The National Anthem
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| “The National Anthem” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by Radiohead | ||
| Album | Kid A | |
| Released | 2 October 2000 | |
| Recorded | January 1999–April 2000 | |
| Genre | Experimental rock Alternative rock |
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| Length | 5:51 | |
| Label | Parlophone Capitol |
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| Producer | Nigel Godrich and Radiohead | |
| Kid A track listing | ||
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"The National Anthem" is a song by the band Radiohead, the third track from the album Kid A (2000). The song is moored to a repetitive bassline, has a processed electronic production, and develops in a direction influenced by jazz.
In the album recording, the bass is actually played by lead singer Thom Yorke, who wrote the riff at age 16.[1] The song is thought to have been previously attempted at recording sessions in 1994 and 1997, but according to Colin Greenwood, the band decided it was "too good to use it as a b-side for OK Computer singles".[citation needed]
The free jazz-style brass section featured in this song creates a soundscape of chaos, and has been described as "a brass band marching into a brick wall" by one reviewer.[2] In the recording sessions, band members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood conducted the session musicians as best they could, though Yorke lacks formal musical training, telling them to 'go crazy' with their instruments as if they were caught in a traffic jam. It should be noted that although the recording sounds chaotic, each instrument is soloing to the riff.
The jazz style arrangement was apparently influenced by Charles Mingus, one of Thom's favorite composers,[3] while the song also features an Ondes Martenot, played by Jonny Greenwood. That early electronic instrument was picked up by Jonny for several songs on Kid A and subsequent albums, inspired by the music of Olivier Messiaen which makes much use of it. Some also found "The National Anthem" reminiscent of the contemporary work of fellow UK bands Primal Scream and Spiritualized, with whom Radiohead had toured in 1998.
"The National Anthem" was the opening song for most Radiohead concerts in 2000–2001, and is the first track on the band's 2001 album I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings. As of 2008, Radiohead continues to play it live. The song begins on stage with the band tuning to various radio stations, then mixing the transmissions and static with the bassline. When the song is played live, normal Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood plays the riff, which uses a Lovetone Big Cheese effects pedal[4] to create a more distorted "fuzz" sound. The ondes martenot is also more audible in live versions, thanks to the addition of guitarist Ed O'Brien, who both doubles and expands on Jonny's parts. Thom Yorke also adds scat singing in some performances. Unlike the studio recorded version on the Kid A album, the live version of the song is not performed with a brass section, except at two 2000 performances in New York City (one of which was at Radiohead's taping for Saturday Night Live using the house band) and also at a 2001 performance in London for the BBC's Later with Jools Holland.
[edit] References
- ^ Fricke, David. "Making Music That Matters", Rolling Stone, 2 August 2001. Retrieved 16 January 2007.
- ^ Overstreet, Jeffrey. "November 2000 Pick of the Month", The Phantom Tollbooth, November 2000. Retrieved 28 December 2006.
- ^ Loder, Kurt. "Radiohead: Ice Age Coming", MTV.com, 1 October 2000. Retrieved 16 January 2007.
- ^ "Colin Greenwood: Racks & Amps", Just... Radiohead Fan Club. Retrieved 2 February 2007.
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