2 + 2 = 5 (song)

"2 + 2 = 5" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the third and final single from their sixth album Hail to the Thief in 2003. The song reached number 15 on the United Kingdom singles chart.^[1]

Lyrics and background

The song's title recalls the symbol of unreality from George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.^[2] In the book, inhabitants of an authoritarian future state are made to engage in doublethink, replacing their own conscience and beliefs with those imposed from above. The 'Thought Police' in the novel coerce self-aware citizens into admitting that two plus two equals five to prove the point that even though two plus two does not logically equal five, logic does not matter when no one else is willing to agree that two plus two equals anything else, under threat of pain or death.

Hail to the Thief lists subtitles, or alternative titles, for each of its songs. The alternative title for "2 + 2 = 5" is "The Lukewarm.". Singer Thom Yorke has mentioned it as a reference to the works of Dante.^[3]

Musical structure

At the beginning of the song, the listener hears guitarist Jonny Greenwood plugging his guitar in and saying 'We're on.', and lead vocalist Thom Yorke is heard saying "That's a nice way to start, Jonny...". This was the very first moment recorded during the first day of sessions, and so was chosen to be the first thing heard on the album as well.

The song is made of four sections. The first section is written in 7/8 time and features guitar arpeggios in drop D tuning played by Jonny Greenwood and muted handpops done by Ed O'Brien who picked the strings near the bridge of the guitar. It also features use of drum machine and is sung by Thom Yorke with falsetto by Ed O'Brien in harmony. A faint hi-hat drum beat can be heard.

The second section is written in common time and contains fingerpicked lead guitar by Jonny Greenwood and lightly strummed power chords by Ed O'Brien. It still continues the faint hi-hat pulse but without a drum machine and Thom and Ed O'Brien sing an octave apart with Thom singing in falsetto.

The third section is played more aggressively and Colin Greenwood's bass guitar and Thom Yorke's guitar come in. In the third section, Thom shouts and the power chords played are significantly louder. Phil Selway starts playing loudly on the drums rather than just a ticking hi-hat. Jonny still continues his lead guitar part.

The fourth section is based around a rhythmic guitar riff played by Thom, Ed and Jonny and features synthesizers and a brief guitar solo played by Jonny Greenwood. Thom Yorke and Ed O'Brien's singing is a mix of falsetto and aggressive shouting. The song comes to a sudden stop at the ending.

Charts

Track listings

Promotional single

CD CDRDJ6623

1. "2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21

12" 12RDJWL6623

1. "Sktterbrain" (Four Tet remix)
2. "Remyxomatosis" (Cristian Vogel RMX)

Single

CD one CDR6623

1. "2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
2. "Remyxomatosis" (Cristian Vogel RMX) - 5:07
3. "There There" (first demo) - 7:43

CD two CDRS6623

1. "2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
2. "Skttrbrain" (Four Tet remix) - 4:26
3. "I Will" (Los Angeles version) - 2:14

DVD DVDR6623

1. "2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
2. "Sit Down Stand Up" (Ed Holdsworth's video)
3. "The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time" (excerpt)

See also

• COM LAG (2plus2isfive) EP (2004)

References

External links

• AtEaseWeb.com page