Nothing On (But the Radio)

"Nothing On (But the Radio)"
Artwork used on Rae's YouTube channel.
Song by Addison Rae
from the EP AR
ReleasedAugust 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
Length2:29
LabelSandlot
Songwriters
Producers
Licensed audio
"Nothing On (But the Radio)" on YouTube

"Nothing On (But the Radio)" is a song by American singer Addison Rae from her debut extended play, AR, released on August 18, 2023 through Sandlot. Initially written by Billy Steinberg and Josh Alexander for American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga, the song never received an official release. However, by October 2010, an unfinished version of Lady Gaga's recording began circulating online, leading to the song becoming well known within the singer's fanbase. The official version, with additional writing credit for Rae, Madison Love and Jacob Kasher Hindlin, was described as a 2000s-sounding siren song with its title being a reference to a Marilyn Monroe quote.

Writing and recording

"Nothing On (But the Radio)" was initially written by Billy Steinberg and Josh Alexander[note 1] around the 1952 Marilyn Monroe quote "It's not true I had nothing on, I had the radio on".[1][2] Three versions of the song were recorded by the following artists: Lady Gaga,[5] Paris Monroe,[6] and Addison Rae. The latter released the song officially and received a songwriting credit, alongside Madison Love and Jacob Kasher Hindlin, hence they altered few lyrics.[7][8] It was produced by Steinberg, Alexander and production duo Jack & Cole, with the latter two providing the track's instrumentation. Love recorded backing vocals and served as an executive producer, with the help of production co-ordinators Bianca Minniti-Bean and Jerry Eduoard.[4] "Nothing On (But the Radio)" was mixed by Serban Ghenea[note 2] at the MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, and mastered by Chris Gehringer at the Sterling Sound in Edgewater.[9] During a Q&A session in Grammy Museum, Rae said: "I got presented the opportunity to cut a version of it and I thought that was really exciting and fun".[8]

Leaks and release

RuPaul (left) named "Nothing On (But the Radio)" one of his favorite Lady Gaga songs,[10] while Rae (right) called that rendition "cool",[8] and expressed that she wishes the original performer to listen to her version.[7]

Lady Gaga's demo surfaced online in October 2010; however no public statement from the singer or the label has been issued about the song.[11] Due to its retro 1990s-club sonicscape and previous leaks of her older unreleased tracks, Consequence writer Derek Staples speculated it might be a lingering outtake from The Fame (2008), highlighting its "catchy" hook and "synthesized guitar riffs" reminiscent of that album.[5] Since then, Lady Gaga's rendition became a "beloved" "standom staple".[1][12]

After becoming a successful TikTok star,[13] Addison Rae launched her music career in 2021 with the release of her debut single "Obsessed".[14] Set to be the lead single of her debut album, the song was critically panned,[15] leading to shelving her musical project.[16] The following year saw an influx of leaks of songs intended for her debut effort, including a cover of Lady Gaga's unreleased track "Nothing On (But the Radio)".[7] A four-seconds snippet surfaced online on January 21, 2022, leading to mixed reactions from internet users.[6] Rolling Stone writer Brittany Spanos credits a leak of this song, among with the original version of "2 Die 4", to spark interest of general public in Rae's discography.[17] Four years earlier, the singer posted a TikTok lip-syncing to Lady Gaga's version.[18]

On August 14, 2023, Rae announced that she would be releasing an EP made up of some unreleased songs which were intended to be a part of her "lost album".[19][20] AR was released four days later through Sandlot, with "Nothing On (But the Radio)" being its third track.[21] During the last stop of The Addison Tour, on October 22, 2025, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Rae performed the song for the first time as part of an encore.[22][23]

Critical reception

Josh Kurp off Uproxx described "Nothing On (But the Radio)" as a 2000s-sounding radio song.[24] In a review for Vogue's, Liam Hess called it a "deliciously silly siren call to a distant lover", noting that it is "much fun to listen to as Rae clearly had making it".[16] Paste's Jaeden Pinder vowed "Nothing On (But the Radio)" as a "standout" moment on AR.[25] On more sour note, Nylon's Stephanee Wang exemplified the track's production as an "unabashedly stroke a sort of nostalgia", sharing an anecdote of their friend comparing it to Lady Gaga's early input, especially The Fame.[26]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal and AR booklet.[4][9]

Recording locations

Personnel

Notes

  1. ↑ Various media outlets credit Lady Gaga as one of the songwriters,[1][2] however American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) enlisted Billy Steinberg and Josh Alexander as sole writers of "Nothing On (But the Radio)".[3] Addison Rae's version credits Rae, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, and Madison Love as songwriters, among Steinberg and Alexander.[4]
  2. 1 2 3 AR booklet mentions Serban Ghenea as the sole mixer of "Nothing On (But the Radio)",[9] while Tidal credits John Hanes as a mixer too.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Moran, Justin (January 25, 2022). "Fans Think Addison Rae Recorded This Deep Cut Lady Gaga Demo". Paper. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Alonso, Sebas (August 21, 2023). "Addison Rae saca partido a un descarte de Lady Gaga". Jenesaispop (in Spanish).
  3. ↑ "ACE Repertory (Work ID 894315243)". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "AR / Addison Rae / Credits". August 18, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2025 – via Tidal.
  5. 1 2 Staples, Derek (October 14, 2010). "Is this a new Lady Gaga song?". Consequence. Archived from the original on October 18, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Duribe, Jazmin (January 24, 2022). "Addison Rae divides internet after allegedly recording an unreleased Lady Gaga song". Capital. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Irvin, Jack (February 7, 2024). "Addison Rae Reflects on Debut EP and Teases New Music to Come: 'I'm Always in the Studio' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 Horowitz, Steven J.; Garcia, Thania (August 22, 2025). "Addison Rae Discusses Lady Gaga's Version of 'Nothing On (But the Radio),' Opening for Lana Del Rey at Grammy Museum Event". Variety. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 AR (CD liner notes). Addison Rae. Sandlot Records. 2023.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ Crowley, Patrick (March 29, 2017). "RuPaul Talks Gaga, Bowie, Trump and the 'Deluded and Tainted' American Dream". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  11. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (October 14, 2010). "Plus: R.E.M. Name New Album; New Lady Gaga Song?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020.
  12. ↑ Frank, Jason (October 25, 2024). "It's a Mother-Daughter Release Day!". Vulture. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  13. ↑ Bradley, Sydney. "Addison Rae Easterling is the top-earning TikTok star with $5 million in the last year, according to Forbes. But Charli D'Amelio is close behind". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  14. ↑ Mamo, Heran (March 19, 2021). "Addison Rae Gets Fans 'Obsessed' With Surprise Debut Single & Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Addison Rae and the Worst Songs by Social Media Stars". PopDust. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Hess, Liam (August 21, 2023). "'I Think I'm Just a Curious Person': Addison Rae on Her Quest for Pop Perfection". Vogue. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  17. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (November 21, 2024). "Addison Rae: How She Became One of Pop's Buzziest New Stars". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  18. ↑ Kaur, Amitoj (August 21, 2023). "Is Addison Rae the future queen of pop? Singer's remake of Lady Gaga's 'Nothing On but the Radio' gets mixed reactions". Meaww. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  19. ↑ Griffiths, George (August 14, 2023). "Addison Rae is finally coming! Viral star to release of EP featuring I Got It Bad". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  20. ↑ Valentine, Claire (August 15, 2023). "How Addison Rae's 'Lost Tracks' Attained Cult Status". W. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  21. ↑ "AR - EP by Addison Rae". August 18, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2025 – via Apple Music.
  22. ↑ Giandurco, Jillian (October 23, 2025). "Addison Rae Brought Out Charli XCX For A Surprise Duet". Nylon. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  23. ↑ Kylene, Jazmin (October 23, 2025). "Addison Rae Proves She's More Than a Viral Star With a Sparkling, Star-Studded LA Finale". Collider. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  24. ↑ Kurp, Josh (November 6, 2024). "Addison Rae Will Win You Over". Uproxx. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  25. ↑ Pinder, Jaeden (June 12, 2025). "Addison Rae's Debut Album Is an Exciting, Escapist Pop Introduction". Paste. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  26. ↑ Wang, Stephanee (August 18, 2023). "Addison Rae's 'AR' Review: A Proper Pop Star Debut". Nylon. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
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