RADIOHEAD musical analysis // Subterranean Homesick Alien 

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I love these Radiohead breakdowns so much.

Excellent. The guitar doubling the vocals and descending into ".....lost it completely" always gives me chills. Incredible. The guitar tone is gorgeous. This is a terrific example of WHY we need to teach music in schools. Even if it's just once a week - appreciation comes through understanding.

ixi, your analyses are always a delightful emotional ride. Your passion is contagious, and your combination of deep musical knowledge and use of metaphor makes your videos some of my favorite on RU-vid. Thank you for doing what you do! I love it. And clearly I'm not the only one.

the first time I listened to this album, (on CD) I stopped and looped this song, for more than a day, before finally finishing the rest of the album. This song has been a dear, dear, dear friend to me for a quarter century and you just had me fall in love with it all over again. thank you. Music is magic, your video is alchemy, thank you.

I swear that Radiohead have been given compositional cheat codes. This track is just blissful. Great work unpacking and describing it, as usual Ixi.

One of the 5 best songs ever written, and I can’t think of the other 4 at the moment…

I have a favor to ask: can you share this video with 2 or 3 friends that like Radiohead and love music? It would help me out so much. Thank you!

this is so fun to listen to as a hardcore radiohead fan

One of my favorite Radiohead songs. Dreamy, soothing and beautiful.

So we're all in agreement that this is the greatest song ever written, right?

I've been waiting for this video for over 25 years. This song has enchanted and bewildered me since the first time I heard it. Fantastic breakdown.

"You couldn't end a song like that... Well, you actually can, if you're Trent Reznor!" 😂 I had to laugh so hard, because I had the same thought, the second before you said it! I love what he's doing harmonically... Going where noone has gone before...

You made love both Radiohead and this song even more somehow. Thank you.

Just amazing ❤, this is one of my favourite songs from OK Computer, the drums on the track are also amazing. It's very underrated in my opinion.

After OK Computer had been out for a while, Finnish musician Jonna Tervomaa (I think it was her, that was many years ago) was interviewed about her favourite song of the moment (or was it her desert island song?). She said in the short radio interview that it's "Subterranean Homesick Alien". And in the end the song brings peace into her mind.

It's like you reading right into my mind with these videos. That Radiohead title always felt like a subtle masterpiece to me. My personal fav from that unreal album. No major apex or shiny trick ; just that warm, strange but familiar gentle atmosphere. So beautiful. So beautiful and simple. Thanks for the series.

Thank you for reminding me of my love of Radiohead. Great video.

How have I missed your videos until recently?? I've been playing music since 3rd grade (started on trumpet). Became a "musician" ~17 yrs old or so on keys and guitar. Now at 50 I have a ridiculous arsenal of synths, guitars, drums, drum machines, samplers, effects, etc. All my life I've tended to just kind of *stumble into* the haunting and/or emotive melodies I'm going after -- but never really known *why* certain chords are giving "that certain feels". Your breakdowns are better than anyone else I've seen on RU-vid (composer, musician, producer, or otherwise). It also helps that we have VERY similar tastes in music... (almost complete overlap from what I've seen so far!!) I stop/pause your videos probably 50 times each so I can follow along on my Nord-Wave2 or Hydrasynth. For the past couple years, I HAD been improving at a steady linear pace, albeit slow... Now I feel like I'm learning (music theory, at least) at an almost exponential rate. I feel like Neo in the Matrix being trained on martial arts: "Hell yes! Give me another!!!" I wish I had this knowledge back when I was good-looking 20 year goth-punk old in my industrial/electronic band in the early/mid 90s. Still, it's never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. -Cheers!!

Bitches Brew was a profound influence on this album, I think, but I remember that Thom in an interview described his first impression of that album as “nauseating chaos”! One of the things I’ve enjoyed about listening to Radiohead is discovering their influences.

I've always considered How to Disappear Completely their most beautiful song, but now I'm not so sure.

greatest band in universe and/or human simulator

Intergalactic blues

thank you for this! this song has been one of those *particular stand-out* tracks for me ever since OKC was first released. I was one year out of Liberty Hill HS then and if and when I ever return to that place I will be sure to watch my feet for cracks in the pavement.

Thank you for deep diving into this song! It's always been really special to me and one of my favourites off the album and really doesn't get the attention and respect it deserves.

awesome video! you're drumming sounds really good as well! I love watching these song analytic videos to songs I've listened to for years. I know all these songs by heart but I also tend to listen to some parts over others, so I end up missing out on hearing some subtle pieces. In this case it was Colin's bass lines and Thom's melodic walk-down on the Rhodes during the chorus, so now I have something new to take from listening to it!

The first song that clicked for me when I got OK Computer at 12 years old.

I thoroughly enjoy all these breakdown videos. I can't imagine the time and effort that goes into making each one. Thank you!!

IXI YOU ARE THE BEST. Already knew that of course but as a drummer and a big fan of not only NIN, APC, RH and DT, but also BIG fan of those specific drummers (Freese, Cunningham, Selway) AAAND watching you react to their specific styles and arrangements.. AAAAAAND finally watching you play the drums, made me want to shout this out loud. YOU ARE THE F BEST 🖤

Wow, that was great! Love your mind! Love how you can dive into yourself, see and give voice to the pushings and pullings, tightenings and relaxings - the unspoken evocations embodied in the musical narrative. The close relationship between music and emotion is extraordinary, and tells us something about the nature of emotion, strong or subtle. The same kind of analysis - observing mood transitions, being respectful to space and reaction time etc can be applied to movies... anyway, thank you!

This is one of those songs that take me to space when I close my eyes. I love it! I write songs and I am always looking for new harmonic, melodic or rhythmic tools/tricks to implement in my music Thank you so much for popping the hood on theese brilliant songs and letting us know what makes them so special. I have really come to appreciate this channel. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go add some 9ths to my Chords...

These are the best of this kind I've found, while also being so pleasant and filled with assured wit. On top of that your vocal recapitulations of either note singing or lyric singing float in a space that calls to mind a Nicolette Larson harmony with the original. So glad but so sad to have found you at last but so late.

Love your taste in music and your song breakdowns are amazing! Subscribed. ❤

I hate music breakdown videos. Yet somehow, this is the fourth or fifth of yours I've watched. You seem to notice little bits of everything, and you're not dismissive, like "and all he did here was... pretty basic, really," and you don't come out too strong on the other end of the "I'm not worthy to play these notes" spectrum either. I like the way you do it. I'll keep watching, I think.

When you played the descending phrase and mentioned 60’s psychedelia then bursting sunshine I was repeating at the screen ‘Here comes the sun’ “it’s all right” guitar riff and ‘Lucy in the sky’ with the speaking voice cadence in the verse

this is amazing.

I always knew this was my favourite Radiohead song! Now I know why! Thanks so much ixi, your insight into the music theory behind these beautiful songs is a joy to behold, please don’t stop xx

Hi, I love your video's. Together with Beato you are my fav music analyst 😀

Scholarly and sensual, the cream of the crop for music analysis x

As a Brit of the alt scene in the 90's I was always advocating RH over Blur and Oasis (I wasn't actually, I didn't talk to anyone obvs...) But your NIN vids are INCREDIBLE and this is just as amazing!

I love the “Mum, I’m alright” line. So beautiful

I always interpretated the intro as if it's on G major starting from the minor v chord. It's starts with the v (d minor), then it goes to the bII(the Neapolitan 6th chord, the A flat Major), then it goes to V (D major) and finally resolved on I (G) So the chord progressio from the intro would be v - bII (N6) - V - I

Picture yourself in a boat on a river...

You're fantastic ❤. Some of the best analysis videos I've seen.

16:00 LUCY IN THE SKY WIHT DIAMONDS

Thanks for going into so much detail, it is always so interesting to see how some of my favourite songs are created :) Also nice Trent Reznor nod :D

Thank you. I’ve always loved this song and now have a much better grasp of its virtuosity. You helped me enjoying it even more. THANKS!

This is one of my favorite songs of all time, by any band. I never took the time to learn it, so I appreciate what you do and your musical taste.

....And as the dreamlike story drifts off in your mind, you wake... from your sleep...

Good lord. What an incredibly thorough analysis. Amazing!

I was beginning to think I was the only one in the world who really cares about this stuff. It’s so great to see a bunch of you all loving it too 😊

Love it love it love . thank you

Thanks!

You're an excellent teacher. I play guitar and this is helping me understand the context of a sound and I've been thinking of learning piano. So your also inspiring me there too.

Thank you so much for these breakdowns from OK Computer. Every one is so informative, funny and touching. Please keep doing what you're doing!

Hi, I don’t have a musical bone in my body. But I do enjoy music and this song. I stumbled on this channel and really enjoyed your breakdown. Beautiful! Thank you

I so Enjoy your breakdowns, I can't even explain! thank you X

Let's just enjoy this song together. Done. GOAT.

Absolutely beautyful analissis… congrats !

I also love to play this songs drums (or attempt in my case). Now you've inspired me to learn the keys part. I'm a beginner learning on a synth, and your videos have helped me learn, in a practical way, a lot of music theory which I've largely neglected as a drummer (lol 😃). Thanks so much for what you do. 🫂

Lovely analysis Ixi! You mentioned the title's homage to Dylan but I have always thought this song is as much a homage to "Observatory Crest" by Captain Beefheart..

This song was a collaborative masterpiece

God this was so good. Thank you so much for all the work you put in. I loved every second of it!

great and SUPER complete breakdown of the song!! :) The guitar work on this song is so tasteful and beautiful. I love that one shimmering guitar on the chorus, playing the high G chord, drenched in reverb and panning from left to right. it feels like a spinning pulsar beaming a ray of light from outer space right into your head. also, have you noticed the similarietes between this song and Nick Drake's "Parasite"? harmonically and melodically very close! love both songs, it could have possibly been subconcious inspiration and i wouldn't be surprised. It could also be the reason why the melody on Subterranean has such a "folky" delivery/feel!

Love your visual interpretations of the chords.

You are amazing! Thanks for uploading.

Fantastic analysis and great musicality and damn Ixi, I really like your singing voice.

The Miles Davis tune 'Bitches Brew' was a huge influence on this song's sub-aqua atmosphere, as confirmed by Ed O'Brien!

Love the way you do these song breakdowns 🎉🎉🎉🎉

These are always so good! Please just do the whole album next😂🙏🙏

New Sub. Nice channel 👍🏽

Instant sub!

i would recommend listening to all of the albums pink floyd did before "dark side of the moon" as you will hear where radiohead got a lot of their ideas from. even in "dark side" as many compare "ok computer" to "dark side" in terms of its musicianship and lyrical content.

You play drums too? Damn. So much talent. 🔥

At 16 minutes 30 seconds there are definite hints of Lucy in the sky’s by the Beatles

this is one of my fav music ever

One of my favorite Radiohead songs. Thank you! This was awesome

great analysis! love your channel

Guitar Keanu seems like a decent guy.

Your channel is ace! Thank you

Could you do a video explaining chords and their connection to emotion please for my songwriting knowledge? like the minor 4th (nostalgia chord). It would be nice for me to know how to control emotion by choosing the right type of chord at the right time

I love how the video duration is 44:44. 😍

What work What a video Just amazing

Love you, such a finest musician

once you started playing just the chorus chords by themself I started hearing all the other songs that are the same three chords: the verve - lucky man; morgan delt - some sunsick day (also in 6/8); primal scream - loaded; lorde - solar power. i'm sure there are hundreds of others

Thabk you so much for all this! So appreciative and educational

What is it with the British? They're geniuses!

Super analysis, thanks :)

your breakdown of this song reminded me of one of the greatest prog bands ever, called pain of salvation, for some reason. check it out sometime if you never heard of them, they are up there with tool in terms of deep and meaningful compositions.

This was 💯 awesome!

enjoyed that! thanks!

The verse chord progression is the same as parasite by nick drake not just same descending tone but pretty much the same voicing of it. I wonder if that influenced them. This song always reminded me of the nick drake one

I remember being 15 and listening to this song for the first time, omg, that felt like being in space :3

A bit of a stretch but the Dm to D reminds me of "The Silver Ball" by Harold Budd & Brian Eno which also has that underwater floaty vibe. Though its much more direct in the Budd/Eno song. Certainly wouldn't be the first song of theirs to inspire Radiohead ("Not Yet Remembered").

I cannot wait for Karma Police

I think I'm in love

So great. I love it😊

Wowww 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

It took a few plays to get into it (like most great songs), but once it took root, I have loved it since. It seems like such an unlikely song to arrive at. And really, when is Colin not the hero?

i have no idea why but ive always thought that minor 4s in mixolydian modes go so hard i have no idea why