Music Week May 1
Jonny Greenwood opens up the song database on OK Computer.
Airbag
Album opener, featuring cello and a serene Thom Yorke vocal.
"We tried to do a DJ Shadow, cutting up drum parts but, in the end we
put everything through my guitar pedals."
Paranoid Android
First single, a sprawling epic that contains everything bar the
kitchen sink. "When I am king, you will be first against the wall"
sneers Yorke over the songs schizoid mood changes.
Uptight
U2 join Pink Floyd for a cover of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.
"We were going for a 70s jazz thing with electric piano, but we're not
musical enough to pull that sort of thing off so it's a pop song".
Exit Music
Written after the band saw a 10 min. edit of R&J. The cracked Yorke
vocal very directly pertains to the story's tragic denouement.
Let Down
Sublime and ethereal, full of chiming guitars. "The theme of transport
and movement and anonymity works with the music".
Karma Police
"It's a favourite saying of ours. whenever we hear about someone
behaving offensively it's like 'The Karma Police will catch up with
them eventually'. A potential single.
Fitter Happier
A mournful computer recites an ironic guide to modern living over
sparse piano and strings." Thom put the words on his computer which
has one of those vocal programs. We found it very beautiful when it
spoke the words. It went from being gimmicky to something rather
emotional".
Electioneering
Noisy, fast - Radiohead on steroids. "More about personal politics,
selling yourself in a band".
Climbing Up The Walls
A deranged insight into a very warped personality. "Very String based.
The white noise is 16 violins. Frightening music. We didn't mean it to
be like that; it just happened.
No Surprises
"Heart that's full up like a landfill" sings Yorke over a truly
beautiful lullaby that "could be number one" according to Parlophone
MD Tony Wadsworth.
Lucky
Released from the Help album, in only managed No. 53 as a single. "We
agonised over whether to leave it off, but we thought it was one of
the best songs we've done. It just fits".
The Tourist
written by Greenwood. "Thom didn't play a thing, he just listened.
It's quite nervy with a lot of space. It sounds like the last song on
an album."