The single version contains dialogue cut from various parts of the film, most memorably, Brian Blessed's character exclaiming "Gordon's alive?!"

[2] The song's lead vocals are shared by May and Freddie Mercury, with Roger Taylor adding high harmonies.

He used an Imperial Bösendorfer piano (with 97 keys instead of 88, having an extra octave on the low range), an Oberheim OB-X synthesizer (as seen in the song's music video), and his homemade Red Special electric guitar.

[3] Record World described the single version as a "supersonic cut with a chorus hook guaranteed to rescue tired holiday ears.

[5] An alternative version broadcast during the Concert for Kampuchea in 1981 with different clips included on the Flash Gordon 2011 iTunes edition.