Pyramid Song

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This article is about the Radiohead song. For the Charice Pempengco song, see Pyramid (song). For the Frank Ocean song, see Pyramids (song).
"Pyramid Song"
Radiohead pyramidsong.jpg
Single by Radiohead
from the album Amnesiac
Released 16 May 2001
Format
Recorded 1999–2000
Genre
Length 4:51
Label
Songwriter(s) Radiohead
Producer(s)
Radiohead singles chronology
"Airbag"
(1998)		 "Pyramid Song"
(2001)		 "I Might Be Wrong"
(2001)
"Airbag"
(1998)		 "Pyramid Song"
(2001)		 "I Might Be Wrong"
(2001)
Music video
"Pyramid Song" on YouTube
Amnesiac track listing
Audio sample

"Pyramid Song" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the lead single from their fifth studio album Amnesiac (2001). The song was their first single released in over three years, after none were taken from their previous studio album Kid A (2000).[1] It was issued as Amnesiac's lead single in most parts of the world except in the United States, where "I Might Be Wrong" was the first radio-only single.[citation needed]

Recording[edit]

According to singer Thom Yorke, "Pyramid Song" was inspired by the Charles Mingus song "Freedom;[2] its lyrics were inspired by an exhibition of ancient Egyptian underworld art Yorke attended while the band was recording in Copenhagen,[3] and ideas of cyclical time discussed by Stephen Hawking and Buddhism.[3]

The song features a string section arranged by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, performed by the Orchestra of St John's and recorded in Dorchester Abbey, a 12-century church about five miles from Radiohead's studio in Oxfordshire.[1]

Drummer Phil Selway said the song "ran counter to what had come before in Radiohead in lots of ways ... The constituent parts are all quite simple, but I think the way that they then blend gives real depth to the song."[4] In a 2001 interview with David Fricke in Rolling Stone magazine, guitarist Ed O'Brien said he felt it was "the best song we've recorded."[1]

Reception[edit]

"Pyramid Song" peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart, though it was initially predicted to reach a career-high peak of #2,[5] and NME named it their "single of the week".[6] Rolling Stone placed it at number 94 on their list of the "100 Best Songs of the Decade".[7] In October 2011, NME placed the song at number 131 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[8] Pitchfork placed it at number 59 in its list of the "Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s".[9]

Track listing[edit]

UK CD1
  1. "Pyramid Song" – 4:51
  2. "The Amazing Sounds of Orgy" – 3:38
  3. "Trans-Atlantic Drawl" – 3:02
UK CD2
  1. "Pyramid Song" – 4:51
  2. "Fast-Track" – 3:17
  3. "Kinetic" – 4:06
UK 12"
  1. "Pyramid Song" – 4:51
  2. "Fast-Track" – 3:17
  3. "The Amazing Sounds of Orgy" – 3:38
Europe CD
  1. "Pyramid Song" – 4:51
  2. "The Amazing Sounds of Orgy" – 3:38
  3. "Trans-Atlantic Drawl" – 3:02
  4. "Kinetic" – 4:06
Japan CD
  1. "Pyramid Song" – 4:51
  2. "Fast-Track" – 3:19
  3. "The Amazing Sounds of Orgy" – 3:38
  4. "Trans-Atlantic Drawl" – 3:03
  5. "Kinetic" – 4:05

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart 2
Norwegian Singles Chart 3
UK Singles Chart 5
Italian Singles Chart 6
Finland Singles Chart 6
Ireland Singles Chart 10
French Singles Chart 19
Dutch Singles Chart 23
Australian Singles Chart 25
Swedish Singles Chart 59
German Singles Chart 98
Swiss Singles Chart 99

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Radiohead Warm Up with 'Amnesiac'". Rolling Stone. 21 May 2001. Retrieved 25 July 2015. 
  2. ^ Kent, Nick (June 2001). "Happy now?". MOJO. Bauer. Retrieved 27 March 2012. 
  3. ^ a b Greenwood, Colin; O'Brien, Ed (25 January 2001). "Interview with Ed & Colin". Ground Zero (Interview). Interview with Chris Douridas. KCRW. 
  4. ^ Langham, Matt (4 February 2015). "DiS Meets Radiohead's Philip Selway: "If it means something to some people then that is success"". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 4 February 2015. 
  5. ^ "Radiohead on for biggest chart hit". BBC News. 22 May 2001. Retrieved 9 August 2017. 
  6. ^ Kessler, Ted. "Radiohead: Pyramid Song: This is our favourite Radiohead single in recent memory.." NME.com. Retrieved 2007-04-22. 
  7. ^ "Mary J. Blige, 'Family Affair' - 100 Best Songs of the 2000s". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-06-06. 
  8. ^ "NME's 150 Top Tracks of the 2000s". NME. Retrieved 11 August 2012. 
  9. ^ "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 100-51". Pitchfork. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2012. 

External links[edit]

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