Yorke formed Radiohead with schoolmates at Abingdon School in Oxfordshire. Their 1992 debut single, "Creep", made Yorke a celebrity, and Radiohead went on to achieve critical acclaim and sales of over 30 million albums. Yorke's early influences included alternative rock acts such as Pixies and R.E.M. With Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A, Yorke moved into electronic music, influenced by Warp acts such as Aphex Twin. With the artist Stanley Donwood, Yorke creates artwork for Radiohead albums and his other projects. He often incorporates "erratic" dancing into his performances.
Yorke's solo work comprises mainly electronic music. His debut solo album, The Eraser, was released in 2006. To perform it live, in 2009, he formed a new band, Atoms for Peace, with musicians including the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and the Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. They released an album, [album artist=Atoms for Peace Amok[/album], in 2013. Yorke's second solo album, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes, was released in 2014, followed by Anima in 2019. In 2021, Yorke debuted a new band, the Smile, with the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and the jazz drummer Tom Skinner. Yorke has collaborated with artists including PJ Harvey, Björk, Flying Lotus and Modeselektor, and has composed for film and theatre. His first feature film soundtrack, Suspiria, was released in October 2018.
Yorke is an activist on behalf of human rights, animal rights, environmental and anti-war causes, and his lyrics incorporate political themes. He has been critical of the music industry, particularly of major labels and streaming services such as Spotify. With Radiohead and his solo work, he has employed alternative release platforms such as pay-what-you-want and BitTorrent. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Radiohead in 2019.
Iluvya
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I luv ya (repeated multiple times)
Un souvenir de la rue? (repeated)
I luv ya (repeated multiple times in two layers)
I love you (repeated several times)
I luv ya (layered over the previous vocals)
Thom Yorke's song "Iluvya" is a subtle yet hauntingly beautiful expression of overwhelming love. The lyrics "You luv me, I luv ya" are repeated multiple times, creating an almost hypnotic effect, like a mantra. Yorke's vocals are layered over each other, creating a sense of echo and distance. The line "Un souvenir de la rue?" (French for "A memory of the street?") adds to the dreamlike quality of the song, suggesting a moment frozen in time.
The repetition of "I luv ya" takes on a deeper meaning as the song progresses. The vocals become increasingly layered and complex, reflecting the complexity of love. The addition of "I love you" towards the end of the song gives the lyrics a sense of resolution and finality. Yorke's use of language is simple yet effective, evoking a powerful emotion through repetition and layering.
Line by Line Meaning
You luv me (repeated multiple times)
You have expressed your love for me on multiple occasions.
I luv ya (repeated multiple times)
I too have feelings of love towards you, which I am conveying frequently.
Un souvenir de la rue? (repeated)
Is this a memory from the street we used to walk through together?
I luv ya (repeated multiple times in two layers)
My love for you is deep and layered, conveyed through multiple repetitions.
I love you (repeated several times)
The feelings I have for you are strong and sincere, which I am expressing through these words.
I luv ya (layered over the previous vocals)
I continue to hold those same feelings of love for you, which I am layering over my previous declarations.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind