KID A, The Greatest Left Turn In Music History

Radiohead would not be who they are without Kid A.

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This video is sponsored by Skillshare
Written, voiced & edited by Frank Furtado
Artwork at 4:44 by @danialhkeem

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The success of OK Computer had the band set out on an ambitious tour, with their largest performance set on the Glastonbury stage. It was riddled with technical problems -- a complete nightmare for Thom Yorke who was already burnt out on playing the album’s material. But it was a tour that wouldn’t end for another year and a half.

The mindless cycle of creating albums then touring them was destroying Radiohead. When they had finally gotten to a place where they could take a break and not be forgotten, Thom was left catatonic. Experiencing intense depression, the success and subsequent tour of OK Computer put his mental state in a place he never wanted to be. OK Computer had become an instant classic, but now expectations for a worthy follow up were high, as critics and audiences looked at Radiohead to carry the genre forward.

In their pursuit, Radiohead suffered bouts of writer’s block, leading to self-doubt and the near break-up of the band. Had they released another album in the same vein as OK Computer or The Bends, they might have become the biggest band in the world. Instead, they released Kid A in quite possibly the greatest left turn in music history.

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Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the videos, photos or music used in this video. They are used for education and discussion purposes under fair use law.

[theVHSvlog]

It's pretty incredible how Thom woke up with a lemon in his mouth and then made a perfect album

[SamAndrew]

Kid A is a perfect night time driving record, darker the scenery the better. As a close second, it's an amazing headphone album. The landscapes, texture and ambiance really make the album.

[sitruckoom]

Whenever I play Kid A, I have to listen to the entire album. I can’t skip around because it’s so ‘fluid’- there are few pauses between songs.

[uncledarthy]

Fun Fact: Trent Reznor said this was one of the most important albums of all time.

[PlanetoftheDeaf]

I suspect Radiohead wouldn't exist now if they'd made a conventional rock follow up to OK Computer...

[mikekunz]

Those opening 5 notes to the album are easily one of my favorite moments in music

[miserirken]

Oh yeah, Radiohead's perfect album: *Ok Kid*

[ben-tyjo]

Kid A is one of the few albums I've come across that sounds truly genuinely apocalyptic. It really sounds like the end of the world to me

[foxford]

Thom Yorke: eats lunch

The Media: Greatest sandwich in musical history

[fichom]

Kid A is an album that make you change your opinion about electronic music

[amoonshapedpool]

The "first human clone" thing isn't true— Thom actually chose the title "Kid A" after seeing it in a music software purposely because it lacked any meaning at all. His goal was to make it a random blip of a title, something that wouldn't be assigned meaning.

[daigle]

Glad you followed up your OK Computer video! Maybe we could an In Rainbows one in the future?

[michalpitowsky]

I was in high school when this album came out, and me and all my friends immediately loved it. We didn't read magazines and the internet wasn't that evolved, so we were not aware this album was controversial. We just thought it was beautiful and genius and listened to it repeatedly.

[lorenztico]

This album is 23-years-old but still sounds futuristic.

[mememan]

Kid A is a desert island album for me. It was probably the best listening experience of any album I’ve ever had.

[allthingssports]

To be honest in an electronic album. The best song on the album is How to Disappear Completely, that whole song revolves around the acoustic guitar. It's also Thoms favourite song

[Forestien]

The Bends -> OK Computer -> Kid A

A legendary music sandwich.

[rooty]

I've never understood why everyone talks like Kid A came out of nowhere, like OK Computer was a traditional guitar rock album. It had Fitter Happier on it ffs

[enkiea]

Idk. I feel like if you listen to their albums in order of succession from Pablo, the Bends, OK Comp, Kid A, it sounds like a pretty natural progression.

[leotide]

Kid A was so incredibly influential to me in my teen years. I rarely pulled this album out. Selectively, when the emotions and atmosphere and situation were all in alignment, I would reach behind the passenger seat of my car, dig out the case from a specific spot in the backrest pouch, and slip the CD inside the headunit. Idioteque was by far the most intense track for me - listening to it while driving just a few over the speed limit on a dark stretch of highway beneath a canopy of stars, rushing wind sounding faintly above an open sunroof, with charged emotions dancing through my veins as I traveled toward a war-zone of love and drama befitting the age... That was an experience like no other.