Radio Ga Ga

sung by Queen

• Exercise 1: Jigsaw Sequencing (please scroll to next box)

• Exercise 2: Total Cloze

• Exercise 3: Subject/Object Questions (many using question words)

• Exercise 4: Tenses: Simple Present v Simple Past

• Discussion Point: 

  • Favourite Radio Programmes

  • Other uses of radio (for emergencies, communication, etc.)

• The Full Lyrics Answer Key

RELATED PAGES

• ESL/EFL ideas from Bibi for more songs by Queen

  • I'm Going Slightly Mad

  • The Show Must Go On

  • We Are The Champions

  • Radio Ga Ga

• Grammar & Language Practice Index

• Music Index

• Sitemap

• Title:                  Radio Ga Ga sung by Queen

• Exercise:            1

• Level:                 Pre-intermediate +

• Activity:              Jigsaw Listening

• Practice:             Contextual order

INSTRUCTIONS

• Students enjoy the physical involvement of this exercise.  Confident students should either work alone, or be teamed with weaker students.

• Cut the photocopy into strips as indicated.  Instruct students to scatter the pieces in front of them, so they can read them easily.

• Play the song at an appropriate speed to suit students' ability.

TIP:  To make the strips more user-friendly and to preserve them for future use, laminate the photocopied sheets before cutting.  If making more than one set, use different coloured paper for each set.

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

A backdrop for the girls and boys,

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All we hear is Radio ga ga,

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

All we hear is Radio ga ga,

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

All we hear is Radio ga ga,

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

All we hear is Radio ga ga,

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

All we hear is Radio ga ga,

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

And everything I had to know,

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And just complain when you're not there.

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How music changes through the years.

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I heard it on my radio.

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I'd sit alone and watch your light;

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Let's hope you never leave old friend;

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Like all good things on you we depend.

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My only friend through teenage nights

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On videos for hour and hours.

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Radio blah blah,

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Radio blah blah.

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Radio ga ga.

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Radio ga ga.

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Radio ga ga.

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Radio goo goo,

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Radio goo goo,

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Radio goo goo,

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Radio what's new?

#- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Radio what's new?

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Radio, someone still loves you!

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Radio, someone still loves you!

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Radio.

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Radio.

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Radio.

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So don't become some background noise,

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So stick around 'cos we might miss you,

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Through wars of worlds - invaded by Mars;

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We hardly need to use our ears.

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We watch the shows; we watch the stars

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When we grow tired of all this visual.

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Who just don't know or just don't care

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You gave them all those old time stars,

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You had your time, you had the power;

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You had your time; you had the power.

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You made them laugh - you made them cry

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You made us feel like we could fly.

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You've yet to have your finest hour

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You've yet to have your finest hour

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<>()<>

• Title:                  Radio Ga Ga sung by Queen

• Exercise:            2

• Level:                 Intermediate +

• Activity:              Total Cloze

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXERCISE 2 (The singer's words)

• Intermediate students should listen to the song and complete the words

• Advanced students should complete the words first, then check their answers with the song.

• Title:                  Radio Ga Ga sung by Queen

• Exercise:            3

• Level:                 Intermediate +

• Activity:             Gapped Dialogue/Matching Exercise

• Language:          Subject/Object Questions 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXERCISE 3 (Question Words + Subject/Object Questions)

• Instruct students to create subject/object questions to find out the information underlined.

• Alternatively, use the list of questions below as a matching exercise.

• Most of the questions should start with the following question words:  What? Where? When? Who?

• Advanced students should expand their questions with another relevant question.

Functions:

• Seeking information & confirmation by asking questions

Language Note:

• Interestingly, when using 'would' in relation to past habit, the question would use the auxiliary 'did'.  If the auxiliary 'would' is used in the question, it implies a future possibility.

sung by Queen

1. I'_  s_ _  a_ _ _ _  a_ _  w_ _ _ _  your light;   (Ex-3.............................................?)

2. M_  o_ _ _  f_ _ _ _  through teenage nights (Ex-3.............................................?)                

3. A_ _  everything I h_ _   t_  k_ _ _, (Ex-3.............................................?)

4. I h_ _ _ _  i_  on my radio.       (Ex-3.............................................?)                                       

5. Y_ _   g_ _ _  t_ _ _  all those old time stars,  (Ex-3.............................................?)

6. T_ _ _ _ _  w_ _ _  o_  w_ _ _ _ _ - (which were) i_ _ _ _ _ _  b_  M_ _ _;

7. Y_ _  m_ _ _  t_ _ _  laugh - y_ _  m_ _ _  t_ _ _ cry  (Ex-3.............................................?)

8. Y_ _  m_ _ _  u_  f_ _ _  like we could fly  (Ex-3.............................................?).

9. Radio.

10. S_  d_ _'_  b_ _ _ _ _  some background noise, (Ex-3.............................................?)

11. A  b_ _ _ _ _ _ _  f_ _  the girls and boys,  w_ _  j_ _ _  d_ _'_  k_ _ _  o_  j_ _ _  d_ _'_  c_ _ _ (Ex-3.............................................?) 

12. A_ _  j_ _ _  complain  w_ _ _  y_ _'_ _  n_ _  t_ _ _ _. (Ex-3.............................................?)

13. Y_ _  h_ _  y_ _ _  time,  y_ _  h_ _  t_ _  power; (Ex-3.............................................?)

14. Y_ _'_ _   y_ _  t_  h_ _ _  your finest hour  (Ex-3.............................................?)

15. R_ _ _ _.

16. A_ _  w_  h_ _ _  i_  R_ _ _ _  ga ga, (Ex-3.............................................?)

17. R_ _ _ _  goo goo, (Ex-3.............................................? ..............................................) 

18. R_ _ _ _  ga ga.(Ex-3.............................................?  .............................................?)

19. A_ _  w_  h_ _ _  i_  R_ _ _ _  ga ga, (Ex-3.............................................?)

20. R_ _ _ _  blah blah, (Ex-3.............................................?) 

21. R_ _ _ _  w_ _ _'_  n_ _ ? R_ _ _ _ ,  someone still loves you! (Ex-3.............................................?)

22. W_  w_ _ _ _  t_ _  s_ _ _ _;  w_  w_ _ _ _  t_ _  s_ _ _ _  o_  v_ _ _ _ _  for hours and hours. (Ex-3.............................................?)

23. W_  h_ _ _ _ _  n_ _ _  t_  u_ _   our ears. (Ex-3.............................................?)

24. H_ _  music  c_ _ _ _ _ _  t_ _ _ _ _ _  t_ _  y_ _ _ _. (Ex-3.............................................?)

25. L_ _'_  h_ _ _  you never leave old friend; (Ex-3.............................................?)

26. L_ _ _  a_ _  g_ _ _  t_ _ _ _ _  o_  you  w_  d_ _ _ _ _. (Ex-3.............................................?)

27. S_  s_ _ _ _  a_ _ _ _ _  'c_ _  w_  m_ _ _ _  m_ _ _  y_ _ ,  when we grow tired of all this visual. (Ex-3.............................................?) 

Y_ _  h_ _  y_ _ _  t_ _ _,  y_ _  h_ _  t_ _  p_ _ _ _;

Y_ _'_ _   y_ _  t_  h_ _ _  f_ _ _ _ _  h_ _ _

R_ _ _ _.

<>()<>

A_ _  w_  h_ _ _  i_  R_ _ _ _ ga ga,

R_ _ _ _  goo goo,

R_ _ _ _  ga ga.

A_ _  w_  h_ _ _  i_  R_ _ _ _  ga ga,

R_ _ _ _  goo goo,

R_ _ _ _  ga ga.

A_ _  w_  h_ _ _  i_  R_ _ _ _  ga ga,

R_ _ _ _  blah blah.

R_ _ _ _  w_ _ _'_  n_ _ ?

R_ _ _ _,  s_ _ _ _ _ _  s_ _ _ _   l_ _ _ _  y_ _!

<>()<>

(Use as a matching exercise)

1. Can you elaborate on that?

2. Can you repeat that? That's not what you said just now.

3. Do you mean that the radio spouts out rubbish?

4. Do you mean there are still people who prefer radio to tv?

5. Don't become what?

6. How did radio make you feel?

7. On what?

8. Radio Ga Ga?  What's that?

9. Radio what?

10. What changes through the years?

11. What did radio give them?

12. What did radio have?

13. What did radio make them do?

14. What did you have to know?

15. What did you watch?

16. What do they do when radio's not there?

17. What do we depend on?

18. What don't we need to use much?

19. What has radio yet to have?

20. What shall we hope for?

21. When did this happen?              

22. When might we miss the radio?

23. Where did you hear it?

24. Who doesn't know, or care?

25. Who watches tv for that long?

• Title:                 Radio Ga Ga sung by Queen

• Exercise:           4

• Level:                Intermediate +

• Activity:             Gapped

• Practice:            Simple Present v Simple Past

INSTRUCTIONS

• Make it easier by:

  • Completing the gaps containing irrelevant language points before photocopying

  • Playing the song at an appropriate speed, so students might complete the gaps.

• Make it more difficult by:

  • Instructing students to complete the gaps.  They can then check their answers by listening to the song.

sung by Queen

I'd sit alone and watch your light;
My only friend through teenage nights
And everything I ...........(1-have) to know,
I ...........(2-hear) it on my radio.

You ...........(3-give) them all those old time stars,
Through wars of worlds -(which were) ...........(4-invade) by Mars;
You ...........(5-make) them laugh - you ...........(6-make) them cry
You ...........(7-make) us feel like we could fly.
Radio.

So ...........(8-not become) some background noise,
A backdrop for the girls and boys,
Who just ...........(9-not know) or just ...........(10-not care)
And just ...........(11-complain) when you ...........(12-be) not there.
You ...........(13-have) your time, you ...........(14-have) the power;
You ...........(15-have) yet to have your finest hour
Radio.

All we ...........(16-hear) ...........(17-be) Radio ga ga.
Radio goo goo.
Radio ga ga.
All we ...........(18-hear) ...........(19-be) Radio ga ga,
Radio blah blah.
Radio what ...........(20-be) new?
Radio, someone still ...........(21-love) you!

We ...........(22-watch) the shows; we ...........(23-watch) the stars
On videos for hour and hours.
We hardly ...........(24-need) to use our ears.
How music ...........(25-change) through the years.

Let's hope you never ...........(26-leave) old friend;
Like all good things on you we ...........(27-depend).
So stick around 'cos we might miss you,
When we ...........(28-grow) tired of all this visual.
You ...........(29-have) your time; you ...........(30-have) the power.
You ...........(31-have) yet to have your finest hour.
Radio.

All we ...........(32-hear) ...........(33-be) Radio ga ga,
Radio goo goo,
Radio ga ga.
All we ...........(34-hear) ...........(35-be) Radio ga ga,
Radio goo goo,
Radio ga ga.
All we ...........(36-hear) ...........(37-be) Radio ga ga,
Radio blah blah.
Radio what...........(38-be) new?
Radio, someone still ...........(39-love) you!

<>()<>

• Favourite Radio Programmes

• Other uses of radio (for emergencies, communication, etc.)

• Hobby radio:  Radio Hams, etc.

• Reasons for eavesdropping on the emergency services

TASK

• Create a radio programme with sound effects (a story, play, documentary, etc.)  then present it to the class, but with no visual aids.  A baby alarm can be used to present it from outside the room.

• Research radio speak for airline pilots, cb radio, boats, etc. and create a conversation for routine communications and emergencies.

• Create a dialogue between a radio ham and someone who knows nothing about the hobby.

• Create a range of dialogues which cover the many reasons for eavesdropping on the emergency services.

The Full Lyrics Answer Key

Radio Ga Ga

sung by Queen

• The key to exercise 3 is shown in italics in brackets

• The key to exercise 4 is shown in red (number 7 has had the missing words added to complete the grammar; the passive form is required.)

1. I'd sit alone and watch your light;   (What did you watch?)

2. My only friend through teenage nights (When did this happen?)                

3. And everything I had to know, (What did you have to know?)

4. I heard it on my radio.       (Where did you hear it?)                                       

5. You gave them all those old time stars,  (What did radio give them?)

6. Through wars of worlds - (which were) invaded by Mars;

7. You made them laugh - you made them cry  (What did radio make them do?)

8. You made us feel like we could fly  (How did radio make you feel?).

9. Radio

10. So don't become some background noise, (Don't become what?)

11. A backdrop for the girls and boys, who just don't know or just don't care (Who doesn't know, or care?) 

12. And just complain when you're not there. (What do they do when radio's not there?)

13. You had your time, you had the power; (What did radio have?)

14. You've yet to have your finest hour  (What has radio yet to have?)

15. Radio.

16. All we hear is Radio ga ga, (Radio what?)

17. Radio goo goo, (Can you repeat that? That's not what you said just now.) 

18. Radio ga ga.(Radio Ga Ga?  What's that?)

19. All we hear is Radio ga ga, (Can you elaborate on that?)

20. Radio blah blah, (Do you mean that the radio spouts out rubbish?) 

21. Radio what's new? Radio, someone still loves you! (Do you mean there are still people who prefer radio to tv?)

22. We watch the shows; we watch the stars on videos for hours and hours. (Who watches tv for that long?)

23. We hardly need to use our ears. (What don't we need to use much?)

24. How music changes through the years. (What changes through the years?)

25. Let's hope you never leave old friend; (What shall we hope for?)

26. Like all good things on you we depend. (What do we depend on?)

27. So stick around 'cos we might miss you, when we grow tired of all this visual. (When might we miss the radio?) 

You had your time; you had the power.

You've yet to have your finest hour

Radio.

<>()<>

All we hear is Radio ga ga,

Radio goo goo,

Radio ga ga.

All we hear is Radio ga ga,

Radio goo goo,

Radio ga ga.

All we hear is Radio ga ga,

Radio blah blah.

Radio what's new?

Radio, someone still loves you!

<>()<>

R-Z

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