2 + 2 = 5 (song)

Infobox Single
Name = 2 + 2 = 5


Artist = Radiohead
Album = Hail to the Thief
Released = 17 November 2003
Format = CD, DVD
Recorded =
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 3:21
Label = Parlophone
Writer =
Producer = Nigel Godrich, Radiohead
Certification =
Last single = "Go to Sleep"
(2003)
This single = "2 + 2 = 5"
(2003)
Next single = "Jigsaw Falling into Place"
(2008)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Hail to the Thief
Type = studio
this_track = "2 + 2 = 5" ^{(The Lukewarm.)}
track_no = 1
next_track = "Sit Down. Stand Up." ^{(Snakes & Ladders)}
next_no = 2

"2 + 2 = 5 (The Lukewarm.)" is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead, released as the third and last single from their sixth album "Hail to the Thief" in 2003. The song reached number 15 on the UK singles chart.cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com|title=UK Top 40 Chart Archive|accessdate=2006-10-02]

Themes

The song's title recalls the symbol of unreality from George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four". [http://www.greenplastic.com/lyrics/225.php Greenplastic.com Song Information] ] In the book, inhabitants of an authoritarian future state are made to engage in doublethink, replacing their own conscience and beliefs with those imposed from above. At the end of the novel, the protagonist's individuality is demolished, as he avows that two and two are, in fact, five. With lyrics like "All hail to the thief, but I'm not" and "Don't question my authority" there have been repeated suggestions from many musical critics that the song is based on the controversial election of George W. Bush in 2000. The band have strenuously denied this, saying in one interview, "It would be too easy for us to insult George Bush". [http://www.greenplastic.com/lyrics/225.php radiohead lyrics & tabs] ]

"Hail to the Thief" lists subtitles, or alternative titles, for each of its songs. The alternative title for "2 + 2 = 5", whose lyrics also include the album's title, is "The Lukewarm". Singer Thom Yorke has mentioned it as a reference to the works of Dante. [cite news | title=Thom Yorke on ‘Hail To The Thief’ | url=http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=6459 | publisher=XFM online | accessdate=2006-10-29]

The song has a change in the time signature from 7/8 to 4/4 at 1:54 in the song. The last theme of the song "I try to sing along" has a guitar driven interlude that begins at 2:25 (2+2=5).

At the beginning of the song, the listener hears guitarist Jonny Greenwood plugging his guitar in, and lead vocalist Thom Yorke is heard saying "That's a nice way to start, Jonny...".

Track listings

;Promotional single;CD CDRDJ6623
#"2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21;12" 12RDJWL6623
#"Sktterbrain" (Four Tet remix)
#"Remyxomatosis" (Christian Vogel RMX);Single;CD one CDR6623
#"2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
#"Remyxomatosis" (Christian Vogel RMX) - 5:07
#"There There" (first demo) - 7:43;CD two CDRS6623
#"2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
#"Skttrbrain" (Four Tet remix) - 4:26
#"I Will" (Los Angeles version) - 2:14;DVD DVDR6623
#"2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
#"Sit Down Stand Up" (Ed Holdsworth's video)
#"The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time" (excerpt)

References

External links

* [http://www.ateaseweb.com/discography/2%2B2=5/index.php AtEaseWeb.com page]