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)
Electioneering
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will stop at nothing
Say the right things
When electioneering
I trust I can rely on your vote
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
And somewhere we will meet
Ha, ha, ha
Riot shields
Voodoo economics
It's life, it's life
It's just business
Cattle prods and the I.M.F.
I trust I can rely on your vote
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
When I go forwards, you go backwards
And somewhere we will meet
The lyrics to Radiohead's song Electioneering are thought-provoking and multi-dimensional. The song criticizes the corrupt nature of modern politics and the way politicians manipulate voters by saying the right things during the election season. The first two lines convey a sense of desperation to win at any cost; the singer is ready to do whatever it takes to get elected, including lying to the public. However, he is not alone in this game. He needs the listener's vote and trusts them to support him.
The haunting chorus "When I go forwards, you go backwards and somewhere we will meet" highlights the cyclical nature of politics, where nothing fundamentally changes. Instead, politicians and voters move in opposite directions only to come full circle, meeting again without any substantial progress. The "Ha, ha, ha" at the end of the chorus is sarcastic and cynical, indicating the futility of the political process.
Moreover, the song's lyrics include an allusion to the economic policies of the Reagan era: "Voodoo economics," as well as social injustice and police brutality: "Riot shields," "Cattle prods." The lyric "It's life, it's just business" reinforces the idea that politics is a cutthroat business where nothing is off-limits to achieve one's goals. Overall, Electioneering exposes the ugly side of politics and the game of power.
Line by Line Meaning
I will stop
I am willing to do whatever it takes
I will stop at nothing
No obstacle will prevent me from achieving my goal
Say the right things
Being strategic with my words is important for success
When electioneering
When trying to win votes from the public
I trust I can rely on your vote
I am expecting your support in the election
When I go forwards, you go backwards
We have opposing viewpoints or are in disagreement
And somewhere we will meet
We will eventually have to confront each other
Riot shields
The use of force to control and quell uprisings
Voodoo economics
Poor economic policies that have no scientific backing or real-world success
It's life, it's life
The harsh reality of the world we live in
It's just business
Not personal, but purely strategic and profit-driven
Cattle prods and the I.M.F.
Violent enforcement of economic policies by the International Monetary Fund
I trust I can rely on your vote
Again, asking for support in the election
When I go forwards, you go backwards
Reiteration of opposing viewpoints
And somewhere we will meet
Reiteration of eventual confrontation
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Charles Greenwood, Edward John O'Brien, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip James Selway, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind