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Radiohead – 2 + 2 = 5 (3:18)

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About This Track

This song was premiered in San Sebastian, Spain on July 31, 2002. The song’s alternative title is “The Lukewarm”.

The song’s title “2 + 2 = 5” recalls the symbol of unreality from George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the book, inhabitants of an authoritarian future state are made to engage in doublethink, replacing their own conscience and beliefs with those imposed from above. At the end of the novel, the protagonist’s individuality is demolished, as he avows that two and two are, in fact, five. The song contains similar inaccuracies including January bringing April showers.

With lyrics like “All hail to the thief, but I’m not” and “Don’t question my authority” there have been repeated suggestions from many musical critics that the song is based on the controversial election of George W. Bush in 2000. The band have strenuously denied this, saying in one interview, “It would be too easy for us to insult George Bush”.

The song reached number 15 on the UK singles chart.

The first part of the song is in a 7/4 time signature, which switches to 4/4 about 1 minute 22 seconds in (after the words “Two and two always makes five…”).

At the beginning of the song, the listener hears guitarist Jonny Greenwood plugging his guitar in and saying “We’re on”, with lead vocalist Thom Yorke replying “That’s a nice way to start, Jonny…”.
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  • thekills1985

    Every Radiohead song is an emotional experience ... brilliant!

    16 days ago

  • prime1128

    Paying attention.

    March 2012

  • captainyodel

    <3

    February 2012

  • juanfmonc

    This is my favorite band!! I dedicated this pic (http://tinyurl.com/787cbfx) to this song, you may like it :)

    February 2012

  • obscurecendo

    "That's a nice way to start, Jonny." [2]

    December 2011

  • Vermillion666

    i always heard meditation

    December 2011

  • AlexMercure

    PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION

    December 2011

  • Tiana21_11

    "That's a nice way to start, Jonny."

    November 2011

  • Alex_Darkness

    beeeeest

    November 2011

  • merwe_ryan

    PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION (I'd swear too!)

    November 2011

  • rimel_de_miel

    I am such a dreamer :)

    October 2011

  • serizierrock

    this is better than Red Bull

    September 2011

  • ms_creep

    perhaps my fav Radiohead song

    August 2011

  • tiho_ti

    great.

    June 2011

  • paul30483

    Love this song! By the way guys if any of u want a free iphone 4 check out this site FREEIPHONE4-METROLYRICS.INFO Actually works! Just got mine the other day haha

    May 2011

  • YuiBloodsucker

    wow. I like this so. Umm Yes best song ever. *o*

    May 2011

  • Badscaremonger

    It was my first Radiohead song

    April 2011

  • rache-l

    go and tell the king the sky is falling in...

    March 2011

  • ABattleofOne

    PENETRATION PENETRATION PENETRATION (I swear this is what Thom is saying)

    February 2011

  • Bastafa

    math rock.

    January 2011
See all 138 shouts

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