Last Friday Radiohead released a new album called The King of Limbs. And oh, I know, you think Radiohead is overrated, what’s the big deal, blahblahblah.
So is sex with monkeys. But I’m not going to judge anyone’s hobbies.
INDULGE ME FOR A SECOND. Because they happen to mean a great deal to me, and not just because I’ve paid for tickets and airfare to see them live ten times. They always seem to release music during certain events in my life that have given more meaning to the lyrics and the structure of the songs. To me. I don’t expect anyone else to like Radiohead, but that doesn’t mean I won’t go batshit insane every time they release an album. Like I did on Friday:
After that last one someone replied to me on Twitter and said that just because I have as many followers as I do doesn’t mean I’m allowed to be a douchebag to my kids. And I was like, dude, I’m not being a douchbag. I’m being an asshole. Get it straight.
Radiohead also released a video for the song “Lotus Flower” and this is what is really interesting to me: most people, especially those who think Radiohead are overrated, are going to see this video and think WTF? Doesn’t he know he looks like an idiot?
Yes, actually. I believe he’s trying to look like one.
When I see this video I see the happy Thom Yorke who for a long time didn’t seem happy to be doing what he was doing. I first saw the band in 1998, and Thom barely moved on stage. That was back when they had hit it really big with OK Computer, and he was having a really rough time dealing with all the bullshit that happens around celebrity (something documented in a film called Meeting People is Easy). You could see him having a hard time.
During the last few shows I’ve seen, however, he danced around the stage like a lunatic, a joyous lunatic, clearly more comfortable with himself and his life.
I see that video and I see joy. Joy, a word you don’t really associate with Radiohead, and certainly not with that song. Which takes it to levels of such awesome that my head just exploded.
Also? Someone set his dancing to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” Aaaaaaaaaand genius.
(For what it’s worth, I’m loving the new album, particularly the song “Codex” which is so beautiful I want to cry. But I’m an asshole. I can’t be seen doing that.)