The secret rhythm behind Radiohead's "Videotape"

00:10:14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_IHotHxIl8

Summary

TLDRThe video delves into the complexities of Radiohead's song "Videotape," which draws its appeal from a musical illusion created through syncopation. This intricate manipulation of rhythm presents a challenge even to seasoned musicians like Thom Yorke, Radiohead's frontman, who struggled to play the song live. Syncopation involves placing emphasis on off-beats, which defies conventional musical measures and expectations. The video discusses the two contrasting versions of "Videotape": the energetic and vibrant Bonnaroo version and the somber, funeral-like album version. Radiohead employs syncopation to create rhythmic dissonance, forcing the musicians and listeners to fight against their brain's natural rhythm detection instincts. This topic stirs enthusiastic debate among fans who are engaged by the unexpected musical surprises that syncopation provides, making the song highly compelling and challenging. Ultimately, "Videotape" represents an artist's delight in self-amusement and complexity, manifesting in an unforgettable listening experience.

Takeaways

  • 🎵 "Videotape" by Radiohead presents a complex rhythmic challenge.
  • 🎹 Thom Yorke struggles with syncopation in the song.
  • 🧩 The song's power lies in its musical illusion.
  • 🤔 Fans are divided between Bonnaroo and album versions.
  • 🎶 Syncopation alters typical musical perception.
  • 🥁 Phil, the drummer, struggles with finding the downbeat.
  • 🐦 Discusses music's ability to deceive and engage listeners.
  • 🔍 In-depth analysis of musical timing and challenges.
  • 🤯 Highlights the brain's rhythmic synchronization and conflict.
  • 🎧 "Videotape" challenges traditional listening expectations.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    This story revolves around Radiohead's song "Videotape," highlighting the complexity and challenges it presents to even its creators. It begins with Thom Yorke struggling to play a seemingly simple section of the song due to its syncopated rhythm. Syncopation, a musical technique where off-beat accents cause a deviation from the regular rhythm, is the core of the complexity in "Videotape." Despite its common use in various music genres, syncopation in "Videotape" creates a rhythmic illusion that contradicts typical listening expectations. This complexity is illustrated by contrasting the energetic and anthemic Bonnaroo version with the album version that sounds like a funeral march, both sharing a syncopated structure.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:14

    Further exploration reveals that even Radiohead's own members wrestle with the song's intricate rhythm due to the syncopation that deceives their musical intuition. The kick drum's syncopated alignment with the piano adds to this challenge. The absence of a clear downbeat turns an internal rhythmic pulse into an elaborate deception. Thom Yorke's attempts to align his piano playing with a syncopated rhythm illustrate the mental effort involved. Meanwhile, as the band plays, the audience perceives a different layer. Radiohead's commitment to complex musical structures for their enjoyment becomes evident, despite the audience's simpler interpretations. The exploration culminates in recognizing the syncopation's role in creating different listener experiences and affecting the song's reception and appreciation.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is the focus of the video?

    The video focuses on the complexities of Radiohead's song "Videotape," especially its use of syncopation.

  • Why did Thom Yorke struggle with the song "Videotape"?

    Thom Yorke struggled with "Videotape" due to its intricate use of syncopation, making it difficult to find the correct rhythm.

  • What makes "Videotape" unique musically?

    "Videotape" is unique because it uses syncopation to create a musical illusion, changing the perceived rhythm dramatically.

  • How is syncopation used in "Videotape"?

    In "Videotape," syncopation occurs as the piano notes are played off-beat, creating a rhythm that conflicts with conventional musical timing.

  • What is the significance of the kick drum in "Videotape"?

    The kick drum in "Videotape" plays off the downbeat, adding to the illusion and complexity of the rhythm, making it challenging to discern the true beat.

  • Why do fans debate over the Bonnaroo and album versions of "Videotape"?

    Fans debate over which version is better because the Bonnaroo version is energetic and vibrant, while the album version is more somber and funeral-like.

  • How does syncopation generally affect music?

    Syncopation in music provides a rhythmic surprise, making it sound more interesting and dynamic by breaking the usual monotony.

  • What does Thom Yorke's syncopation achieve in "Videotape"?

    The syncopation in "Videotape" challenges listeners' and musicians' perception, creating a complex and nuanced listening experience.

  • Which band member had difficulty finding the beat one?

    Phil, the drummer, had difficulty finding beat one due to the syncopation in "Videotape," demonstrating its complexity.

  • How did fans react to the rhythm of "Videotape" during performances?

    Fans often clapped or bobbed their heads on the wrong beat, not realizing the syncopation altering the expected rhythm.

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  • 00:00:00
    This story is about one of my favorite songs
  • 00:00:02
    by one of the most beloved bands in the entire world.
  • 00:00:05
    It begins on September 29, 2008 at a Radiohead show.
  • 00:00:11
    Thom Yorke, Radiohead’s frontman, is at the piano,
  • 00:00:13
    and he's about to play a song called “Videotape.”
  • 00:00:17
    ♪
  • 00:00:25
    Or, at least he's trying to.
  • 00:00:27
    "Temporary loss of information."
  • 00:00:29
    Thom Yorke, perhaps one of the most critically acclaimed musicians of his generation,
  • 00:00:34
    can’t seem to play four quarter notes.
  • 00:00:38
    "This tune called 'Videotape' that we’ve got
  • 00:00:41
    is just driving me crazy.
  • 00:00:44
    Absolutely crazy.
  • 00:00:45
    We kind of had an idea but we just couldn’t see it through."
  • 00:00:48
    The reason for all this is that this song draws its power
  • 00:00:51
    from a musical illusion.
  • 00:00:53
    "Radiohead are purposefully hiding something
  • 00:00:57
    in plain sight, or what you might say plain hearing."
  • 00:01:00
    That's Warren Lain.
  • 00:01:01
    He teaches his music students how to think
  • 00:01:03
    just like Radiohead.
  • 00:01:04
    "For him to struggle with that, it shows that he's actually hearing
  • 00:01:07
    something a lot more complex."
  • 00:01:09
    The mystery is so deep that Warren made a 30 minute video
  • 00:01:12
    trying to decipher it.
  • 00:01:13
    "I was getting obsessed.
  • 00:01:14
    I was getting totally obsessed with this thing."
  • 00:01:17
    "Videotape" was officially released in 2007
  • 00:01:20
    but it wasn’t the first time fans had heard the song.
  • 00:01:22
    They were actually workshopping it in 2006,
  • 00:01:25
    most notably at Bonnaroo.
  • 00:01:28
    And it sounds completely different.
  • 00:01:30
    On fan forums, Reddit, and Youtube
  • 00:01:32
    there’s an endless debate over which one is better.
  • 00:01:35
    The Bonnaroo version is energetic and anthemic.
  • 00:01:38
    ♪
  • 00:01:47
    The album version sounds like a funeral march.
  • 00:01:50
    ♪
  • 00:01:54
    The two versions of the song couldn’t sound more different
  • 00:01:57
    but they actually share a common musical DNA.
  • 00:02:02
    And that DNA actually explains Thom’s messy start.
  • 00:02:05
    You see, the piano in "Videotape" is actually syncopated.
  • 00:02:11
    So to fully understand what’s going on here,
  • 00:02:13
    you have to know how to count music.
  • 00:02:15
    "The vast majority of contemporary music
  • 00:02:17
    is written in 4/4 time.
  • 00:02:19
    Which means there are 4 quarter notes in a measure.
  • 00:02:22
    The down beat carries the most amount of stress
  • 00:02:24
    and it anchors the rhythm of the song.
  • 00:02:26
    You can subdivide the 4 quarter notes into eighth notes
  • 00:02:30
    Those eighth notes can then be subdivided into sixteenth notes.
  • 00:02:34
    Try clapping on beats 2 and 4.
  • 00:02:37
    ♪
  • 00:02:50
    Seems easy, right?
  • 00:02:52
    Syncopation happens when you accent those notes
  • 00:02:54
    outside of the beat, on those “ands”.
  • 00:02:57
    And that is exactly what Thom Yorke is doing
  • 00:02:59
    with his piano to pull off this illusion.
  • 00:03:02
    "The piano should happen on beat one, but it’s doesn’t."
  • 00:03:04
    In Thom’s head, it’s shifted an eighth note ahead,
  • 00:03:07
    on the “and” between 4 and 1,
  • 00:03:09
    syncopating the entire rhythmic pulse of the song.
  • 00:03:12
    Here’s how you should’ve clapped.
  • 00:03:15
    ♪
  • 00:03:27
    "Have I already lost everybody
  • 00:03:29
    and no one's watching this video anymore?"
  • 00:03:31
    Probably, but let’s take a step back.
  • 00:03:34
    Syncopation is the backbone of a lot of genres of music,
  • 00:03:37
    to like afrobeat, funk, and jazz.
  • 00:03:39
    It’s meant to make music sound loose and fun,
  • 00:03:42
    and it’s really easy to spot in a song.
  • 00:03:45
    ♪
  • 00:03:55
    "That's kind of the heart of why syncopation is so cool.
  • 00:03:58
    Because it's interesting.
  • 00:03:59
    It kind of breaks up what otherwise would be
  • 00:04:01
    a more rhythmic monotony in a song."
  • 00:04:04
    So, if syncopation is so common
  • 00:04:06
    then why is it a challenge for him?
  • 00:04:09
    And if it is syncopated,
  • 00:04:10
    why does this rhythm sound so monotonous?
  • 00:04:13
    ♪
  • 00:04:17
    In Douglas Fields’ book "Why We Snap,"
  • 00:04:19
    he points out this very conundrum.
  • 00:04:21
    He says brain waves become phase shifted
  • 00:04:23
    so that the peak of the brain waves always occur
  • 00:04:26
    at a precise point relative to the next beat of a rhythm.
  • 00:04:30
    In short, rhythmic sound synchronizes the brain waves of groups of people.
  • 00:04:35
    "So I'm going to do an impression, ok, of what it sounds like to the audience members
  • 00:04:40
    that don't know that 'Videotape' is in fact syncopated.
  • 00:04:44
    So they hear the piano... ♪
  • 00:04:48
    their head goes one, two, three, four."
  • 00:04:53
    Or they clap on the wrong beat.
  • 00:04:55
    ♪ [audience clapping] ♪
  • 00:05:01
    Radiohead is not just fighting their musical instincts
  • 00:05:05
    when they hear that piano,
  • 00:05:06
    they’re fighting against their own brain waves.
  • 00:05:09
    "As I went on and I looked deeper into this quagmire,
  • 00:05:14
    I found out that Phil had trouble
  • 00:05:17
    finding out where beat one was.
  • 00:05:19
    And I'm like, 'Phil's the drummer, what do you mean
  • 00:05:21
    you don't know where beat one was?'
  • 00:05:23
    In piano that's like not knowing where middle C is.
  • 00:05:26
    Here’s one reason why. Take a listen to this clip.
  • 00:05:30
    ♪
  • 00:05:48
    That kick drum —
  • 00:05:50
    an instrument usually reserved for establishing where the downbeat is —
  • 00:05:53
    isn’t playing on the downbeat, it’s playing with the piano.
  • 00:05:57
    "Hearing it as the end of 4 is,
  • 00:05:59
    especially without anything hitting on the downbeat,
  • 00:06:02
    that is complex.
  • 00:06:04
    That requires a really strong sense of internal rhythm
  • 00:06:06
    and the ability to kind of tune out
  • 00:06:09
    something else that’s screaming at you,
  • 00:06:11
    'this is the downbeat' and you say,
  • 00:06:13
    'no that’s not the downbeat.'"
  • 00:06:15
    That’s really the heart of it.
  • 00:06:16
    Thom’s piano, with that kick drum,
  • 00:06:18
    begins to take on the feeling of the beat.
  • 00:06:21
    And what gets established is pure deception.
  • 00:06:23
    "That is why Thom Yorke is struggling to play
  • 00:06:29
    in the '93 Feet East version.
  • 00:06:44
    "Right there, Johnny Greenwood is giving him a hi-hat
  • 00:06:48
    on beats two and four.
  • 00:06:50
    And so he'll try to play his piano not on the hi-hat,
  • 00:06:54
    but just after the hi-hat."
  • 00:06:56
    ♪
  • 00:07:03
    "You're seeing a picture of a man who is using 100% of his mental energy
  • 00:07:08
    to try and get something just right."
  • 00:07:11
    Thom is playing his piano as if he's joining in
  • 00:07:14
    with something that's actually already playing.
  • 00:07:16
    And when you look for this, you can actually see it.
  • 00:07:19
    You can hear a little metronome very faintly
  • 00:07:21
    at the beginning and end of the song
  • 00:07:23
    if you turn the volume up.
  • 00:07:25
    ♪
  • 00:07:30
    "It's kind of like a train, and it's running,
  • 00:07:33
    and you're like, I gotta catch this train,
  • 00:07:36
    I gotta catch this train.
  • 00:07:38
    And if you miss it, you miss it.
  • 00:07:39
    And music can be very, very unforgiving like that.
  • 00:07:42
    As fans are bobbing their heads and even clapping like this,
  • 00:07:45
    ♪
  • 00:07:48
    The band is doing something totally different
  • 00:07:50
    to actually find the beat.
  • 00:07:52
    "Especially Colin Greenwood, the bass player.
  • 00:07:55
    "He is playing this really simple thing
  • 00:07:57
    and he's going like this.
  • 00:07:59
    ♪
  • 00:08:01
    He's just doing one of these, and it's just like
  • 00:08:04
    what, is he in a club right now?
  • 00:08:07
    I don't know if this guy knows he's playing a slow song.
  • 00:08:11
    If we simply superimposed a back beat in the right spot,
  • 00:08:14
    you’ll hear that club song they’re dancing to.
  • 00:08:17
    ♪
  • 00:08:24
    The appeal of syncopation is that you can hear it,
  • 00:08:27
    you can dance to it,
  • 00:08:28
    it serves as a rhythmic surprise in a song.
  • 00:08:31
    And that’s probably why Radiohead fans love the Bonnaroo version so much.
  • 00:08:36
    You can hear the syncopation.
  • 00:08:37
    "There's this moment in the song where it just kind of turns
  • 00:08:42
    from that subdued energy, and it just turns,
  • 00:08:46
    and it becomes frenetic.
  • 00:08:48
    And that moment I'm referring to is when Phil
  • 00:08:51
    starts to play a simple back beat.
  • 00:08:54
    ♪
  • 00:09:05
    And the only thing left for me to acknowledge was,
  • 00:09:08
    if it is syncopated, why the hell did they bury it?
  • 00:09:13
    The only answer I could come up with is just because they really like it.
  • 00:09:17
    Because they really, really like amusing themselves and challenging themselves.
  • 00:09:23
    BBC Host: "Do you have a favorite song on the record?"
  • 00:09:25
    Thom "Uh, 'Videotape.'
  • 00:09:27
    I wanted to put it first, until someone pointed out that
  • 00:09:30
    if we did that, everybody would turn it straight off."
  • 00:09:48
    "You know how everybody thinks the song is kind of like"
  • 00:09:51
    [claps]
  • 00:09:54
    The band actually hears it more like:
  • 00:09:58
    [claps]
  • 00:10:00
    It's double the speed.
  • 00:10:02
    In fact, it's 154.78 BPM.
  • 00:10:06
    And don't ask me how long it took me to figure that out."
Tags
  • Radiohead
  • Videotape
  • Thom Yorke
  • Syncopation
  • Rhythm
  • Music Illusion
  • Live Performance
  • Musical Complexity
  • Fan Debate
  • Rhythmic Dissonance