Radiohead react to ‘Let Down’ going viral on TikTok

Radiohead have reacted over ‘Let Down’ becoming the band’s fourth US hit, 28 years after its release.

The track, which came out as a promotional single in 1997, and appeared on Thom Yorke and co’s landmark studio album ‘OK Computer’ that same year, entered the Billboard Hot 100 in August following an increasing resurgence on TikTok.

Radiohead have previously featured in the Hot 100 with the ‘In Rainbows’ track ‘Nude’ in 2008 (Number 37), ‘High And Dry’ in 1995 (Number 78), and ‘Creep’ in 1993 (Number 34). The latter remains the band’s most successful single in the States.

‘Let Down’ also spent seven weeks on the UK singles chart upon its release, peaking at Number 85.

Speaking about the feat in a new interview with The Sunday Times, Yorke said: “I find that especially bizarre. Because I fought tooth and nail for it not to be on the record, but Ed O’Brien was, like, ‘If it’s not, I’m leaving.’”

The guitarist has now said the song is the “emotional heart” of ‘OK Computer’.

Despite that, he was surprised by the reaction on TikTok. “Still, I was astonished. So I told my kids, who are 18 and 21, and they said, ‘What do you expect? Teenagers are depressed. It’s depressing music!’” O’Brien added.

Drummer Philip Selway also opened up about his own experience of cross-generational appreciation for the band.

“I was at the station the other day,” he said. ‘And schoolboys were playing ‘Everything In Its Right Place’ [from Kid A] on a piano. Then they played Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Elsewhere in the interview, they also confirmed that their forthcoming shows will be played in the round, and they revealed that they have whittled down their back catalogue to a shortlist of approximately 65 tracks, which Jonny Greenwood said they are “all frantically learning”.

Radiohead are returning to the stage for the first time in over seven years in the coming weeks, with four-night residencies in each of Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen and Berlin set to take place between November 4 and December 12. All of the tickets sold out very quickly.

The band also recently revealed whether fans can expect new material from the band after they play their UK and European dates.

Meanwhile, Radiohead spoke at length on their stance on Israel and Palestine. In 2017, they encountered a backlash when they played a show in Tel Aviv, Israel despite protests urging them to cancel the gig from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as well as criticism from Roger Waters, Thurston Moore, Young Fathers and others.

Last year, Yorke clashed with a protester during a solo show in Melbourne, arguing with an individual from the crowd and storming off stage, before later issuing a lengthy statement explaining his decision.

Yorke said he will “absolutely not” return to Israel and he “wouldn’t want to be 5,000 miles anywhere near the Netanyahu regime”.

Greenwood, meanwhile, has come in for criticism for making records with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa, and saw two UK gigs with Tassa cancelled earlier this year after protesters called for a boycott. Greenwood, who is married to an Israeli artist, also played with Tassa in Tel Aviv last year.

On the subject of whether he would play in Israel again he said: “I would also politely disagree with Thom. I would argue that the government is more likely to use a boycott and say, ‘Everyone hates us – we should do exactly what we want.’ Which is far more dangerous.”

“It’s nuts,” he added. “The only thing that I’m ashamed of is that I’ve dragged Thom and the others into this mess – but I’m not ashamed of working with Arab and Jewish musicians. I can’t apologise for that.”

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