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Idioteque
Radiohead
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- Album
- Kid A
- Released
- 2000
- Genres
- art rock, alternative rock
- Length
- 5:09
- Tempo
- 138 BPM
- Label
- XL Recordings
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About this song
"Idioteque" is the eighth track on Kid A, the album that marked Radiohead's move toward electronic instruments and beats. It is often considered the band's biggest departure from its earlier sound. The background samples come from minimalist composers Paul Lansky and Arthur Kreiger, who is now a professor of music at Connecticut College.
What it's about
The song is built around the paranoia of encroaching technology, with a central image of nuclear holocaust and global warming. Its title may suggest a collection of idiots or peculiarities, or a dance club run by idiots, as a metaphor for the world dancing while its destruction approaches.
Fun facts
- Samples “Short Piece by Arthur Kreiger” and “Mild Und Leise by Paul Lansky”.
- Sampled in 10 other songs, like “THE***RED by Haych”.
- Covered 7 times, including “Idioteque by Vitamin String Quartet”.
- Written by Ed O’Brien, Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Philip Selway and Arthur Kreiger.
- Produced by Radiohead and Nigel Godrich.