The 60 best Radiohead songs according to UachateC
11. Karma Police
It is one of Radiohead’s best-known and most emblematic songs, and the second single from OK Computer. The song has a simple structure, based on a piano and an acoustic guitar, but with a surprising ending that incorporates a radio effect and distortion. The lyrics are a satire of revenge and poetic justice, with references to popular culture and George Orwell’s novel 1984. The song was inspired by an inside joke within the band, which consisted of saying «karma police» to someone who was misbehaving.
12. Fake Plastic Trees
It is an acoustic and emotional ballad, with an influence of Britpop and folk rock. It was the third single from The Bends, and features a string arrangement by Jonny Greenwood. The lyrics talk about the falsehood, superficiality and consumerism of modern society, using metaphors such as “fake plastic trees” or “fake plastic love”. The song was recorded after Yorke saw a Jeff Buckley concert, which made him cry and sing louder.
13. Nude
It is a song from the album In Rainbows, which was written in the 1990s but not recorded until 2007. The song has a slow, sultry beat, with a prominent bass line and ethereal choruses. The lyrics are ambiguous and suggest a sexual or loving relationship that ends badly. The song was the second single from In Rainbows, and was accompanied by a contest where fans could remix the song using the isolated tracks.
14. There There
It is a song from the album Hail to the Thief, which combines elements of rock and electronic music. The song has a tribal beat and rhythm guitar, with a solo by Greenwood at the end. The lyrics are cryptic and allude to themes such as paranoia, manipulation and illusion. The song was the first single from Hail to the Thief, and has an animated video clip featuring Yorke turned into a raven.
15. Pyramid Song
It is a song from the Amnesiac album, which has an irregular and complex structure, based on a piano and an orchestra. The song is influenced by jazz and classical music, and uses a pentatonic scale. The lyrics are mystical and poetic, referring to themes such as death, rebirth, and time. The song was the first single from Amnesiac, and it has a video clip showing a diver exploring an underwater world.
16. Idiot
It is a song from the album Kid A, which represents Radiohead’s radical change in style towards electronic music. The song is based on loops created by Greenwood using a sampler, which Yorke sings over with vocal effects. The lyrics are apocalyptic and chaotic, alluding to issues like climate change, nuclear war, and the end of the world. The song is one of Radiohead’s most popular live, where it often generates a lot of energy.
17. Climbing up the Walls
It is a song from the OK Computer album, which has a dark and oppressive atmosphere, with distorted guitar and some screams at the end. The song is inspired by Yorke’s experiences as a porter in a mental hospital, where he would listen to the voices of the patients. The lyrics are disturbing and violent, talking about madness, fear and inner evil.
18. Lucky
It is a song from the album OK Computer, which was originally composed for the charity album The Help Album (1995), organized by the NGO War Child to help children affected by the Bosnian war. The song has an epic and hopeful melody, with a lead guitar from Greenwood creating a soaring effect. The lyrics are ambiguous and surreal, seeming to narrate a plane crash from the point of view of a survivor.
19. Daydreaming
It is a song from the album A Moon Shaped Pool, which has a minimalist and ethereal sound, with piano and string arrangements. The song was produced by Godrich, who used reversing and slowing down techniques to create a dreamlike effect. The lyrics are melancholic and reflective, appearing to allude to Yorke’s divorce from his ex-wife Rachel Owen, who died shortly after the album’s release. The song has a video clip directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, in which Yorke is seen walking through different locations.
20. Motion Picture Soundtrack
It is the last song on the Kid A album, and one of Radiohead’s oldest, since it was written in the 80s. The song has a heavenly and nostalgic sound, with a harp, an organ and some choirs. The lyrics are sad and romantic, and talk about wanting to escape from reality and live in a movie. The song ends with a few seconds of silence, followed by a hidden snippet of a child’s tune.
Look from number 21 to 30 on the next page—->
