Deck The Halls With Disappointment, Tralala Lala, La Bleep Bloop Blip

November 11, 2003 10:55 PM

Radioheadare taking over the BBC this Christmas. For one week, from the 22nd to the 28th of December, the band will assume control of BBC digital staion 6Music, choosing music, selecting shows, co-presenting programmes and contributing website material. The station is streamed worldwide. Christmas this year may be a little less jolly. ;)
posted by Blue Stone (33 comments total)

Christmas this year may be a little less jolly.

And a little more scary.
posted by homunculus at 11:11 PM on November 11, 2003

Hmm. I'll be interested to see what sort of music they like, where their influences come from.
posted by salmacis at 12:25 AM on November 12, 2003

I am so tired of Radiohead. The anguished and adored millionaires. Their film Meeting People is Easy features them enduring the tedium of that adoration on tour.
It is impossible to feel anything but patronised and insulted while watching this film. 'Its such an alienating job etc'.............. Quit you dont have to do it.
posted by kenaman at 1:29 AM on November 12, 2003

Other than all that, though,

[This is good]
posted by armoured-ant at 2:16 AM on November 12, 2003

It probably won't convince the doubters, but this long New Yorker piece about the band from a couple of years ago is very good.
posted by liam at 5:19 AM on November 12, 2003

Why do people who don't like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?

There's a shitload of bands I don't like, yet I don't think I've ever posted anything at all about them, except the obligatory:

Your favorite band sucks

which is true, of course.
posted by signal at 5:38 AM on November 12, 2003

because this is the internet where people must, MUST waste their own time tossing out their negativity for no other reason than, I assume, that they relish the concept of thousands of people reading about all the things they hate/snob out on/think are stupid or, in this case, make them so tired. It is the Comic Book Store Owner Syndrome and it is the new Art. Why make when you can drop blase statements on the InterWeb?

Me, I like Radiohead, and I'll be turning on the Audio Hijack Pro for some of this programming to keep it for posterity.
posted by n9 at 5:53 AM on November 12, 2003

I can't stand Christmas time where all the same songs in different versions are played over and over and over. It makes me want to harm myself and others. So I avoid going out for a few weeks. Now that the crap is in the stores earlier and earlier it's making avoiding going out even more difficult.

That said, I'd love to hear what Radiohead does because it'd be something different.
posted by evening at 6:15 AM on November 12, 2003

Aren't these the guys who did a radio mix that had both Louis Armstrong and Jega? Schizoid, but count me in.
posted by mikeh at 6:19 AM on November 12, 2003

signal: Why do people who don't like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?

Probably because they're sick of seeing and hearing Radiohead all the time when they're such a pedestrian band. Either that or it's their way of asking "Why do people who like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?" That would be my guess, anyway.
posted by dobbs at 8:26 AM on November 12, 2003

They took over Q101 for an hour a couple months ago, and it was the single best hour of commercial rock radio I've ever heard.
posted by me3dia at 8:27 AM on November 12, 2003

Why do people who don't like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?

Because it's very difficult to pick up a music magazine, turn on the radio, or talk to other music fans without hearing Radiohead mentioned (usually fanboyishly) every five minutes.

Plus just like in political discussions, aesthetic discussions that amount to "yes, I think they're wonderful too," can be awfully boring. A dissenting opinion can be refreshing, if only to make people think.

And for the record, I don't hate Radiohead, but I'm not a fan either.
posted by jonmc at 9:03 AM on November 12, 2003

Just in: The Samaritans have cancelled all christmas leave.

Why do people who don't like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?

Well I never have previously, but now the bbc is forcing me to pay out for their services I can happily justify calling them a bunch of pretentious self-indulgent tossers.
posted by biffa at 9:32 AM on November 12, 2003

This may just make Christmas bearable this year. At the very least plenty of Sigur Rós should be played, which is no bad thing at all. I'm surprised to hear that not everyone in the world likes Radiohead, though. What a novel concept, it's a wonder nobody's said anything before.
posted by zygoticmynci at 10:15 AM on November 12, 2003

Either that or it's their way of asking "Why do people who like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?"

Because they like them. There's nothing unusual about talking about the things you like. What I don't understand is why invest such energy in lambasting things you don't like, why insistently point out the fact that you're immune to the "fanboyishness" and are oh so independent in your music tastes?

You don't like a popular band? You think their public opinions aren't all that smart / respectable? Wow. How outre and daring.
posted by signal at 10:32 AM on November 12, 2003

I bet they'd like 'em a lot more if they were obscure and never sold a record. The gluttunous capitalist pigs feed at the trough of our soul.

Indie fanboy Brit-poser response: "No! No! That's bollocks! I just don't like 'em! You shite bastard."
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:43 AM on November 12, 2003

Why do people who don't like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?

What if the head line read:

Britney Spears is taking over the BBC this Christmas. For one week, from the 22nd to the 28th of December, the Glamour woman of the year will assume control of BBC digital staion 6Music, choosing music, selecting shows, co-presenting programmes and contributing website material. The station is streamed worldwide. Christmas this year may be a little less teenybop. ;)

You might post an anti-britney post.
posted by tomplus2 at 11:01 AM on November 12, 2003

I bet they'd like 'em a lot more if they were obscure and never sold a record.

Bullshit. Sure there's plenty of obscure stuff in my collection, but there's plenty of well-known stuff, too. I listen to The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Stones and Motown all the time, and they've all sold more records than Radiohead ever dreamed about. So the "too cool to like Radiohead" argument is crap.

But if people wanna say that those bands are overrated, that's their perogative. And I'll happily argue my case in the other direction. I see no reason why Radiohead is some sacred cow that should be placed above this.
posted by jonmc at 11:16 AM on November 12, 2003

Whatever.

If it turns more people on to the best radio station I've ever come across, that's all to the good.

biffa, ole buddy ole pal: "now the bbc is forcing me to pay out for their services I can happily justify calling them a bunch of pretentious self-indulgent tossers." - 6music doesnt result in an increase in the TV License tax (the main source of funding for the BBC's services), so how are you forced to pay for 'it', per se? More radio, more choice in music listening, more archive sessions, more innovation... it's all to the good. At no extra cost!!

What's not to like? (",)
posted by dash_slot- at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2003

Why do people who don't like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?

I wouldn't frame it so harshly, but Radiohead gets a lot of play (pun intended) because they're a hugely influential band, often cited as the most significant group performing today. Plus, their left-leaning, intellectual stylings dovetail pretty well with the gestalt around here.
posted by mkultra at 11:45 AM on November 12, 2003

Why do people who don't like Radiohead feel the need to externalize it at every opportunity?

Just to pile on. Radiohead is currently holding the title of "The Band That's Keeping Rock Alive" in the mainstream music press. When, of course, they just happen to be the one decent edgy rock band that's selling records. Of course, there's a ton of great rock bands not getting the same recognition.

I have a lukewarm opinion of the band, but I still think it's a fantastic idea to let them program a radio station for a week. I wish that someone would do that with KROQ here in Los Angeles and get them off their half decade streak of jocky hip-hop metal.
posted by eyeballkid at 12:48 PM on November 12, 2003

Christmas this year may be a little less jolly.

Thom Yorke loves Christmas. No, really. You should hear the cover of "Winter Wonderland" the band did for last year's Christmas webcast. Not the mention the year before, when they all gathered around the tree and played an acoustic version of "Knives Out". No, really, it was great.

Anyway, they listen to some pretty interesting stuff, and if Jonny Greenwood brings in all his obscure electronica/Messaien recordings, should be fabulous. I'll be listening.
posted by jokeefe at 3:05 PM on November 12, 2003

Bullshit. Sure there's plenty of obscure stuff in my collection, but there's plenty of well-known stuff, too. I listen to The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Stones and Motown all the time, and they've all sold more records than Radiohead ever dreamed about. So the "too cool to like Radiohead" argument is crap.


Yes, because citing tried-and-true critical successes from over twenty years ago really moves you away from that obscurity-or-nothing sect of music fans (note: heavy sarcasm). In fact, that's a staple of the indier-than-thou attitude. Nothing anybody has heard is good, unless it's old. I'm surprised you didn't mention The Beatles.

For the record, I don't think I'd call Radiohead an "edgy rock band" either, since they haven't really done more than a handful of "rock" songs in the past seven years.

Also, I could care less if people like Radiohead or not, but people that hate them just because other people like them are kind of missing the boat on music, if you ask me. It is, contrary to what you may have heard, possible to think there are other--better, and lesser-known--bands out there, but still think Radiohead is a cool band and think it's equally cool that a band that doesn't pander to commercial success (no singles for Kid A, lack of sponsors for their shows, etc.) is popular in a world where most of popular music is vacuous and heartless.

(note: Life In a Glass House is a wonderful song, and features Humphrey Lyttleton on trumpet, who has appeared many times on BBC, if I'm not mistaken).
posted by The God Complex at 4:35 PM on November 12, 2003

Because it's very difficult to pick up a music magazine, turn on the radio, or talk to other music fans without hearing Radiohead mentioned

I don't know about the first and second, but if you'll point me to a radio station anywhere in North America which regularly plays Radiohead (and isn't situated on a college campus) I'd be delighted.
posted by jokeefe at 7:14 PM on November 12, 2003

Oh, and NPR doesn't count.
posted by jokeefe at 7:15 PM on November 12, 2003

Yes, because citing tried-and-true critical successes from over twenty years ago really moves you away from that obscurity-or-nothing sect of music fans (note: heavy sarcasm).

Wow. You're so cool. Can I hang out with you?

Listen. I've got upwards of 3000 albums in my collection, plus close to 7000 digital music files, ranging from shit so obscure the people playing on it haven't heard it to the most unabashed poppy top 40 (and critically despised too, I have tons of Twisted Sister, Edison Lighthouse and Lynyrd Skynyrd, AC/DC, Trisha Yearwood).

On preview: Almost any "modern rock" station plays them incessantly. and I hate NPR with a passion, but that's a whole other discussion.

I'm not here to play battle of the playlists, but trust me I've gotten to plenty of brawls here and elsewhere defending music considered uncool by both the mainstream and hipster end of the spectrum, so hang your obscurantist label somewhere else. Radiohead does nothing for me. It's a matter of taste, yeah, but like a lot of other musci fans, I'm simply sick and tired of hearing people gush about them.
posted by jonmc at 8:23 PM on November 12, 2003

Fair enough. Mostly I just wanted to point out that saying you like popular music from the 60's and 70's (etc.) doesn't really prove you weren't an obscurist.

Myself, I'm usually capable, or like to think I'm capable, of recognizing a band or artist who has some talent and a true love for what they do. If that's the case, I'm usually pretty reticent to slam them just because I don't like them. As I said, if a band is intelligent, I don't mind them being gushed over, even if I don't like them. I mean, if I didn't like The Who (which I do, but that's beside the point), I certainly wouldn't complain every time somebody said how great they were.
posted by The God Complex at 8:42 PM on November 12, 2003

Also, I could care less if people like Radiohead or not, but people that hate them just because other people like them are kind of missing the boat on music, if you ask me.

Yeah, except you can't not like Radiohead and not have their fans think this of you. Believe it or not, there are people who just think they're plain boring. I'm one of them. But I'm not entitled to that opinion (after hearing every single record they've done and even seeing them live once) because, well, "I'm just a pretensious music geek", right?

It is, contrary to what you may have heard, possible to think there are other--better, and lesser-known--bands out there, but still think Radiohead is a cool band

And, contrary to what you may have heard, it is possible that people have different tastes than you do.

and think it's equally cool that a band that doesn't pander to commercial success (no singles for Kid A, lack of sponsors for their shows, etc.)

It's also possible to applaud them for their politics but not give a shit about their music.

is popular in a world where most of popular music is vacuous and heartless.

If it's so vacuous and heartless, don't listen to it. I have only one criteria for "music I like": it has to sound sincere. The singer could have a shitty voice, the guitar player might only know 3 chords, the piano may be out of tune... but if, to me, it sounds sincere, I like it. With the exception of one song (track 5 from their first album), Radiohead sounds false. And sure, there are plenty of bands out there who sound false (to me). I dislike them just as much. But they're not taking print and airplay away from bands I think other people should hear, which is why I get so damn tired of hearing of Radiohead. Their fans seem to think they're the only band in the world worth listening to and talking about. I couldn't disagree more.
posted by dobbs at 8:50 PM on November 12, 2003

I like Radiohead, but I used to avoid their music. I'd heard a bit of something on Top of the Pops, and then Q magazine and people would rave about them, and I'd be like, whatever... who cares, and all these people raving about them just made me think they were tossers. I wasn't impressed.

Then I downloaded 2+2=5 and Myxamatosis from kazaa, after the hype of them being leaked, and was converted & hooked. Went out and bought the back catalogue, and whatdoyouknow.

Radiohead bashers just haven't got it yet. </patronise> ;)
posted by Blue Stone at 12:05 AM on November 13, 2003

Agreed, Blue Stone. All I knew of Radiohead until this century was "Creep", which I found grating, and "Karma Police", which was kinda catchy, but I didn't weep when it went off the radio playlists. Fast forward 6 years, I'm driving in my car on a roadtrip with a friend, he throws OK Computer into the CD player, and I finally get a chance to listen to it all the way through. I think I listened to that album practically on repeat for the better part of the ensuing year. Radiohead has been one of the very few bands that come up with melodies that follow non-standard chord progressions, so at first I don't "get it", then after a couple of listens I start to understand what they're doing, then I'm loving it. The only exception to this was Amnesiac, which tended to move away from distinct melody and into the realm of experimentation (fine and dandy, but I'm not gonna be humming it down the road).

Having dated someone heavily involved in the indie music scene (DJ at a college radio station), I know that there's plenty of stuff out there that, due solely to its non-standard compositional values will never make it to mainstream radio, which is a shame (Godspeed You! Black Emperor comes to mind). However, a lot of it is just pure crap. Much of it is performed by people who may put a lot of feeling into the music, but this doesn't excuse their 3-chord song from being crap, or their shouting and ranting from being irritating.

And you can add Phish to that "Used to hate them, learned to respect them, now love them dearly" list.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 1:42 AM on November 13, 2003

On preview: Almost any "modern rock" station plays them incessantly.

I don't mean to belabour the point, but not in my (admittedly not entirely comprehensive) experience. They don't get a lot of radio play, and to say that they are played 'incessantly' is at the very least exagerated.

I started listening to them after Amnesiac came out, and their music now appears to be essential to my happiness--at least for now. I'll see in a couple of years.
posted by jokeefe at 6:15 AM on November 13, 2003

dash, it doesn't matter that they're not increasing the fee to cover 6, if they can afford to pay out for this stuff, they can afford to cut back instead and bring the fee down, instead of working to increase it. Frankly too much of the bbc is unnecessary and/or crap, eg news24, much of local radio and, most of all, BBC1.

I fully deny that my mood has been affected by the fact that my only current internet access is in a stifling internet shop with slow connection and that will only take payment in hourly units (and once you've paid for it...). We did have viper for dinner last night though.
posted by biffa at 8:48 AM on November 13, 2003

Nice one biff! (err... I don't get it . Email me!!)
posted by dash_slot- at 6:59 AM on November 15, 2003