This is a song that needs several listens before it all sinks in. That's actually true with a lot of Radiohead's music. It's not really listener friendly, but more like something that you can only absorb slowly over time.
I think lack of lyrical clarity is an initial barrier that makes a song impenetrable or inaccessible for so many people. I've learned it's most commonly an issue for people whose favourite tunes tread a fairly straight line outside of the bleeding edge pioneers (because none of us wants constant experimentation in every bar of a track all the time). I would argue there is a very logical reason why some vocalists are more difficult to interpret back down into easily decipherable words than others: stylisation and spontaneity. There is a breed of artist that feeds off the magic of articulating your voice in a way that isn't just a vehicle to send lyrics into your ears, but as an instrument that can warp itself in unusual ways and really add to the texture and groove and uniqueness of a track. The clarity takes a backseat in favour of being memorable, energetic, and entertaining. It's especially a pattern I've noticed with more experimental artists like Thom Yorke, Bjork, Fever Ray/The Knife, Death Grips, Bad-era MJ, Kate Bush, etc. These kinds of artists are not just about relaying their message or expressing it in the most clear way possible, it's more about a one-of-a-kind rendering of the idea, often totally changing depending on the mood of the artist at that moment. The most expressive vocal take is often the least precise one. It's like looking at a Picasso painting and noticing the subjects aren't very realistic. Perhaps not, but just maybe that's the trick to humanizing your work to such a raw level that it actually greatly out-values a cleaner approach. Maybe challenging a listener is far more important than pleasing them. Same applies to more progressive music. Sometimes it's our job as the observer to put in some work to get something out of the art, and some requires more than others. Those eureka moments are so formative. I used to outright mock certain artists, but there is usually a gateway track that gets you on board. For Radiohead I'd argue tracks like this are possibly the worst place to start, but exposure therapy works sometimes, ha. It was the album In Rainbows, tracks like Nude, Reckoner, and 15 Step, that were my "Oh shit..." moments. Then when I went back to Kid A, the "Oh shit" happened again XD. With Aphex Twin it was Flim, Rhubarb, Nannou, Avril 14th, before I clicked with his absolutely insane and technical music later. It took a lovely track like Isolation Years to finally destroy my dislike of Opeth and send them soaring upward on my favourites list back in '06 before eventually devouring their wilder music in '07. Sometimes it just doesn't work out, though, audiences are fickle animals. I've tried 15 or 20 times to understand why people like Billie Eilish or Tailor Swift, but it just ain't happening. C'est la vie.
Definitely, that track is a whole magical journey in itself, I'm not surprised it had a big effect on you. And it's such an important track because it was really the beginning of the band's experimentation with string sections, which became a staple of their sound, especially on In Rainbows and Moon Shaped Pool.@@malpeice2
I keep coming back to this channel because of the authenticity and honesty. I love the Gong Show style format. Adds some stakes and make me watch all the way through.
They're definitely not for everyone. This song is an interesting choice for a new listener. I feel like it takes a few listens to get into. I would recommend weird fishes for something a little more digestible and groovy.
That would be the biggest 'no contest' in history, Radiohead piss all over Tool (from a great height 🤣) Only Pink Floyd and The Beatles can lay claim to be 'better' than Radiohead.
Haha, it depends on the mood, sometimes music calls to you, rather than you just choosing what you want to listen to, sometimes music can seem dull and boring but then you find a song that just seeps all the way through your soul into the depths, both Tool and Radiohead have done that for me, you might enjoy Puscifer or A Perfect Circle more than tool if you like radiohead, same vocalist, but yea multiple bands have done this to me, its an enlightening experience, Zero 7, Hiatus Kaiyote, Nai Palm, Vildhjarta, No Oath, TesseracT, Deftones, The Contortionist, Indistinct, Loathe, Snarky Puppy, Emiliana Torrini, all have done this too me, those are just the bands i can name off the top of my head but the list goes on and on…
Def takes a few listens to warm up to Radiohead. Also gotta be in a specific type of mood. Not sure what that mood is but sometimes Radiohead slaps and other times it’s too whiney and off the wall… Edit to say I like this song so don’t come at me comment crusaders ❤
Always trips me out with the grumpy reviews. oh wait, he found something interesting! false alarm...I was wrong. (my first time listening to this. i dig it!!) (for the record, i liked the video and subscribed a long time ago. I just like giving him a hard time).
Good review man. Yeah I totally get that the lyrics are that different that they are hard to take in first time. But when you know them or have the lyrics, it's a whole different ball game. 👍
![STRANGELY GOOD! | FIRST TIME HEARING Radiohead - "Paranoid Android" [REACTION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y1bTM8DXf_A/mqdefault.jpg)
![STRANGELY GOOD! | FIRST TIME HEARING Radiohead - "Paranoid Android" [REACTION]](/img/tr.png)
This is a song that needs several listens before it all sinks in. That's actually true with a lot of Radiohead's music. It's not really listener friendly, but more like something that you can only absorb slowly over time.
Perfectly described
The British coheed and cambria in terms of enigmatic music
Concordo . Impatto difficile ma , adesso adoro questa canzone. Costruzione musicale fantastica
I’ve never experienced not getting Radiohead on the first listen lol
My father played ok computer when i was a kid and i loved it
I think lack of lyrical clarity is an initial barrier that makes a song impenetrable or inaccessible for so many people. I've learned it's most commonly an issue for people whose favourite tunes tread a fairly straight line outside of the bleeding edge pioneers (because none of us wants constant experimentation in every bar of a track all the time). I would argue there is a very logical reason why some vocalists are more difficult to interpret back down into easily decipherable words than others: stylisation and spontaneity. There is a breed of artist that feeds off the magic of articulating your voice in a way that isn't just a vehicle to send lyrics into your ears, but as an instrument that can warp itself in unusual ways and really add to the texture and groove and uniqueness of a track. The clarity takes a backseat in favour of being memorable, energetic, and entertaining. It's especially a pattern I've noticed with more experimental artists like Thom Yorke, Bjork, Fever Ray/The Knife, Death Grips, Bad-era MJ, Kate Bush, etc. These kinds of artists are not just about relaying their message or expressing it in the most clear way possible, it's more about a one-of-a-kind rendering of the idea, often totally changing depending on the mood of the artist at that moment. The most expressive vocal take is often the least precise one. It's like looking at a Picasso painting and noticing the subjects aren't very realistic. Perhaps not, but just maybe that's the trick to humanizing your work to such a raw level that it actually greatly out-values a cleaner approach. Maybe challenging a listener is far more important than pleasing them. Same applies to more progressive music. Sometimes it's our job as the observer to put in some work to get something out of the art, and some requires more than others. Those eureka moments are so formative. I used to outright mock certain artists, but there is usually a gateway track that gets you on board.
For Radiohead I'd argue tracks like this are possibly the worst place to start, but exposure therapy works sometimes, ha. It was the album In Rainbows, tracks like Nude, Reckoner, and 15 Step, that were my "Oh shit..." moments. Then when I went back to Kid A, the "Oh shit" happened again XD. With Aphex Twin it was Flim, Rhubarb, Nannou, Avril 14th, before I clicked with his absolutely insane and technical music later. It took a lovely track like Isolation Years to finally destroy my dislike of Opeth and send them soaring upward on my favourites list back in '06 before eventually devouring their wilder music in '07. Sometimes it just doesn't work out, though, audiences are fickle animals. I've tried 15 or 20 times to understand why people like Billie Eilish or Tailor Swift, but it just ain't happening. C'est la vie.
The gateway track is so true. For me it was “How to Disappear Completely”. Then it all made sense
Definitely, that track is a whole magical journey in itself, I'm not surprised it had a big effect on you. And it's such an important track because it was really the beginning of the band's experimentation with string sections, which became a staple of their sound, especially on In Rainbows and Moon Shaped Pool.@@malpeice2
I keep coming back to this channel because of the authenticity and honesty. I love the Gong Show style format. Adds some stakes and make me watch all the way through.
They're definitely not for everyone. This song is an interesting choice for a new listener. I feel like it takes a few listens to get into. I would recommend weird fishes for something a little more digestible and groovy.
You are contrary to 99% of others whom seem to appreciate this Masterpiece. I don't have words for you. Enough said
It does feel like it goes through acts like a film
Easy Star All Stars has a great cover of this album.
That album and their Dub Side of The Moon album are both incredible.
Radiohead are better than Tool.
There. I said it. Come at me. 😂
It's not even close. Of course Radiohead is better. In Rainbows, Kid A and OK Computer are better than anything Tool ever did or could hope making
That would be the biggest 'no contest' in history, Radiohead piss all over Tool (from a great height 🤣)
Only Pink Floyd and The Beatles can lay claim to be 'better' than Radiohead.
Haha, it depends on the mood, sometimes music calls to you, rather than you just choosing what you want to listen to, sometimes music can seem dull and boring but then you find a song that just seeps all the way through your soul into the depths, both Tool and Radiohead have done that for me, you might enjoy Puscifer or A Perfect Circle more than tool if you like radiohead, same vocalist, but yea multiple bands have done this to me, its an enlightening experience, Zero 7, Hiatus Kaiyote, Nai Palm, Vildhjarta, No Oath, TesseracT, Deftones, The Contortionist, Indistinct, Loathe, Snarky Puppy, Emiliana Torrini, all have done this too me, those are just the bands i can name off the top of my head but the list goes on and on…
They’re both fantastic, wtf is this comparison 😂 nothing hits me as deep as Radiohead tho
@@rohnnyjotten3985pink floyd and the beatles are the greats….but in my opinion Radiohead are better
Try Mr Bungle - slowly growing deaf
I’ve always really enjoyed Radiohead’s “uniqueness” but I 100% agree with you. Gotta be in the mood to listen to them.
I find that they just put me in the mood they are trying to portray very well.
Def takes a few listens to warm up to Radiohead. Also gotta be in a specific type of mood. Not sure what that mood is but sometimes Radiohead slaps and other times it’s too whiney and off the wall…
Edit to say I like this song so don’t come at me comment crusaders ❤
I thought you were repping Scotland with that buzzer lol
New format looks interesting.
Always trips me out with the grumpy reviews. oh wait, he found something interesting! false alarm...I was wrong. (my first time listening to this. i dig it!!) (for the record, i liked the video and subscribed a long time ago. I just like giving him a hard time).
Good review man. Yeah I totally get that the lyrics are that different that they are hard to take in first time. But when you know them or have the lyrics, it's a whole different ball game. 👍
Why do you look like you’re pissed off? Do the National Mr. November next please.
It's even better live
I know you said you think Metallica sounds like a garage band but have you tried revisiting their music?
yea think thats a good shout
Dayum, dog, I don't want to watch you looking bored listening to music. Where is the dude who enjoyed listening to Deftones for the first time?