Radiohead signed to EMI in 1991 and released their debut album, Pablo Honey, in 1993; their debut single, "Creep", became a worldwide hit. Radiohead's popularity and critical standing rose with the release of The Bends in 1995. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), brought them international fame; noted for its complex production and themes of modern alienation, it is acclaimed as a landmark record and one of the best albums in popular music.
Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A (2000), marked a dramatic change in style, incorporating influences from electronic music, jazz, classical music and krautrock. Though Kid A divided listeners, it later attracted wide acclaim. It was followed by Amnesiac (2001), recorded in the same sessions. Hail to the Thief (2003), with lyrics addressing the War on Terror, was Radiohead's final album for EMI.
Radiohead self-released their seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), as a download for which customers could set their own price, to critical and chart success. Their eighth album, The King of Limbs (2011), an exploration of rhythm, was developed using extensive looping and sampling. A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) prominently featured Jonny Greenwood's orchestral arrangements. Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Selway, and O'Brien have released solo albums; in 2021, Yorke and Jonny Greenwood debuted a new band, the Smile.
By 2011, Radiohead had sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Their awards include six Grammy Awards and four Ivor Novello Awards, and they hold five Mercury Prize nominations, the most of any act. Seven Radiohead singles have reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart: "Creep" (1992), "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" (1996), "Paranoid Android" (1997), "Karma Police" (1997), "No Surprises" (1998), "Pyramid Song" (2001), and "There There" (2003). "Creep" and "Nude" (2008) reached the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone named Radiohead one of the 100 greatest artists of all time, and Rolling Stone readers voted them the second-best artist of the 2000s. Five Radiohead albums have been included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time lists. Radiohead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead
Studio albums
Pablo Honey (1993)
The Bends (1995)
OK Computer (1997)
Kid A (2000)
Amnesiac (2001)
Hail to the Thief (2003)
In Rainbows (2007)
The King of Limbs (2011)
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)
Big Ideas Don't Get Any
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And now they're ripped and now they're torn
And all my friends have skateboards
I want the toys of other boys
I want a knife and a gun and things
But Mom and Dad will not give in
Can't put the needle in
I can't put the needle in
No, I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
And now I know just what it is
It's called disease and it's got my head
It always runs where I hide
Too scared too talk, too scared to try
Too scared to know the reasons why
And all my friends say bye bye
And I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
No, I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
And I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
No, I can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
Can't put the needle in
The song "Big Ideas Don't Get Any" by Radiohead is a reflection on societal pressures and a sense of alienation that the singer feels. The opening lines of the song talk about the singer's jeans being ripped and torn, which symbolizes their worn-out sense of identity. The following lines talk about the singer's desire to possess the toys of other boys, such as a knife or a gun. This desire is a manifestation of their feeling of inadequacy and the lack of control they feel over their lives.
The next lines "And I can't put the needle in, can't put the needle in" are a reference to drug use. The singer has tried to find solace in drugs but is unable to do so. He is too scared to know the reasons why he feels the way he does and too scared to talk about it. This overwhelming feeling of helplessness and alienation is compounded by the fact that all his friends have left him.
The repeated refrain of "Can't put the needle in" is a powerful statement on the inability to find a solution to the singer's problems. The entire song is a reflection on the experience of feeling lost, alone, and unable to find a way to make things better.
The song was originally titled "Nude" and was written in 1996 but was not released until 10 years later in 2006. The song was released as a part of a project called "From the Basement," which saw Radiohead perform live in a studio setting.
Line by Line Meaning
I've had these jeans since I was born
These jeans have been with me from my outset, my entire life.
And now they're ripped and now they're torn
Now, they're damaged and worn because of prolonged usage.
And all my friends have skateboards
All of my friends own skateboards, and I'm envious of them.
I want the toys of other boys
I desire the playthings possessed by boys other than me.
I want a knife and a gun and things
I covet dangerous objects like knives and guns, and such miscellaneous objects.
But Mom and Dad will not give in
But, my parents don't let me have such things because they're dangerous to my well-being.
And I can't put the needle in
I'm unable to inject myself with any drug.
Can't put the needle in
Cannot insert the thin, sharp object on the surface of the skin.
No, I can't put the needle in
No matter how hard I try, I won't be able to administer drugs into my bloodstream through a needle.
And now I know just what it is
I'm aware of what's happening to me.
It's called disease and it's got my head
It's a disease that has taken over my mind.
It always runs where I hide
It follows me wherever I go, even if I try to evade it.
Too scared to talk, too scared to try
I'm too intimidated to speak my mind, too hesitant to engage in anything novel.
Too scared to know the reasons why
I'm too scared to find out the reasons behind my fear and apprehension.
And all my friends say bye-bye
My friends have said their goodbyes to me, as they're disappointed with the direction in which my life is heading.
Contributed by Lillian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@romantica-ou6fr
Don't get any big ideas
They're not going to happen
You paint yourself white and feel the noise
But there'll be something missing
And now that you found it, it's gone
Now that you feel it, you don't
You've gone off the rails
She stands stark naked and she beckons you to bed
Don't go, you'll only want to come back again
So don't get any big ideas
They're not going to happen
You'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking
And now that you found it, it's gone
And now that you feel it, you don't
You've gone off the rails
@paulgriffin3120
This is great. Absolutely love Coldplay.
@shima5425
wait........ WHAT
YOU DID NOT JUST FREAKING SAY COLDPLAY
@mrnobodyunknown8226
are you kidding? 😂😂😂🤦🤦🤦
@simo9966
Chris Martin really outdid himself on this one
@paulgriffin3120
@@simo9966 His best since ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me’ as far as I am concerned. And a return to form after all those weird ones.
@angusmayo4493
Wow, having never heard this version before I don’t think I’d ever truly appreciated the emotional depth behind Nude. I had just assumed it was a beautiful song about wanting something back that you used to have, but this version seems more about NOT wanting something any more, but realising that throwing it away will only make you a fool as you will then long for it back.
@omerkucuk309
great annotation lol actually relatable
@gameofadages6847
This was the only version I knew until recently. I Always loved this song that they wrote around/following OKC, and I think you’re right on with your take. In Meeting People is Easy, Thom is talking about how they assumed critics would hate OKC, to their surprise, the critics loved it. He says, “but then…” and it cuts off for the louder (for lack of a better word) section of Big Ideas. Which I think is exactly what you’re saying
@chrisandino4651
I love Radiohead, and this song is a one of My favorite songs...
@13dirty666
Although the In Rainbows one has a special place in my heart and is definitely the superior of the two, I just love the crazy intensity of this version