The National Anthem

Infobox Song
Name = The National Anthem
Artist = Radiohead
Album = Kid A
Released = 2 October 2000
track_no = 3
Recorded = January 1999–April 2000
Genre = Experimental rock
Alternative rock
Length = 5:51
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"

"The National Anthem" is a song by the band Radiohead, the third track from the album "Kid A" (2000). The song is moored to a repetitive bassline, has a processed electronic production, and develops in a direction influenced by jazz.

In the album recording, the bass is played by lead singer Thom Yorke, who wrote the riff at age 16. [Fricke, David. " [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939919/making_music_that_matters/ Making Music That Matters] ", "Rolling Stone", 2 August 2001. Retrieved 16 January 2007.] The song is thought to have been previously attempted at recording sessions in 1994 and 1997, but according to Colin Greenwood, the band decided it was "too good to use it as a b-side for "OK Computer" singles".Fact|date=February 2007

The free jazz-style brass section featured in this song creates a soundscape of chaos, and has been described as "a brass band marching into a brick wall" by one reviewer. [Overstreet, Jeffrey. " [http://www.tollbooth.org/2000/reviews/radiohead.html November 2000 Pick of the Month] ", "The Phantom Tollbooth", November 2000. Retrieved 28 December 2006.] In the recording sessions, band members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood conducted the session musicians as best they could, though Yorke lacks formal musical training, telling them to 'go crazy' with their instruments as if they were caught in a traffic jam. It should be noted that although the recording sounds chaotic, each instrument is soloing to the riff.

The jazz style arrangement was apparently influenced by Charles Mingus, one of Thom's favorite composers, [Loder, Kurt. " [http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/r/radiohead00/index4.jhtml Radiohead: Ice Age Coming] ", MTV.com, 1 October 2000. Retrieved 16 January 2007.] while the song also features an Ondes Martenot, played by Jonny Greenwood. That early electronic instrument was picked up by Jonny for several songs on "Kid A" and subsequent albums, inspired by the music of Olivier Messiaen which makes much use of it. Some also found "The National Anthem" reminiscent of the contemporary work of fellow UK bands Primal Scream and Spiritualized, with whom Radiohead had toured in 1998.

"The National Anthem" was the opening song for most Radiohead concerts in 2000–2001, and is the first track on the band's 2001 album "". As of 2008, Radiohead continues to play it live. The song begins on stage with the band tuning to various radio stations, then mixing the transmissions and static with the bassline. When the song is played live, normal Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood plays the riff, which uses a Lovetone Big Cheese effects pedal [" [http://www.sigur-ros.it/franz/RHG/Colin/cozracks.html Colin Greenwood: Racks & Amps] ", Just... Radiohead Fan Club. Retrieved 2 February 2007.] to create a more distorted "fuzz" sound. The ondes martenot is also more audible in live versions, thanks to the addition of guitarist Ed O'Brien, who both doubles and expands on Jonny's parts. Thom Yorke also adds scat singing in some performances. Unlike the studio recorded version on the Kid A album, the live version of the song is not performed with a brass section, except at two 2000 performances in New York City (one of which was at Radiohead's taping for "Saturday Night Live" using the house band) and also at a 2001 performance in London for the BBC's "Later with Jools Holland".

References