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)
Faithless
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
And I can't put the needle 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 lyrics to Radiohead's song "Faithless" are a poignant and heartbreaking depiction of the struggles of addiction. The singer describes their desire for material possessions, such as knives and guns, but their parents refusal to give them what they want. The singer also laments the fact that their jeans, which they've had since birth, are now ripped and torn, symbolizing the decay of their life. The singer then reveals that they are unable to "put the needle in," which is a reference to drug addiction. The disease has taken hold of their mind and they are now too scared to face it or the reasons why they feel the way they do. The singer is left alone as even their friends leave them behind.
The symbolism in these lyrics is potent, representing a loss of control in many areas of the singer's life. The singer's desire for material possessions and their parents unwillingness to provide them is representative of the lack of control many feel in their own lives or over their circumstances. The addition of the drug addiction layers upon this lack of control and adds a feeling of hopelessness, as the singer is unable to even take action to help themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I've had these jeans since I was born
I cling to the past, representing my childishness and innocence, as they serve as a reminder of when life was simpler and easier.
And now they're ripped and now they're torn
Despite my fondness for the past, I've outgrown it and my life has now become difficult, scarred by the experiences of growing up.
And all my friends have skateboards
My friends enjoy the things that society rewards them for and seem to have no problem embracing the norms and expectations placed on them.
I want the toys of other boys
Despite my reluctance to conform, I still crave material possessions and superficial forms of approval from others.
I want a knife and a gun and things
I desire the power and status that comes with being seen as dangerous or rebellious.
But mom and dad will not give in
Despite my desires, I am still bound by the rules and decisions of my parents who want me to conform to the expectations of society.
And I can't put the needle in
I struggle to find a way to numb my pain and escape my reality, turning to self-harm but ultimately failing to do so.
Can't put the needle in
Repetition of the previous line shows that the pain and struggle continues.
And now I know just what it is
I finally realize the nature of my ailment and that it is a disease that I cannot easily cure or ignore.
It's called disease and it's got my head
The disease has taken over my mind and consumes my thoughts, leaving me with little room to find a way out.
It always runs where I hide
The disease seems to follow me and affect me no matter where I go, with no escape or respite.
Too scared too talk, too scared to try
I am frozen by fear, unable to communicate with others or attempt to find a solution to my problems.
Too scared to know the reasons why
I fear confronting the true reasons for my pain and problems, preferring to hide from them instead.
And all my friends say bye bye
As I struggle with my disease, my friends abandon me and move on with their lives, leaving me alone.
And I can't put the needle in
Once again, I attempt to numb myself from the pain but find myself incapable of doing so.
Can't put the needle in
I continue to suffer and fail to find relief.
And I can't put the needle in
Repetition of the previous line emphasizes my desperation and the severity of my struggle.
Can't put the needle in
I continue to fail, with no clear solution or end in sight.
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
Me me
on No Surprises
The way i interpret the lyrics: ; Once excitement of youthful perspective,, hopes, dreams are broken, into an almost nihilistic acceptance of patterns world, we coast,….. become a part of the dull hum we swore we never would become part of. Time pulls us forward, wears and tears until we accept. Can not fight against the current yet knowing we swore we would never.
no
on Radio Head - no surprises
heylo aaa