50-Year-Old Songs: Radar Love
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (63052)
United States
May 15, 2024 10:53am CST
It’s time to hop in the car and drive back 50 years to 1974! One thing I’ve noticed as we’re at the halfway point of the month: I’ve used a lot of these songs in other top ten lists. That shows you what a great year 1974 was for music. Speaking of hopping in the car, here’s a great driving tune from that year.
Radar Love - Golden Earring
What a killer tune. Definitely a “not safe for driving near a speed trap” beat. Of course, that’s what the song is about, basically. 
After success in Europe in the last half of 1973, it was finally released as a single in 1974 here…and became a big hit!
Golden Earring was one of the Netherlands’ most successful rock imports. They were a band for — ready for this? — sixty years, only disbanding in 2021 after the heartbreaking news that guitarist/lead singer George Kooymans was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
This, and their 1982 hit “Twilight Zone,” might be the only things Americans remember about Golden Earring. A lot of bands wish they could be so lucky to be known for two great tunes.
Radar Love
Written by George Kooymans and Barry Hay
Recorded by Golden Earring
From Moontan, 1973
Brenda Lee’s “Comin’ on Strong”:
After success in Europe in the last half of 1973, it was finally released as a single in 1974 here…and became a big hit!
Golden Earring was one of the Netherlands’ most successful rock imports. They were a band for — ready for this? — sixty years, only disbanding in 2021 after the heartbreaking news that guitarist/lead singer George Kooymans was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
This, and their 1982 hit “Twilight Zone,” might be the only things Americans remember about Golden Earring. A lot of bands wish they could be so lucky to be known for two great tunes.
Radar Love
Written by George Kooymans and Barry Hay
Recorded by Golden Earring
From Moontan, 1973
Brenda Lee’s “Comin’ on Strong”:Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
11 people like this
11 responses
@xFiacre (12561)
• Ireland
15 May
@fourwalls That was a great year, a great time to be 16.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (63052)
• United States
15 May
The year I started listening to rock and roll. Perfect timing for listening to the radio: if you didn’t like John Denver, just wait three minutes and Alice Cooper would be along…or vice versa.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (86091)
• Bangalore, India
15 May
The band survived for sixty long years. That's incredible! 1974..it was four years before I was born.
Nice music!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (63052)
• United States
15 May
Glad you like it. I listen to a lot of music, including stuff before I was born…and occasionally things before my parents were even born!
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (86091)
• Bangalore, India
16 May
@FourWalls I do the same. I have many favourites from Bollywood that were much before I was born and a few before my parents were born. Good music is timeless and can be cherished by all generations.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (63052)
• United States
15 May
Oh will you go count down the days until school ends for the year?! 
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (160254)
• United States
16 May
This band and song were not on my radar. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@Scarred4Lyfe (289)
•
16 May
Wait a minute - this has nothing to do with Corporal O'Reilly 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (63052)
• United States
16 May
I think the teddy bear sang this to him. 
Poor guy gets blamed for everything. They issue a tornado warning, and what do they say? “It’s Radar-indicated.”
Poor guy gets blamed for everything. They issue a tornado warning, and what do they say? “It’s Radar-indicated.”1 person likes this
@FourWalls (63052)
• United States
16 May
@Scarred4Lyfe — see? Blamed for everything!
1 person likes this
@marymary621 (128)
• Ogden, Utah
16 May
Oh what fun this song makes me think of!!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (171979)
• United States
16 May
OMG, I am really getting old! I can hardly believe that song was 50 years ago!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (63052)
• United States
16 May
The song got old, we didn’t (to kinda sorta maybe paraphrase Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd.)! 
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74599)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
15 May
Definitely not the song nor the band, The only Radar I knew was Radar O'Reilly from MASH
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (63052)
• United States
16 May
I know, and no personnel changes for the last 50 of those years. That’s why they broke up: like R.E.M., they would end it rather than go through the replace-a-member game. Good for them.
