Why Radiohead Hated Creep
[Music] Radiohead's Creep: The Story Behind the Song
This transcript discusses the story behind Radiohead's hit song "Creep," including its origins, success, and eventual dislike by the band.
Origins of "Creep"
- "Creep" was a self-loathing song about an insecure man who tries to get attention from a girl by following her around.
- The story is from the time when Thom Yorke went to Exeter University in the late 80s before the band even formed. He had an eye for a beautiful angel-like girl but never dared to go up to her and talk to her properly instead he would continuously look at her and follow her around like you guessed it a creep.
- The song opens with Yorke clearly explaining the atmosphere and the feelings he has for the girl he's attracted but intimidated by her looks.
Success of "Creep"
- At first, "Creep" suffered from poor sales and critical reception with radio DJs excluding them from playing their playlists calling their music too depressing.
- However, thanks to airplay in the United States during the rebellious grunge era, "Creep" eventually became a massive success for Radiohead eventually reaching number 7 on the UK Singles Charts and number 34 in the Billboard Top 100 helping their debut album Pablo honey sell 2 million copies worldwide.
Dislike of "Creep"
- Despite putting Radiohead on the map, after relentless pressure to come up with another hit single and their exhausting 2-year touring schedule, they started disliking it.
- After Ok Computer album release they outgrew raw simplistic sound of creep in favor of more ambitious and abstract art rock becoming separate - the breakthrough success and critical acclaim of their work since about KREEP.
- Thom Yorke doesn't like playing it anymore because he's not in that emotional space anymore so it doesn't feel true to him.
Radiohead's "Creep" Return to the Spotlight
This video discusses how Radiohead stopped performing their hit song "Creep" due to fan expectations and how they eventually brought it back into their live setlist.
The Decline of "Creep"
- Fans expected Radiohead to create similar material in the future, so they stopped performing "Creep" towards the end of the OK Computer world tour.
- Despite a few sporadic instances between 2001 and 2009, Radiohead rarely ever added "Creep" to their live setlist.
The Return of "Creep"
- On May 21st, 2016 at a show in Amsterdam during their A Moon Shaped Pool tour, Thom Yorke started playing the opening chords of "Creep."
- This moment essentially planted the seeds for Radiohead to embrace "Creep" once again.
- Two days after the Amsterdam show, "Creep" made it onto the second encore at a concert in Lucca, Italy, making it the beginning of its return to the spotlight on stage.
- While Thom was apprehensive about continuing to play the song live, guitarist Ed O'Brien has added that it's a good song and nice to play for fans who like it and want to hear it.
- The band continued to play the song live.
What Makes "Creep" Special
- Released during the middle of the grunge era with York's blonde messy hair and themes of alienation, confusion, and self-pity.
- Many people called the song a ripoff of Nirvana or even The Hollies.
- Despite hating being labeled as grunge and hating that genre in general, Radiohead eventually unfolded as one of the quintessential bands thanks to game-changing albums such as The Bends and OK Computer.
- "Creep" doesn't have the surreal melancholia of "Fake Plastic Trees," the progressive song structure of "Paranoid Android," or the abstract experimentation of "The National Anthem."
- However, it's a strong melodic hook, painfully sincere lyricism, and raw energy that sells the song and makes it resonate still to this day.
Conclusion
- Radiohead brought back their hit song "Creep" into their live setlist after years of not playing it due to fan expectations.
- Despite being labeled as grunge and having a hit song that some people called a ripoff, Radiohead eventually became one of the quintessential bands thanks to their game-changing albums.