The National Anthem by Radiohead

Album: Kid A (2000)

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

The bass riff that plays throughout this song is based on a riff lead singer Thom Yorke came up with at age 16.
The original title was "Everyone." The actual title is not mentioned in the lyrics, but a bit of the British national anthem plays toward the end.
The horn section was made up of eight Jazz musicians from the St. John's Orchestra. Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood conducted them, but since they didn't really know how to conduct, they jumped up and down when they wanted them to play faster and made calming gestures if they wanted the music slower.
Jazz composer Charles Mingus was a big influence on this. Yorke and Greenwood wanted the horns to sound like something he would come with.
On their Kid A tour, Radiohead opened their shows with this.
"Kid A" was the name of a setting on one of their sequencers when they were making the album. They ended up using it for the title.

Comments: 10

Ethan from Helsinki, -The horns in the back ground wholly remind me of the Beatles.
Dylan from New Britain, CtThom Yorke sounds alot like Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins sometimes.
Tom from Tampa, InThis song has very broad lyrics like many other radiohead songs. I think they write this way so their songs aren't just about one thing. It's a song that can be about whatever relates to the words.
Max from Sydney, AustraliaThis song must of been done in 1999, when everyone was afraid that the new manellium would end the world.That was called the"Y2K" and this song sounds like they are scared that the end of the world is coming.Me,myself,Never beilieved that the world would end.And as we can see,it hasn't
Christine from Sunderland, EnglandDid anyone see this live at newcastle with tom on the piano with the camcorda?? Sooo good.
Sean from Glasgow, Scotlandyea i think alot about radiohead songs as im listening to them... NO idea what this one's about though!! :P does anyone have any quotes or facts that might tell us what it's about?
Craig from Edinburgh, United StatesI thought that this song was basically about the politics of fear and how nations use this 'fear', mainly through the media, to control the masses. I might be wrong =)
David Westell from Blackburn, EnglandDyou kmow that inthis song Yhom Yorke plays Bass.
Colin from Silver Spring, MdI think this is another one about fearing the end of the world (everyone whos got the fear is holding on.)
Jeff from Kendall Park, NjThe album, Kid A, was nominated for the 2001 Grammys in Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Album categories. They won Best Alternative and lost Album of the Year to Steely Dan.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Hunger StrikeTemple of the Dog

"Hunger Strike" by Temple of the Dog features Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder, and was Vedder's first music video.

LolaThe Kinks

When The Kinks released "Lola," most people didn't realize Lola was a man. "I was dancing with this beautiful blonde, then we went out into the daylight and I saw her stubble," Ray Davies said of the inspiration.

Opposites AttractPaula Abdul

MC Skat Kat was created for the remix of "Opposites Attract," which was released as the last single from Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl album. The team that created the Kat also did a-ha's "Take On Me" video.

Whip ItDevo

Devo got the idea for their "Whip It" video from an article about a guy who owned a dude ranch and charged people to watch him remove his wife's clothes with a bullwhip.

JumpVan Halen

Van Halen's first #1 hit was "Jump," an unusual song for the band because the lead instrument was synthesizer, not guitar.

Santa Claus Is Coming To TownEddie Cantor

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" is the most performed holiday song of all time, according to a Top 30 list released by the performance rights organization ASCAP in December 2014.