Guitar Teacher REACTS: Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out) Acoustic

[@embersoflight_]

I can’t believe he says the vocal performance isn’t his best! Are you kidding me! He is absolutely incredible in this

[@Hakucho64]

Yeah, I was waiting for the bad bit!

[@benkippin8133]

The crazy thing is, I've seen him do it better.

[@DougieL]

A lot of people believe Yorke isnt a great singer? (Perhaps Eloise is in that camp?) This version is epic.

[@musochickburns8212]

Said the same thing... insanely great vocal control, breath control, pitch, tone and emotion... what more could you want ??

[@dirtonableach8066]

My first thoughts, lol

[@bsegovia23]

More Radiohead, they’re such amazing musicians!

[@BasedUriah]

Faster Johnny!

[@AbsurdCats]

I keep coming back here to watch the Radiohead reactions.

[@joshwoodrow3942]

I'm not a reaction guy normally but stumbled on a couple of in rainbows and Lisa hanniigan/rice reactions and really loving your work. I don't play but you explain what I love so specifically and accurately on a different level to anyone else in this genre, you teach people why the love what they love. To boot with genuine enthusiasm love and very good recording quality. Genuine love for music, love you man, make me wanna learn

[@catttthhhhoooo]

Thom York is a friggin god of music.... I'm 43 now and I was listening to his brilliance when I was 15 yrs old... Radiohead put me to sleep every night. All time fave band 🎶💜🎶💜 7:28

[@Katt-._.7.]

Omg! 😃 I’m 41 and been a fan since 13! ☺️ same, every night with headphones for years 🥰

[@soundtrackmaker]

Same. 45

[@KyleS.1987]

This performance misses a lot of the wonderful layers present in the studio recording, but Thom's vocal performance really is stunning.

[@EightPieceBox]

I also prefer it with the full band, but this was a crazy great vocal from Thom. Being stripped down like this helps show it off.

[@Maxwellish]

agreed, the way the harmonies come in at the bridge in the studio version is so good.

[@hankhill3256]

A lot of chefs in the kitchen to be sure, some help if you will.

[@AyyyGabagool]

Agreed. Not hearing the drums and bass come in is a bit disappointing lol

[@fantinogauche]

120 minutes tv show performance is the best version.

[@darkbluemullet]

When it comes to Radiohead, everything is intential Michael. Incredibly talented musicians.

[@lisabeattie3289]

woohoo! Been waiting for more Radiohead.

[@zackguitar07]

Love that you’re going back for more Radiohead! Super impressive for how close you got to the arpeggiation on the first few go-arounds with the descending melody around A minor. You’re spot on that they don’t do E7 until the very end too. It’s the closing track on “The Bends” and gives a strong resolution after floating with A minor and E minor for the rest of the time.

[@Guitargate]

Love it!

[@thenewholistic]

Never saw THAT performance before, my God how iconic... Thom was in another dimension. Beyond perfection 👏

[@kristinrogersdotter5492]

Same! I don't recognize the show or venue they were on. I've seen Thom & Jonny do acoustic together before but not this song. Stripped down and gorgeous

[@sheister]

Yes. It’s on purpose. And they know what they’re doing. They’re from another planet and I’m so glad you are experiencing some of it for the first time. I wish I could!

[@sea-ferring]

Thom Yorke is an untrained but extremely instinctive composer. Jonny Greenwood *is* a classically trained composer who just happens to be an amazing guitarist. The great thing about Thom Yorke is that he uses his voice as an instrument instead of just a vehicle for lyrics. This performance is perfection - and proof that talented musicians do NOT need autotune and 100 takes and quantization.

[@bilboswagginz2808]

Yes it’s on the album. Thom’s vocal leading is the greatest thing about Radiohead in my opinion. And honestly why I listen to all things Thom Yorke more than just Radiohead

[@DJChizzlesworth]

We got him hooked! Radiohead are and will always be my all time favourite band, just because of the variety of everything over their musical career. Check out Pyramid Song - it's not guitar-based, but it has one HELL of a time signature and a wonderful drifting ethereal sound that you'd dig.

[@krnkrp]

"but it has one HELL of a time signature" - you mean 4/4? ;)

[@DJChizzlesworth]

@@krnkrp shush, I wanted to see how Michael worked it out!

[@BradleyStoneV]

now to get him away from PRS guitars and into a Shabat. I've already offered to cover 1/2 the cost. Avi knows I'm good for it.

[@WordAte]

Radiohead is my favorite band. They are prog-rockers like Primus, King Crimson, Yes, and Rush with the emotional accessibility of The Smashing Pumpkins and The Smiths. And they touch on ethereal unexamined feelings like The Cranberries and Sigur Ros.

[@n.ringheim7720]

Finally more Radiohead, anything from the basement sessions is perfect, or just anything from these guys is perfect.

[@acousticaacousticduo1458]

I think Thom is an underrated guitarist. To play that constant picking pattern on a 12 string while singing this like he does is harder than he makes it look. IMO

[@VentureseraLtd]

This is one of the easiest beginner songs to play and sing over. This is like one of 3 songs I can play on a guitar and as it's so simple picking that you can sing over it without thinking, never leave second fret.

[@anyone4789]

@@VentureseraLtdAren’t you special ;)

[@_Lukejay_]

I agree with you whole heartedly! the guy that responded to you and thinks it’s a beginner song clearly isn’t using the right picking pattern lol

[@jooisac]

@@VentureseraLtd what?????

[@josephfinnegan3592]

I’m an intermediate player and it takes some work to play this right and sing too. The string skipping alone keeps you on your toes.

[@eloisewalker9632]

So glad you did this one! I agree that the studio version is far more complex, but this version really hits home how insanely hard it is to play and sing at the same time, especially notes that long. The more Radiohead from you, the better. And yes, it is pronounced that way ;)

[@TJ-vt6rt]

Why did you think that was not a great performance ?

[@eloisewalker9632]

@@TJ-vt6rt I did, Michael just read it out a bit wrong. My caption said “Not only is this Thom’s best vocal performance” :)

[@TJ-vt6rt]

@@eloisewalker9632 Ah ok. For a live performance in what looks like some kind of record store or radio station building that was pretty stellar.

[@adrianapignolo]

These two are doing a live with The Smile today in just a few minutes. It's free for everyone on the BBC website!

[@derrywalker7835]

We went to the 6music festival last night to see them with a sixteen piece orchestra, hypnotising and spellbinding!

[@effjay8970]

I want to like the smile so bad, but it’s not doing it for me 😪

[@SR91313]

​@@effjay8970-I get what you're saying. I liked the first album a lot. Then when I was hearing the new stuff off second album the first few times I was thinking like "it's okay, nothing too crazy special", but then something happened and it started to click. I just let it play through a couple times while I was working and now I've almost completely worn it out. I had to stop listening to it for a couple weeks because I didn't want to completely ruin it for myself. There's only one song I might sometimes skip and that's the last song "You know me", which has actually grown on me a bit as well. I wouldn't give up on it, unless you've given it a fair shake and it's just not your thing.

[@effjay8970]

@@SR91313 I’ll try again - I have 32 hours of travel time ahead of me, why not lol

[@kristinrogersdotter5492]

​@@effjay8970have you seen them live? Really, really good

[@lkajiess]

Love it when you check out Radiohead, all anyone can do is shake their head in frustration/admiration and enjoy them for what they are.

[@TheMusehobo]

Johnny Greenwood (left) is also a film composer. Ever seen There Will Be Blood?

[@karenw1796]

“Nailing that little middle eastern flair” OMG - I had never heard that before - I must have listened to that song a thousand times - and never heard it. The tiny moment as he nails the middle eastern inflection - it sounds like the Call To Prayer that rings out in Moslem countries - reminding anyone who can hear it, to come to prayer and fade out for a time and be at one with God. And this song is Radiohead’s call - like almost all of their work, to be at one with them. Thank you for unlocking that.

[@bluesky6408]

There is a lot of flotsam and jetsam on the net, but when you see someone articulate, approachable, modest, talented and humourous it is a breath of freah air. Thank you Michael

[@mikedidyk8233]

You would have fun breaking down "just" by radiohead. Thom was convinced Johnny was trying to throw as many chords as possible. One of their heavier songs as well and i think you'd enjoy it. It's a polar opposite to street spirit and from the same album.

[@the_oslovian]

You are also missing out on Jonny playing keyboard with the end of his guitar at the same time as he plays the riff. That man...

[@dingythreads1009]

Thank you so much Eloise!! This was such a pleasure to watch, brought happy tears to my eyes 🥹

[@bduyn]

Greetings from Germany - I grew up with Radiohead, so thank you so much for this! Keep up your good work!

[@leventejuhasz9939]

the "set the control for the heart of the sun" reference is class Mike! love ya keep it up

[@Guitargate]

Yes sir!!

[@okamiseven]

❤ Atom Heart Mother ❤

[@SharmanSomerset]

I don’t play any musical instruments but I love your reactions to Radiohead, I know it’s magic but seeing you explain their spells as a fellow guitar wizard is all the confirmation I need, keep up the great work

[@davidemery4759]

This is my favorite Radiohead song. You absolutely broke this down wonderfully.

[@Guitargate]

Thanks my friend!!!

[@crazydrunk88]

same here! I taught myself how to play this on guitar, and it's the very first Radiohead song I learned how to play on guitar!

[@RobH-xx2nw]

One of the finest acoustic performances you’ll ever see. Sheer genius. Awesome talent. Two guys in ‘the zone’ feeling the music.

[@TheodoreFaron]

Radioheads use of half steps, especially the bass line in nude, but with his vocals here and numerous others songs always give me such a vibe. Idk if they just do it better or why no one can figure it out but it’s so tasty every time Radiohead does that. Thanks for saying so mike! Love to feel vindicated 😂

[@AKAtAGG]

Jonny Greenwood looks exactly the same rn as he did in this video from 199-whenever. Amazing. Also the only Radiohead member who can read and write music, which, considering the complex songs they produce, is actually insane.

[@alibabaschultz352]

There are so many great Radiohead songs i would love for you to breakdown. Climbing Up the Walls, Wolf at the Door, Jigsaw Falling into Place

[@jacquesjrviens3384]

Their best 2 puncher is Exit music for a film followed by Let down on OK Computer. Those 2 songs perfectly resolve each other. Gotta check out that song combo bros !!!!

[@jameshannagan4256]

I love Climbing Up The Walls into No Surprises it's perfect.

[@julioschoolio901]

Let down is my favorite song, because of the album placement and when I grew up. Wierd Fishes is thier best song. And I am ok that these things are different

[@gregs8685]

Yes the album is their Masterpiece and the best record of the 90s.

[@SteveBluescemi]

Thom Yorke playing The Clock live on the Henry Rollins show is a truly mindblowing performance, I'd love to see a reaction to that

[@andrewwolverton3762]

“I love me some Radiohead” I admit, I giggled.

[@nofam]

Such a great album, and so evocative of my late-teenage years, easily up there with the best albums of the decade.

[@theonlyalexoliveira]

Tom dips in an out of those eastern sounds all the time before wrecking you with beauty and power

[@armanillo4695]

hey could you name some of those eastern sounds in his songs? I'm eastern so they've never really stood up to me up until now and I wanna investigate further

[@ImotekhtheStormlord-tx2it]

probably the most 90s performance. the hair, mellow song, japan tour, clothes....

[@stevegatesrealtor]

@michael palmisano keep up the good work! Radiohead are some of the most talented musicians ever!

[@freethyPlays]

Thank you for this. I always think of Street Spirit as Radiohead’s ‘Echoes’. Like that Floyd album, great album, but that last track paves the way for what’s to come. Interestingly, Thom says this is the most hopeless of Radiohead songs lyrically. He’s right, all doom and gloom and all too real. Ironically it adds to its ‘harsh’ beauty.

[@neiladdison4457]

One of my favourite songs, off of one if my all time top5 albums. The Bends is amazing from start to finish but this is one epic track to finish on! Thanks Michael... Love seeing people discover this stuff☺️

[@AaronLS.]

I love how Michael breaks those vocal melodies down on guitar. So helpful.

[@lukelarsson]

They know exactly what they’re doing. Nothing is an accident with this band.

[@wingy158]

Oh my second favorite Radiohead song. I'm glad you are converting.

[@StripeGurger]

I love you, Mike. This was such a joy to watch. I love your passion, your ability, and I love how you soak up songs.

[@MPMBRA]

"Just" is a wonderful guitar Radiohead song to react!

[@jonathancurtin]

Beautiful work. Glad you loved that performance mate.

[@drixitty]

i believe ed, the other guitarist came up with the riff for this song, but hes not there for this one also you should do bodysnatchers from the basement if you do any more

[@lk-music]

Thom wrote the riff. Ed said in his Guitar World interview for his solo album Earth: "Those [folky] parts were the kind of thing that Thom would come up with - he’ll have written the song on his guitar so the rhythmic or plucky bits he would play. Street Spirit is the only thing I can think of that he wrote but I played." I'm surprised that's the only thing though! Although just after that he said he didn't know how he ended up playing it because Thom usually plays those kinds of parts, so perhaps it is the only thing Ed plays that Thom wrote.

[@drixitty]

@@lk-musicalr ye, thom usually plays rhythm guitar so this would make more sense

[@zoebella314]

​​@@drixittyit would also make more sense, BC Thom's brother was in a Brit folk rock band

[@nicofieuhome]

That was so interresting to watch ! I’ve known this video for years it’s probably my favourite song ever and your live analysis makes it even more interresting ! Now regarding all the great things you have noticed on the song, especially at the end, I think Thom Yorke was a born genius, and I think he did not really realized what he was really doing at that time, that came out so naturely for him. He’s probably the best singer songwriter from the last 30 years

[@bashab3098]

Just perfect performance for the situation , great insights , stuff I’ve been listening to for decades without realising how the simple is made captivating ❤

[@in_differ_ence]

I love how technical you go in the music theory 💫🔥 pls. More from Radiohead 🙏🏻

[@henriquebarreto3402]

Daily mail from radiohead is awesome as well in terms of composition

[@kristinrogersdotter5492]

Yeah that would be fun to watch him pick it apart

[@charanko2971]

The vocals is what makes this song outstanding. 👏

[@alonb1977]

And that's before diving to the lyrics, one of the strongest songs lyrics-wise

[@michaelhalpert5518]

That lick he plays in the beginning reminds me of the guitar lick in the song “the smoke” by Thom and Jonny’s band “the smile” check it out!

[@Farmington_River_Rods]

👍 Yeah, Radiohead has been one of my tops since the ‘90’s and they’re still impressing.

[@Greenplastics]

When playing live, full band, Jonny plays that riff on the guitar, while he plays synth keys with the tip of his guitar, during the chorus

[@cleeshay]

Always love to see your excitement at the nuances musicians use! Appreciate your work and your sharing it with us. Looking forward to more Radiohead down the road.

[@corey8760]

Man I invite you to look up Thom Yorke's live performance of The Clock. He never struck me as a great guitar player but that performance.. he's just fully committed, it's magical.

[@toddburrus368]

Such an underrated song - he really needs to listen to the whole band play the studio or live version.

[@eloisewalker9632]

Believe me, I do think this is Thom's best vocal performance! Michael just read my caption out wrong. I'm getting absolutely destroyed in these comments lmao

[@Peritestes]

It's my favorite song... not just from Radiohead.

[@zoebella314]

Wolf at the door, wolf at the door, wolf at the door!!!!!!? It deserves a break down lol the one at super sonic in Japan, is the best

[@brianwinslow9967]

That flat 6 in the melody you talk about at 3:30 was Beethoven’s jam.

[@skygod1975]

Love your videos. Aspiring 'wannabee' guitar player here and I find your videos absolutely fascinating! Well done! Kudos!

[@Zzzcilla]

Yay! You love Radiohead and understand the genius. Love love love

[@gpeddino]

The full band versions are even better. There's some cool backing vocals, the drumming sounds like a ticking clock and Jonny also plays the synth with the end of the guitar (while playing the riff).

[@kristinrogersdotter5492]

The backing vocals! The drumming! Sometimes live is better but the studio recording is stunning

[@canuckbucks]

Good lord... it must be awesome to be a rock star. The talent, the look, whooeee.

[@aquaticIntrovert]

This one is definitely worth a listen to the Studio version, the percussion adds a whole new dimension to it. Very good song.

[@MattHarris85]

It's an underappreciated song but Scatterbrain is one of their best examples of intertwined guitar arpeggios imo

[@declanjoyce3063]

Love that song.

[@shep4life]

Such a beautiful song

[@removechan10298]

this is my fav radiohead song, just came here from your "i got radiohead" video, and i was thinking i wonder what you'd think of street spirit, or exit music, or fake plastic trees

[@iceman10129]

Time to flood Mike with more Live from the Basement

[@StopTheRot]

If you enjoy these two together, without the band, check out out ‘The Numbers’ live, Jonny, Thom and a CR78 - just beautiful

[@TXTrojan]

love this particular performance . was lucky enough to see it when it first came out. this is the version that I share with people that havent heard it

[@josephc5493]

I feel like if you ever listen to Feral your brain is going to explode . Love the reactions as always. More Radiohead is definitely needed.

[@jimmystevens3800]

I have been saying for years that, for my money, tracks 9 through 12 on "The Bends" (Bullet Proof - Black Star - Sulk - Street Spirit) form the best 4-song-finale of any studio album I've listened to - which probably has something to with why that album is in my top 20 ...I would, however, love to ponder any arguments...

[@WarheadsPrivate]

Yeah that e major at the end was in the original recording, just used once, what a perfect twist of an ending

[@alabierecustine8893]

Yeah please more radiohead songs, one of their great acoustic ste is at Le réservoir in Paris, check it out if you can.

[@richardkettle9620]

Totally agree, that was an amazing performance ❤

[@plectrumura]

This was one of the first songs I ever learned, even before I really got okay at chord changes because the chord shape is the same, but just down a string. I loved this song from the moment I heard it. Not the most complicated song to play, but still beautiful after all these years.

[@AkZeal76]

I like how the requester said this was not a good performance from Thom... if this is his B tier, we've been spoilt by greatness for too long. Mesmerizing

[@zoebella314]

They said this wasn't one of Thom's best? Then they just didn't know what they were talking about at all, it's one of his best performances of this song, to ever exist

[@eloisewalker9632]

Haha I said it was his best, Michael just read it out a bit wrong :)

[@AkZeal76]

@@eloisewalker9632 haha you should demand an official apology vid

[@AuthorLaurieAnnSmith]

Your insight is awesome Michael! Radiohead is my fav band in the whole world and this song is so special to me.. well, they all are... LOL!!!

[@jeffthatcherphotography]

loved playing this cover in the band i was in back in college.

[@AbsurdCats]

It’s on the record. This is brilliance.

[@ramapage7538]

Please do the Studio album version of this beautiful song next, and compare the two, you’re missing so much from the full album version, the piano, the backing vocals, please! 🙏💚

[@1990YZ]

Would love to see Michael palmisano react to Radiohead’s from the basement version of where I end and you begin!

[@Mainyehc]

You know, I highly, highly recommend, maybe not for a reaction video because those two pieces are mainly made up of orchestral music and the latter is super long, a personal back-to-back listen to Burn The Witch, from their latest album A Moon Shaped Pool, and then to Jonny Greenwood's own Popcorn Superhet Receiver (where he originally came up with the idea for the percussive pizzicato on the strings that later made said song so punchy and contrasting with the rest of the otherwise mellow and borderline depressive - albeit extremely beautiful and touching - album, even by Radiohead standards, which is already saying something). I know this might sound a bit pedantic, but it is what it is: the main thing to bear in mind about Radiohead, especially their latest stuff, is that, sure, there's a lot of Thom Yorke's own lyrical, melodic and harmonic genius in the mix that makes them sound like, well, Radiohead, but the “brains” of the operation, likely the one who made many of their songs into the kind of reaaaaally complex, interweaving deal you've recognised in your first two react videos is actually Greenwood, a certified orchestral composer (mostly for soundtracks, but also standalone pieces like the one I mentioned). Case in point: I recall you saying that you likely had to process each instrument separately, as the “groove” wasn't exactly in sync, and that's no accident; their songs are constructed more like orchestral scores, and I'm pretty sure that if you looked at any of them in full score versions, you'd quickly and visually *see* the patterns and, to quote the Tool song, figure how the pieces fit right away. ;) Also, regarding your curiosity about how they went and still go about composing their stuff, you can compare and contrast their last couple of albums including and since OK Computer (their magnum opus, only equalled or bested by In Rainbows, and it's no accident that the first suggestions you got were from the latter) with their *massive* 18 MiniDisc archive leak, which they promptly edited to avoid copyright infringement (there were quite a few samples of material like snippets of soundtracks and whatnot) and put on sale, because that's how they roll. 😂 In those, it's extremely interesting to listen to Thom just fooling around with the guitar, while singing some ersatz, incomplete or otherwise deprecated lyrics, thus witnessing popular and beloved songs being born in real time, and also to piece together how some core ideas were eventually split into several different songs, reused, renamed, repurposed, flipped backwards, rearranged, etc. Only a band with such musical chops could so blatantly reuse material and, yet, turn it all into a certain “sound” and “feel”, without ever devolving into outright self-plagiarism. It boggles the mind, really. Anyway, because I couldn't finish this comment without a couple of actual reaction suggestions, I would go next with a few songs that go quite heavy and interesting on the guitar and which I greatly appreciate: Just, also from The Bends just like this one, and Electioneering, Paranoid Android (frequently compared, and rightly so, to Bohemian Rhapsody), Lucky (sounds a lot like something out of a Pink Floyd album) and The Tourist (with probably the most beautiful Picardy-like cadence I've ever heard in any piece of music, Classical or Rock, ever, repeated twice for good measure and closing the album in a completely obvious but still chilling note), from the unavoidable OK Computer.

[@TheNamelessOne19]

good stuff as always Michael!

[@BasedUriah]

Going to become a member and put in the request for their two man set in France. It's sooooooo good

[@rickhoughton8151]

Loved this performance. Would love to see a Let Down breakdown before too long; Ive loved that song for decades now and would love to understand more about why musically the dual guitar lines are so affecting

[@BigSteph63]

You said 'the yang-yin of major & minor' and my mind took flight...Thinking of my finger-picking grandpa who loved a minor 7th xx

[@treblelatrice926]

❤❤😊❤❤ So happy to have found this channel!

[@JakobvonRaumer]

I think you would enjoy the video of them playing The Present Tense with just their guitar and a drum machine.

[@dixonstreetdrummer1846]

I’ve played this for years, never seemed so complicated. Just played with the emotion…

[@felipecampos3045]

its been too long without radiohead

[@insoxicatedfan8550]

More Radiohead!

[@ish474]

Tell me you have been taking vocal lessons without telling me you've been taking vocal lessons😂❤❤❤ love it Michael

[@karenw1796]

Please do Codex. I have loved radiohead since their beginning. Their music has accompanies me through the most important parts of my mind, an ever present soundtrack to the joys and triumphs and the despair and disappointments. I love seeing people discover their music and feel the awe and presence of greatness. I feel Johnny and Thom must have music coursing through their veins, and together they simply allow it to be free. Their work together - and particularly The Smile is interesting, complex and richly beautiful.

[@magnusruben9646]

Been obsessing over this song lately. Somethings in the air