Old Composer REACTS to Radiohead How to Disappear Completely - Reaction & Breakdown 

you could literally pick any Radiohead song at random and there is a 80% chance it's absolutely incredible. The rest are still good.

Thom has said, without hesitation, that this is the best Radiohead song they ever did. I mean, I can't argue with that.

Background: This song was written during a period of intense touring. The band was getting exhausted and unhappy because they would go to some interesting place they'd never been before, but have no time to experience it before moving on. This finally got to Thom Yorke when they were in Germany and he was in a dark mood, so he called a friend - Michael Stipe from REM - who advised him to lock himself in his hotel room, close the blinds, and chant a mantra of "I am not here, this is not happening." This was also during a time when the band was taking their song titles from oddball books they found for sale, and the one called How To Disappear Completely And Never Be Found seemed to fit the song.

I remember buying this album the day it came out, opening the cd and putting it in my car stereo, rolled a joint in the parking lot, lit it and hit the back roads. My intentions were to listen to whole album all the way through. When it got to this song, I found myself crying almost uncontrollably. I pulled off the road, ironically, into an old country cemetery and played this song over and over for an hour. It is still to this day my favorite Radiohead song.

Radiohead is simultaneously one the softest and hardest musical acts I have ever listened to.

Radiohead got me through one of the toughest times in my life - being a lonely teenager. Without Radiohead, I probably wouldn't be here.

Back in 2001 I was newly married, and my family was all together for Christmas. My 5 year old cousin and my 75 year old grandmother were both sitting in the living room and I played this song. When it was over I saw my grandmother had put her crossword down on her lap and had her eyes closed, smiling. My cousin was now lying on the couch. She looked up at me and said "That's my favorite song." Radiohead, man.

That dissonance is left there for a reason: it’s supposed to make you feel uncomfortable, the chaos that ensues by the end of the song hides that note and by then everything resolves. The phrase “I’m not here, this isn’t happening “ we’re words given to Thom as advice to deal with some anxiety he had.

“Everything in it’s Right Place” and “Pyramid Song”.

This song is seriously something else. For me personally, it’s one of the most emotion evoking and moving pieces of music. I almost can’t even listen to it on days when I’m feeling bad but I know it’s almost a catharsis and if I sit through it and let it take over me I will come out better after.

This song is probably the best musical description of mental breakdown in music history. It's meant to be unsettlng, schizophrenic, disassociated, drifting and 'wrong' as well as beautiful.

The "trick outro" in this songs is one of my favorite, most goosebump-inducing music moments of all time.

Its hard to pick "must hear" songs by radiohead because they have so many. I feel like they should be a band that you really dive into like you have tool. "Everything in its right place" "pyramid song" "15 step" "my iron lung" the list really goes on and on

That’s it. Radiohead’s “How To Disappear Completely” with Geebz analyzing the living shit out of it while casually reaching out for a mouthful of pub mix. The internet doesn’t comprehend the greatness of this video. What a moment to be alive. I just basically need Geebz to be my best friend.

The drone that was playing throughout the song is an experimental electric instrument called an Ondes Martenot. It was made in the 1920s and only 1 classical piece features this instrument. It is a keyboard and the player wears a ring attached to a wire that changes the note similar to a theremin.

This song literally saved my life during a prolonged severe depressive episode in my early twenties. It was beautiful watching someone else hear it for the first time and discover it for the subtle emotional masterpiece it is.

Your next Radiohead song has to be Weird Fishes. It's one of their more most beautiful and interesting works.

some radiohead suggestions: 'everything in its right place' and 'paranoid android'

This song is a definite standout. “Climbing Up the Walls” has also been a longtime personal fave.

The purity of Thom's voice in this song makes me weep. It's so damn beautiful.

I saw an interview with Thom Yorke where they asked if he could be remembered for one song what would it be. He answered 'how to disappear' before the interviewer could even finish the question. Interesting story behind it worth looking into. Such a great song! Thanks for another entertaining trip, enjoy your break friend

Get in bitches, we’re goin’ crying. But seriously, this song is so beautiful even after so many listens it can still make me cry sometimes.

This song is a depression pill wrapped in an audio capsule and its wonderful. Just close your eyes and let it take you.

must hear songs by radiohead: “weird fishes”, “pyramid song”, “let down”, “codex”, “nude”, “i will”, “kid a”, “no surprises”, “glass eyes”, “present tense”, “street spirit (fade out)”, “exit music (for a film)”, “fake plastic trees”, “talk show host”.

Do "Exit Music" next. That song always brings tears to my eyes.

15:34 When his voice breaks out of the dissonance it's one of my favorite moments in music ever. If you want to check out something a little different you should try legendary trip-hop band Portishead, if you don't know them already. Glory Box would be the track to start with.

Some Radiohead songs that I think would be killer to see you decompose: “There there”, “Climbing Up the Walls”, “Street Spirit (Fade Out)”, and “Jigsaw Falling into Place”

Colin Greenwood is my favorite bassist. You’ll hear how complex he is when you get into their more of their faster songs

For more Radiohead, highly recommend Climbing Up The Walls or Jigsaw Falling Into Place.

For Radiohead, would love to see your react to Reckoner and Paranoid Android.

Surprised not to see this anywhere, but that dissonant note in the beginning that then goes up and down when the song opens up is actually various ondes martenot. Super cool instrument! Love to see you react to Let Down, Reckoner and Life in a Glass House. Brilliant reaction!

This reaction allowed me to appreciate something I've always felt but never put to words about this song. that musical sigh that happens infrequently, then more frequently, then becomes a call and response with his voice reminds me of the sounds you make for self-comfort when you're in extreme physical or emotional distress. The sound has to be simple and drawn out or else it doesn't effectively drown out whatever the source of the discomfort is. Like a mantra to avoid pain.

I feel like for a composer National Anthem or Pyramid Song would be the ultimate treat!

Reckoner (From the Basement). It's live and it gives good "chicken skin."

At the beginning that dissonance is a microtonal cluster played on a few Ondes Martenot. Jonny Greenwood writes the orchestrations for the band and does such an AMAZING job.

When this album was released it changed my entire perspective on music. I was in my late 20s and starting to become very set in my music choices. I was reaching an age where I was ready to spend the rest of my life only listening to the sort of music that was popular when I was a teen. This album absolutely re-kindled my desire to seek out fresh new styles of music. I really recommend listening to the whole Kid A album when you can. This song is great, but it's even better experienced in the context of the whole album. I did not dissapear ;)

So lyrically this song is basically about Thom Yorke dealing with his anxieties about being on tour. To me the dissonance in the music reflects that so well, it slowly builds across the song as he tries and fails to convince himself thats he's not there, until it finally peaks with those intense microtonal clusters on the strings, and then theres a sudden release of all that dissonance as he comes to terms with his anxieties. Such a beautiful and cathartic piece of music.

A big part of what makes the orchestration on this and many other Radiohead tracks is Johnny Greenwoods obsession with Krzysztof Penderecki.

Thom said that if people would understand the context of this song they wouldn't request it in concerts because they would immediately break down and cry. I have listened to it with a different kind of attention since then. Each time it gets a little sadder.

Radiohead has always been one of my favorite bands, timeless, like Pink FLoyd, for a lot of the same reasons.

That one dissonant note in the first minute is actual strings playing a quarter-tone off, and there's also an oddly dissonant tone cluster (regular notes, not quarter-tones) in a middle register. Jonny Greenwood loves his Penderecki/Ligeti.

"There There" would be great. I'm sure I read that Thom Yorke and/or the band were in tears hearing the final mix of the song, I'm sure I'm paraphrasing but an absolutely fantastic Radiohead song nonetheless!

"The Tourist" my fav song of radiohead. You have to listen too!

You stated that at one point the song “bloomed” into something else. I think that really sums up what makes so much of Radiohead’s work so intriguing. You start off listening to what you think the song is going to be and it evolves or “blooms” into something else. Love your videos.

You do great work! Don’t miss Radiohead’s National Anthem - tremendous arrangements, strings and overall flow.

This song is a masterpiece

That dissonant wailing hanging in the background for the first minute or so....that's what got me hooked in the first place. And when it crescends in with the mandolin fading in ...... Masterful composition. EDIT: Try 'Hunting Bears/I Might Be Wrong'. Hunting Bears in particular is amazing, little short tho. But it's amazing how dense an ambience it delivers with just two instruments.

Wow. Before anything else: your body language, small movements, coruscating facial tics, etc. completely awed me. It felt like I was looking into a mirror while listening to this song, if that makes sense? Incredible. With that out of the way, as a slightly impure listener (I played the clarinet for a bit in middle school, so take that for what it's worth ;P) I absolutely love hearing and now having the *words* to describe the elements I love in this song. Before now, if someone asked me to recommend a Radiohead song, I'd say, "How to Disappear Completely!" and they'd say, "Okay, why?" and I'd follow up with a, "Hmmm...well, I mean, it feels like nearly black silk whispering across your eardrums, so, y'know, it's good," and it would end with me receiving a slightly perturbed look. xD All this to say, I love it. I'll even subscribe and listen to your reactions to your, as you say, "more metal" stuff (despite not being a native listener). Just keep throwin' in the occasional Radiohead banger every few months, and I'll be a happy camper. xD Thank you, best of luck, and happy onward sojourns!

"jonny greenwood" one of the 5 geniuses that make up radiohead also composes film scores! "There will be blood" and "phantom thread" to name a few! He is a truly gifted and special diverse musician

Kid A is one of those albums that, in my opinion, is best listened to as a whole. You get a better idea of where each song fits in in the journey

There was a certain part in the middle of this song where it's so beautiful that all I can think of is that this was music done by musical geniuses. To be that original in its delivery with the combination of those musical layers and his voice combined, it really is sheer musical genius at work. I think the same thing when I heard Purple Rain or when I hear Nine Inch Nails or Dr. Dre or others that are at the absolute top of the food chain in their craft. Radiohead is in my top 10 bands of all time. This song is mad melancholy as well in the beginning. It starts like you're trolling through mud and then as the song goes on, it lifts you into the coulds and you're floating. Fuckin beautiful ride it takes you on. Holy crap, I wrote all this in the middle of the song and then he said pretty much the same thing about flying or floating or whatever it was. I'm so glad I'm not the only one it makes feel that way. Musical escapism at it's best.

Thom Yorke on this song, to give you another dimension: "That song is about the whole period of time that OK Computer was happening. We did the Glastonbury Festival and this thing in Ireland. Something snapped in me. I just said, ‘That’s it. I can’t take it anymore.’ And more than a year later, we were still on the road. I hadn’t had time to address things. The lyrics came from something Michael Stipe said to me. I rang him and said, ‘I cannot cope with this.’ And he said, ‘Pull the shutters down and keep saying, ‘I’m not here, this is not happening." Radiohead are just always amazing at production and arrangement, they are truly a musicians band and you can listen to a song for years and discover something new. I have ❤️ And so many genres and new ones that they made, they are incredible.

Reckoner / Let Down / Idioteque / Motion Picture Soundtrack / Weird Fishes - you will love all of them!

When this album came out my taste in music took a 90 degree turn. It still blows my mind

This is Thom York's favorite song Radiohead has done. It's absolute perfection.

I DID NOT DISAPPEAR!! This is my favourite song ever. It was going around in my head as I spent the last few minutes with my dying mum. It envelops me in a really heavy cloak of sadness. But it's a sadness that I wellcome. It makes me feel a longing and yearning. When Thom sings "and hurricanes" and the strings crescendo, it literally takes my breath away for a second or two.

I second everyone’s call for a deep dive. Radiohead is a once-in-a-generation type band and are squarely in the 70s spirit of the ALBUM as art.

Radiohead are as close as my generation has come to having a band as important as The Beatles. The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A especially are all masterpieces and had a profound impact on the last ~30 years of popular music. In fact, I'd argue that Radiohead were largely responsible for shifting the music culture from rock to electronic-based music. This is one of their most beautiful, haunting tracks. For a next listen, I'd highly recommend Paranoid Android.

This song is just sooo deep and intense, I just can't get back from it, even if I know it for very long now...!!!

A lot of Radiohead songs hit you different. They touch moods that maybe you don’t feel, or want to feel, on a regular basis. But it resonates and once the music stops you realize the band has taken you somewhere really fleshed out

“Let Down” is a really good listen too

More Radiohead! They are amazing. Basically can’t go wrong with any request people will throw you. Excellent stuff

THANK YOU SIR for doing RADIOHEAD. I subscribed your channel for doing RADIOHEAD songs. Thanks!

16:55 "This was a fantastic first time listen for me." Well, sir, this was also a fantastic first time viewing a reaction to this song and providing analysis. Bravo, and I hope you get around to hearing more of Radiohead's catalog. Love the channel, keep up the great work!

I´ve seen Kid A in Essen in concert, and the guitarist does all the effects live!!!! He was on the rhight of the stage with his guitar, between the speakers, keabords, always workin.. first I thought, it was a backrouund tape... but really soon, it was obvious, he was doing all this psychedelic stuff.., besides to the wonderful unique voice of Thom Yorke never lost a sound. I awaited a rock concert but it was a experience....

what a masterpiece of a song. awesome reaction. other radiohead to check out: where i end and you begin

This song crushes me, love it. WEEN! Play some weeeen!

His expressions at 15:20 just about sums this record up 😉 pretty much what we all feel at some point when listening to Radiohead 🤔 climbing up the walls has that effect on me 🤪

It is my understanding that Thom Yorke wrote this song after a conversation with REMs Michael Stipe. Thom was apparently struggling with touring and had asked Stipe about how he handles it. Apparently the answer left quite an impact.

Radiohead is magic. Reckoner would be a great next one

My favourite RH song. The composition is timeless. Thanks again for another wonderful reaction!

Radiohead's use of a completely discordant drone in the beginning of this song is part of what makes it so striking. And part of why Thom considers this to be the most beautiful song he's ever written.

I love how you mention the pure listener vs. musician argument. I’ve been playing whatever I can get my hands on since I was in elementary school, and it’s an absolute blast hearing someone digest and report on pieces like this. Absolutely love the channel dude. Keep it coming.

Radiohead are a master class of evoking feelings/emotions, they are such a diverse band, they have changed so very much over the years, but maintained their brilliance.

I love watching you discovering Radiohead and telling us (well, me) what exactly is going on. Seeing them live, you see how it takes 5 guys who know exactly what they're doing for the songs to sound like they do. I'd love to see you do Exit Music (for a film), by Radiohead also. It's one of the songs that brings me to tears everytime.

For a legendary band like Radiohead, its entirely well-earned stature is such that one can only genuinely compare the greatness of Radiohead's songs & albums to its other albums. Their sounds do not merely create the atmosphere, they ARE the atmosphere. Truly, 'How To Disappear Completely' is without a doubt one of the finest examples of that--ambient, ethereal, emotionally intelligent, mindful, and whimsical. Street Spirit (Fade Out), Airbag, Paranoid Android, Exit Music (For a Film), National Anthem, Pyramid Song, House of Cards, & Identikit (to name *only* 8 other fantastic examples of these phenomena.) With Radiohead, the destination is all about the journey and where one ends up being taken to during and after this sonic sojourn is very often sacred & unique to the individual.

this is Radiohead's best song, according to the band

Man, this song has me crying like a baby. It really captures how I've felt at my very lowest, the point beyond sadness when you're just... not there. Where giving up feels beautiful somehow, and where carrying on is fraught with so much tension and struggle. Can't say I'm there any more, but I also can't claim to be in a great place either, and this song puts my feelings to sound and makes me feel less alone. A genuine masterpiece. Also, Subtle Change by Rivers of Nihil (yes I'm still going on about it, it's so good dude!)

Weird Fishes (Arpeggi), All I Need, Exit Music (for a film), Where I End and You Begin, Videotape, Decks Dark, 15 Step, Street Spirit (Fade Out), and on and on and on...

I'm still here! I'm also still looking for a band to suggest that you haven't already reacted to. This time I found something new to enjoy.

I once ate an eighth of mushrooms and lost my mind to this track and then pretty much all radiohead lying on the floor next to a speaker... amazing. I'd love to hear "let down" when you come back around to radiohead after your break

You're killing it with these breakdowns. Would love to see you breakdown Debaser by the Pixies

Deck's Dark, Exit Music (For A Film), Videotape, Motion Picture Soundtrack, Reckoner, Nude, Codex, Present Tense, Daily Mail, Pyramid Song, Sail To The Moon, A Wolf At The Door, Street Spirit (Fade Out)... Just to name a few.

I can’t lose myself so completely to any other track. I totally break down and feel goosebumps all over my body.

You can go to any radiohead record and find a song to disappear into. Such amazing talent and drive to experiment

Beautiful song. Beautiful breakdown. Thanks

That dissonant note that holds out for a long time in the beginning, it reminds me of Debussy's "La Mer". I think it's the 3rd movement. I'm not sure it's a dissonant note in that piece, but it is used in a similar way - like a pedal, and it holds out through multiple chord changes.

i love how the bass gets the last word on the whole song.

I literally just discovered this song the other day and fell in love. Man I love the lyrics and entire musical representation of the lyrics.

From an engineering perspective, I'd love to see what you'd say about their song "Ful Stop". Some very, very interesting sound stuff going on there!

this was beautiful, thank you. ♡

Love it uncle geebz! Keep the radiohead coming. I love that you help us love our favourite songs even more

This was my first non-Tool video I've watched of yours, and as usual, not an ounce of disappointment. Would love to watch you do anything else from the Kid A album, but specifically Everything in it's Right Place. And thank you for your time and perspectives on your channel!

I saw Thom Yorke when he was on his solo tour and I’ll tell ya, one of the BEST shows ever. And I’ve seen a lot of concerts. He is just out of this world. And Radiohead are amazing musicians. So talented and creative.

One of my favorite Radiohead songs, gives me chills everytime I hear it.

Its amazing how you demostrate so much pasion in your videos, I really enjoy your content

Diana Ankudinova is a young performer who shocks us with her pleasant voice and takes us into the abyss of events!!! Diana Ankudinova is unique and inimitable, goosebumps from her voice!=)))) Diana sings as if she lives in the song! The soul freezes or opens with Diana's voice.=))))))) I am a musician who has been with music for years, and believe me, I have not heard such a tone in all these past years.

”Pyramid Song” is great I love ”Idioteque” which is a unusual upbeat ultraelectronic song.

Love how passionate you are man, great video

I’ve always loved this bass line and performance.