02-25-19
“Idioteque,” not being a real word has been said to be closer to “idiotic” despite the lack of the lyric in the song, then again the entire song much like Kid A, the album it comes off of, reads like one long protest letter against the continued actions and behaviors of those in charge. The record reads in a very literal way. Kid A was a name that was bestowed on the Atomic Bomb, as an album each track lends itself to different stages of life throughout the existence of the Atomic Bomb. From the times of peace before it’s creation to the point of its creation, subsequent use, and eventual role in mutually assured destruction.
It’s difficult to take a single song off Kid A and analyze it apart from the whole, however for the sake of conversation, Idioteque finds its place towards the last quarter of the album. By this point, the world has more or less been taken over by the impacts of nuclear war, and those remaining are slowly beginning to honestly feel the fallout. Throughout we hear the steps of decline:
“Ice age coming ice age coming |Throw it in the fire throw it in the fire throw it on the |We’re not scaremongering |This is really happening happening | We’re not scaremongering |This is really happening happening |Mobiles squearking mobiles chirping |Take the money run take the money run take the money”
That last line there… Thom Yorke has been quite vocal about his stance on the impacts of global warming and the most significant contributors to the situation, contributors like Mobile oil. Some people get impressed when a rapper lambasts another rapper, but I think it takes something special to continuously speak truth to power in the manner Radiohead does.
If Apprehension is a suspicion of fear or future evil, this song fits the bill and then some. In fact, it could easily find its way into other emotions such as Fear or Terror. I think for me though one of the most significant reasons why it fits in Apprehension is in how the song is performed. If you do some cursory searching, you’ll see droves of people criticizing how Thom Yorke performs this song, often claiming it to be sloppy, or amateurish. This is seen in continued slurring, sporadic wild gesticulating of the limbs (which may be construed as dancing,) and generalized erratic behavior. When I see this I know, he’s feeling the full impact of the song, and it is in these responses we can see some of the greatest depths of Radiohead’s artistry. It’s in this display of chaos that they manage to compress such a profound sentiment, such as Apprehension into something translatable to the rest of the world.
Lyrics:
Who’s in a bunker?
Who’s in a bunker?
Women and children first
And the children first
And the children
I’ll laugh until my head comes off
I’ll swallow till I burst
Until I burst
Until I
Who’s in a bunker?
Who’s in a bunker?
I have seen too much
I haven’t seen enough
You haven’t seen it
I’ll laugh until my head comes off
Women and children first
And children first
And children
Here I’m alive
Everything all of the time
Here I’m alive
Everything all of the time
Ice age coming
Ice age coming
Let me hear both sides
Let me hear both sides
Let me hear both
Ice age coming
Ice age coming
Throw it in the fire
Throw it in the fire
Throw it on the
We’re not scaremongering
This is really happening
Happening
We’re not scaremongering
This is really happening
Happening
Mobiles squerking
Mobiles chirping
Take the money run
Take the money run
Take the money
Here I’m alive
Everything all of the time
Here I’m alive
Everything all of the time
Here I’m alive
Everything all of the time
Here I’m alive
Everything all of the time
The first of the children [Repeat until fade]