The whole OK Computer album is like a journey that starts with the first song and ends with this masterpiece… Such a powerful lyrics and music is amazing.
My interpretation of this song ithat in contemporary society we have a tendency to become so goal-oriented, so future-seeking that we never take a moment to pause and enjoy where we are now. The protagonist is so concerned with where they are going, they're shooting sparks as they blaze through life. Thom suggests that when you live this way, you're really going nowhere. Thus, the advice given: "Hey man, slow down. Idiot, slow down."
I love radiohead, they are my favorite band, but I think that they are a tad over rated. I think this song, is just a very good B side, from a great band, not the greatest song of all time lol.
Faust Arp well yea, but hey, Pablo Honey has some decent ones: Creep, Blow out, You, ACPG (specially because the pool party video is super memeable) Btw love your name
@@conallhomer6962 I didn't know that. I thought Airbag was the only song about that. This is apparently about a moment when Jonny saw some people speeding through the streets of France recklessly. But I've always taken it to be, in the grander scheme, about how we speed through life recklessly without taking a moment to breathe. Hence, the albums overarching obsession with technology. Hey man, slow down.
Ok Computer changed my life... I changed my taste in music because of this album. I discovered them in 97 and as I listened to the album I got hooked and went out and bought EVERYTHING they ever recorded. As it stands I have nearly 250 radiohead songs on my itunes spanning every album with nearly ever B-side as well as thier manic hedgehog demo when they were still On A Friday.
Hey man, I know I'm answering this comment 11 years later but yeah OK Computer also changed my life, a little bit latter than yours but I discovered them as well through this album and it led to me discovering another world of music, today is not my favorite but goddammit if it's not a perfect album.
to be fair ive only truly discovered Radiohead when Ok Computer was the topic for an English Essay a few months ago, havent gotten the chance to thank my teacher but im eternally grateful
I woudn't have found radiohead without Beach House. Before Beach House I'm ashamed to say thay Radiohead was the band that sang creep for me. Now I switch between In rainbows and Ok Computer, and I'm taking my time going trough their whole discography before listening to their side project "The Smile".
I'd considered myself ne of their biggest fans until my next door neighbor in college showed me their B-sides. I had no idea bands could make songs that good. I was pretty obsessed with them in my 20's.
The raw emotion Thom exhibits whilst singing ANY song is amazing, but this performance is exceptional. He almost cannot finish...and the tears at the end are genuine. Oh, Thom, if the average person could FEEL like you do, this world wouldn't be in the sad state it's in. I just want to wrap my arms around you and console you..... And Jonny's guitar? Perfect... Ed's vocals? Gorgeous.... Colin and Phil? Irreplaceable. THE.BEST.BAND.EVER, and did you notice their live performances are always absolutely spot on?! ALWAYS. WHY doesn't this have more likes?? *SIGH*
Ronaldo T THANK YOU for your lovely comment! If you are on Facebook, please join the group called "The Music and Art of Radiohead." We would LOVE to have you!
Sublime. It takes a REAL man to cry... To be so self-assured he can expose this level of vulnerability to an audience of MILLIONS. I have the utmost respect for Thom.
Wow, it actually looks as though jonny hasn't changed a bit since then. I've watched a hell of a lot of these videos and been in the front row for two radiohead gigs and I have never seen Jonny greenwood's face. Just the hair
The Tourist is actually the first track on the album chronologically. The chime at the end denotes the airbag exploding as the driver didn't "Slow Down" and crashed and the album begins. The album is a loop
Are you absolutely certain about this? Presumably the person survived the car crash in 'Airbag' and then what, the whole rest of the album continues from there, through the eyes of this one person mostly? In this case the album essentially closes with 'Lucky' and the line "We are standing on the edge," which for me would be an OK (Computer) way to end. The whole album is about paranoia and dread in a dangerous new technological world, but Lucky is actually a euphoric and uplifting way to close things chronologically, albeit with an ominous twist. An interesting concept and I like this idea but can you be certain about it? Where is your source of information?
@Joseph Inzinga So you disagree with everyone saying that The Tourist should be first? It certainly feels in the right place as a closer and not to start the album. It rounds things off nicely for me.
I see this theory all the time but it's just not true. Okay... when he sings 'idiot, slow down, slow down' you must think he's talking about someone driving? I don't think he's talking about driving/cars at all. Just see what thom says here: “[‘The Tourist’] came from being in a beautiful square in France on a sunny day, and watching all these American tourists being wheeled around,” frontman Thom Yorke told Select, “frantically trying to see everything in 10 minutes. You know: ‘We’ve got to be in Paris tomorrow morning!’” It's about telling people to slow down in life, to appreciate the things around you. Thom isn't advising people to stick to the speed limit. Also interesting fact: this song was mostly written by jonny with thom adding the lyrics
Thom, are you really crying??? Finally! He routinely sings with such passion and intensity that I've often wondered how gets through a set without a single tear because I know that I could not. Well, now I feel validated.
I think that's because this song is about how tough touring massively can be. And you just it to slow down a little bit. I guess he was going through that very feeling, they all were.
It barks at no one else but me Like it's seen a ghost I guess it seen the sparks a-flowing No one else would know Hey man slow down, slow down Idiot, slow down, slow down Sometimes I get overcharged That's when you see sparks You ask me where the hell I'm going At a thousand feet per second Hey man slow down, slow down Idiot slow down, slow down Hey man slow down, slow down Idiot slow down, slow down
Probably for two reasons. First, this had been at the end of Radiohead's longest tour to date. If you've seen 'Meeting People Is Easy', you would see how emotionally drained they were, especially Thom. It was probably a relief more than anything (this I believe was the last date of their tour and they always ended with 'The Tourist'). Secondly, they probably had a blast doing it and thought that they wouldn't embark on that for a long time. Totally agree, Thom had me bawling too.
It barks at no-one else but me, like it's seen a ghost. I guess it's seen the sparks a-flowin, no-one else would know. Hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down. Sometimes I get overcharged, that's when you see sparks. They ask me where the hell I'm going? At a 1000 feet per second, hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down. Hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down.
the big descending chord change at the start is one of the greatest things in music like the four note guitar bit in 'shine on you crazy diamond' by pink floyd
I once read that the single one triangle hit at the very end of this song represents the protagonist crashing their car, and that if you loop this album, the driver would be saved by an airbag afterwards.
this is genuinely one of the best songs ever made.. how do people think this is a low point on the album??? this is the most beautiful ending to any album i've ever listened to
Their music soothes your soul in this ever changing (for the worse) world. Thank God for Radiohead and in particular Thom Yorke. Voice of an angel. Please don't ever stop writing and singing music 🎶 My life is depending on it.......literally!!
hi all - if anyone really wants to see other songs from this gig (It is OKC, in sequence), please drop me a note. I may not do it instantly, but I'll do my best to find the time.
Take this for what you will but thom has gone on record saying he was crying because there was hairgel in his eye. Sorry if i burst anybody's bubble but you can choose not to believe it, I know these guys don't exactly have the cleanest record when it comes to being honest in interviews, especially during and up until the OKC era.
the only time ive seen jonnys solo make thom cry. this is so incredible you have to listen a few times to hear how they are playing off each other, this is one of the ultimate live performances from radiohead i have ever seen on the internet
All respect to Jonny (aka JG), but, context is crucial. He was fucking lucky enough, that he found himself in a band with Thom Yorke at a very early age, a vocalist who had an IMMENSELY strong voice at a very young age, a very gifted young vocalist. On the strength of that, he was able to devote his time to music, and developing his own gifts/talents. Not taking ANYTHING away, Radiohead is my 2nd next to Floyd.. but just a comment, on realities of life, and those who can't develop their talents.
This song is so good. This band has so many hits it's easy to lose track of the abundance of great music they were creating at this time. There's a track called "Palo Alto" which I think was an outtake from this album, which is also a really, really great song. People really love this album as a whole, but no on really talks about this particular track, which is a mystery to me. Anyway, glad we're all here, enjoying this song. Hope everyone is safe from the coronavirus.
He’s probably crying because he is overwhelmed by all the touring he has to do His mental health was awful at this point in his life and it is really sad to see I’ve watched a few concerts from this era, and he just looks totally out of it, like he’d rather be anywhere else
THIS SONG AND THIS PERFORMANCE ARE MASTERPIECES!!! I need bigger letters! OK Computer is an extraordinary album, this song deserves to be the closer of the spectacular album!!!
It Barks At No One Else But Me Like It's Seen A Ghost I Guess It's Seen The Sparks A-Flowing No One Else Would Know Hey Man,Slow Down,Slow Down Idiot,Slow Down,Slow Down Sometimes I Get Overcharged That's When You See Sparks They Ask Me Where The Hell I'm Going At A Thousand Feet Per Second Hey Man,Slow Down,Slow Down Idiot,Slow Down,Slow Down Hey Man,Slow Down,Slow Down Idiot,Slow Down,Slow Down
This song and ok computer are special to me I first heard this album during a rough time in life when I was lost it helped me get through some tough times when I listen I go back and remember
This is one of the songs that you hear randomly and just stop there, it doesn't matter where you are what are you doing you just stop there wordlessly and think and cry and shout.
Totally forgot that song until they played it on the radio. I searched and here I come. That's what we can call an epic masterpiece. Think about what could happen if Jeff Buckley was still alive to featured in this live...
Lyrics: It barks at no one else But me Like it's seen A ghost I guess it's seen the sparks A-flowin' No one else Would know Hey man, slow down Slow down Idiot, slow down Slow down Sometimes I get overcharged That's when you See sparks They ask me where the hell I'm going? At a thousand feet per second Hey man, slow down Slow down Idiot, slow down Slow down Hey man, slow down Slow down Idiot, slow down Slow down
