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The Story & Meaning Behind Radiohead’s Paranoid Android

The Story & Meaning Behind Radiohead's Paranoid Android

Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” is one of the definitive rock of the 1990s and a surprising triumph for complex song structures and concepts. The song and its success as a standalone single helped catapult “OK Computer” to international renown and turned into a near-instant classic album.

But given the sophistication of the song, “Paranoid Android” is also one of the most misunderstood hit rock singles. Today, I’m looking at the story behind the song, its meaning and its enduring legacy.

Inspiration and meaning behind Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android”

In the 1998 documentary “Meeting People Is Easy”, viewers get to witness Radiohead at the height of the band’s fame. They’re miserable, barely functioning as individuals and struggling to interact with the press, fans and even among themselves.

The film was shot during the promotional tour for “OK Computer,” which was released in 1997. It is considered by many to be one of the most important British rock albums. If any one song best surmises the feelings of isolation and distrust caught in the documentary, it is “Paranoid Android.”

The title of the music documentary, “Meeting People Is Easy,” is somewhat ironic, as it reflects the band’s perspective on the constant demands of touring and promotion, which made it difficult for them to have genuine and meaningful interactions with people.

Thom Yorke was inspired to write the lyrics for “Paranoid Android” upon returning from a night on the town. While visiting trendy Los Angeles clubs, Yorke, now a famous rockstar, was approached throughout the night by people desperate to interact with him. The rather shy Thom Yorke felt pestered and observed how people were merely out to strike a connection with someone famous, caring very little about the musician’s attempts at privacy.

Yorke later stated: “Everyone was trying to get something out of me. I felt like my own self was collapsing in the presence of it, but I also felt completely, utterly part of it, like it was all going to come crashing down any minute.”

The Cambridge-born and bred artist was left feeling disconnected from a world that his fame gave him access to. Later, he said: “The people I saw that night were just like demons from another planet.”

Thom Yorke’s fascination with “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

The title of the song references a character from Douglas Adams’ popular Sci-Fi novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Marvin, the Paranoid Android is a morose robot assistant. He constantly complains about the chores that he is required to do.

As on the track “Fitter, Happier,” from the “OK Computer” album, a robotic voice can be heard declaring: “I may be paranoid, but not an android”. The line gives the song its title.

But Yorke also says that the experience that inspired the song also made him think about deities and the role of humanity on the planet. He explains: Yorke: “It’s about being exposed to God, I dunno. It was that one night, really. We’d been rehearsing the song for months, but the lyrics came to me at five o’clock that morning. I was trying to sleep when I literally heard these voices that wouldn’t leave me alone. They were the voices of the people I’d heard in the bar. It turned out to be a notorious coke-fiend place, but I didn’t know that. Basically, it’s just about chaos, chaos, utter f–king chaos.”

Some fans have interpreted the repeated phrase “Rain down” heard in the latter part of “Paranoid Android” to be a reference to the biblical flood myth. “Rain down, rain down/Come on, rain down on me/From a great height.”

The Story & Meaning Behind Radiohead's Paranoid Android

Recording “Paranoid Android” and the “OK Computer” album

By 1997, prior to the release of “OK Computer,” Radiohead were one of the most successful rock bands in Britain. They were also one of the most hyped-rock bands in the world. This was following the success of the single “Creep” off the “Pablo Honey” album and “The Bends.”

While initially heavily compared to Nirvana, Radiohead, it was clear, was carving a unique path for itself. Radiohead stood in stark contrast to the machismo of Britpop rockers Oasis and nostalgia-obsessed group Blur.

“Paranoid Android,” one of the central tracks from “OK Computer,” was recorded in St Catherine’s Court. This is a historic mansion near Bath, Somerset. Produced by Nigel Godrich, the song drew inspiration from the Beatles’ “Happiness Is a Warm Gun,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and the Pixies’ work.

Like “Happiness Is a Warm Gun,” the song was pieced together from bits of songs that had remained uncompleted.

The first version, over 14 minutes long, featured a Hammond organ outro by Jonny Greenwood. Guitarist Ed O’Brien remarked, “We’d be pissing ourselves while we played. We’d bring out the glockenspiel, and it would be really, really funny.” Thom Yorke jokingly called this version “a Pink Floyd cover.”

Radiohead’s prog-rock influences

Indeed, Pink Floyd had been one of the bands to which Radiohead drew massive comparisons following the release of the album “The Bends.” The success of “Paranoid Android” was, in many ways, a triumph for progressive rock, a complex musical genre that rarely produces hit singles.

The animated music video for “Paranoid Android” was crafted by Magnus Carlsson, known for his “Robin” animation series. These animations, along with the music video, depict the bizarre escapades of Robin and his companion, Ben. This series was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK

“Paranoid Android” peaked at number 3 in the U.K. charts. It was the first of four singles. Their success helped “OK Computer” reach number 1 in the UK and number 21 in the USA. “It has sold over “OK Computer” and has sold more than 5.7 million units worldwide.

The Story & Meaning Behind Radiohead's Paranoid Android

The influence of “Paranoid Android”

“Paranoid Android” was a hit single despite not adhering to any of the popular radio formats. Despite its lengthy 6:27 duration, it was released as a single in several regions, excluding the US, contributing to a surge in “OK Computer” album sales. Radiohead faced requests from numerous radio stations for a condensed version of “Paranoid Android”, but Radiohead stood firm in their decision not to shorten it.

In 1996, during their tour as the opening act for Alanis Morissette, Radiohead frequently performed “Paranoid Android.” This provided them ample opportunity to refine the song well in advance of its official recording for the album “OK Computer.” In live performances, the track often extended beyond 15 minutes.

Its popularity and the heady nature of the entire album proved rock bands could experiment and still get hits. This was in contrast to Oasis or Blur’s straightforward guitar-centric approach. Guitarist Johnny Greenwood explains the writing process: “We were in Bath, recording at (Tudor manor house) St Catherine’s Court. We were having drinks, and then we started doing percussion on a drum loop that Phil (Selway) had made. It grew from there.”

Johnny Greenwood also plays mellotron on “OK Computer”. It’s an instrument not often heard on 1990s rock records but one that was very popular with bands like Genesis or Led Zeppelin back in the 1970s.

“OK Computer” and its enduring legacy

Thom Yorke is also happy with the reputation of “OK Computer” as what Liam Gallagher might call “music for students.” Yorke says: “The whole album is really f—ing geeky,” Yorke continued. “I was kind of a geek when I was a kid, unashamedly so. Then I’m in this rock band famous for drinking tea and never socializing, where the truth is somewhat different.”

The album’s 1997 release is viewed as a watershed moment by many music critics and fans. In 2017, The New York Times published an article titled “Before & After OK Computer.” Indeed, “Paranoid Android” and the other songs on the album hinted at exciting new possibilities for rock music.

About author

Eduard Banulescu is a writer, blogger, and musician. As a content writer, Eduard has contributed to numerous websites and publications, including FootballCoin, Play2Earn, BeIN Crypto, Business2Community, NapoliSerieA, Extra Time Talk, Nitrogen Sports, Bavarian FootballWorks, etc. He has written a book about Nirvana, hosts a music podcasts, and writes weekly content about some of the best, new and old, alternative musicians. Eduard also runs and acts as editor-in-chief of the alternative rock music website www.alt77.com. Mr. Banulescu is also a musician, having played and recorded in various bands and as a solo artist.
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