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2 + 2 = 5
Radiohead
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- Album
- Hail To the Thief
- Released
- 2003
- Genres
- art rock, alternative rock
- Length
- 3:19
- Tempo
- 150 BPM
- Label
- XL Recordings
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About this song
The song opens Radiohead's 2003 album Hail to the Thief and is a rock track that builds to a loud climax. Its alternate title, The Lukewarm, comes from a subtitle taken from Dante's Inferno.
What it's about
The title refers to the slogan 'two plus two equals five' from George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. The song draws on Dante's view of the lukewarm, people who did nothing and let things happen, and who are kept outside the gates of Hell.
Fun facts
- Sampled in 2 other songs, like “2 + 2 = 5 by Oreo (Solo)”.
- Covered 2 times, including “2 + 2 = 5 by Christopher O'Riley”.
- Written by Philip Selway, Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien and Thom Yorke.
- Produced by Radiohead and Nigel Godrich.
- Recorded at Ocean Way Recording Studios.