Spectre (song)

Last updated

"Spectre"
Radiohead Spectre 2016.jpg
Song by Radiohead
A-side "Burn the Witch" (vinyl)
Released25 December 2015
Genre
Length3:19
Label
  • Self-released
  • XL
Producer(s) Nigel Godrich
Alternate cover
Spectre cover.jpg
Original SoundCloud release cover

"Spectre" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 25 December 2015. It was produced by Nigel Godrich.

Contents

Radiohead recorded "Spectre", an orchestral ballad, for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre after another song they had submitted, "Man of War", was rejected. However, the producers instead used "Writing's on the Wall" by Sam Smith, and "Spectre" went unused.

Radiohead released "Spectre" as a free download, their first release since 2011. It was also included as a B-side on the 2016 single "Burn the Witch" and the special edition of A Moon Shaped Pool. It received positive reviews.

Writing and recording

Radiohead were approached by the Bond production team to write the theme for the upcoming James Bond film Spectre (2015). [1] The director, Sam Mendes, and the James Bond actor, Daniel Craig, were both Radiohead fans. [2] In July 2015, the bookmaker William Hill suspended bets after a customer placed £15,000 at ten-to-one odds on Radiohead, suspecting insider knowledge. [3]

Radiohead first submitted "Man of War", an unreleased song written in the 1990s, which the singer, Thom Yorke, had once described as an homage to Bond themes. [4] [5] The Spectre team liked "Man of War", but rejected it when they discovered it had not been written for the film and was therefore ineligible for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. [6]

Radiohead suspended work on their ninth album, A Moon Shaped Pool (2016), to record another song for the film, "Spectre". [7] However, the production team instead used "Writing's on the Wall" by Sam Smith. [8] The lead guitarist, Jonny Greenwood, said the production team felt "Spectre" was "too dark. [9] Yorke said the decision not to use the song was "just politics as far as I can tell". [10] The Bond producer Barbara Broccoli said it arrived too late to be used, and that the team had already created the title sequence using "Writing's on the Wall". [2] Mendes attempted to use "Spectre" elsewhere in the film, but decided its lyrics made it distracting. He described the situation as "an utter nightmare ... We had this beautiful song and we weren't able to use it. But it's somehow cooler for Radiohead to have written a song that wasn't used." [6]

Radiohead's producer, Nigel Godrich, described the experience as a "real waste of energy", and said it disrupted work on A Moon Shaped Pool. [7] Greenwood said that Radiohead were free to finish and release "Spectre" as they wanted, and so "that side of it was really positive ... We get to have it back and it's ours and we got to put it out. We're really, really proud of it." [9]

Composition

"Spectre" is an orchestral ballad [11] that features Yorke's falsetto, strings, "jerky" piano chords and jazz-like drums. [12] Pitchfork likened it to Radiohead's 2001 single "Pyramid Song", [12] and said it had the "melodrama" of a Bond theme with "only a hint of the kitsch". [12] Variety wrote that "Spectre" had "Radiohead's signature moody sound, with a somber sweeping grandeur". [13]

Release

Radiohead released "Spectre" on the audio platform SoundCloud on Christmas Day 2015. Yorke announced the song on Twitter, writing: "Last year we were asked to write a tune for Bond movie Spectre. Yes we were. It didn't work out ... but became something of our own which we love very much. As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it. Merry Christmas." [14] It was the first Radiohead release since the 2011 single "Daily Mail" / "Staircase". [14]

"Spectre" was included as the B-side on Radiohead's 2016 vinyl single "Burn the Witch". [15] It was also included as a bonus track on the special edition of Radiohead's 2016 album A Moon Shaped Pool. [16]

Reception

Pitchfork named it the week's "Best New Music", finding that it was "one of the finest Radiohead songs in some years, much more than a one-off curiosity". [12] Variety wrote that it "might have fit well into the Bond song canon". [13] Chris DeVille of Stereogum picked "Spectre" as one of the week's best songs, writing that it was "beautiful" and a reminder that "Radiohead still have life left in them". [17] After "Writing's on the Wall" won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song the following week, DeVille wrote that "Spectre" was "the more masterful of the two tracks". [18]

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalogue no.
Worldwide25 December 2015 XL Download -
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 16 May 2016 7" (B-side)407917 [19]

Related Research Articles

Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. They comprise Thom Yorke ; brothers Jonny Greenwood and Colin Greenwood (bass); Ed O'Brien ; and Philip Selway. They have worked with the producer Nigel Godrich and the cover artist Stanley Donwood since 1994. Radiohead's experimental approach is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock.

<i>Hail to the Thief</i> 2003 studio album by Radiohead

Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released on 9 June 2003 through Parlophone internationally and a day later through Capitol Records in the United States. It was the last album released under Radiohead's record contract with EMI, the parent company of Parlophone and Capitol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Greenwood</span> English musician (born 1971)

Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood is an English musician. He is the lead guitarist and keyboardist of the rock band Radiohead, and has composed numerous film scores. He has been named one of the greatest guitarists by numerous publications, including Rolling Stone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Yorke</span> English musician (born 1968)

Thomas Edward Yorke is an English musician, best known as the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been described by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel Godrich</span> English record producer

Nigel Timothy Godrich is an English record producer, recording engineer and musician. He has worked with acts including Radiohead, Travis, Beck, Air, Paul McCartney, U2, R.E.M., Pavement, Roger Waters and Arcade Fire.

<i>The Eraser</i> 2006 studio album by Thom Yorke

The Eraser is the debut solo album by the English musician Thom Yorke, released on 10 July 2006 through XL Recordings. It was produced by Nigel Godrich, the longtime producer for Yorke's band Radiohead.

"I Promise" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released in 2017. Radiohead performed it on their 1996 tour, and recorded it during the sessions for their third album, OK Computer (1997), but felt it was not strong enough to release. In June 2017, "I Promise" was included on the OK Computer reissue OKNOTOK 1997 2017 and released as a download with a music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atoms for Peace (band)</span> English-American supergroup

Atoms for Peace were a rock supergroup comprising the Radiohead songwriter Thom Yorke, the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Radiohead's producer Nigel Godrich, the drummer Joey Waronker of Beck and R.E.M., and the percussionist Mauro Refosco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucky (Radiohead song)</span> 1997 single by Radiohead

"Lucky" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, first released on The Help Album, a 1995 charity compilation organised by the charity War Child. "Lucky" was recorded in five hours with the producer Nigel Godrich. Radiohead included it on their third studio album, OK Computer (1997), and released it as a single in France in December 1997.

<i>The King of Limbs</i> 2011 studio album by Radiohead

The King of Limbs is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was self-released on 18 February 2011 as a download, followed by a physical release on 28 March through XL Recordings internationally and TBD Records in North America.

"True Love Waits" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead. Radiohead worked on it for over two decades before releasing it on their ninth album, A Moon Shaped Pool (2016).

<i>Tomorrows Modern Boxes</i> 2014 studio album by Thom Yorke

Tomorrow's Modern Boxes is the second studio album by the English musician Thom Yorke, released on 26 September 2014. It was produced by Nigel Godrich, with artwork by Stanley Donwood, both of whom have long collaborated with Yorke and his band Radiohead. The album blends Yorke's vocals and piano playing with electronic beats and textures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Writing's on the Wall (Sam Smith song)</span> 2015 single by Sam Smith

"Writing's on the Wall" is a song by English singer Sam Smith, written for the release of the 2015 James Bond film Spectre. The song was released as a digital download on 25 September 2015. The song was written by Smith and Jimmy Napes, and produced by the latter alongside Steve Fitzmaurice and Disclosure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burn the Witch (Radiohead song)</span> 2016 single by Radiohead

"Burn the Witch" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, the lead single from their ninth studio album, A Moon Shaped Pool (2016). It features a string section playing with guitar plectrums, producing a percussive sound. Radiohead first worked on the song during the sessions for their fourth album, Kid A (2000), and developed it for over a decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daydreaming (Radiohead song)</span> 2016 Radiohead song

"Daydreaming" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, produced by Nigel Godrich. The song is a piano ballad with strings arranged by the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. It was released as a download on 6 May 2016 as the second and final single from Radiohead's ninth studio album, A Moon Shaped Pool, accompanied by a music video directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

<i>A Moon Shaped Pool</i> 2016 studio album by Radiohead

A Moon Shaped Pool is the ninth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released digitally on 8 May 2016, with a retail release on 17 June 2016 through XL Recordings. It was produced by Radiohead's longtime collaborator Nigel Godrich.

"Man of War" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2017 on the compilation OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017.

<i>Suspiria</i> (2018 soundtrack) 2018 soundtrack album by Thom Yorke

Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film) is the soundtrack for the 2018 horror film Suspiria, composed by the English musician Thom Yorke and produced by Yorke and Sam Petts-Davies. It was released on 26 October 2018 through XL Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smile (band)</span> English rock band

The Smile are an English rock band comprising the Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood with Tom Skinner (drums). Critics likened them to Radiohead, with more jazz, krautrock and progressive rock influences and a looser, wilder sound.

References

  1. ↑ Greene, Andy (8 June 2017). "19 things we learned hanging out with Radiohead". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 The Sound of 007 (documentary). Amazon Prime. October 2022. Event occurs at 1:06:00. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Nobody does it, better: Bond theme betting suspended after punter tries to put £15,000 on Radiohead". The Guardian . 29 July 2015. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Turn Your Radiohead On!". NME . 18 November 1995.
  5. ↑ Geslani, Michelle (22 June 2017). "Radiohead share video for previously unreleased song 'Man of War' — watch". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  6. 1 2 Mendes, Sam (5 November 2017). "Sam Mendes". Sound and Vision (Interview). Interviewed by Miranda Sawyer. BBC Radio 6 Music . Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  7. 1 2 Greene, Andy (8 June 2017). "19 Things We Learned Hanging Out With Radiohead". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Radiohead reveal rejected theme for James Bond film Spectre". BBC News . 25 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Radiohead interview: 'It's a very happy time' - BBC News". BBC News . Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Trendell, Andrew (3 October 2018). "Thom Yorke on how he nearly wrote the soundtrack for Fight Club". NME . Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  11. ↑ "Radiohead did write the theme for James Bond's Spectre, and you can hear it now -- listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Cook-Wilson, Winston (4 January 2016). "Radiohead: "Spectre"". Pitchfork . Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  13. 1 2 Saperstein, Pat (25 December 2016). "Thom Yorke Posts Rejected Radiohead Spectre Theme Song". Variety . Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  14. 1 2 Kreps, Daniel (25 December 2015). "Hear Radiohead's Unused James Bond Theme 'Spectre'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Update: Radiohead's "Burn the Witch" receives vinyl release". Consequence of Sound. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "Radiohead gift fans with surprise new B-Side "Ill Wind" — listen". 30 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "The 5 Best Songs Of The Week". Stereogum. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  18. ↑ "Sam Smith Doesn't Know Who Thom Yorke Is, Hasn't Heard Radiohead's "Spectre"". Stereogum. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  19. ↑ "Radiohead – Burn The Witch b/w Spectre (Indie Exclusive)". Bull Moose. Retrieved 8 May 2016.