshove/2013/02/05/imagine-dragons-night-visions-review-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |title=Imagine Dragons: Night Visions Review |work=Blog by PushxShove |publisher=IGN |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=March 14, 2013}}

Crave Online called the song an "opening throb", saying that the song "sexes up the dub-flirtation with a verse hingeing on the line 'this is it, the apocalypse' and a triumphant chorus, with more than a few shades of Hip-Hop in the production", and that the song was as "radio-ready as they come".{{cite web |author=Johnny Firecloud |url=http://www.craveonline.com/music/reviews/195661-review-imagine-dragons-night-visions |title=Review: Imagine Dragons – Night Visions |publisher=CraveOnline |date=September 10, 2012 |access-date=March 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627102839/http://www.craveonline.com/music/reviews/195661-review-imagine-dragons-night-visions |archive-date=June 27, 2013 |url-status=dead}} Our Vinyl stated that the "power of this song is outstanding with heavy drums and more of an electronic feel than the rest of the album and strong, impressive vocals from front-man Dan Reynolds which are reciprocated throughout the LP."{{cite web |author=Jack Ryan |url=http://ourvinyl.com/imagine-dragons-night-visions-album-review/ |title=Imagine Dragon's 'Night Visions' – Album Review |publisher=Our Vinyl |access-date=March 14, 2013}} Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone was critical of the song, calling it "a dour moaner that sound[s] like Chris Martin trying to write an Eminem ballad about the end of the world."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/imagine-dragons-smoke-mirrors-20150217 |title=Album Review: Imagine Dragons, Smoke + Mirrors |author=Dolan, Jon |date=February 17, 2015 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=March 7, 2015}}

In 2018, Billboard and Louder Sound ranked the song number two and number one, respectively, on their lists of the 10 greatest Imagine Dragons songs.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/imagine-dragons-songs-best-hits-list-8462544/ |title=Imagine Dragons' 10 Greatest Songs: Critic's Picks |first=Bobby |last=Olivier |magazine=Billboard |date=June 26, 2018 |accessdate=April 6, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-best-imagine-dragons-songs |title=The 10 best Imagine Dragons songs |first=Dave |last=Everley |work=Louder Sound |date=August 14, 2018 |accessdate=April 6, 2022}}

It is also on the soundtrack for NBA 2K14, the first NBA 2K game on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

"Radioactive" debuted at 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 after the release of Night Visions in September 2012 and remained at the lower ends of the chart for some time. In April 2013, the song made its top ten entry at number seven,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1555888/macklemore-ryan-lewis-top-hot-100-imagine-dragons-ariana-grande-hit-top-10 |title=Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Top Hot 100; Imagine Dragons, Ariana Grande Hit Top 10 |magazine=Billboard.com|access-date=August 11, 2013}} besting the number 15 position set by previous single "It's Time". In mid-June, the song reached number four, breaking the record for the slowest ascension to the top five, besting the previous holder Florida Georgia Line's song "Cruise", which broke the record just three weeks earlier.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1567379/robin-thickes-blurred-lines-remains-atop-hot-100-chart |title=Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' Remains Atop Hot 100 Chart |magazine=Billboard.com|access-date=August 11, 2013}} Two weeks later, the song reached its peak at number three.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1568185/robin-thicke-still-atop-hot-100-miley-cyrus-bruno-mars-reach-top-10 |title=Robin Thicke Still Atop Hot 100; Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars Reach Top 10 |magazine=Billboard.com|access-date=August 11, 2013}} The song formerly held the record for the longest reign atop the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart at 23 weeks before being surpassed by Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6686055/walk-the-moons-shut-up-and-dance-breaks-record-atop-hot-rock |title=Walk the Moon's 'Shut Up and Dance' Breaks Record Atop Hot Rock Songs Chart |magazine=Billboard |author=Emily White |date=September 8, 2015}} "Radioactive" currently holds the record for the longest reign atop the Billboard Rock Airplay chart, with 24 weeks. It also spent 13 weeks at number one on the Alternative Airplay component chart.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/4783323/radioactive-explosion-how-imagine-dragons-hit-has-conquered |title='Radioactive' Explosion: How Imagine Dragons' Hit Has Conquered Multiple Radio Formats |magazine=Billboard.com|access-date=August 11, 2013}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5650672/robin-thicke-leads-hot-100-for-10th-week-katy-perrys-roar-debuts |title=Robin Thicke Leads Hot 100 For 10th Week, Katy Perry's 'Roar' Debuts |magazine=Billboard.com|access-date=August 15, 2013}} In late 2023, for Alternative Airplay's 35th anniversary,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/alternative-airplay-chart-35th-anniversary-foo-fighters-all-time-low-rule-1235408126/ |title=Alternative Airplay Chart's 35th Anniversary: Foo Fighters Remain No. 1 Act, 'Monsters' New Top Song |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |magazine=Billboard |date=September 7, 2023|access-date=October 11, 2023}} Billboard placed "Radioactive" at number eight on its ranking of the top 100 largest hits in the chart's history.{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006001750/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-alternative-songs/ |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-alternative-songs/ |title=Greatest of All Time Alternative Songs|archive-date=October 6, 2023|access-date=October 11, 2023|url-status=live |magazine=Billboard}}

The song is also the best-selling rock song in US digital history. It was the No. 2 Song of the Summer according to Billboard and spent 87 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the all-time chart longevity record, previously held by Jason Mraz's 2008 single "I'm Yours", and overtaken by the Weeknd's 2019 single "Blinding Lights", which spent 90 weeks on the Hot 100 as of the chart issue dated September 4, 2021.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5908530/imagine-dragons-radioactive-breaks-record-for-longest-hot-100-run |title=Imagine Dragons' Radioactive Breaks Record for Longest Hot 100 Run |magazine=Billboard |date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=February 19, 2014}} However, it still holds the record for most consecutive weeks on the Hot 100, at 85. It has sold more copies in a calendar year than any other song by a rock act in digital history.{{cite web |last=Grein |first=Paul |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/chart-watch-justin-timberlake-paces-music-2013-212454294.html |title=Chart Watch: Justin Timberlake Paces The Year In Music 2013 | Yahoo Music – Yahoo Music |publisher=Music.yahoo.com |date=April 20, 2011 |access-date=December 20, 2013}} "Radioactive" was the third best selling song of 2013 with sales of 5,496,000 for the year.{{cite web |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/chart-watch-top-10-albums-songs-2013-184702481.html |title=The Top 10 Albums and Songs of 2013 |last=Grein |first=Paul |work=Chart Watch |publisher=Yahoo! Music |date=January 2, 2014|access-date=January 3, 2014}} It has gone on to sell 8,234,360 digital copies in the nation as of September 2017,{{cite news |url=http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-9-14-17.pdf |title=Nielsen SoundScan charts – Digital Songs – Week Ending: 09/14/2017 |publisher=Nielsen SoundScan|access-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919211714/http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-9-14-17.pdf|archive-date=September 19, 2017}} and was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The song has reached number one in Sweden and in the top twenty of several countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand as well as several parts of Europe. In the UK, the song debuted at 35 thanks to strong downloads from the Hear Me EP in November. After the release of Night Visions in April, the song peaked at number 12, becoming their highest charting single there.

The music video debuted on December 10, 2012.{{cite press release |title=Platinum-Selling Band Imagine Dragons Announce First-Ever Headlining Tour For Spring 2013 |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/platinum-selling-band-imagine-dragons-announce-first-ever-headlining-tour-for-spring-2013-182796251.html |publisher=PR Newswire|access-date=March 15, 2013}} Directed by Syndrome and featuring puppeteers from Puppet Heap, the video revolves around a mysterious female drifter (played by actress Alexandra Daddario) on a quest to save her friends in Imagine Dragons from the perils of a sinister, underground puppet-fighting ring led by actor Lou Diamond Phillips. The Champion of the fight, Gorigula, a large purple beast, beats and kills innocent stuffed animals and puppets forced to fight. After one puppet, Screaming Richard, is killed, the woman's pink teddy bear puppet enters the ring and fights Gorigula, initially being beaten up. After rising from the ground, the teddy bear knocks out Gorigula with a single superpower punch. The ringleader sends two bodyguards to subdue the teddy, whose laser vision disintegrates both of them. The remaining spectators flee, leaving the drifter with the stunned ringleader. The drifter takes a key off the chain around the ringleader's neck and the pink bear pulls the lever, causing the ringleader to fall in the dungeon. The drifter unlocks the door and frees the band. They climb out as the puppets and stuffed animals bid them farewell. The ringleader is left in the dungeon where the earlier-defeated puppets and stuffed animals soon surround and attack him.

Speaking of the video to MTV, Reynolds said "We read through a ton of scripts from really talented directors, and we came across one that stood out to us in particular, because it put into visuals the general theme of the song, which is kind of an empowering song about an awakening, but it did it in a way that was very different". "A lot of people probably see a post-apocalyptic world when they hear 'Radioactive', understandably, but we wanted to deliver something that was maybe a little different from that ... a lot different from that."

As of February 2025, the music video has over 1.5 billion views on YouTube, making it the group's third most viewed video. It also has over 9 million likes.

Adapted from Night Visions liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Night Visions (Deluxe Edition) |others=Imagine Dragons |date=2013 |type=liner notes |publisher=Interscope Records}}

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Imagine Dragons

• Dan Reynolds – lead and backing vocals
• Wayne Sermon – guitars, backing vocals
• Ben McKee – synthesizers, bass guitar, backing vocals
• Daniel Platzman – drums, drum machine

Additional musicians

• J Browz – guitar

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Additional personnel

• Alexander Grant – co-writer, producer
• Josh Mosser – co-writer
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Joe LaPorta – mastering

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File:Imagine Dragons @ The Pageant.jpg in St. Louis, Missouri.]]

The first televised performance of "Radioactive" was on the September 4, 2012, airing of ABC late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The song was performed alongside then-current single "It's Time".{{cite web |title=Imagine Dragons Play Two Tracks on Kimmel Live! |url=http://www.fender.com/news/imagine-dragons-play-two-tracks-on-kimmel-live/ |publisher=Fender|access-date=August 15, 2013|archive-date=February 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228135053/http://www.fender.com/news/imagine-dragons-play-two-tracks-on-kimmel-live/|url-status=dead}}

In February 2013, the band started the 145-date{{cite web |title=Events |url=http://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/events/ |work=Imagine Dragons Official Website |publisher=Interscope Records|access-date=July 2, 2013|archive-date=July 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701151358/http://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/events/|url-status=dead}} Night Visions Tour, which saw the band perform across North America and Europe. During the North American leg, the band made their first national television appearance, performing "Radioactive" on the February 22, 2013, airing of CBS late-night talk show Late Show with David Letterman.{{cite web |title=Imagine Dragons perform "Radioactive" on Letterman! |url=http://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/news/default.aspx?nid=40100&aid=1262 |work=imaginedragonsmusic |publisher=Interscope Records|access-date=July 9, 2013|archive-date=February 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206183315/http://www.imaginedragonsmusic.com/news/default.aspx?nid=40100&aid=1262|url-status=dead}}

In addition to performing the song on the March 28, 2013, airing of NBC late-night talk show The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,{{cite web |title=[WATCH] Imagine Dragons – "Radioactive" 3/28/2013 Jay Leno |url=http://soundcreeps.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/watch-imagine-dragons-radioactive.html |publisher=Soundcreeps|access-date=August 15, 2013}} the band also performed "Radioactive" on the July 29, 2013, airing of NBC late-night talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,{{cite web |title=Imagine Dragons perform "Radioactive" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon {{!}} VIDEO|url=http://dopeavenue.com/imagine-dragons-perform-radioactive-on-late-night-with-jimmy-fallon-video/|publisher=Dope Avenue|access-date=August 15, 2013}} following the historic performance of "It's Time" to an empty audience during Hurricane Sandy on the October 29, 2012, airing of Late Night.{{cite web |last=Carl Williott |first=Carl |title=Imagine Dragons Perform "It's Time" In Empty 'Late Night' Studio: Watch |date=October 30, 2012 |url=http://idolator.com/7235392/imagine-dragons-late-night-fallon-video |publisher=Idolator|access-date=July 9, 2013}} They performed the song on Saturday Night Live with a guest performance by Kendrick Lamar on February 2, 2014, recreating their teamed performance of the song at the Grammy Awards the previous month.

As one of Taylor Swift's many guest appearances on her 1989 World Tour, the band performed the song with Swift herself in Detroit, Michigan.

Typical live performances of the song now have incorporated a drum solo and a guitar solo.

"Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody version entitled "Inactive" for his 2014 album Mandatory Fun.

"Radioactive" was covered by American violinist Lindsey Stirling with Texan a cappella group Pentatonix and uploaded to Stirling's YouTube channel, becoming immensely successful and as of February 2023 has over 190 million views.{{YouTube|aE2GCa-_nyU}} The recording subsequently earned a 2013 YouTube Award.

Jason Derulo covered the song live on BBC.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b039p15v/Huw_Stephens_Jason_Derulo_in_the_Live_Lounge/ |title=BBC Radio 1 – Huw Stephens, Jason Derulo in the Live Lounge |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=December 20, 2013}}

Daughtry covered the song live on SiriusXM.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_S5DKjX-nE |title=Daughtry – Radioactive (Acoustic Cover) |date=October 27, 2013 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=December 20, 2013}}

Lady Antebellum covered the song live backstage on their Take Me Downtown Tour and put the video on their YouTube channel.{{YouTube|5xz0Lj-IvkA}}

Jake Bugg covered the song live on BBC Radio 1.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cANHcmzfASs |title=Jake Bugg covers Imagine Dragons' Radioactive (Live Lounge) |publisher=YouTube |date=July 29, 2014 |access-date=May 21, 2016}}

Radioactive (The Dirty Tees Remix) Featured on the film The Host's soundtrack.

American production duo Synchronice released a melodic dubstep remix of the song which accumulated over 20,000,000 plays on YouTube and over 15,000,000 plays on their own SoundCloud page.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BPu5m63_go |title=Imagine Dragons – Radioactive (Synchronice Remix) [Exclusive] |publisher=YouTube |date=June 11, 2013 |access-date=August 8, 2020}}

Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation recorded a version on their cover album The Q-Music Sessions released in April 2013 and released again on their album Hydra. American post-hardcore band Our Last Night covered the song.{{cite web |url=http://www.underthegunreview.net/2013/08/13/stream-our-last-night-radioactive-imagine-dragons-cover/ |title=STREAM: OUR LAST NIGHT – "RADIOACTIVE" (IMAGINE DRAGONS COVER) |publisher=underthegunreview.net|access-date=August 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002030602/http://www.underthegunreview.net/2013/08/13/stream-our-last-night-radioactive-imagine-dragons-cover/|archive-date=October 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}

Masha covered "Radioactive" on her popular YouTube channel on May 25, 2013; the video has received 130,000 views as of December 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQXkmgTMt2c |title=Radioactive – Imagine Dragons (Cover by Masha) |date=May 25, 2013 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=December 20, 2013}} The Radioactive Chicken Heads recorded a punk rock cover of "Radioactive" and released a music video for their version on YouTube.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7MUy-XFrBI |title=Radioactive Chicken Heads RADIOACTIVE (Imagine Dragons) Punk Rock Cover |date=December 26, 2013 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=December 30, 2013}} Ed Kowalczyk (of Live) covered the song for an Australian radio station.{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1673689/lives-ed-kowalczyk-is-still-around-and-hes-covering-imagine-dragons/video/ |title=Live's Ed Kowalczyk Is Still Around And He's Covering Imagine Dragons |publisher=Stereogum |date=April 5, 2014 |access-date=April 21, 2014}} Country music artist Dallas Smith covered the song on his Tippin' Point tour.

Independent American singer Madilyn Bailey recorded an acoustic cover that reached number 36 on SNEP, the official French singles chart, in June 2015.{{cite web |author=Steffen Hung |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Madilyn+Bailey&titel=Radioactive&cat=s |title=Madilyn Bailey – "Radioactive" song |access-date=May 21, 2016}} Kelly Clarkson covered the song as part of her "Fan Requests" on July 12, 2015, during her Piece by Piece Tour.{{cite web |last1=Rodman |first1=Sarah |title=Kelly Clarkson's versatile voice delivers pop anthems, album cuts with cheer |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2015/07/12/clarkson/9MeGZYaZj4OryU1Ygdb4oI/story.html |website=bostonglobe.com |publisher=Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC |date=July 13, 2014}}

Welsh metalcore band Bullet for My Valentine recorded a cover in 2018 on their sixth studio album Gravity.

The song is included as a playable routine in the 2022 dance rhythm game Just Dance 2023 Edition. The choreography features the first Just Dance performer to be wheelchair-bound. The routine won the award for Best Representation at The Game Accessibility Conference on January 25, 2023.{{cite web |title=GACONF AWARDS |url=https://www.gaconf.com/2022-awards |website=gaconf.com |publisher=The Game Accessibility Conference |date=January 25, 2023}}

{{See also|List of best-selling singles|List of best-selling singles in the United States|List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones}}

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Radioactive"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=10|certyear=2020|type=single|access-date=April 25, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2012|certyear=2022|type=single|access-date=January 12, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2014|access-date=April 27, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|title=Radioactive|artist=Imagine Dragons|award=Diamond|number=4|type=single|certyear=2024|relyear=2012|access-date=June 20, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Diamond|type=single|certyear=2018|access-date=February 21, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Gold|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|certmonth=04|id=6311|type=single|access-date=December 12, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|type=single|access-date=July 21, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|title=Radioactive|artist=Imagine Dragons|certyear=2019|relyear=2019|access-date=September 23, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=single|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|access-date=May 16, 2014|relyear =2013|certyear=2014|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|id=2014-02-28|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=5|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2013}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=3|id=imagine-dragons-radioactive|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=February 22, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=2012|certyear=2015|certweek=2|position=75|type=single}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|title=Radioactive|artist=Imagine Dragons|type=single|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|id=5325-2498-1|access-date=March 3, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Imagine Dragons|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|certmonth=12|title=Radioactive|award=Platinum|number=17|type=single|access-date=December 3, 2024|refname=RIAA}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Imagine Dragons|title=Radioactive (streaming)|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2012|certyear=2014|certmonth=02|id=5733|type=single|streamsonly=true|access-date=September 23, 2019}}

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{{Infobox song

| name = Radioactive

| cover = Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar - "Radioactive" (Single).jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Imagine Dragons featuring Kendrick Lamar

| album = Night Visions (Deluxe)

| released = January 27, 2014

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = * Alternative rock

• electronic rock
• rap rock

| length = 4:43

| label = * KIDinaKORNER

• Interscope

| writer = * Alexander Grant

• Ben McKee
• Josh Mosser
• Daniel Platzman
• Dan Reynolds
• {{nowrap|Wayne Sermon}}
• Kendrick Duckworth

| producer = Alexander Grant

| chronology = Imagine Dragons

| prev_title = Monster

| prev_year = 2013

| next_title = Battle Cry

| next_year = 2014

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Kendrick Lamar

| type = single

| prev_title = Forbidden Fruit

| prev_year = 2013

| title = Radioactive

| year = 2014

| next_title = Nosetalgia

| next_year = 2014

}}{{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|tVdJLqFZ1xc|"Radioactive" (Remix)}}|type=Song}}

}}

The Night Visions track was remixed by the band, featuring guest vocals from American rapper Kendrick Lamar. The remix, while retaining most of the original track from Continued Silence, was recorded by the band and Kendrick Lamar for release as a single. The single was released on January 27, 2014.

"Radioactive" was first performed by Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, held at the Staples Center, Los Angeles on January 26, 2014. The song was performed in a mashup with Kendrick Lamar's "M.A.A.D City", a track from his Grammy-nominated album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |title=Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons Stun With 'Radioactive' Grammy Collab |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kendrick-lamar-imagine-dragons-stun-with-radioactive-grammy-collabo-20140126|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129144538/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kendrick-lamar-imagine-dragons-stun-with-radioactive-grammy-collabo-20140126|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2014 |magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=February 4, 2014}} It was the second most tweeted music moment of 2014.{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Jim |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/music-rules-twitter-2014-article-1.2039785 |title=Music rules Twitter in 2014 |publisher=NY Daily News |date=December 9, 2014 |access-date=May 21, 2016}} The song was performed by the duo again on the February 1, 2014, airing of NBC late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live.{{cite web |last=Minsker |first=Evan |title=Watch: Kendrick Lamar Joins Imagine Dragons on "Saturday Night Live" |date=February 2, 2014 |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/53803-watch-kendrick-lamar-joins-imagine-dragons-on-saturday-night-live/ |publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=February 4, 2014}}. At the time, the song was in decline on the Billboard Hot 100, but the performance caused the song to bullet 33-13 just two weeks before breaking the record for most weeks on the chart.

{{track listing

| headline = Digital download

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Radioactive

| note1 = featuring Kendrick Lamar

| writer1 = {{hlist|McKee|Platzman|Reynolds|Sermon|Grant|Mosser|Kendrick Duckworth}}

| extra1 = Grant

| length1 = 4:43

}}

Partly adapted from Night Visions liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title="Radioactive" |others=Imagine Dragons |date=2014 |type=liner notes |publisher=Interscope Records}}

Imagine Dragons

• Dan Reynolds – vocals
• Wayne Sermon – guitar
• Ben McKee – bass
• Daniel Platzman – drums, viola

Additional personnel

• Alexander Grant – co-writer, producer
• Josh Mosser – co-writer
• Timmy 2Tone – co-writer
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Joe LaPorta – mastering

Additional musicians

• Kendrick Lamar – vocals
• J Browz – guitar

• List of best-selling singles in Australia

{{Reflist}}

• {{YouTube|ktvTqknDobU|"Radioactive" music video}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150214203128/http://www.mixtapes.tv/live-performances/kendrick-lamar-imagine-dragons-2014-grammy-performance-12732.html Kendrick Lamar & Imagine Dragon’s 2014 Grammy Performance]
• {{IMDb title|6971642}}

{{Imagine Dragons}}

{{Kendrick Lamar songs}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for "Radioactive"

|titlestyle = background: lightblue

|list =

{{Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance}}

{{YTMAs}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2012 songs

Category:2012 singles

Category:2013 singles

Category:2014 singles

Category:Imagine Dragons songs

Category:Kendrick Lamar songs

Category:Number-one singles in Sweden

Category:Song recordings produced by Alex da Kid

Category:Songs written by Alex da Kid

Category:Songs written by Wayne Sermon

Category:Songs written by Dan Reynolds (musician)

Category:Songs written by Daniel Platzman

Category:Songs written by Ben McKee

Category:Kidinakorner singles

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Electronic rock songs

Category:Music videos featuring puppetry

Category:Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance

Category:Remix singles