10 Greatest Ever Radiohead Songs
7. Paranoid Android
One of Radiohead’s signature songs, Paranoid Android is kaleidoscopic in nature thanks to its three distinct sections. It’s aggressive in parts, contemplative in others but powerful in its entirety.
For such a long and experimental song, it managed to do exceptionally well in the charts, peaking at number 3 in the UK, most likely because it struck a real chord with those terribly anxious about the coming millennium.
The lyrics deal with concerns about consumerism, technological worries and a deep sense of being forgotten. A sense of being just another number or just another cog in a machine.
Jonny Greenwood provides one of his finest guitar solos ever, which is a rare treat considering (at least after OK Computer) he wasn’t one for particularly flashy and overblown solo guitar work, but chose a much more subtle approach.
It’s very easy to see why Paranoid Android remains one of the most popular and essential Radiohead songs over 20 years after its release.