Paranoid Android: Radiohead’s Greatest Song Shouldn’t Have Worked as a Single

Everything pointed to Radiohead's lead single off OK Computer being the WORST pick to introduce fans to their third album. It was too long, it had no consistent chorus, and there were multiple time and key changes. Conventional wisdom pointed to it being a flop. But people loved it. This is the wild story behind the track, from how Thom Yorke wrote the lyrics, to cutting down the original 9-10 minute version (featuring a masterful Hammond Organ solo from Jonny Greenwood) down to fit the album, to producer Nigel Godrich's wizardry, and the full story behind the groundbreaking music video by Magnus Carlsson. 👉 Subscribe for More Videos: https://youtube.com/c/AndyFenstermake... ✉️ Read the transcript & hear the music on the Poetic Wax Substack: https://poeticwax.substack.com WATCH NEXT: ✓ Should Radiohead Be Canceled?    • Radiohead's Lost Decade: Grief, Gaza, and ...   ✓ Why Thom Yorke Hated "Let Down"    • Let Down: The Radiohead Song That Nearly B...   ✓ The Story of Fake Plastic Trees:    • The REAL History and Meaning Behind Radioh...   🎥 Radiohead on Poetic Wax:    • Radiohead on the Poetic Wax Series   Get OK Computer on Vinyl 🎧 https://amzn.to/4twmoT3 MY GEAR: ✅ U-Turn Orbit Turntable: https://amzn.to/4tLTheP ✅ Edifier Speakers: https://amzn.to/4eXfSQV ✅ RØDE PodMic https://amzn.to/4unPKmO ✅ Logitech MX Brio Webcam: https://amzn.to/4uohKXx ✅ Meze Audio 105 Silva Headphones: https://amzn.to/3QIIZgW Poetic Wax is hosted by Andy Fenstermaker. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Thom Yorke Walks Into A Bar... 1:46 Fragments Gathered on the Road 4:25 The Influences Behind Paranoid Android 5:43 Chaos Captured in an Ancient Hall 9:38 The Single That Carried Its Own Weight 10:45 The Paranoid Android Music Video (The Robin Series) 13:14 The Echo That Remains 15:13 This SHOULDN'T Have Worked... CLIPS & REFERENCES: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Dir Garth Jennings, Touchstone Pictures, 2005):    • Best of Marvin (The Hitchhiker's Guide To ...   Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Official Music Video) Credit Queen Official via YouTube:    • Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (Official Video ...   Radiohead “Paranoid Android” (Official Music Video, Dir Magnus Carlsson, 1997):    • Radiohead - Paranoid Android   Radiohead Live at Glastonbury Festival (1997):    • Radiohead - Glastonbury 1997   Radiohead “Paranoid Android” (Live at Mansfield, 1996):    • Radiohead Live at Mansfield 1996 (Paranoid...   Radiohead “Paranoid Android” (Later with Jools Holland, 1997) cr BBC Music via YouTube:    • Radiohead - Paranoid Android (Later Archiv...   George Michael Bluth Does the Sad Walk (Arrested Development):    • George Michael Does The Sad Walk - Arreste...   Dave Grohl talking about Radiohead and Ok Computer (Reality Ain’t Pretty via YouTube):    • Dave Grohl talking about Radiohead and Ok ...   Radiohead MTV Interview with Matt Pinfield (June 15, 1997):    • Radiohead - interview (1997)   Radiohead “Paranoid Android” Live in Madrid Nov 5, 2025 (via Javi Dieguez):    • Radiohead - Paranoid Android - live from M...   Radiohead Interview with MTV Japan - April 1997 (via Serfi)    • Radiohead Interview with MTV Japan - April...   Thom & Ed in an Electronics Store (MuchMusic, June 3, 1997) via Radioheads Interviews Archive:    • (1997/06/03) MuchMusic, Thom & Ed (electro...   Radiohead Interview for OK Computer (1997) via scaryclaireyfairy:    • radiohead interview for ok computer 1997   Radiohead Interview for OK Computer’s Release in 1997 (via scaryclaireyfairy):    • radiohead interview for ok computer releas...   #radiohead #paranoidandroid #thomyorke #jonnygreenwood #interview #vinylcommunity #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #andyfenstermaker #fensepost #vinylchannel #poeticwax #musicessay #musicstory #albumstory #musichistory #albumhistory #musicdocumentary