On this day in 1997, Radiohead released “OK Computer”

In the depths of a digital age,
Where wires intertwine with our souls,
A sound emerges from the static haze,
Echoes of a world we barely know.

Radiohead’s “OK Computer” album,
A masterpiece of haunting melodies,
A journey through a fractured reality,
Where machines hum with human frailties.

Thom Yorke’s voice, a whisper in the chaos,
Singing of alienation and despair,
Guitars wail like sirens in the night,
Drums beat like a heart consumed by fear.

From “Paranoid Android” to “Exit Music”,
Each track a chapter in a dystopian tale,
A mirror held up to our fractured society,
Reflecting back the darkness we inhale.

“Karma Police” patrol the airwaves,
As “No Surprises” play on repeat,
A soundtrack for the disillusioned,
A requiem for the obsolete.

“OK Computer” speaks to our fears,
An oracle of a future unknown,
A warning wrapped in sonic beauty,
A lament for a world overthrown.

So press play and let the music wash over you,
Let the static fade and the voices clear,
For in the heart of Radiohead’s masterpiece,
We may find solace in a world so near.

https://poemgenerator.io/

Shaun Hillen, who holds a doctorate in musicology from ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, says that in “OK Computer,” he hears a sense of alienation and a desire to escape from the world that we’ve created, which is especially relevant during the current pandemic.

Hillen, who in 2018 designed and taught a course at ASU about Radiohead in the context of modern social issues, added that “By and large, our general mood is down. It’s not just economic depression, but it’s psychological, and that’s all over this album in terms of the lyrics.”

Here’s a look at each of the record’s 12 tracks in the context of our world today.

https://www.statepress.com/article/2020/10/specho-ok-computer-the-album-that-predicted-the-future

Radiohead’s “OK Computer” album is widely considered a seminal work in the realm of alternative rock music. Released in 1997, the album received critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in the UK and earning a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year. The importance of “OK Computer” lies in its innovative sound, thought-provoking lyrics, and influence on the music industry as a whole.

Airbag

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/3OsUjkcv1C1v5udFhgRSFg

Setting the mood for the rest of the album, “Airbag” interpolates the menacing sounds of Jonny Greenwood’s guitar, digital record scratch noises and Thom Yorke’s simultaneously optimistic and pained lyrics. 

“In a deep, deep sleep of the innocent, I am born again,” Yorke wails, desperately trying to convince himself that he’s been reborn as an innocent child after a traumatic car crash. He wants to be blissfully ignorant of the horrors of the world he’s helped create.

One of the key aspects of “OK Computer” that sets it apart from other albums of its time is its complex and experimental sound. Radiohead blended elements of rock, electronic, and experimental music to create a unique and immersive listening experience. The album’s use of intricate guitar riffs, synthesizers, and unconventional song structures pushed the boundaries of traditional rock music and set a new standard for innovation in the genre.

Paranoid Android

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2nTsKOXIVGDf2iPeVQO2Gm

A three-part epic akin to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Paranoid Andriod” starts as an internal monologue for the song’s subject, a robot, as it contemplates the paranoia, anxiety and materialism associated with modern urban life. 

Then, the rest of the band comes in as the lyrics and timbre become violent with rage due to the paranoia. The third movement slows things down and becomes reminiscent of a church choir as the android asks for God to let it “rain down” and destroy everything.

“There’s this idea of the noise of the world and all of the pain being caused by greed and ambition,” Hillen said of the track. “There’s an idea for a cleansing thing to just burn it all away. It’s a morbid and cynical thing to think, and a really sicko person might think that that’s what viruses are for. A reset button for the world.”

In addition to its innovative sound, “OK Computer” is also known for its deep and introspective lyrics. The songs on the album touch on themes of alienation, technology, and the pressures of modern life. Lead singer Thom Yorke’s haunting vocals and cryptic lyrics add a sense of unease and unease to the music, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences and emotions. This level of introspection and depth in the lyrics set “OK Computer” apart from its contemporaries and helped solidify its status as a modern classic.

Subterranean Homesick Alien

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/19yGmm9FjEZdZc5j98WDe4

According to Hillen’s interpretation, “Subterranean Homesick Alien” is about Yorke’s longing to have the aliens abduct him and whisk him away from life as he knows it. 

“If you listen to the sounds that they employ, there’s these mystical electronic sounds that I think clearly conjure up an image of outer space for most people,” Hillen said.

Surely, with everything going on in the world today, many of us have just wanted to escape the fear and anxiety.

Moreover, the album’s impact on the music industry cannot be overstated. “OK Computer” was a commercial success, selling millions of copies worldwide and solidifying Radiohead’s status as one of the most influential bands of their generation. The album’s critical acclaim also brought attention to the burgeoning alternative rock scene in the late 1990s, paving the way for other experimental and genre-blending artists to gain mainstream recognition.

Exit Music (For a Film)

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/4Na0siMtWOW9pJoWJ1Ponv

Originally written to be included during the end credits of Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 movie “Romeo + Juliet,” “Exit Music (For a Flim)” follows “Subterranean Homesick Alien” with more on the theme of escaping from fear and anxiety. However, this track climaxes in anger with powerful vocals accompanied by the lyrics “We hope your rules and wisdom choke you,” referring to Romeo and Juliet’s anger toward family members who tried to prevent their escape from Verona.

Furthermore, “OK Computer” has had a lasting influence on subsequent generations of musicians. The album’s innovative sound and thought-provoking lyrics have inspired countless artists to push the boundaries of their craft and experiment with new sonic textures and themes. Its impact can be heard in the work of artists such as Arcade Fire, Tame Impala, and Bon Iver, who have all cited “OK Computer” as a key influence on their own music.

Let Down

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/4aOAzvRdOsZSwZIgwcdeL0

One of the more conventionally structured tracks on the album, “Let Down” talks about using music to satisfy our emotional needs. Throughout the pandemic, music and art have been pathways of escape from reality for many people.

In addition to its musical and lyrical accomplishments, “OK Computer” also holds a special place in the hearts of fans and critics alike. The album is often cited as one of the greatest of all time, with many publications ranking it among the best albums of the 1990s and even of all time. Its enduring popularity and critical acclaim have solidified its status as a classic that continues to resonate with listeners to this day.

Karma Police

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/3SVAN3BRByDmHOhKyIDxfC

Probably the most well-known song from “OK Computer,” the lyrics of “Karma Police” speak of Yorke’s desire for karmic judgment to be inflicted on those who have wronged him before Yorke realizes that he, too is subject to the karma of the universe. 

Amid a pandemic and a strange political reality, it’s easy to become quick to anger and to rush to judgment of others. However, it’s important to remember not to lose yourself in these emotions.

Moreover, the themes explored in “OK Computer” are as relevant today as they were at the time of the album’s release. The songs touch on topics such as technology, consumerism, and social alienation, which are all issues that continue to shape our society in the 21st century. In this sense, “OK Computer” serves as a timeless meditation on the human condition and the challenges of living in a rapidly changing world.

Fitter Happier

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/53aFGAl0Vebwp2bo8wtdWR

“Fitter Happier” is unique in that a person does not voice its vocals, but instead by the text-to-speech engine in the band’s Apple Macintosh computer.

It’s a collection of statements that detailed the direction Radiohead thought technology would take society, and it has aged surprisingly well. As the song progresses, the lyrics become darker, and the background music becomes more ominous.

COVID-19 has caused our society to become entirely dependent on technology, which has not led to us becoming more “empowered and informed” members of society as the robot narrator promises. 

“OK Computer” also represents a turning point in Radiohead’s career. The album marked a departure from the band’s earlier, more guitar-driven sound and signaled a shift towards a more experimental and electronic direction. This evolution in their musical style has since become a hallmark of Radiohead’s career, with subsequent albums such as “Kid A” and “In Rainbows” continuing to push the boundaries of what was possible in rock music.

Electioneering

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/6PBHfI3G8MlQ8qdItoVoxL

By far the most explicitly political track on “OK Computer,” “Electioneering” is a song from the point of view of a politician who will say anything to attain money and power, even compromising their values to do so. 

“The song generally applies to any democracy that is controlled by money interests,” Hillen said. “(Yorke) talks about money at least a few times with the lyrics ‘It’s just business’ and ‘Voodoo economics.'”

While the track was originally in reference to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the New Labour movement of the 1990s, it is still relevant today.

Radiohead’s “OK Computer” album is a work of art that transcends its era and continues to resonate with listeners around the world. Its innovative sound, thought-provoking lyrics, and enduring influence on the music industry make it a landmark work in the realm of alternative rock music. As fans and critics alike continue to revisit and celebrate this groundbreaking album, it is clear that “OK Computer” will remain a timeless classic for generations to come.

Climbing Up the Walls

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/0R332cdlS9LyE0Ge2PSlVC

“Climbing Up the Walls” is sung from the perspective of paranoia itself, something that’s always in the back of our minds even in the modern world. 

Paranoia is bred when our lives change, and the pandemic has done so in the form of conspiracy theories seeking to place blame for the virus on someone else.

No Surprises

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1bSpwPhAxZwlR2enJJsv7U

“No Surprises” circles back to the theme of longing for escape from the anxiety of the modern world. With everything going on, many of us are yearning to live in a place with no surprises.

Lucky

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/6n7GUf2h8D2Ad2wUy5s7nE

“Lucky” talks about a plane crash instead of the car crash mentioned in “Airbag.” The two songs are similar in that the music and lyrics manage to be simultaneously optimistic and dreadful, imagining being reborn. With our world in the shape it is in today, some might say it would be nice to start anew.

The Tourist

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/75YUnz58ajMo2VIIuUFvOV

“The Tourist” is sung from the perspective of a tourist begging the people around him to slow down and smell the metaphorical roses.

The final song on the album reminds us that with how fast-paced our society has become with all of the innovations in technology, it’s important to slow down and not allow paranoia and anxiety to take hold, even as the current news cycle makes a day seem like a year.

Even 23 years later, the warnings and lessons of “OK Computer” continue to stay relevant. 

“I think there’s little gems that relate to our modern world all over (Radiohead’s) discography,” Hillen said.

Reach the reporter at bdoemel@asu.edu or follow @brockdoemel on Twitter.

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