Radiohead » Tracks » No Surprises

Radiohead – No Surprises (3:50)

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About This Track

No Surprises is a song by the British alternative rock band Radiohead. It was released as the third and final single from the group’s 1997 album OK Computer. Accompanied by a music video that featured a single shot of singer Thom Yorke’s head in a plastic bubble that filled with water, the single peaked at number four in the United Kingdom.

Radiohead wrote “No Surprises” while touring with the band R.E.M. in 1995. “No Surprises” was the first song Radiohead recorded on the first day of recording sessions for OK Computer. The version of the song on the album is the first take recorded. Singer Thom Yorke commented, “We did endless versions afterwards […] and they were all just covers of the first version. So we gave up and went back to .”

The lyrics originally told the story of a man who has become fed up with the way things are working out for him and is having problems with his girlfriend. Two lines from this version are, “He was sick of her excuses / To not take off her dress when bleedin’ in the bathroom.” Preparing to record the song, Yorke altered the lyrics dramatically; instead of telling a love story about a man and his girlfriend, the song now appears to figuratively reference taking one’s own life (as evidenced in lyrics such as “I’ll take a quiet life/A handshake/Of carbon monoxide”) to illustrate contempt for the complacency of British “normality”.

“No Surprises” was released as the third single from OK Computer on 12 January 1998. The single reached number four on the UK Singles Chart.
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Albums featuring this track

  • OK Computer
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  • The Best Of
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  • OK Computer (Collector's Edition)
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  • DeLuxe Collection
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  • LuanAlvesCobain

    Silent... silence. <3

    Friday morning

  • petecrowbaby

    Great music.

    Thursday afternoon

  • lucasfarria

    the best !

    9 days ago

  • Sound-Of-Nature

    My favorite song from Radiohead. [3]

    10 days ago

  • DarkOblivion

    one of the best songs ever made

    last month

  • Ennish

    I didn't think much of this song until now. Probably one of the best off of OK Computer, and that's saying something.

    last month

  • dansux

    <3

    last month

  • EricValeev

    Gorgeous <3

    last month

  • engelnit

    My favorite song from Radiohead. [2]

    last month

  • VGKS

    such a pretty house and such a pretty garden... so much emotion in such a simple text

    last month

  • shellbyrne

    a heart that's full up like a landfill....

    March 2012

  • emiliankasemi

    No alarms...

    March 2012

  • mbelexhosa

    thought i hated radiohead. i really don't. found them late in life but enjoying to the max :)

    March 2012

  • Genaro1992

    you look so tired and unhappy...

    March 2012

  • LoboTreads

    I love the contrast of instruments with lyrics. Making peace with the apathy that helps you get by.

    March 2012

  • markdeacon2

    Siiiileennt

    March 2012

  • DrinkJustSix

    That feel when I always cry during this song when I listen to OK Computer alone. :/

    March 2012

  • M_U_S_I_C_FAN

    Absolutely perfect

    March 2012

  • beyondmountains

    legendary.

    March 2012

  • bruno_avilar

    :~

    March 2012
See all 1,150 shouts

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