Karma Police

Infobox Single
Name = Karma Police


Artist = Radiohead
from Album = OK Computer
Released = 25 August 1997 17 February 1998 (United States)
Format = CD, 7", 12"
Recorded =
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 4:21
Label = Parlophone
Writer =
Producer = Nigel Godrich
Certification =
Last single = "Paranoid Android"
(1997)
This single = "Karma Police"
(1997)
Next single = "No Surprises"
(1998)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = OK Computer
Type = studio
Tracks =
# "Airbag"
# "Paranoid Android"
# "Subterranean Homesick Alien"
# "Exit Music (For a Film)"
# "Let Down"
# "Karma Police"
# "Fitter Happier"
# "Electioneering"
# "Climbing Up the Walls"
# "No Surprises"
# "Lucky"
# "The Tourist"

"Karma Police" is the second single from Radiohead's 1997 album "OK Computer". It is Radiohead's most successful song worldwide, apart from "Creep." The song is perhaps best recognized for its piano riff, which is similar to The Beatles' "Sexy Sadie", and for its dark bass line. While the first single from "OK Computer", the six-and-a-half-minute "Paranoid Android", received MTV promotion but was hardly played on radio in the US, "Karma Police" became an alternative radio anthem; it was successful on US Modern Rock radio, hitting #14 on the chart. In the UK, however, the single peaked at #8.

History

"Karma Police", like several other songs that would make up "OK Computer", was debuted live in 1996, when the band briefly supported Alanis Morissette on an American tour. A live version of "Karma Police", performed with a Rhodes piano on "The Late Show with David Letterman", is captured in the Radiohead documentary "Meeting People Is Easy". Today the song is usually an audience singalong when performed at live concerts, often as an encore. As of 2006, it continues to be played by the band somewhat regularly, though not at each show. While recording "OK Computer", Radiohead listened to late Beatles albums, among other music, such as Miles Davis, DJ Shadow and Ennio Morricone, for inspiration.

Radiohead members used to tell one another that they would call "the karmapolice" on them if they did something wrong. The joke was incorporated as the title of the song. [ [http://www.greenplastic.com/coldstorage/articles/melodymaker053197.html melodymaker053197] ] Thom Yorke explained the idea of the lyrics to "The Independent" in 2006, saying, "It's for someone who has to work for a large company. This is a song against bosses. Fuck the middle management!" He also said it was about those who are judgmental. The sound at the end of the song was created by Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien by "feeding sound through a digital delay machine".Webb, Robert. " [http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/features/article1587915.ece Story of the Song: 'Karma Police'] " The Independent, 15 September 2006.]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Jonathan Glazer, previously responsible for Radiohead's "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" clip. The video premiered in August 1997 and featured Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke as well as Hungarian actor Lajos Kovács. Glazer won MTV's Director of the Year award in 1997 for his work on this, as well as Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity". Glazer however revealed in an interview that he considers this video to be a failed attempt. [ [http://www.indiewire.com/people/int_Glazer_Jonathan_010612.html Glazer] ] "I regard 'Karma Police' as a complete failure, because I decided to do a very minimalist, subjective use of camera, and tried to do something hypnotic and dramatic from one perspective, and it was very hard to achieve and I feel that I didn't achieve it".

The video starts with the camera, an unseen driver, looking at the back seat of his car. The 'driver' then turns to the windshield and begins driving. For about 30 seconds to 1 minute it shows nothing but a road. A figure is then seen running from the car. The view changes back to the back seat, where Thom Yorke sits, almost mumbling the lyrics. The view yet again moves to the figure, who is close to being mowed down, as the view again switches to Thom Yorke, now slouching against the back of the front seat. The figure appears again, for the first time see the outside of the car, and the figure sharpens to reveal a man, and then the car stops and suddenly reverses, revealing a petrol leak. The man takes matches from his pocket, and throws them into the petrol. The car slowly catches fire, and the driver finally turns to the back seat, and Thom Yorke is no longer there.

Covers

The song was covered in 2003 by Christopher O'Riley on his first Radiohead tribute album "". The song has also been covered by moe., Panic at the Disco, The Dresden Dolls, Tre Lux and Tori Amos. The song is also covered on the album Radiodread by the Easy Star All-Stars, sung by Citizen Cope.

Track listing

*CD1 CDODATAS03
#"Karma Police" – 4:23
#"Meeting in the Aisle" – 3:08
#"Lull" – 2:28

*CD2 CDNODATA03
#"Karma Police"
#"Climbing Up the Walls (Zero 7 Mix)"
#"Climbing Up the Walls (Fila Brazillia Mix)"

References

External links

* [http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2681523 "Karma Police" music video] on [http://www.ifilm.com/ IFILM]