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)
Paranoid Android (Bonus Beats
Radiohead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From all the unborn chicken voices in my head
What's that? (I may be paranoid, but not an android)
What's that? (I may be paranoid, but not an android)
When I am king you will be first against the wall
With your opinion which is of no consequence at all
What's that? (I may be paranoid, but no android)
What's that? (I may be paranoid, but no android)
Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking, squealing Gucci little piggy
You don't remember, you don't remember
Why don't you remember my name?
Off with his head, man, off with his head, man
Why don't he remember my name, I guess he does
Rain down, rain down
Come on, rain down on me
From a great height, from a great height
Height
Rain down, rain down
Come on, rain down on me
From a great height, from a great height
Height
That's it, sir, you're leaving (rain down)
The crackle of pigskin (rain down, come on, rain)
The dust and the screaming (down on me)
The yuppies networking
The panic, the vomit (from a great height) The panic, the vomit (from a great height)
God loves his children
God loves his children, yeah
The lyrics to Radiohead's "Paranoid Android" portray a sense of unease and frustration. The song begins with the singer asking for a break from the noise in his head, which he describes as "unborn chicken voices." This line alludes to anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed by thoughts that are not yet fully formed. The next line, "What's that? (I may be paranoid, but not an android)" suggests that the singer is aware of his paranoia but still feels it deeply. The rest of the first verse refers to the power dynamic between the singer and those around him, specifically those whose opinions he deems unimportant.
The second verse features the iconic line, "When I am king, you will be first against the wall," which suggests violence and a desire for control. The singer seems to have a vendetta against people who do not share his opinions, even if they have no power over him. The following line, "Ambition makes you look pretty ugly," speaks to the idea that a hunger for power can lead to unattractive qualities. The last verse, "Rain down, rain down / Come on, rain down on me / From a great height, from a great height / Height," feels like a release of tension, with the singer almost inviting a downfall to wash away his troubles. The final line of "God loves his children, yeah," creates a stark contrast to the rest of the song, offering a glimmer of hope and perhaps an acknowledgement of the singer's own vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Please could you stop the noise, I'm trying to get some rest
I can't sleep because of the constant noise in my head
From all the unborn chicken voices in my head
I feel overwhelmed by my own thoughts and worries
What's that? (I may be paranoid, but not an android)
I may feel paranoid or anxious, but I am still human
When I am king you will be first against the wall
People who don't agree with me or don't matter to me will face the consequences
With your opinion which is of no consequence at all
Your thoughts and ideas don't matter to me because they don't align with my own
Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Being overly ambitious or ruthless can make a person appear unattractive
Kicking, squealing Gucci little piggy
I view those who are overly materialistic with disdain
You don't remember, you don't remember
You have forgotten about me and my feelings
Why don't you remember my name?
You have neglected me and don't view me as important
Off with his head, man, off with his head, man
I want you to suffer and face the consequences for ignoring me
Why don't he remember my name, I guess he does
I believe you have purposely disregarded me, despite knowing who I am
Rain down, rain down
I hope for a release from my inner turmoil
Come on, rain down on me
I need to wash away my anxieties and worries
From a great height, from a great height, height
I want to experience relief from a higher perspective
That's it, sir, you're leaving
It's time for you to go and face the consequences of your actions
The crackle of pigskin
I visualize the sound of a violent football game
The dust and the screaming
I imagine the chaos and panic of a hectic environment
The yuppies networking
I view the exchange of business cards and small talk as shallow and unfulfilling
The panic, the vomit (from a great height)
The world can be overwhelming and exhausting, even from a broader perspective
God loves his children
Despite all the chaos and suffering in the world, there is still a sense of hope and love
God loves his children, yeah
This hope and love is something we can all take comfort in
Contributed by Carter I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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