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About This Track
“Optimistic” is the sixth track on the 2000 album Kid A by the band Radiohead.
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.
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
-
Kid A
Radiohead
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $8.99
- Juno $10.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $7.99
- eBay Search
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The Best Of
Radiohead Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $11.99
- Juno $13.49
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon $9.85
- eBay Search
-
Album Box Set
Radiohead Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Radiohead Store
- Amazon Search
- eBay Search
-
Kid A (Collector's Edition)
Radiohead Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $8.99
- Juno $10.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $7.99
- eBay Search
Shouts
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SequenceC wrote:
Love love love <3
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BlqxD wrote:
it has such a good 90s vibe in it
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aworthlessjunk wrote:
It's at 4:21 the best part starts. [3]
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naccsa wrote:
It's at 4:21 the best part starts. [2]
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chadderack wrote:
The spooky "ooo ooo ooo" outro (4:30) is goose pimpling-ly awesome. Totally makes the song.
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niccotc wrote:
"If you try the best you can If you try the best you can The best you can is good enough" Ah! love it
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bernlin2000 wrote:
Story of my life at the moment, the lyrics are perfect :-)
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caitforst wrote:
i die when he says "fodder for the animals" just kills me. so perfect.
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SerTapsaHenrick wrote:
One of the best at least
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maddestmoose wrote:
best radiohead song
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dixiegrass wrote:
Take a new head, guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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annam1050 wrote:
ive always felt like this song is mocking me
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PhilipFryer wrote:
Tune of the couplet reminds me Walking in my Shoes and now i'm Depeche-Mode-hater 'cause their tunes were stolen by Radoihead! Brazen bastards!
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Cianorange wrote:
я конкретно залип [2]
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diezeitgeist wrote:
It's at 4:21 the best part starts.
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EraserKid wrote:
Massive, like a dinosaur.
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innerspeaker wrote:
Song fits with the album cover.
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egorgnibeda wrote:
я конкретно залип
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Andrey_Romanov wrote:
Мне определенно нравится их фантазия
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mulololo wrote:
If you try the best you can If you try the best you can The best you can is good enough
Track Stats
2,973,667 Scrobbles
512,153 Listeners
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Recent Activity
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radiojete added Optimistic to radiojete’s library. 2 hours ago
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tezzztabber, Scawy_Robot, KajaSydel and 2 other people loved Radiohead – Optimistic. 10 hours ago
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cocoafiend added Optimistic to the playlist Stolen Limbs. yesterday evening
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hugocwinter, _obzZzen_, RobotGhoul and 6 other people loved Radiohead – Optimistic. yesterday evening
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Art_Ramone added Optimistic to the playlist Лучшие песни Radiohead. Thursday afternoon
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feliipeferreira and a_mnesiac loved Radiohead – Optimistic. Thursday afternoon
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uterpendragon1 added Optimistic to uterpendragon1’s library. Thursday morning
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uterpendragon1 added Optimistic to the playlist ALBUMS_3. Thursday morning
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grubygej, luzifier, virtuech and 4 other people loved Radiohead – Optimistic. Wednesday evening
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haxboy added Optimistic to the playlist ggg. Tuesday evening
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