Bunga Bunga??? Why does 'The Smile' exist? Song review of 'You'll Never Work In Television Again'

Helter Skelter for the 21st century. A new track from the primary creative forces of Radiohead without Radiohead. What does it mean that the band exists? What does the Song mean? @Radiohead @thomyorke_

My name on Reddit is "losermobile" for a weird reason.

[Kabullo]

if I can add one thing about Silvio Berlusconi is that Berlusconi has become Prime Minister because in the past he was the owner of the major Italian television stations and at least 70% of the newspapers, he had become president of a popular football team in the past such as Milan FC but in decline and had brought it back to the top of the world by winning titles and 3 champions league, all things that allowed him to portray himself as the successful entrepreneur who has established himself and brainwashed Italians, as well as being a member of the P2 Masonic lodge (Propaganda2) chaired by Licio Gelli, the man who allowed Berlusconi to climb to power, from television stations to the Italian parliament (unfortunately for us), the title of the song is perfect, because the girls who participated in the bunga bunga work for Berlusconi's TVs and if they refused ... "You'll Never Work In Television Again"
also had links with the mafia responsible for the murders of judges Falcone and Borsellino who were investigating the links between politics, mafia and freemasonry, I ended up with Berlusconi's hagiography, sorry for the intrusion and for the bad English

[billgezella]

My take on The Smile comes from watching a lot of interviews with Greenwood. He has said time & time again that he'd like to write less & preform more, & I see Thom & Jon forming The Smile as like a pet-project, that honestly rules hard, just to work out their NEED to play in-between all of the other projects these beasts of men have to work out for the sake of their own benefits as artists, in their own rights. And, yes, it's great!

[HQBacon]

The Smile actually exists because Thom asked the band to record music during COVID and 2020, and everyone else in the band was unable to. So in a way, one could look at this as a form of LP10. I do think they went a different route creatively for this album to try and make sure Radiohead still has a trajectory/sound carved out that a solo project wouldn't immediately replicate.

[vitormarques]

17:00 ahahahah yeah man the 'zucc' as in suck is a meme for sure.
Also, heck ye great painting

[campuo]

The lines "fear not my love" and "take your dirty hands off my love"... the song is about Thom's Italian actress girlfriend, isn't it? Maybe she got invited to join this bunga bunga party and threatened if she refused?

[matthewsaul]

I don't think it's as complicated as you're making it out to be. For whatever reason, Radiohead don't have plans to be in the studio. During the pandemic Johnny wanted to make music with Thom and so they started throwing things around and this is what came of it. Johnny has said as much in an interview. Radiohead are extremely professional. I'm sure they ran this by every member of Radiohead before going ahead with it. I've heard some speculate that Ed has mentioned in his instagram videos that he's been struggling with his mental health and as a result, he may be part of the hold up for Radiohead getting back in the studio. Whatever the case may be, my sense is that Johnny wanted to do something and since Radiohead is taking forever to get back in the studio, he reached out to Thom and this is what came of it. But personally I've been wanting to hear a Thom, Johnny and Nigel project for like 20 years so I'm very excited. Although it's quite a bit more rock oriented than I imagined it would be lol nonetheless, it's sounding amazing

[tsfolk]

Man, you almost forgot to discuss the lyrics. Crazy. As good as the music is, the lyrics are even better.

[DaveElke]

I like this show! subscribed! also, your ideas about the lyrics I totally agree with, makes so much sense now that you pointed it out. Only the powerful say that when being refused.

[andrewbrabandt]

Didn’t know Jonny did the soundtrack to Spencer, that music was a trip, set the mood big time.

[Sixtixx]

why couldn’t the smile just be a radiohead album

[mcardlevid]

First time catching one of your reviews. The comment you make about demythologizing Radiohead is the reason The Smile exists is insightful, but I think that could never pop the balloon of the great expectations of the band. People who love Radiohead will follow them wherever they go. The solo work never excites me as much as the magic of them as a band. And I’m not sure the Smile will do anything to change that. Having said that-this is one of the best side projects and the song is amazing.

[stepheno]

I do not need anyone else to tell me if I should like a song or not.

[judiebering]

I wanted to like this song so badly. I tried but after the third time I heard it I just cannot get into it yeah the drummer is great but I'm just not feeling it. Oh well. I guess you just don't have to like everything that is written even though it's written by your favorite two musicians. Until then I'm waiting for Radiohead to come out with a new album

[CC-oimc]

It’s not completely unheard of - Cedric Bixler Zavala and Omar Rodriguez Lopez have done this a lot. I agree and I think Thom and Jonny probably don’t want to put something out as Radiohead that isn’t very dramatic and elevated.

[willloman]

Dude, I agree with the Tom Skinner being a freak. He uses his classically trained rudiments everywhere. And this is his simplified rock self.

This song sounds like 25 yr old men about to make it big in the 90s. In 5/4 time of course.

Whoa, thanks for clarifying the lyrics though. Also: at the drive-in schism is good example of creativity separation but The Smile is not that

[emielefdee]

Based on the eight songs The Smile performed at Glastonbury's Worthy Farm last May, the album won't be as 'rough' as this first single.

[enriqueortiz]

The stool's cool with me. Shlock can be good :)

[thalessouzalima]

the reason is the pandemic. The 5 members couldn't get together

[pc]

I like your critique, but the gendered aspect should be stressed more. There's an aspect of a father lamenting what happened to his daughter. It's a cis male feminist song.

[nickmoranis]

It is interesting. They both created amazing soundtracks in the same period. Suspiria and You Were Never…
Phil Selway was been kind of sidelined since Kid Amnesiac. He’s great live obviously.
Thom Yorke has kind of gone mad recently, in a good way. Greenwood & Yorke are drum machine masters. GarageBand. Whatever.
It’s Bodysnatchers full album I think.