Genre Jazz-rock Label ParlophoneCapitol | Length 5:51 | |
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Recorded January 1999–April 2000 Producer(s) Nigel GodrichRadiohead | ||
"The National Anthem" is a song by English rock band Radiohead, and the third track from their fourth studio 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. It has been played frequently at Radiohead concerts since the release of Kid A in 2000.
Contents
Background and recording
"The National Anthem" is thought to have been previously attempted at recording sessions in 1994 and 1997, but according to Radiohead member Colin Greenwood, the band decided it was "too good to use it as a B-side for OK Computer singles." In the album recording, the bass is played by lead singer Thom Yorke, who wrote the riff at age 16.
In the recording sessions, band members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood conducted the session musicians, though Yorke lacks formal musical training. Yorke stated in an interview, "the running joke when we were in the studios was, Just blow. Just blow, just blow, just blow", referring to the chaotic wind section sound. Although the recording sounds chaotic, each instrument is playing a solo to the riff.
Composition
The free jazz-style wind section featured in the song, influenced by jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus, creates a soundscape of chaos, and has been described as "a brass band marching into a brick wall" by one reviewer.
The song also features an Ondes Martenot, played by Jonny Greenwood, an early electronic instrument which was picked up by Greenwood for several songs on Kid A and subsequent albums. Greenwood's usage of it was inspired by the music of Olivier Messiaen.
Critical reception
In his review of the album for the New Yorker, Nick Hornby described the song as "an unpleasant free-jazz workout, with a discordant horn section squalling over a studiedly crude bass line". "The annoying pileup of squawking instruments" was neither appreciated by Lorraine Ali, writing in Newsweek.
Mark Beaumont, who disparaged the album in Melody Maker on its release, was unrepentant ten years later in the Guardian, describing the 'free-form jazz horns of "The National Anthem"' as "Mingus-in-a-tumble-dryer racket".
In an A.V. Club interview from a series dedicated to the subject's most hated song, Guy Branum chose "The National Anthem" because "it makes my ears hurt" and his hatred of "the angry, angsty, disaffected".
Live performances
"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. It has been one of the most played songs from Kid A at concerts since 2000, but has seen a decrease in performances in recent years.
Radiohead has performed with a wind section in their 2000 performances in New York City (one of which was at Radiohead's taping for Saturday Night Live), a 2001 performance in London for the BBC's Later with Jools Holland, during a 2001 concert in Paris, and on The Colbert Report in 2011.
Cover versions
"The National Anthem" has been covered by Japanese shamisen duo Yoshida Brothers on their album Prism.
Meshell Ndegeocello covered it for the tribute album Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads.
Mr Russia covered it for the tribute album Every Machine Makes a Mistake: A Tribute to Radiohead (FTC Records).
Lupe Fiasco has used a sample of the song on the mixtape Enemy of the State: A Love Story in the song "The National Anthem".
Ayurveda has also covered the song on a live performance.
Umphrey's McGee covered the song live on New Year's Eve 2010. The Jazz Passengers' instrumental version on their album Reunited has been praised for its "funky swing".
A "marvellously squalling version" by the University of Arizona marching band was praised in the Guardian. A "tough, choleric" cover was included in Vernon Reid's 2006 release Other True Self.
Personnel
Radiohead
Additional musicians