Morning Bell

Infobox Song
Name = Morning Bell
Artist = Radiohead
Album = Kid A
Released = 2 October 2000
track_no = 9
Recorded = January 1999–April 2000
Genre = Electronic
Experimental rock
Length = 4:29
Writer =
Composer =
Label = Parlophone
Capitol
Producer = Nigel Godrich and Radiohead
Tracks =
# "Everything in Its Right Place"
# "Kid A"
# "The National Anthem"
# "How to Disappear Completely"
# "Treefingers"
# "Optimistic"
# "In Limbo"
# "Idioteque"
# "Morning Bell"
# "Motion Picture Soundtrack"Song infobox
Name = Morning Bell/Amnesiac
Artist = Radiohead
Album = Amnesiac
Released = June 4, 2001
track_no = 7
Recorded = January 1999 - late 2000
Genre = Art rock
Length = 3:14
Label = Parlophone
Producer = Nigel Godrich and Radiohead
Tracks =
# Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box
# Pyramid Song
# Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors
# You and Whose Army?
# I Might Be Wrong
# Knives Out
# Morning Bell/Amnesiac
# Dollars and Cents
# Hunting Bears
# Like Spinning Plates
# Life in a Glasshouse

"Morning Bell" is the ninth track on the Radiohead album "Kid A" (2000). Another version of this song is also found as the seventh track on "Amnesiac" (2001), and is titled as "Morning Bell/Amnesiac". The Kid A version is linked to the previous song ("Idioteque") on the album by a transition. The sampled electronic sounds of "Idioteque" continue as they are absorbed into the beat of "Morning Bell." A live version appears on "".

Two versions

According to Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, the song went through many stages, and the "Amnesiac" version was actually the first to be written, before being "lost" and then suddenly remembered again, leading to the other version. Both versions were committed to tape during the same period of recording sessions in 1999–2000 (along with the rest of the material on both albums). However, the "Kid A" version was released first and is better known.Fact|date=April 2007 The "Kid A" version is usually the one that gets played live as evidenced by the live version in "". Driven by electric piano chords played on a Rhodes, "Morning Bell" as it appears on "Kid A" is in a 10/8 time signature, with beats 9 and 10 played by snare drum fills.

In contrast, the "Amnesiac" version (officially identified as "Morning Bell/Amnesiac") is based in common time, features desolate acoustic orchestration (including organ) and no audible percussion except a tambourine. This version is also one minute and fifteen seconds shorter and lacks the climactic ending, however, the rest of the lyrics are unchanged.

The song

Thom Yorke, who wrote the song, said in an interview that the lyrics were 'extremely violent' [http://www.greenplastic.com/lyrics/morningbell.php Green Plastic.com] . The song contains lines like 'cut the kids in half', in contrast to its quiet yet hypnotic melody. Benefiting from the Dada method of cut-up poetry, "Morning Bell" has been taken as a typical example of Radiohead's cryptic style on "Kid A", privileging atmosphere and sound over literal sense. [ [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,1512708,00.html Riddle of the bands | | guardian.co.uk Arts ] ]

"Cut the kids in half" references verse 3:25 of book 1 Kings in the Bible, in which two women are fighting over custody of a baby and the wise King Solomon is asked to adjudicate. He proposes a fair solution: that the child be cut in two and one half be given to each woman. Shocked by the cold logic of such a proposal, the real mother attempts to save her baby's life by saying she would rather have the baby be alive with the other woman than be cut in half. King Solomon sees that she is the real mother and gives her her baby.

The band has described "Kid A" and "Amnesiac" as two very distinct albums, although products of the same recording sessions, with "Morning Bell" providing an intentional link. When asked about the relationship, if any, between "Kid A" and "Amnesiac", bassist Colin Greenwood described the albums themselves as "twins, separated at birth." [ [http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/R/Radiohead/2004/12/07/770067.html CANOE - JAM! Music - Artists - Radiohead: Radiohead recalls recording 'Amnesiac' ] ]

References