"Paranoid Android" by Radiohead - Vocal Coach Reaction and Analysis 

The animation is based on a Swedish series called Robin. English-dubbed versions were showing on Channel 4, and Radiohead were a big fan of it, so they commissioned its creator to create the music video around the adventures of his characters. They gave him an instrumental-only version of the song and wouldn't let him hear or read the lyrics, as they wanted him to create something that fit the mood without being a literal retelling of the song.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around what I’m hearing and seeing.” Welcome to Radiohead 😂

I would strongly suggest looking into their song Fake plastic trees. It is often overlooked but it's a masterpiece of a composition and a great showcase of Thom's vocal range and ability.

„When I am King you will be first against the wall“ is such a powerful line, infantile and desperate yet revolutionary, and Thom Yorke delivering those lyrics is spot on.

This whole album is magic

I envy you so much listening to radiohead for the first time. I promise, going down this rabbit hole will not disappoint you.

You can't imagine what it feels like to sing at a concert with all the people and Thom the "rain down" part. One of the best musical experiences of my life.

“Nude” by Radiohead from the Live From the Basement series is a killer track that really puts Thom’s voice front and center. 🔥

Radiohead LIVE FROM THE BASEMENT series: weird fishes/arpeggi & where I end and you begin to start with to see just how good his vocal and their perfectionist instrumentation is.

I would suggest reacting to the entire OK Computer album as a whole rather than a few songs.

The rain down section live at Glastonbury as a deluge dropped from the sky was something else

The live performance on Jools Holland might've allowed you to examine the physicality of Thom Yorke's vocal performance.

Honestly, there’s a live performance of “Nude” where the vocal performance is just exceptional. He’s definitely one of the greatest vocalists to have ever lived, to say nothing of his composition skills!

There are a lot of amazing recommendations in the comments already but i have to add Radiohead - Nude (live from the basement) to the list. It is such an incredibly interesting performance with a heavy focus on the vocals and Thoms singing is truly angelic. His vocal riffs towards the end give me goosebumps every time.

I absolutely love Thom Yorke's voice. If you haven't heard "The Mess We're In" - his duo with PJ Harvey on the album Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea - it is INCREDIBLE.

One of my favourite radiohead vocals is, for my fellow oldies, from a show called MTVs most wanted and they covered 'Nobody does it better' by Carly Simon. It's ludicrous how much power and spite he puts in and totally changes the meaning of the song.

9:45 when he sings 'This' I am hearing him sing it level for two beats, vibrato on the third beat, the vibrato becoming level on the fourth beat, then doing all those steps again over beats 5,6,7,8 then opening into a wider slow vibrato to finish the word , Thats a lot of work for one sylable

This song was released in 1997. There wouldn't have been any pitch correction. I don't think they ever used it later either.

Jigsaw Falling Into Place is also pretty good too. Thanks!

I'm so impressed you mentioned the wavering note that we feel will lead to vibrato. You take it all in --- impressive on a major scale!

Bethany, I'm a new fan of yours. Love your facial expressions, your voice, your smile, and especially your love and sensitivity for the art of music. Would definitely love seeing you performing.

I love listening to people listen to this song.

"Paranoid Android", a masterpiece in three movements and the alternative music fan's answer to "Bohemian Rhapsody".

One of my favorite voices of all time. His voice can move my emotions all around regardless of the words he is saying. love this song so much.

“Nude” or “Reckoner” live from the basement would be a good analysis video for you. Thom’s vocals are more raw with it being a live performance.

I was really waiting for this video, Paranoid Android is my favorite song!! :3

It's always great to see people's first reaction to Paranoid Android. The song itself is brilliant, and the video is an experience. I still remember sitting on the couch, seeing it for the first time and being mesmerised.

Hello! Paranoid android it's an outstanding musical composition, but if you want to hear the insane range of Thom Yorke vocals you should listen to the "From the Basment - In Rainbows" version of "Nude". It's a live preformance in a studio environment. The hole performance it's an amazing oportunity to appreciate the insane potential of every member of Radiohead live, but in this particular piece: "Nude", the vocals are like coming from a intermittent celestial/obscure, hipnotic looking instrument XD, his movements, the progressions, the choices, the timing, the subtlety/finesse, the power, plus the power of the choices, it's like it's telling a story with his voice beside the words, being the main instrument of the piece (for me): his voice. Love to see you react to that song!

I found your channel randomly watching different music videos and have fallen in love with the attention you give to these. Highly highly suggest listening to And I Told Them I Invented Times New Roman by Dance Gavin Dance. Most of their songs have such contrast and his voice is amazing. Keep up the amazing reactions and analyzations. I love your channel so much.

You need to do "Exit Music (For a film)" next.

The Pyramid Song is a must.

Radiohead have so many great songs, and sounds. Been one of my favourite bands for the last 30 years.

Been to their Ok Computer tour in 1997. It was in summertime, the venue was sold to the last seat and I almost fainted. Went outside to get fresh air again. But the concert was one of my all-time favs. ❤

Weird fishes, Nude, Jigsaw falling into place

It’s mind blowing that this was actually a successful hit song on the radio

Hearing Thom live is like seeing a picture of a sunset as opposed to seeing a sunset in person. His voice sounds better live.

Great analysis. Thom Yorke performed Ingenue live on Jonathan Ross. It's not powerful but fully displays how much control he has.

I hear the influence of Jeff Buckley's album Grace in how he's wobbling on and off the pitch, and in some of the guitar sounds.

Thom Torke vocals on No Surprises is some of his best work. I love Radiohead and I really enjoy your vocal analysis.

I was lucky to see them on the OK Computer tour in Blackpool, England in the late nineties. He’s even better live. One song to maybe listen to is How To Disappear on the KID A album. Superb vocals. And thanks for what you do too 👍😄

Radiohead is huge rabbit hole. A few songs with great vocals: Nude, How To Disappear Completely, Pyramid Song, Sail To The Moon and Present Tense.

Oh this is too cool. Nice choice. Love your channel. My favorite vocal analysis channel by FAR.

My ongoing attempt to explain this song's meaning to people who don't recognize its pattern: It's about having an anxiety attack in a bar. It's escalating line by line with increasingly violent fantasies about how to kill the annoying yuppie businessmen Thom's forced to listen to. The music is too loud "What's that?" He doesn't really care what they have to say, and the anxiety evolves to panic. Eventually, he blows up, probably in his head, but maybe not. You don't even know my name?! Off with his head! (Queen of Hearts reference, because it's self-depreciating) Only to learn that the thing he was mad about was unwarranted "I guess he does..." Then he goes outside, where it's cooler, calmer, less loud, and he collects himself. Then "Rain Down" turns to the British parent threat to their children "From a great height" as he contemplates the consequences of his panic attack. So then the very funny bouncer comes out to tell him he's bounced. Is it real? Is it imagined consequences from an invented authority figure? Either way, inside, the piggies have been set alight, there's panic and vomit, yuppies are networking (the horror!) The whole song is very self-aware, and very humorous. He mocks the anxiety as worrying about "unborn chickens in my head" right from the start. By the end, he's left behind a wasteland of record company gucci little piggies. This is Thom being as funny as he can be.

Thom Yorke Is not pitch corrected, he Is just an alien

I think you would find their song The Tourist interesting vocally. It almost has a droning melody, but the harmonies and the belting in the chorus are so dynamic.

Thank ya dear ❤

Radiohead are a band that has something for everybody and a ton of VERY passionate fans, as I'm sure you could tell, which means that any time a channel like this one starts getting into them they are going to be absolutely *buried* with recommendations for what to listen and react to next, because each person has a different favorite song or specific performance. That said, I will toss another vote for the From the Basement version of Nude (I believe I even made a recommendation for it once on a different video a while back). I don't think there's any performance where he showcases his range and technical ability better, I can't think of a better song of theirs to suit this channel's focus. If you want to do any more Radiohead, you can't go wrong with that one. Separate from this channel's main thrust, just from a pure musical enjoyment standpoint, I do just recommend listening to the entire In Rainbows From The Basement performance, even just on your own time (this goes for everybody). What a treat of a performance.

Karma police is one of my favorites

Thom is a controversial figure, and for good reason, but that man is an unmatched genius. Please deep dive into everything in his catalogue 😅 (but mainly In Rainbows (BASEMENTBASEMENTBASEMENT), A Moon Shaped Pool, and Thom’s second solo album, Anima, please and thank you)

Thom Yorke - Bloom (Live from Electric Lady Studios) is well worth a listen. In Rainbows From the Basement is a great showcase of the whole band.

in my opinion one of if not the best albums of the 90s! was OK Computer! just pure genius!

I feel inspired by how you come across, you seem very salt of the earth :) There is something you seem to have (and i can't pin point it) but i wish i had more of. Love the videos! Greetings from The Netherlands.

Surprised there wasn’t more attention paid to the multipart harmonies in the bridge section…such beautiful lines layered in below the main three vocal parts

I can only recommend more Radiohead. They are a band that very much morphed their music through time, yet always managed to retain their own sound. And Thom Yorke is an amazing singer. There's some beautiful less chaotic songs like 'No Suprises' from OK Computer. Later albums become more a mix of electronic gadgets mixed with Prog Rock. Radiohead to me always coneys a sense of alienation and melancholy with the world which I personally I can very much relate too. Thom's Solo projects are also very much worth listening to. I pretty much like everything Radiohead, but personal Favourite songs are "How to Dissapear completely" "The Pyramid Song" "Hail to the Thief" and "Moonshaped Pool". though my favourite songs tend to change. I highly recommend diving into their discography even in your own time, cause there are so many gems of songs in there.

Yeah seeing him move during his vocals is something else.

I think tou did a good job of analysing this song. If you want to go deeper into Tom York's vocals i would suggest tou react to the song called "Nude" live at the basement. This performance will highlight all of his vocal techniques...

Love this reaction!! For vocals…there are soooo many amazing Radiohead songs out there. For live vocals, some of the best recordings are Live From The Basement. Their In Rainbows Album. Also, there is a 95 or 97 Tv Live recording of him singing their song “Street Spirit” where they perform a more acoustic version. This REALLY shows his lovely vocals as well. ❤❤

Live from the Basement is the way to introduce a vocal coach to Radiohead ❤

Vocals: 😌 Visuals: 😨

Recommend Reckoner, Nude or There There amongst many, many others.

Ok Computer is my pick for best 90's album as well as one of the greatest concept albums ever made. The Bends is a great album as well.

I’d love to see an analysis of “Nude” or my low key favorite from OK Computer “Let Down”.

pls do as many radiohead songs as possible, I love thoms vocal range and what love to hear what you have to say ✌🏼

When listening to an extremely talented band like Radiohead, I always opt for the live performances. Great bands always sound better live than canned. Thom Yorke makes music that is better than his natural voice ability. He is an intelligent musician who uses his imperfect voice perfectly. It is like watching an old blues guitarist who can rip on the ax choose to solo on a harmonica or a studio drummer rock a bucket on a curb. By contrast, singers like Vedder and Cornell who have so much natural vocal ability it oozes out of them do not have to be as intentional. Radiohead reminds me every time I listen that it is the broken parts of us that make us special.

love the last 'what's that' in the second verse before the change. So emotional.

I fast forwarded quickly just to see you reaction to the Rain Down section ^_^

Part III 😮 Really digging the Bass work on this especially just before "the drop"!! Bass and guitar going together NICE!! ♾️

This song does a terrific job of showcasing both the band's song craft and Thom Yorke's singing versatility. The album is one of my favorites and was very prescient for its time (1997) focusing on how our more-connected future and the impersonal nature of technology can contribute to an individual's feeling of isolation.

Haha, the look on your face towards the end of that music video was something else :D as always, another great reaction from you.

Interesting note about learning the placement of the notes - when I'm rehearsing for a stageplay I slowly pronounce every word but exaggerating the consonants because that's where we tend to be lax in our tongue placement and skim over certain sounds like 'k' and 't' so by the time I've done it a few times painfully slowly inunciating the first and last consonant of each word, by the time I do it at normal speed it's effortless.

I'm a massive Radiohead fan and have been since the mid 90's. They're 2nd only to Pink Floyd as my all-time favorite band, but i think it's a huge mistake watching and focusing on this vid, it really doesn't mean anything. You should watch the Jools Holland show live performance of it and focus on the song, music, lyrics, and Thom's voice. OK Computer is hands down a Top 5 album of all time, and i would even slip The Bends into the Top 10 too, both albums are sooo solid, and barely a weak song in either. It's actually kinda funny that they're most recognized song, "Creep," isn't even on either of those albums. I personally feel like Paranoid Android is the modern-day Bohemian Rhapsody, a modern-day masterpiece of music with change-ups that just murder my soul. Radiohead is just a must to listen to, and once you're hooked... you're hooked forever.

It just gets better and better with Radiohead. ""Kid A" is a brilliant follow up... and their last album, "A MOON-SHAPED POOL" is a masterpiece.

My personal favorite Radiohead song it just takees you into the mind of a disturbed man. Starts paranoid, goes into manic rage and crushing depression. Thom has such a resonant and expressive voice. The Coda (Rain Down on me section) is hauntingly beautiful in the vein of Elenor Rigby

Thom has complete and utter control of his voice, he is magnificent in his craft

Live is phenomenal.

Paranoid Android impact in your brain: intrigue, fear, confussion, more confusion...relief, peace, love, anger, surprise. All of that in only one song. That is why we love Radiohead.

best vocal performance by thom yorke/radiohead is the song "nude" from the album "in rainbows". there's a perfect live version "from the basement". if you wanna do more radiohead reactions (- they always bring in the numbers ;)).

You really need to listen to thom yorke singing "Nude" from the "In the Basement" sessions. Best vocals from a live performance from Thom. Very emotional connection due to his vocal performance

Nice reaction, thanks. If you want to hear a fifty second held note try Festival by Sigur Ros, I've heard it live twice and it gave me chills!!

It's amusing you pointing out how good his diction is right before saying "the what's this part". Thought that's what he was saying for years. Turns out he's saying "what's that".

That part when you said that it doesn't really sound like he is singing. That is where Thom is doing his Johnny Rotten (from Sex Pistols) or channeling Johnny Rotten if you will. He does it alot now and then. You can really hear it in Bodysnatcher on In Rainbows.

ELBOW! ELBOW!! ELBOW!!! The song “Magnificent” I am absolutely taken by you and your critiques of all these singers. Your honesty and willingness to listen without judgment is refreshing in this era of malice and criticalness for its own sake is awesome. Thanks for your channel. Last appeal…..The band ELBOW is amazing and his voice is beautiful

youtube in the basement. ive seen em live several times. live really showcases the talent

The whole five pieces of the Messiah Complex by Haken... music is awesome and Ross Jennings is a virtue of a voicw

Thom Yorke is an amazing singer, his falsetto would take you to another dimension

I've seen them live many times from this era and forward, the mans voice is nowhere near captured in a studio, as live is so much more depth and interesting value in what he does. He almost goes into a trance and what comes out of him is just not human.

I think idiotique off kid a would be a good follow up from this records companion album. Or off this record my personal favorite vocal track is climbing the walls. Its incredible.

So sorry but I couldn't disagree more. Seeing them perform this live on the Jools Holland is so incredible (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NzPtr_n-m8A.html) . If anything, the animation is distracting.

The song was inspired by a night at the bar with him being very annoyed and irritated by just about everything if that helps at all... Well with the bar scene.

Literally top 5 bands of all time, objectively they just are.

It's a pretty bold statement, and shocks some people. Yet, it's pretty true. Radiohead is the greatest group of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. They have no bad songs, and their performances are immaculate. When people try to disagree, I just point them to Radiohead's song, Weird Fishes Arpeggi. After that, people tend to agree, or at the very least agree that Radiohead stands far above their peers.

8:30 the emotion of the threat gets the better of him

My favorite Radiohead song ever ❤

I've listened to the whole album hundreds of time over the years, my favourite vocals are in 'Exit Music' and 'The Tourist'. In Exit Music, you can even hear his lips make contact in the early stage.

I suppose you can sum the experience of listening to that song for the first time alongside watching the video down to 10 seconds of silence and then: "wtf?"

Would love to hear your thoughts on Sinead O'Conner's Troy. She had such a unique and emotive voice, and I love that song in particular.

Thoroughly enjoyed your analysis, but even more those facial expressions. Also, your hair looks so amazing with the natural greys. I apologize if it's not grey 😅

One of the greatest songs ever put to the world ❤❤

Their song Videotape should be a good one to listen to as well

thom Yorke is a musical genius, and like most geniuses he is also obsessed. nothing is by mistake, everything is deliberate. this is why it often took them 24 months to record and mix albums