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About This Track
No singles were released from Kid A, but promos of several songs from the album, including “Optimistic”, were sent to radio stations. Without an official single specified by the band or label, the guitar-driven “Optimistic” became the default track to be picked up by alternative rock stations in the United States and received more airplay than any other track on Kid A. The song hit number 10 on the Billboard modern rock charts,[1], and one of only three Radiohead songs - the others being “Creep” and “Bodysnatchers” - to peak in the Top 10 of that chart.
“Optimistic” was included on disc one of the 17-track, US version of Radiohead: The Best of, a compilation released by Capitol Records in 2008. The song was not included on the 16-track, UK version released by Parlophone.
“Optimistic” was performed often during an initial tour in 2000 but it did not appear again in Radiohead’s live shows until it was brought back in 2008 to be played twice at a special show for BBC Radio 1 on April 1, and again on May 4, during a VH1 exclusive concert at the Basement, London, featuring a set from their newest album In Rainbows. It has now become a regular part of the setlist on their 2008 tour. The live performance is similar to the one found on the album, featuring guitar, bass, drums, and ondes martenot, an electronic instrument played by guitarist Jonny Greenwood.
The chorus for “Optimistic” was directly inspired by Thom Yorke’s long term partner, Rachel Owen.
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Albums featuring this track
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Kid A
Radiohead
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Album Box Set
Radiohead
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Kid A (Collector's Edition)
Radiohead
Buy- Download Album
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- 7digital $13.99
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2001-08-01: Hutchinson Field, Chicago, IL, USA
Radiohead
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Recent Activity
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appukhare, crassulaceae, Levikeinz and 1 other person loved Radiohead – Optimistic. 28 minutes ago
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Leonid_Virtuoso added Optimistic to the playlist Best of Alternative Rock. yesterday evening
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DreamPavillion, HeartOfGlasss, Anna12081989 and 5 other people loved Radiohead – Optimistic. yesterday afternoon
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NinaMacLean added Optimistic to NinaMacLean’s library. Monday afternoon
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MachineOfLight, grimmless, sjonnegendrie and 9 other people loved Radiohead – Optimistic. Sunday afternoon
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Dementiask added Optimistic to Dementiask’s library. Saturday morning
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dope_flavor, PMHENDERSON86, Bacaaw23 and 19 other people loved Radiohead – Optimistic. Saturday morning
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TPaternite tagged Optimistic with ‘alternative’. last week
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Xeniast, ijyeah, patkernan123 and 10 other people loved Radiohead – Optimistic. last week
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dherrerav added Optimistic to the playlist :P. last week
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