Like Spinning Plates

Album: Amnesiac (2001)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This has the melody of another, unreleased Radiohead song called "I Will" run in reverse.
  • Thom Yorke sang this backwards because he thought it sounded too uncomfortable the regular way. His tracks were then reversed and added on, resulting in the lyrics sung backward, then forward.
  • The album was recorded at the same time as Kid A, but released shortly after.
  • "Cloudcuckooland" is a reference to the ancient Greek comedy/satire The Birds by Aristophanes. It is a city built by birds to escape the frantic aspects of normal human civilization (in the case of the play, Athens).

Comments: 6

  • Lauren from Chicago, IlLive in concert, before Thom Yorke starts to play he says: "This is dedicated to our glorious leaders, or alteast some of them who saw fit to take us to a war that nobody wanted, kill thousands of... about tens of thousands of innocent people. And they shall go to their grave with it on their conscience. And I hope that's ok with them. Anyway..."

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGWSy1YnhNI&feature=related
  • Max from Sydney, Australiaspinning plates do end( falling off etc) but when it falls off, you get angry and try again and again and...again...and ur doing it without thinking.and you trying will never end..thats my thought
  • Leo from Grimsby, CaDispite having an insanely similar feel to "I will", it manages to still be a polar opposite in sound..
    The warped reversed sound giving an almost "trapped" feel to the track.. Almost sort of subliminal.
  • Bryan from Here, Scthis song is beautiful and i love it.
  • Colin from Silver Spring, MdAbout how some seems as though it will never end, and is effecting you in a negative way (spinning plates?)
  • Shan from Fairyland, InThis is an awesome song...very well done.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.