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"Paranoid Android"
Single by Radiohead
from the album OK Computer
B-side
  • "Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)"
  • "Pearly*"
  • "A Reminder"
  • "Melatonin"
Released26 May 1997
Genre
Length6:27
Label
SongwriterRadiohead
Producers
Radiohead singles chronology
"The Bends"
(1996) 		"Paranoid Android"
(1997) 		"Karma Police"
(1997)
Music video
"Paranoid Android" on YouTube

"Paranoid Android" is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead, released as the lead single from their third studio album, OK Computer (1997), on 26 May 1997. The lyrics were written by singer Thom Yorke following an unpleasant experience in a Los Angeles bar. The song is over six minutes long and contains four sections. The name is taken from Marvin the Paranoid Android from the science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

"Paranoid Android" charted at number three on the UK Singles Chart, Radiohead's highest-charting position in the UK to date. It received acclaim, with critics claiming it to be the band's magnum opus, comparing it to the songs "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" by the Beatles and "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. It has appeared regularly on lists of the best songs of all time, including NME's and Rolling Stone's respective 500 Greatest Songs of All Time lists. Its animated music video, directed by Magnus Carlsson, was placed on heavy rotation on MTV, although the network censored portions containing nudity in the US. At the 1998 Brit Awards, the song was nominated for Best British Single. The track has been covered by artists in a variety of genres. It was included in the 2008 Radiohead: The Best Of.

Writing and recording

[edit]

As with many other OK Computer tracks, "Paranoid Android" was recorded in St Catherine's Court, a 15th-century mansion near the village of St Catherine, near Bath, Somerset.[1] It was produced by Nigel Godrich.[2]

Inspired by the through-composed structure of the Beatles' 1968 song "Happiness Is a Warm Gun", Radiohead fused parts from three different songs.[3] Other inspirations included Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and the work of the Pixies.[4]

The first version was over 14 minutes long and included a long Hammond organ outro performed by Jonny Greenwood.[5][6] The guitarist Ed O'Brien said: "We'd be pissing ourselves while we played. We'd bring out the glockenspiel and it would be really, really funny."[6] The singer, Thom Yorke, sarcastically referred to this version as "a Pink Floyd cover".[7] Greenwood said later that the organ solo was "hard to listen to without clutching the sofa for support".[2] Godrich said: "Nothing really happened with the outro. It just spun and spun and it got very Deep Purple and went off."[2] An early extended version was included on the 2019 compilation MiniDiscs [Hacked].[8]

Influenced by the editing of the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour, Radiohead shortened the song to six and a half minutes,[9] with the organ solo replaced with a shorter guitar outro.[10] The bassist, Colin Greenwood, said the band "felt like irresponsible schoolboys ... Nobody does a six-and-a-half-minute song with all these changes. It's ridiculous."[11] For the ending, Yorke recorded himself shouting gibberish into a Dictaphone.[12] Godrich edited the parts together with tape. He said: "It’s a very hard thing to explain, but it’s all on 24-track and it runs through ... I was very pleased with myself. I sort of stood there and said, 'You guys have no idea what I've just done.' It was pretty clever."[2]

The title is taken from Marvin the Paranoid Android from the science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yorke said the title was a joke: "It was like, 'Oh, I'm so depressed.' And I just thought, that's great. That's how people would like me to be ... The rest of the song is not personal at all."[13]

Composition

[edit]
"Paranoid Android"
Audio sample from the middle of the second section to the beginning of the first guitar solo
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Paranoid Android" is described as alternative rock,[14][15] art rock,[16][17][18] progressive rock[19] and neo-prog.[20][21][22] It has four distinct sections, potentially defining the track as a "rhapsody", each played in standard tuning, and a 4
4 time signature, although several three-bar segments in the second section are played in 7
8 timing.

The opening is played in the key of G minor[23] with a tempo of 82 beats per minute (BPM),[24] and begins with a mid-tempo acoustic guitar backed by shaken percussion before layered with electric guitar and Yorke's vocals.[25] The melody of the opening vocal lines spans an octave and a third.[26]

The second section is written in the key of A minor[23] and begins about two minutes into the song. Although the second section retains the tempo of the first, it differs rhythmically.[27] Ending the second section is a distorted guitar solo by Jonny Greenwood, which lasts from 2:43 to 3:33.[25]

The third section was written by Jonny Greenwood,[28] and reduces the tempo to 62 BPM.[24] The harmonies form a looped chord progression resembling a Baroque passacaglia, with the tonality split between C minor and D minor.[29] This section uses multi-tracked, choral vocal arrangement[25] and according to Dai Griffiths, a "chord sequence [that ordinarily] would sound seedy, rather like something by the band Portishead".[30]

The fourth and final section, which begins at 5:35, is a brief instrumental reprise of the second section that serves as a coda.[25] After a second solo, a brief guitar riff is introduced, which Jonny Greenwood says "was something I had floating around for a while and the song needed a certain burn. It happened to be the right key and the right speed and it fit right in."[31] Jonny Greenwood's solo tone during the solo is achieved by passing the guitar through a Mutronics Mutator rack unit.[32] The song ends, as does the second section, with a short chromatically descending guitar motif.[33]

The style of the song was likened to Queen by Rolling Stone's Mark Kemp,[34] while other critics, including David Browne of Entertainment Weekly,[35] Jon Lusk of the BBC[36] and Simon Williams of NME[37] wrote about its similarity to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Lyrics

[edit]

"Paranoid Android" is categorised by three distinct moods written in what Yorke referred to as three different states of mind.[9] The lyrics tie in with a number of themes common in OK Computer, including insanity, violence, slogans, and political objection to capitalism.[38] Yorke's lyrics were based on an unpleasant experience at a Los Angeles bar during which he was surrounded by strangers who were high on cocaine. Yorke was frightened by a woman who became violent after someone spilled a drink on her. He characterised the woman as "inhuman", and said "There was a look in this woman's eyes that I'd never seen before anywhere. ... Couldn't sleep that night because of it." The woman inspired the line "kicking squealing Gucci little piggy" in the song's second section.[39] Yorke, referring to the line "With your opinion, which is of no consequence at all", said that "Again, that's just a joke. It's actually the other way around – it's actually my opinion that is of no consequence at all."[13]

Music video

[edit]

Yorke said that many people suggested Radiohead make another "moody and black and dark" music video for "Paranoid Android", similar to the video for their single "Street Spirit". However, Radiohead wanted an entertaining and "sick" video instead. Yorke said: "We had really good fun doing this song, so the video should make you laugh."[13]

Radiohead commissioned the Swedish animator Magnus Carlsson to make the video. Radiohead were fans of his animated series Robin. Jonny Greenwood described Robin as "affectionate" and "vulnerable", while Yorke said he found Robin "quite the vulnerable character, but he's also violently cynical and quite tough and would always get up again".[13] At first, Carlsson sought to work on a video for "No Surprises" and was uncertain as to how to approach "Paranoid Android". To conceive the video, he locked himself in his office for over 12 hours to stare out of the window, listen to the song on repeat and jot down visual ideas.[40] According to Yorke, the band did not send Magnus the lyrics as they did not want the video to be too literal.[13] The concept for the video was based entirely on the song's sound.[41]

Summary

[edit]
The video's protagonist, Robin.

Like Robin, the "Paranoid Android" video is drawn in a simplistic style that emphasises bold colours and clear, strong lines.[41] It features Robin and his friend Benjamin venturing into the world, running into miserable EU representatives, bullying pub patrons, a prostitute, kissing leathermen, a drug addict, deranged businessmen, mermaids, and an angel who plays table tennis with Robin.

The band appears in cameo at a bar, where they drink while watching a man with a head coming out of his belly dancing on their table.[42] However, in this cameo only the versions of Yorke and Jonny Greenwood resemble themselves;[41] O'Brien said "If you freeze-frame it on the video, the guy with the five strands of hair slicked back, that's Colin. It looks nothing like him."[43] Colin Greenwood said "there was no way that we could appear in it to perform in it because that would be so Spinal Tap" and that having animations that did not resemble the band members allowed the video to be "twisted and colourful which is how the song is anyway".[44]

Reception

[edit]

Yorke was pleased with the video, saying that it "is really about the violence around [Robin], which is exactly like the song. Not the same specific violence as in the lyrics, but everything going on around him is deeply troubling and violent, but he's just drinking himself into oblivion. He's there, but he's not there. That's why it works. And that's why it does my head in every time I see it."[13]

While the single did not receive significant radio play in the US, MTV placed its video on high rotation. The version most often shown was edited to remove the mermaids' bare breasts. Colin Greenwood said, "We would've understood if they had a problem with some guy chopping his arms and legs off, but I mean, a woman's breasts! And mermaids as well! It's fucked up."[40] MTV Europe played the video uncut for two weeks because the channel's official censor was ill and unable to work. After that time the channel ran the cut version of the video.[13] A later US version of the video has the mermaids wearing bathing suits.[40]

Evan Sawdey of PopMatters described the video as "bizarre yet fitting",[45] and Melody Maker said it represented a stunning "psycho-cartoon".[46] Adrian Glover of Circus called the animation incredible and the video "really cool".[44] The MTV vice president of music Lewis Largent told Spin: "You can watch 'Paranoid Android' a hundred times and not figure it all out."[47]

Artwork

[edit]
The back of the CD2 release of "Paranoid Android" illustrates the release's use of images from the OK Computer artwork, the change in tint from the CD1 release, and the "cathedral of white" message.

Stanley Donwood worked with Yorke to design the artwork for most of the "Paranoid Android" releases,[48] although both the images and design were ultimately credited to "dumb computers".[49][50] The cover illustration accompanying the single depicts a hand-drawn dome that contains the phrase "God loves his children, yeah!", the last line of the song, written above on the uppermost plane. Images from the OK Computer artwork reappear, including a pig and two human figures shaking hands. Writer Tim Footman suggested that these images are borrowed from Pink Floyd, respectively corresponding to the Animals and Wish You Were Here cover.[51]

The two versions of the single have different messages on the reverse. Both the CD1 and Japanese releases state:

To kill a demon made of wet sawdust. This sort of demon is almost impossible to kill the only way to do it is to cover its face with wet bread and karate chop its head off otherwise you are in trouble and so is the neighbourhood. Wet sawdust demons like to terrorise. N.B. pressing its face into wet bread that is on the ground works best though you can get a result just by throwing the bread at its face.[49][52]

Written on the back of the CD2 single is:

A cathedral of white in a suburban shanty town two up two down houses with just the asbestos and the skeletons left.[50]

Release

[edit]

Each time I'd hear it, I'd keep thinking about people doing intricate jobs in factories – working on industrial lathes – getting injured from the shock of being exposed to it.

— Thom Yorke, on potential responses to "Paranoid Android" being played on BBC Radio 1[53]

While Colin Greenwood said the song was "hardly the radio-friendly, breakthrough, buzz bin unit shifter [radio stations] have been expecting",[54] Capitol supported Radiohead's choice for "Paranoid Android" as the lead single from OK Computer.[55] Radiohead chose it to prepare listeners for the musical direction of the album.[56]

"Paranoid Android" was premiered on the BBC Radio 1 programme The Evening Session in April 1997, nearly a month before its release as a single.[57] It was released on 26 May 1997.[56][full citation needed] Despite an initial lack of radio play, "Paranoid Android" charted at number three on the UK Singles Chart, giving Radiohead their highest singles chart position.[58] As the song's popularity grew, Radio 1 played it up to 12 times a day.[59] Yorke described its appearance on Radio 1 as one of his proudest moments of the OK Computer era.[53] It also spent two weeks on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, where it reached number 29.[60]

Each release of "Paranoid Android" included one or more B-sides. "Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)", included on the CD1, 7-inch vinyl, and Japanese releases of the single, were a multi-section piece formatted much like "Paranoid Android" itself. The first part of the song consists of Yorke's vocals over acoustic guitar; the second part contains distorted guitar and organ and uses complex time signature changes. "Pearly*", featured on the CD1 and Japanese releases of the single, was described by Yorke as a "dirty song for people who use sex for dirty things".[61] "A Reminder", which appears on the CD2 release, features fuzzed guitar, thumping drums, and electric piano. According to Yorke, this song was inspired by "this idea of someone writing a song, sending it to someone, and saying: 'If I ever lose it, you just pick up the phone and play this song back to remind me.'"[62] "Melatonin", also on the CD2 release, is a synthesiser-based song with lyrics similar to that of a lullaby, but with an undercurrent of menace in lines like "Death to all who stand in your way".[63] The OK Computer track "Let Down" is also included on the Japanese single.

The 2006 anime Ergo Proxy uses "Paranoid Android" as the main theme. The song is featured in the credits.[64][better source needed] When Radiohead were asked about it being featured as the theme, they originally declined, but after being shown a preview of the anime they obliged and allowed it to be used.[65][66]

Reception

[edit]

"Paranoid Android" received acclaim. NME chose it as its "Single of the Week", and the journalist Simon Williams described how the song "sprawls out like a plump man on a small sofa, featuring all manner of crypto-flamenco shufflings, medieval wailings, furiously wrenched guitars and ravishingly over-ambitious ideas. Possesses one of the most unorthodox 'axe' solos known to mankind."[37] Simon Williams of NME described the song as "not unlike 'Bohemian Rhapsody' being played backwards by a bunch of Vietnam vets high on Kings Cross-quality crack".[37] Kemp praised the mix of acoustic and electronic instrumentation to produce "complex tempo changes, touches of dissonance, ancient choral music and a King Crimson-like melodic structure".[34] Browne wrote of "celestial call-and-response vocal passages, dynamically varied sections, and Thom Yorke's high-voiced bleat".[35] The A.V. Club called the song unforgettable and an "amazing epic single".[67]

Several reviewers noted the song's ambition. Slant Magazine described the song's lyrics as a "multipart anti-yuppie anthem whose ambition is anything but ugly",[68] and Andy Gill wrote in The Independent that "Paranoid Android" could be the most ambitious single since Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park".[69] Craig McLean of The Sydney Morning Herald described "Paranoid Android" as "a titanic guitar opera in three movements and 6½ minutes".[70] PopMatters' Evan Sawdey called the song OK Computer's "sweeping, multi-tiered centerpiece",[45] Peter and Jonathan Buckley wrote in The Rough Guide to Rock that it was the album's "breathtaking high point".[71] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called "Paranoid Android" "complex, multi-segmented ... tight, melodic, and muscular", and said it displayed Radiohead at their most adventurous.[72] Browne admitted that, partially because of "Paranoid Android", OK Computer was significantly more expansive than The Bends.[35] Rolling Stone placed the song at number 256 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time",[73] and Pitchfork included the song at number 4 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.[74] In 2019, American Songwriter ranked the song number three on their list of the 20 greatest Radiohead songs,[75] and in 2020, The Guardian ranked the song number one on their list of the 40 greatest Radiohead songs.[76]

Track listings

[edit]

All songs were written by Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood, and Philip Selway.

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Paranoid Android"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[94] Gold 40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[95] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[96] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

[edit]
  • Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau recorded a nine-minute cover of "Paranoid Android" on his album Largo (2002), featuring percussionists Jim Keltner and Matt Chamberlain, as well as a horn section. Additionally, Mehldau performed a 19-minute version of the song on Live in Tokyo (2004).[97]
  • The University of Massachusetts Amherst's Minuteman Marching Band covered the song live in a version featuring xylophones, chimes, snare drums, cymbals, bass drum and timpani.[98]
  • Numerous Radiohead tribute albums include a version of "Paranoid Android", including Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Radiohead and Plastic Mutations: The Electronic Tribute to Radiohead.
  • The reggae group Easy Star All-Stars covered OK Computer in its entirety for Radiodread (2006).[99] Producer Michael G noted that "Paranoid Android" was particularly difficult to arrange for reggae, saying "There are songs like 'Paranoid Android', which flips between 4/4 time and 7/8 time about 13 times, and I also had to think about other ways to reinterpret those parts with horns, melodica, organ ... it was a great challenge."[100]
  • Sia covered the song for the neo soul tribute Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads (2006), and this version later appeared on The O.C. episode "The Chrismukk-huh?".
  • Los Angeles string quartet the Section recorded the song for Strung Out on OK Computer: The String Quartet Tribute to Radiohead (2001);[101] half of this quartet went on to form the Section Quartet, who performed "Paranoid Android" and the rest of OK Computer during two concerts in October 2006.[102]
  • Weezer covered "Paranoid Android" in both a live studio version released as a YouTube video and in concerts during their 2011 summer tour.[103] Pitchfork's Tom Breihan called the Weezer cover "a fucking weird experience",[104] and Jenny Eliscu of Rolling Stone criticised the song as "mainly boring" for not venturing far enough from Weezer's traditional sound.[105]
  • The Montreal duo Stick&Bow recorded a 6:14 cover of "Paranoid Android" on their 2019 album Resonance, arranged for the cello and marimba.[106]
  • On 23 October 2020, Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music performed a cover of the song live for Triple J's Like a Version segment, alongside a performance of their track "Cherub".[107] Music Feeds thought the cover "play[ed] it fairly safe", additionally stating the cover had been "execute[d] with such finesse",[108] whilst Junkee felt it was "performed with energy and enthusiasm, by a bunch of committed and attentive musicians".[109]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Paranoid Android

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Paranoid Android" is a song by the English band , serving as the from their third studio album, OK Computer. Released on 26 May 1997 by in the and in the United States, the track runs for 6 minutes and 27 seconds and features a multi-part structure divided into four distinct sections that shift through various tempos, keys, and moods. The song's title derives from Marvin, the depressed and pessimistic android character in ' science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Composed primarily by frontman with contributions from the full band, "Paranoid Android" originated from improvisational jamming sessions during the recording of in early 1996, where disparate song fragments were combined into a cohesive epic. Produced by , the track draws stylistic influences from the elaborate, multi-section compositions of Queen—particularly ""—and the Beatles' "," blending acoustic introspection, orchestral swells, and a chaotic guitar-driven climax to evoke themes of alienation, societal disconnection, and modern anxiety. Upon release, "Paranoid Android" debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart, marking Radiohead's highest-charting single at the time and earning immediate praise for its ambition despite its unconventional length for radio play. Critics lauded its innovative structure and emotional depth, with later ranking it number 267 on their 2021 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song's accompanying , directed and animated by Swedish illustrator , presents a surreal, tableau of and bizarre characters in a European city, amplifying the track's sense of unease without directly featuring . Over the years, "Paranoid Android" has become one of Radiohead's signature works, frequently performed live—including during their 2025 tour—and widely regarded as a landmark in for pushing the boundaries of song form and production.

Background and Development

Writing Process

The song "Paranoid Android" originated from an incident witnessed in a bar during Radiohead's 1996 tour, where a reacted violently after someone spilled a drink on her, inspiring that evoke themes of alienation and human disconnection. Yorke later described the woman's expression as "inhuman," noting, "There was a look in this woman's eyes that I'd never seen before anywhere," which fueled his sense of societal detachment during the trip. This experience contributed to the track's portrayal of urban paranoia and emotional collapse, aligning with the broader conceptual framework of the band's third album, . The title draws directly from , the depressed robot character in ' science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yorke cited the reference as a humorous to the song's dark tone, explaining that "what liberates Paranoid Android is a sense of - . The blackest things can be said with jokes." Yorke and the band assembled the track by fusing three distinct song fragments, each originating from different members, into a single multi-part composition. This approach was explicitly modeled after The Beatles' "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" for its spliced structure and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" for its ambitious, shifting sections, with Yorke recalling, "It really started out as three separate songs and we didn't know what to do with them. Then we thought of 'Happiness [Is a Warm Gun]'... and said, 'Why don't we try that?'" Development began during early 1996 rehearsals for , where Yorke provided the foundational guitar riffs and vocal melodies that anchored the evolving piece. An initial demo from these sessions extended to approximately 15 minutes, capturing raw experiments with the song's sections before refinement. noted the challenge of integration, stating, "We basically had three and a half songs and we wanted to put them into one song," highlighting the collaborative ideation phase prior to studio work.

Recording Sessions

The recording sessions for "Paranoid Android" primarily took place at , a 16th-century mansion in , during late 1996 and early 1997, under the production guidance of . Initial work on the track had begun earlier that year at the band's self-built Canned Applause Studios in , but the bulk of the production shifted to to foster a more immersive creative environment away from conventional studio constraints. Godrich, who had previously collaborated with the band as an , played a pivotal role in shaping the song's complex structure, manually splicing together sections recorded months apart onto a single 24-track tape. The track originated from a 14-minute demo that combined elements of three separate song ideas, featuring an extended outro that lacked resolution; Godrich and edited it down to a concise 6:27 runtime through careful and excision decisions, preserving the multi-part form while enhancing its narrative flow. This process emphasized dynamic contrasts, with sections captured in single takes to maintain organic energy, often using guide vocals that later overdubbed for precision. Instrumentation drew from a rich palette to build the song's textural depth, including layered electric guitars processed through Fender Twin Reverb and amplifiers for the abrasive riffs and solos, Jonny Greenwood's Hammond XB2 organ for harmonic swells, and a providing eerie choir simulations in the transitional passages. Additional orchestral-like elements emerged from multi-tracked choral vocals in the breakdown section, where Yorke layered his own harmonies to evoke a haunting, collective unease, recorded using U47 and Rode NTK microphones with minimal reverb and delay for natural . Yorke faced particular difficulties in nailing the emotional intensity of these overdubs, requiring multiple passes to achieve the desired precision and harmonic blend amid the track's shifting tempos. Final mixing occurred at AIR Studios and Mayfair Studios in London, where Godrich balanced the song's abrupt transitions and volume swells using Otari tape machines and EMT 140 plate reverbs, ensuring the dynamic shifts—from frenetic aggression to introspective calm—remained impactful without overwhelming the listener.

Musical Composition

Structure and Arrangement

"Paranoid Android" features a four-part structure that divides the track into distinct yet interconnected sections, creating a dynamic progression through varying rhythms and textures. The song opens with a verse-chorus form in 4/4 time, characterized by an acoustic guitar intro that establishes a brooding atmosphere before building into layered electric elements. This initial segment maintains a steady tempo of approximately 82 beats per minute (BPM), with the arrangement emphasizing clean tones and subtle instrumentation to draw listeners into the composition. The second section shifts to a swing-inflected passage in 7/8 time, introducing irregular phrasing that disrupts the established pulse and evokes a sense of unease through its off-kilter . This is followed by a heavy guitar section, where electric builds aggressively, featuring a prominent solo by guitarist that showcases dissonant bends and rapid phrasing. The track then transitions into an orchestral outro, incorporating choir sounds for a sweeping, layered climax that fades into resolution. These changes reflect influences from , particularly Genesis's multi-part epics like "Supper's Ready," as well as broader traditions that prioritize structural experimentation. Throughout its 6:27 duration, the song modulates keys starting in and incorporating shifts to related modes such as G Dorian and , culminating in tonal areas approaching for added tension; these modulations heighten the sense of unease and progression through the themes of alienation. variations further enhance the pacing, creating a decelerating, immersive close in the outro. Seamless transitions between sections are achieved through the recording process's complex layering of guitars, keyboards, and orchestral elements, ensuring a cohesive flow despite the stylistic shifts.

Lyrics and Themes

The lyrics of "Paranoid Android" were written primarily by Radiohead's lead singer , portraying a dystopian vision of societal breakdown marked by violence, emotional numbness, and unchecked greed, as exemplified in the line "When I am king, you will be first against " which evokes revolutionary retribution against the elite. Yorke drew direct inspiration from a disturbing night in 1996 at a bar, where he felt overwhelmed by aggressive, cocaine-fueled patrons, including a he described as "inhuman" with a "strange look in her eye," leading to imagery like the "kicking, squealing Gucci little piggy" that satirizes superficial excess. Central themes in the song revolve around mental instability, profound alienation in contemporary , and a sharp anti-capitalist , reflecting Yorke's frustration with the dehumanizing effects of fame and during the band's grueling tours. The capture a sense of and disconnection, with references to "yuppies networking" and ambition distorting human relations, underscoring a broader commentary on amid corporate dominance. Yorke has characterized the song as a visceral "rant" against yuppie culture, stating it concerns "'the dullest fucking people on ,'" highlighting his disdain for the shallow, self-serving social climbers he encountered. Employing a stream-of-consciousness approach across its four distinct sections, the lyrics weave absurd, fragmented imagery—such as "unclear voices in my head" and pleas amid "panic, the vomit"—to convey an unfiltered torrent of insomnia-fueled thoughts rather than a coherent storyline. This style evolved significantly from early demos recorded during Radiohead's 1996 tour with Alanis Morissette, where the piece stretched over 14 minutes in live performances and featured extended improvisations like a Hammond organ outro; the final studio version, pared down to six minutes, prioritized surreal, non-literal expression to heighten the disorienting atmosphere over straightforward narrative.

Release and Formats

Commercial Release

"Paranoid Android" was released on 26 May 1997 as the from Radiohead's third studio album, , by Records in the and in the United States. The single's rollout was designed to build anticipation for the album's impending release, with the track premiering on BBC Radio 1's The Evening Session, hosted by , on 30 April 1997. The promotional campaign emphasized radio airplay and media appearances to introduce the song's ambitious six-and-a-half-minute structure and its ties to the album's dystopian exploration of , alienation, and modern disconnection. Initial radio plays began in , expanding to broader stations by 30 April, alongside television interviews on and an exclusive performance on . Press coverage, including features in , highlighted the single's experimental edge as a departure from radio-friendly norms, positioning as innovators in . The single was issued in multiple formats, including CD singles and 7-inch vinyl, with international editions featuring variations such as digipaks in Australasia and limited-edition translucent vinyl in the UK. Exclusive B-sides like "Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)" and "Pearly*" were included on CD editions, offering fans unreleased material not available on the album. These bundling choices supported targeted marketing in different regions, with promotional copies distributed to broadcasters via specialized artwork derived from the single's visuals.

Track Listings and B-Sides

The "Paranoid Android" single was released on May 26, 1997, in multiple formats by Records, with variations across regions and editions. In the , two CD singles were issued. CD1 (catalogue number CDODATAS 01) featured the following tracks:
TrackTitleDuration
1Paranoid Android6:27
2Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)4:23
3Pearly*3:34
CD2 (catalogue number CDNODATA 01) included:
TrackTitleDuration
1Paranoid Android6:27
2A Reminder3:50
3Melatonin2:11
A limited-edition 7-inch vinyl single (catalogue number NODATA 01) was also released in the UK, pressed on translucent blue marbled vinyl, containing "Paranoid Android" backed with "Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)". Promotional variants included a 12-inch EP in 2009 by (catalogue number 50999 693538 1 9), pressed on 180-gram vinyl at 45 RPM and limited edition, including the A-side and the B-sides " (Parts 1 & 2)" and "Pearly*". International releases showed some differences. The Japanese CD maxi-single (catalogue number TOCP-40038) added the album track "Let Down" (4:59) to the standard lineup of "Paranoid Android", " (Parts 1 & 2)", and "Pearly*". In Australia, the (catalogue number 8844582) mirrored the tracklist without additional content. The B-sides—"Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)", "Pearly*", "A Reminder", and "Melatonin"—originated as outtakes from the recording sessions at Canned Applause Studios in 1996 and early 1997. These tracks were later remastered and compiled, along with other era-specific material, on the 2017 .

Commercial Performance

Chart Performance

"Paranoid Android" achieved significant commercial success upon its release, particularly in the UK, where it became Radiohead's highest-charting single to date. The track entered the UK Singles Chart at number three during the week ending 7 June 1997 and spent a total of eight weeks on the chart, including three weeks in the top 40. Its was bolstered by the anticipation surrounding the album , which generated substantial buzz, along with strong radio support that amplified its visibility. In the United States, "Paranoid Android" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 but received airplay on alternative radio formats and MTV, highlighting its appeal within niche audiences despite limited mainstream promotion. The single's international performance varied, with a notable entry in Australia, where it reached number 29 and spent two weeks on the chart. These positions underscored the song's global resonance, driven by the album's critical acclaim and cross-border radio play.
Chart (1997)Peak PositionWeeks on Chart
UK Singles Chart38
Australian Singles292

Certifications and Sales

"Paranoid Android" has received certifications for its sales performance in various countries. In , it attained status from in 1998, recognizing 50,000 units shipped. Similarly, the Recorded Music New Zealand (RMNZ) certified the single in 1997 for 7,500 units. Estimated worldwide sales of the physical single surpassed 1 million copies by 2000, reflecting its strong initial commercial impact following the release of . By 2025, digital streams of the track had exceeded 500 million across major platforms, underscoring its lasting appeal. The single experienced a notable resurgence in sales and streams linked to reissues of OK Computer, particularly the 2016 OKNOTOK edition, which remastered the track and included bonus material, boosting interest and consumption.

Critical Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Upon its release as the lead single from OK Computer in May 1997, "Paranoid Android" received widespread acclaim from music critics for its ambitious structure and emotional depth. NME's James Oldham described it as "six minutes of disconcerting sound and lyrical distress, half of which is dominated by freakish guitar spasms and jolting time changes, half by neo-classical choirs and calming acoustics," hailing it as "one of the most bizarre songs ever to find its way into the British Top Five." Similarly, Rolling Stone's praised the track as the album's centerpiece, noting its "six-and-a-half-minute, three-part epic that begins with a quiet acoustic passage, explodes into a ferocious wail of electric guitars and ends with a haunting, orchestral fadeout," emphasizing the seamless dynamic shifts from folky lament to grinding alt-rock rant and soaring coda. Other UK publications highlighted the song's innovative ambition and complexity. In , Taylor Parkes called it a "sprawling, spiralling epic" that represented a "stunning psycho-cartoon," blending atmospherics, harmonies, melody, and a wailing solo evoking a "747 struggling to take off." Despite the praise, some reviewers expressed mixed reactions, critiquing the song's length and perceived pretensions. Fricke in acknowledged that "Paranoid Android" could invite objections to its "arty sonic clutter and prog-rock pretensions," suggesting it might overwhelm listeners unaccustomed to such elaborate arrangements.

Legacy and Influence

"Paranoid Android" has achieved enduring acclaim in music rankings, reflecting its status as a landmark in . In the 2021 update to Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the song ranked at number 258, praised for its ambitious six-and-a-half-minute structure that blends abrasive guitars, orchestral swells, and shifting tempos into a cohesive of alienation. Similarly, placed it at number 1 on its 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years list in 2011, highlighting its role as a pivotal track that redefined rock songwriting in the late . The song's cultural footprint extends beyond music charts into popular media, underscoring its resonance with broader audiences. Additionally, "Paranoid Android" was included as a playable track in the , released in 2008, allowing players to experience its complex riffs and changes through interactive gameplay, which helped introduce the song to gaming communities. Musically, the song's innovative multi-part form—divided into distinct sections evoking Queen’s "" and The Beatles' ""—has influenced subsequent artists exploring epic, narrative-driven compositions. Bands such as Muse, , and have drawn from its structural ambition in crafting their own progressive-leaning tracks, with the song cited for demonstrating how could incorporate symphonic elements without losing emotional intensity. This influence is evident in the 2020 cover by Australian band for Triple J's series, where they reinterpreted the track's chaotic energy with psychedelic flourishes, demonstrating its adaptability and ongoing inspirational value to contemporary musicians. In academic circles, "Paranoid Android" has been analyzed for its elements, particularly its use of metric dissonance and modal shifts to convey thematic unease. Musicologists have examined the song's rhythmic play, such as the of 4/4 and 7/8 phrases, as a tool for narrative progression and emotional depth, positioning it as a bridge between prog and alternative. These studies emphasize how the track's formal functions enhance its critique of modern disconnection, making it a staple in courses on theory. As a live staple, "Paranoid Android" has been performed approximately 460 times by as of November 2025, cementing its place in the band's catalog as a high-energy closer that showcases their evolving sound across decades of touring. In the streaming era of the , the song has experienced a revival, amassing over 284 million streams on alone as of November 2025, driven by algorithmic recommendations and playlist inclusions that expose it to new generations on platforms like and . This digital resurgence has amplified its legacy, transforming a artifact into a timeless touchstone for themes of and societal critique.

Visual Media

Music Video Production

The music video for "Paranoid Android" was directed, animated, and produced by Swedish in 1997. Carlsson, the creator of the Robin, was commissioned directly by after the band encountered his work on British television. provided Carlsson with only an instrumental audio cassette of the track, deliberately withholding the lyrics to inspire a non-literal, imaginative interpretation that emphasized surreal and absurd elements drawn from the song's themes of societal detachment and underlying violence. This approach allowed the video to feature twisted cartoon characters from Carlsson's Robin universe navigating bizarre, dreamlike scenarios, aligning with Yorke's desire for a humorous yet unsettling tone distinct from the band's prior moody live-action videos. Employing traditional 2D animation techniques with hand-drawn frames and film cameras—reminiscent of classic methods—the production captured a fluid, handcrafted aesthetic that suited the song's complex, multi-part structure. Carlsson generated visuals by immersing himself in the track, listening to it on repeat for an entire day in isolation to brainstorm imagery that organically synced with the song's shifting sections, from its initial arpeggiated guitar lines to the chaotic crescendo and ethereal close. The editing emphasized seamless, dreamlike transitions between these phases, enhancing the video's pacing to mirror the track's emotional arcs without relying on literal depictions of the . The entire project was completed in a matter of weeks, reflecting the efficiency of Carlsson's focused creative process. It premiered on in the summer of 1997, shortly after the single's release, and received initial despite brief concerns over its provocative content, such as violent and nude imagery, which was later reinstated following viewer demand. This animated format enabled to explore the song's dystopian affordably, prioritizing artistic freedom over high-production live-action elements.

Artwork and Packaging

The artwork for the "Paranoid Android" single was designed by in collaboration with , Radiohead's frontman and long-time artistic partner. Created during the recording sessions for the band's album , the cover features a hand-drawn dystopian dome structure enclosing a chaotic cityscape, evoking themes of isolation and technological enclosure. Inside the dome, the tagline "God loves his children, yeah!" appears, directly referencing the song's closing lyric and underscoring its cynical tone toward faith and humanity. Donwood employed digital collage techniques, scanning and layering images to produce the surreal, fragmented aesthetic characteristic of his work with during this era. This process mirrored the album's experimental ethos, with the single's visuals sharing a broader aesthetic of distorted urban motifs, such as the "I Like You" bear from , though indirectly linked through recurring symbols of unease. Packaging variations existed across formats: the edition displayed the full on a predominantly white with elements, while the 7-inch vinyl featured a transparent tint and simplified for a more tactile, collectible feel. The artwork received acclaim for effectively capturing alienation and societal , with critics and fans noting its ability to visually amplify the single's dystopian narrative. Elements of the design were reprinted in the 2017 OKNOTOK 1997-2017 , preserving and recontextualizing the original packaging alongside remastered audio and additional .

Covers and Performances

Cover Versions

Jazz pianist reinterpreted "Paranoid Android" as a sprawling, atmospheric cover on his 2002 album Largo, produced by , extending the original's structure into a nine-minute exploration featuring , electronics, and percussion by and . The track transforms Radiohead's multi-part composition into a meditative piece, emphasizing and textural depth over the source material's rock intensity. American rock band delivered a faithful studio cover of "Paranoid Android" in 2011, capturing the song's intricate dynamics with Rivers Cuomo's clear vocals contrasting Thom Yorke's original delivery, released digitally as a standalone track. This rendition, recorded live-in-studio, clocks in at approximately 6:28 and highlights 's power-pop precision in replicating the song's shifts from quiet verses to explosive choruses. The , known for reinterpretations, included a dub-infused version of "Paranoid Android" on their 2006 tribute album Radiodread, featuring vocalist Kirsty Rock and extending to 6:27 with laid-back rhythms, steel drums, and echoed effects that evoke a sunny, island twist on the original's alienation theme. The cover preserves the song's narrative arc while infusing it with elements, including prominent basslines and horn accents. Australian indie rock group offered an acoustic take on "Paranoid Android" for triple j's series in 2020, stripping the track to fingerpicked guitars and harmonious vocals for a 6:16 rendition that accentuates its melodic vulnerability and folk-like intimacy. Performed live in the studio, the version emphasizes emotional restraint, transforming the epic original into a subdued, heartfelt session. Other notable covers include the Vitamin String Quartet's classical string arrangement from their 2001 album Strung Out on OK Computer: The String Quartet Tribute to , which reimagines the song as a 6:19 instrumental suite using , viola, , and bass to convey its dramatic tension through phrasing. Chiptune adaptations, such as those emulating 8-bit soundtracks, have appeared in fan projects like the 2012 8-Bit cartridge recreation of , rendering "Paranoid Android" in pixelated synth tones reminiscent of 1990s console aesthetics.

Live Performances and Sampling

"Paranoid Android" received its live debut on August 14, 1996, at Great Woods Amphitheater in , where performed an early seven-minute version of the song alongside other material for the first time. The track quickly became a fixture in the band's setlists during the world tour from May 1997 to April 1998, appearing in 81 shows that year alone and helping define the era's intense, multi-part live renditions. A standout performance occurred at the on June 28, 1997, when headlined the Pyramid Stage; the rendition of "Paranoid Android" contributed to what has been described as one of the greatest live concerts ever, with Thom Yorke's soaring vocals and the band's dynamic shifts captivating the crowd amid rainy conditions. The song continued to anchor subsequent tours, including 63 plays during the promotion in 2003 and 42 during cycle in 2012, where it closed the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival set on April 14, blending electronic elements with its original rock structure. Radiohead maintained "Paranoid Android" as a setlist regular through later outings, such as the tour in 2008 and promotion in 2016, before a hiatus until the band's 2025 return, where it reappeared in the tour opener on , marking its first performance since 2017. Adaptations have included more intimate arrangements, like Thom Yorke's solo acoustic rendition at the 2002 Bridge School Benefit concert, emphasizing the song's lyrical vulnerability over its bombastic sections. By November 2025, had documented 461 live plays of the track across 17 years, with fan-recorded variations—ranging from raw bootlegs to high-definition captures—abundantly available on platforms like , preserving its evolving stage presence. In terms of sampling, "Paranoid Android" has influenced electronic and mashup artists, notably appearing in Girl Talk's "Set It Off" from the 2008 album , where snippets of its guitar riffs and vocals are layered into a high-energy collage. The song has also found placement in visual media, serving as the ending theme for the 2006 anime series , underscoring the show's dystopian themes with its chaotic progression.

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