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Radiohead — The Tourist
Album: OK Computer
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1280









Released: 1997
Length: 5:16
Plays (last 30 days): 3
It barks at no one else but me like it's seen a ghost
I guess it seen the sparks a-flowing, no one else would know

Hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down

Sometimes I get overcharged that's when you see sparks
You ask me where the hell I'm going at a thousand feet per second

Hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down

Hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down
Comments (171)add comment
Great song from an amazing album. Unfortunately, from my perspective it's been a slow, steady decline since then.
I read something with Thom Yorke saying he hates the album Pablo Honey. One of only two good albums they made in my view. Just moves me further away from these guys. Love Pablo Honey, The bends and the My iron lung ep and prefer to act like they split up then than hear anything else they have done.
Had to shut it off... this kind of depressing groove just isn't the thing for a sunny Saturday afternoon.
I can't rate this as anything under a '10.' Of all my 10's (and there are plenty), this might be in the top 5. Just hauntingly beautiful, frightening lyrics, immaculately voiced, lovingly arranged.
That felt like never ending pain.
 jp33442 wrote:

Then hit the next buttons instead of whining about it 



I rarely use the PSD button but when I do it almost always brings me to something great like Radiohead. What I didn't like means nothing to anyone but me so I keep it to myself.
 MassivRuss wrote:

Have I mentioned lately how much I HATE Radiohead and Thom Yorke's voice?


Then hit the next buttons instead of whining about it 
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 

Must be a great Church!

Have I mentioned lately how much I HATE Radiohead and Thom Yorke's voice?
"Hey man, slow down, slow down, idiot, slow down, slow down..." 

Good advice for anyone, especially me. 
This song is one of the best Radiohead made. And Radiohead is one of the best in the last decades. So... Please give it some airtime again Bill.
{#Daisy}
 gemtag wrote:
The best in music today. Maybe not saying much to many. But this group of musicians would shine during any musical era.

These guys are talent, precision, variety, mood, and pure genius. Like I said before, These guys care more about their music than money or fame. They make music for music's sake, and thankfully mine as well.

 
 

 
Echo your words gemtag !  Check out "Snarky Puppy" for outstanding musicianship and stunning live shows.  And their latest album "Family Dinner" for captivating vocals and variety of mood.
Fabulous and inspirational album from start to finish.
enough with the readiohead! {#Wall}
Easy 10. Maybe 11.
 

Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 
I needed a song like this today
Funny ... we decided to dial in RP today and, I shit you not, were discussing not fifteen minutes ago how good it was —- "we're being spared the Radiohead."

Cue this tune, the standard atonal Radiohead dirge.

Over and out.  Someday we need to think about whether it makes sense to contribute to a site that seems intent on torturing us.


I really savaged this album when it first came out. I was wrong. This is genius.

I'd rate every song on this album at least an 8, with at least half being 10s.  This is one of the 10s for me.


The best in music today. Maybe not saying much to many. But this group of musicians would shine during any musical era.

These guys are talent, precision, variety, mood, and pure genius. Like I said before, These guys care more about their music than money or fame. They make music for music's sake, and thankfully mine as well.

 
 

It does not appear, but this is perhaps one of the most difficult songs made by Radiohead, released between September 1996 - March 1997, after 12 years of musical career (and gone are the days of rare inspiration ...), and therefore any approach by other artists, and moreover, a young female voice Sarah Jarosz, with the use of traditional folk instruments, is also a difficult exercise. I must say I like this version, is an honest exercise, personal sense, not pretentious, not wanting to match the original song, but with a very interesting result. And remember, that Sarah has 20 years of age, and recorded this version (cover) of the song The Tourist, in her album Follow Me Down (2011) after 2 years of early career. And even now, take this moment to say that the work done so far by artist Sarah Jarosz, so young, so recent in the music scene, in the musical area hard and demanding, is a truly remarkable and exceptional quality.



 
Had to bump this to 10 today. After all, the description of 10 is "Godlike" so that does it for me.
One of my favorite RH songs.  Nice!
 btt wrote:
I`ve tried . Really . But I just can`t get into this band .
I don`t hate them , but I don`t like them either .
 
I'm kind of the same.  I enjoy some Radiohead, but every time I put on one of their albums, I find myself wanting to skip a few tracks because I find them "uninteresting".  I rated this one a 7 however.  My favourite by them is "Knives Out".
Ok, this has grown on me a little. I've upgraded my rating from 2 - 6.


 keller1 wrote:
Cruzan/Doctormurky:  You're absolutely right.

Vandal:  My first set of outlaws lived in Wailea.  What kind of gig takes you to Lahaina?  And why aren't you listening to Jimmy Buffett, for God's sake?
 
Was on vacation in Maui with the wife.  Second best vacation we've ever taken.  (First was our honeymoon cruise in the Caribbean. . .)  You should know, Buffett just isn't my jam. 

Wow, reading these comments is so much fun. I can relate to both sides, this was not a band I liked immediately. I remember my room-mate and best friend in college used to listen to them a lot and I couldn't really get into it, thought it sounded weird. Funny enough, I was really getting into Pink Floyd at that time. After a bit or musical growth on my side, Radiohead became one of my favorite bands — right up there with the Floyd.
 GuiltyFeat wrote:
I'm one of those losers who prefers The Bends to every album Radiohead have produced since. Nevertheless, this sounds pretty good right now.
 

if so, we are losers together. I still think The Bends is a perfect 10 album. most of their newer albums are very close to that, but in each one there are a few songs which i like less. The Bends is just such a complete album... But OKC does come very, very close.
I'm one of those losers who prefers The Bends to every album Radiohead have produced since. Nevertheless, this sounds pretty good right now.
this is sounding sooo good right now.  9 —-> 10
Pure genius very yummy

 keller1 wrote:


You know dick about me, so you're in no position to conclude that I'm naive.

I've been to Chicago.  It's a civilized place.  I don't think that you would walk into a club or a party there and call somebody clueless.  So, I don't think it's done "all the time" at all unless you're some kind of a closet case.

Same for the RP comments pages.
  {#Roflol}haaaaaaaa ha ha     yer funny.


 johnjconn wrote:

Sure they do, adults call people names all the time. I called him clueless for his lack of Radiohead appreciation
I'll call you naive for you comments.

See , I did it again, it's done all the time.

 

You know dick about me, so you're in no position to conclude that I'm naive.

I've been to Chicago.  It's a civilized place.  I don't think that you would walk into a club or a party there and call somebody clueless.  So, I don't think it's done "all the time" at all unless you're some kind of a closet case.

Same for the RP comments pages.


 johnjconn wrote:

Clueless

 

That would be you, presumably.

Adults don't call other people names.
What a great set, Bill:

Patty Griffin  - You'll Remember
Sun Kil Moon - You are My Sun
Imogen Heap - Canvas

and now this!

 teapot wrote:


Me too. Majorly.
 
I think there should be some sort of research/study done on this phenomenon ....what makes some people hate it soooo much and others LOVE it.....makes me curiouser and curiouser.

 jules44 wrote:
Radiohead....the band that most polarizes RP listeners.......Amuses me to no end!

(p.s. for what it's worth...put me in the "love em" column!)
 

Me too. Majorly.
Radiohead....the band that most polarizes RP listeners.......Amuses me to no end!

(p.s. for what it's worth...put me in the "love em" column!)
Slow down. Yes.
Cruzan/Doctormurky:  You're absolutely right.

Vandal:  My first set of outlaws lived in Wailea.  What kind of gig takes you to Lahaina?  And why aren't you listening to Jimmy Buffett, for God's sake?
This might be the worst band in music today...

tom yorke by ~alex7634
©2006-2010 ~alex7634

this is the singer of radiohead

.



The only band that matters.
Ahhh, listening to Radiohead from the calm paradise of Lahaina. . .
 Cruzan wrote:
This is the second time today I have had to turn down an awful Radiohead song.....  NPR played one on the way to work.
I am sorry. I don't get it. Little or no melody, the singer is off key and whiny beyond belief. (And this is one of their "better" songs)
I know it is supposed to be an "art song" but this is dissonant and painful to listen to. Try comparing this to Talk Talk and see how it can be done so much more musically. .........
 

If you don't hear a melody then I..........oy
Brilliant
 dedawson wrote:
Sounds like old AM radio at sunset when the low power local station started getting stepped on by the 50Kw's from the big cities{#Crowded}
 

{#Lol}{#Roflol}

I like it

I agree it must be terrible to not like them, to be allergic to this sound, to deeply be annoyed by the voice, and still get to listen to it quite regularly. Sorry about that...
Sounds like old AM radio at sunset when the low power local station started getting stepped on by the 50Kw's from the big cities{#Crowded}
 Cruzan wrote:
This is the second time today I have had to turn down an awful Radiohead song.....  NPR played one on the way to work.
I am sorry. I don't get it. Little or no melody, the singer is off key and whiny beyond belief. (And this is one of their "better" songs)
I know it is supposed to be an "art song" but this is dissonant and painful to listen to. Try comparing this to Talk Talk and see how it can be done so much more musically. .........
 
I am a Radiohead fan but I'd agree that this (song) is not their best effort. btw, thanks for explaining why you dislike them rather than just using the moronic "this sucks" comment that many seem to resort to.

 Cruzan wrote:
This is the second time today I have had to turn down an awful Radiohead song.....  NPR played one on the way to work.
I am sorry. I don't get it. Little or no melody, the singer is off key and whiny beyond belief. (And this is one of their "better" songs)
I know it is supposed to be an "art song" but this is dissonant and painful to listen to. Try comparing this to Talk Talk and see how it can be done so much more musically. .........
 
Ditto.

This is the second time today I have had to turn down an awful Radiohead song.....  NPR played one on the way to work.
I am sorry. I don't get it. Little or no melody, the singer is off key and whiny beyond belief. (And this is one of their "better" songs)
I know it is supposed to be an "art song" but this is dissonant and painful to listen to. Try comparing this to Talk Talk and see how it can be done so much more musically. .........


I`ve tried . Really . But I just can`t get into this band .
I don`t hate them , but I don`t like them either .
Kinda like the way I feel about lima beans . 

I remember the first time I listened to this album from start to finish. I'd been waiting for it for ages but still was not quite prepared for what I heard. It was spell-binding and so different from their two previous albums, which I loved.

They have definitely become a band that people love to hate. Frankly, I'll take a million Radioheads over all the very mediocre Brooklyn bands everyone raves about these days.

 kame wrote:
I've learned to accept the fact that people hate Radiohead, and not only the stupid ones. They are a polarizing sort of band, and I think this album is the magnet. The song itself is great, not the best on the album, but an excellent closer. I think Thom's voice is peachy, and if you want to criticise the high register he sings in, go ahead. I just believe he does it better than Bono, Martin, et. all.
 
I find for me and I think for a lot of other people too, we generally like what Radiohead does, more or less, so long as Yorke doesn't try  singing falsetto.  I know that's what put me off "In Rainbows" which is otherwise quite an excellent album.

Another amazing tune from a great album.

Now where are the naysayers who say Thom can't sing.

Give me a break.
OUTSTANDING SONG (not a radiohead fan) ==> 9
Sigur Ros in english ?
Luscious bliss.

 MJMJ wrote:
Who's strangling that cat? Stop it.
 

Made it to the LRC in seconds flat.
Such a lovely transition from The Decemberists...   sigh...
The Karma Police - Tribute to RADIOHEAD Where: The Lion's Den - 214 Sullivan St., NYC - Date: Friday, September 21, 2007 Time: 11:30P ** Celebrating the 10 year anniversary release of OK COMPUTER by performing the album in it's entirety!!! ** Tickets are only $10!!! get your's today at: www.cegmusic.musictoday.com(click here) Don't miss this rare chance to hear the entire OK COMPUTER album from start to finish!!! You can find audio and video of The Karma Police at: www.myspace.com/tkpmusic (click here)
Who's strangling that cat? Stop it.
Hey man ... slow down ... Slow down for the end of this monumental song never to arrive.
This song still absolutely kills me after ten years. Might be Radiohead's finest moment.
briandel wrote:
The greatest album of the 90s. Begins with sleigh bells (Airbag). Ends with a triangle hit (The Tourist). Brilliant!
Greatest usually takes time. Now that it's the late oughts (2000s), I think we can start to award the 1990s. I agree, every track is Brilliant!
i love it that bill is on a radiohead kick. genious, bill, genious!
The greatest album of the 90s. Begins with sleigh bells (Airbag). Ends with a triangle hit (The Tourist). Brilliant!
Aaahhhhhhhhh
yeah, I am the 100th commentor!!! The album is phantastic. But still having to compare, I think this one is the least great ...
10 years on and I still love every track on this album although I have to admit there was a point some time ago that overplay seriously made it unlistenable that has now died off thankfully
christopherwoods wrote:
I dunno, I guess I just feel that this is their 'perfect' work - it encapsulates their attitude, their style, and a few of the songs are verging on the sublime. My favourite Radiohead album, hands down.
I second that. It was the first Radiohead album I ever heard and it took a couple of listens, but then I just couldn't stop listening to it. It's a fantastic album from one of the few bands that will stand the test of time. I can understand that it isn't everybody's cup of tea, but Radiohead is a unique and very talented band.
One of the truly great bands of recent times! !«:::R:::» «:::A:::» «:::D:::» «:::I:::» «:::O:::» «:::H:::» «:::E:::» «:::A:::» «:::D:::»! You're Great!
I guess this song isnt for everybody; but count me in, I like it.
I still say this is the ideal music to kill yourself by. Should you be so inclined. Please don't. I was only kidding. Geeze.
Great CD Cover art. Boring song.
Nope. I just don't get it.
depressing the music isn't bad so much as I think the singer is on ludes with a hangover.
i love this song so much.
... "takes off headphones and goes for an early coffee break"...
junebaby65 wrote:
Still trying to figure out the hype...I keep hearing how they're the new "Pink Floyd". I get the atmospheric vibe they have..but I just can't groove on any of it yet...This tune is pretty meandering...Maybe I need weed?
won't help!
These guys are total radiohead wanna-be's
strick wrote:
To me, this is Radiohead's best album. I still listen to it every so often and think, "wow, that is an awesome piece of work." It encompasses the best of their previous efforts, with the full-on, thrashing indie rock, but it has tinges of their more experimental side, which became much more prevalent in their later albums - this is their last album which I can just sit and listen to all the way through, and enjoy doing so (minimal thought required to 'decode' the music, like with their most recent albums) but it has a little more intelligence imbued into its soul than their older, rawer albums. I dunno, I guess I just feel that this is their 'perfect' work - it encapsulates their attitude, their style, and a few of the songs are verging on the sublime. My favourite Radiohead album, hands down.
kmh wrote:
It's an acquired taste
I've acquired it - slower tunes take a bit longer to absorb though...
junebaby65 wrote:
Still trying to figure out the hype...I keep hearing how they're the new "Pink Floyd". I get the atmospheric vibe they have..but I just can't groove on any of it yet...This tune is pretty meandering...Maybe I need weed?
Still trying to figure out the hype...I keep hearing how they're the new "Pink Floyd". I get the atmospheric vibe they have..but I just can't groove on any of it yet...This tune is pretty meandering...Maybe I need weed?
Pyro wrote:
The vocals remind me of Rufus Wainwright. Anyone else hear it?
Does anyone else think this sounds like it could be a Cowboy Junkies song? Consider the bit at the beginning, then take out Thom's voice and put in Margo Timmins.
That voice... it just hurts my ears most of the time.
Mmmmmm Radiohead....
and now Radiohead - Idioteque after this and we'll be okay.
jtdiver wrote:
the first time i heard this i hated it. now almost 10 years later and a few hundred listens, i consider OK COMPUTER one of the best albums in the last 25 years. easy 10 "Godlike".
SECONDED!! This song is easily one of my favs, particularly if you listen to the lyrics and read the background on the song. Jonny, the writer of the song, was in a beautiful square in France on a sunny day, and watching all theses American tourists being wheeled around, frantically trying to see everything in 10 minutes. Jonny was shocked at how these people could be in a place so beautiful and so special and not realize it because they weren't taking the time to just stop and look around. Thus the refrain "Hey man, slow down, slow down; idiot, slow down, slow down." Poetic, no?
Wow. I've never heard this song before, I own a few of their albums but never got round to buying OK, I love Thom's voice when he HOOOOOOLDS the notes. A 9 from me.
CCinSB wrote:
It's an acquired taste
Love these guys...
the first time i heard this i hated it. now almost 10 years later and a few hundred listens, i consider OK COMPUTER one of the best albums in the last 25 years. easy 10 "Godlike".
luminousjune wrote:
I love Thom's voice. And I appreciate hearing anything by Radiohead on RP. it makes my day.
Couldn't agree more luminousjune
kame wrote:
I've learned to accept the fact that people hate Radiohead, and not only the stupid ones. They are a polarizing sort of band, and I think this album is the magnet. The song itself is great, not the best on the album, but an excellent closer. I think Thom's voice is peachy, and if you want to criticise the high register he sings in, go ahead. I just believe he does it better than Bono, Martin, et. all.
Well put...and yet I still don't get this bands appeal
please thom...... come back to that!!!!!
I can understand if it isn't your cup of tea. But I love Thom's voice. And I appreciate hearing anything by Radiohead on RP. it makes my day.
unnecessarily bombastic production. Doesn't help the plodding or vocals much. Nice guitar work though.
god we had such a good break from these whiners, now they are back. you're fvcking millionaires! - STFU!
I've learned to accept the fact that people hate Radiohead, and not only the stupid ones. They are a polarizing sort of band, and I think this album is the magnet. The song itself is great, not the best on the album, but an excellent closer. I think Thom's voice is peachy, and if you want to criticise the high register he sings in, go ahead. I just believe he does it better than Bono, Martin, et. all.
I can't think of a single bad song on this album.
Dragonfly_Launch wrote:
Are you aware Tux that you are coloring my opinion of an entire country. Are you choosing the wrong hash?
No. Just listened unfiltered again, and I just cannot listen beyond that annoying voice. I'm trying, I really am, and the music isn't that bad, but every time that voice comes in I want to rush for the mute button. I think that I must admit I would really like Radiohead if they were there as a instrumental group without someone opening his mouth (I deliberately do not use the word singer here, as he does not deserve that).
Worst song on an otherwise classic album.
I heard dire. Not Dire Straits. Just dire noises masquerading as music. Like a cat being ritually disembowelled. Only amplified. and dragging on l o n g e r. And no prospect of salvation.
reedifus wrote:
I dare anyone to try and count Morning Bell and name the time.
Easy--5/4, simple enough to count off, but still in the realm of weird time sigs.
Great song, brilliant album.
Radiohead get's a de facto thumbs up! No matter what the song!
bindi wrote:
Yeah sort of - both whiney And I love both of them!
Me, too.
Pyro wrote:
The vocals remind me of Rufus Wainwright. Anyone else hear it?
Yeah sort of - both whiney And I love both of them!
The only band that bums me out more than late-period Pink Floyd.
Malc wrote:
I think it was was one of the Marsalis brothers who described what Radiohead did as Jazz. Think of what they do as jazz rather than rock and maybe you will hear their music differently.
Good comment. Although, one doesn't have to "think" of RH as jazz. Kid A, for example, is chock full of genuine jazz percussion. I dare anyone to try and count Morning Bell and name the time.
hold the EMO please! this must be what coldplay sounds like in concert after they get drunk and come on stage to cheer everyone up.
Still don't understand why Paranoid Android got rejected, while this does get played. Mysteries of Radio Paradise.