The secret rhythm behind Radiohead's "Videotape"

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In this season opener of Earworm, I speak with Warren Lain. He's a Radiohead fan who also happens to be an incredibly talented musician and music teacher. In December 2016 he uploaded a 38 minute video to KZbin about a Radiohead song that I deeply love, "Videotape."
He had been thinking about the music theory behind this seemingly simple song for the better part of a decade. The reason? “Videotape”, a slow rhythmically monotonous song, is actually syncopated. I’m joined also by Erin Barra, a professor at Berklee College of Music, who helped Warren and I explain this musical illusion.
Warren’s video can be found right here:
• The Hidden Syncopation...
Some songs don't just stick in your head, they change the music world forever. Join Estelle Caswell on a musical journey to discover the stories behind your favorite songs.
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[@pockit5107]

I can only imagine how frustrating this song is to play live when you have thousands of people clapping to the piano..

[@Secretlyanothername]

People who sing along... they pay $100 to listen to someone, then sing over them like they're in the shower. They disgust me.

[@seanmatthewking]

Lol calm down

[@Cargo_Bay]

@@Secretlyanothername you seem fun

[@Cargo_Bay]

prolly not. Most people have the in-ear monitors and it kind of tunes out the crowd and has the music go to their ears

[@bsegovia23]

Secretlyanothername the Japanese wait for not interrupt concerts. It’s nice and you can hear everything, buts it’s a boring show.

[@khetaglagkuev6001]

So Radiohead basically created something that they are secretly hearing differently than their audience, so they are the only ones who know the real song. That’s just beautiful

[@kiiro712]

No, when the drums kick in at 1:20 of the album version, you hear the syncopation too

[@nge1301]

@@kiiro712 not really, that snare-kick does not help much to disambiguate the down beat from the offbeat. Especially because the kick goes with the piano.

[@koiyujo1543]

exactly it's amazing

[@tomsxe]

@@nge1301 you can feel it at 1:20, and specially at 3:10

[@julioricardo2415]

And made easy listening a 10/4 time signature with Everything....Just a Beautifull talent

[@stitchgrimly6167]

The most profound thing for me is that the syncopation gives the effect of gasping for one last breath, but only the performer - ie. the dying person - is aware of it. The outside world just sees regular breathing and pulse. Only the gasper feels the gasp.

[@GroupConglomerate]

This video reminded me that I really don't know anything about music. Lol

[@crieverytim]

they really make this much more difficult than it is

[@stitchgrimly6167]

They're trying to make it seem like some grand genius undertaking was made but it's extremely simple and utilises jazz techniques that have been around for ages (and again, aren't complex). This is about getting views. All songs have tricks we could blow out of proportion if we wanted.

[@LocalManMakesMusic]

Don’t worry neither does Vox. There is a ton of laughable nonsense in this video if you do know what they are talking about.

[@user-wx8mi1pd6g]

@@LocalManMakesMusic classically trained guy here, what was wrong here?

[@Mercury574]

You don't need to, music is music

[@jeffgoble9206]

Radiohead's music is so interesting that you can make a 10 minute long music theory analysis of that one time Thom Yorke made a mistake.

[@warrenmusic]

Another 38 minute video, too

[@billhicks8]

But this isn't even a big deal. There are syncopated, irregular rhythms in all kinds of songs. There are loads of interesting things Radiohead has done in their music that are far more interesting than this.

[@warrenmusic]

That's not what this video is saying though, that it's syncopated. It's about how the syncopation is totally buried in the album and later versions, but the band still hears it fast and syncopated.

[@Datpleb]

Warren, does that mean the syncopation isn't even there anymore but they act as if it were?

[@jeffgoble9206]

Debora A the syncopation is still there, but they eliminated the downbeats beats that make it easier to hear. The music is still framed around it which is why they have to make sure they all "feel" it correctly before they start. They do what's called "subdividing", which basically means feeling a faster portion of the beat. It helps the band stay together and adds a forward energy to the song.

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

Those crappy cell phone recordings of concerts are finally useful!

[@warrenmusic]

Hahaha right?

[@jaywonlee1436]

Carlos haha yeah, cellphones back in the 90's sucked.

[@GoLDnTRiXX]

BTW theres a version with the crap video but good audio.

[@scyhte82]

also cellphones in the 90's didnt record videos. :D

[@dundee6402]

Jaywon Lee 90s? Huh

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

So, essentially, they're essentially playing to a muted drummer in their heads which only they hear -- delivering something that sounds darker and more-detached to the listener but which is brighter and more-engaged in their own minds?!

[@ChristianNelsonn]

That's the gist of it, yeah. It's actually kind of beautiful when you think about it. The song is about death, or more specifically, about a dying man saying goodbye to his loved ones. It's sad because, you know, it's a dying man's last message to loved ones, but he doesn't quite feel that way. *_"Because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen."_* He doesn't feel sad, he feels glad. Brings a whole new perspective to the song's double identity. God, I love songs that tell a story.

[@warrenmusic]

WELL PUT

[@andrewd2534]

No they're playing between the notes it's not that that complicated vox always exaggerate

[@justanotherfishinbikinibot6060]

i think that’s why they chose to use syncopation in it. it’s one thing to create a great song, but to actually use musical themes to express the idea is another. i think it’s genius.

[@stitchgrimly6167]

Essentially.

[@GeneralBlaguin]

Easy... can we talk about Pyramid Song now ?

[@dungeonmasterblaster5600]

Riiiiight?!

[@okcomputera9647]

Pyramid Song, AKA 3+3+4+3+3=5

[@DarfinxCore]

Pyramid Song is in 4/4. What you perceive as quarter notes are actually dotted rhythms.

[@literallyjustmyname2353]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5W9hIKlhKtog9U

[@archologyzero]

@@okcomputera9647 Yeah Pyramid is actually really simple, and in 4/4.

[@dearmrfrodo]

now tell me are you rushing or are you dragging?

[@warrenmusic]

Great movie.

[@bswinn97]

Rushing just a hair

[@gregoryswift9573]

lol

[@TheBogski]

dearmrfrodo not quite my tempo

[@StreetHierarchy]

Neither Russian nor dragon

[@maakenx]

why does Vox have to be so extra, instead of just clapping they pull out a $150 sampler to do the clapping

[@Diamond_Tiara]

they are americans, they like to clap a lot.

[@thegoodguy44]

@@Diamond_Tiara they like to applaud themselves endlessly.

[@averyprice9422]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@supercoolyoutubename]

If you have it, might as well use it

[@alanmartinez1025]

thats a cheap sampler not that exta.

[@onemahyar]

I’m tired of watching old videos, why aren’t you guys making anything like this anymore? this is an amazing work.

[@BeatrizLopes-hx2qn]

yessssss😢

[@Erin-000]

Still yes

[@adxthree4199]

Just my 2, but it might be due to the devaluation of music content across nearly all platforms

[@jack-uv6mt]

why are you watching a video you watched already lol

[@onemahyar]

@@jack-uv6mt don't you watch movies again and again sometimes because they're that good? 😉

[@profaneuprising]

Musicians are downplaying the video because syncopation is nothing new. True, I play music for decades and I get that. But the tricky part here is having no clue to the downbeat through the entire song and singing on top of it. Of course, nothing impossible for a seasoned musician on a studio, but it can become very risky for a live performance.

[@boozalm3715]

It doesn't matter...He sings in time with his chords...so there's no confusion.

[@TheSquareOnes]

@@boozalm3715 Not quite, some lines start in unison with the piano and some lines start off it so either way you want to think about where the chords are hitting he still has to feel the syncopation. Given that even talking while playing is an acquired skill that can take a lot of practice even a "simple" song like this can be difficult to sing (keeping in mind that he probably wants to be perfectly locked in to give the best performance rather than just phoning it in and being "close enough") if you're having an off night.

[@boozalm3715]

@@TheSquareOnes I see comments like this on the piano only version...I'm mostly talking about that one since i listen to that.

[@TheSquareOnes]

@@boozalm3715 That's what I'm talking about too, his vocals don't uniformly match the piano.

[@inlonging]

Agreed

[@superomelet2897]

I found it to be an odd choice to put together a ten minute video on this song without focusing on the second half of the recorded version, where the percussion changes and the rhythmic complexity is most evident.

[@jonathanpalmquist4894]

Yes, thank you! I made a video that shows this because so many people are coming away from this still not able to hear the displaced rhythm: /watch?v=7M7FRpvUf8M

[@Darel13712]

But you are wrong there. Your 4 is the actual 1. And vox's 1 is the actual 4 when they show where to clap lol. They showed places to clap before the piano while they should be after. Listen to the guy in the end of the video to get it right.

[@grtrukat9360]

Limelight by rush is a far better example

[@redlion145]

I know this is late, but you should check out the original video warrenmusic put out about this track. It's like 30 minutes (they referenced it here in the Vox video) but he does go into detail on the second half of the studio version and how it reveals the syncopation later in the song. I think they ignored it here for the sake of the journalistic narrative. Vox have got to tell a story, not post a 30 minute diatribe about a single song. It's part of their brand (and why they have so many subscribers) that they can broach more subjects in a lighter manner than people like Warren, who actually study and teach specific subjects, in this case music.

[@nmikloiche]

I'm a drummer so I understand how super interesting syncopation is when added to a song. What makes Videotape so god damn crazy is that the song opens and is built on the syncopated beat. Most often syncopation is an element added by the drummer or the bass player to add a bit of interest to the song, and is only played for a short time, like in the bridge leading up to the chorus or in a break. Loved this video and I'm still trying to find the beat myself. The audience clapping on what they think is the 2 and 4 of the measure is really what is making it most difficult.

[@warrenmusic]

That's right on! You can hear it in my syncopated version over on my Twitter profile @warrenlain if you are so inclined!

[@Urbanmystic123]

One name...Stewart Copeland

[@joelcoool]

What are you talking about syncopation is everywhere

[@warrenmusic]

ThunderHawk606 then why did Phil struggle for two years to find the downbeat?

[@joelcoool]

WARRENMUSIC because it's a confusing riff? I'm not sure what that has to do with anything

[@cheesecakelasagna]

The outro should've been just the entire video 9:48

[@pricesmith8450]

Thanks

[@pricesmith8450]

Saved me time

[@coffee5736]

fr

[@warrenmusic]

LOL

[@averywiese5529]

thank you

[@iximusic]

This video inspired me to start my KZbin channel, years later. Just wanted to say thank you. This is so well done and such an enlightening subject. I remember my mind being blown. I always felt like Thom's vocal's rhythm and the drum elements that come in near the end felt really weird. I remember rushing to my drum kit and playing along to Videotape with a backbeat on the actual beats and it was like seeing this beautiful jewel from a new angle for the first time. I like listening to this song now with two different downbeats.

[@candycane3739]

That's really cool! I'm glad the video helped you in that way!!! For me, it helps in a different way. I know nothing about the way music actually works, music theory, and the terms used. I took music class in HS but it was a pretty poorly funded school and the class taught nothing interesting to me, but the video actually explains things easily unlike the daunting tutorials I've watched where I had no idea what they were saying. I've always dreamt of making my own songs, but never had the knowledge, skill and practice to make it happen. This video isn't revolutionary per se, but it's really helping to open up the possibilities in my head. I just love that feeling when everything clicks in music, the eye-openers that broaden your horizons and just make things seem a little more magical. Best of luck to you and your music journey!

[@psychotogether5114]

Love your channel!!!

[@patcupo]

It's a specific type of syncopation called "anticipation". All of these smart musicians and no one mentioned that the piano chords anticipate beats 1 and 3 by an 1/8th note. It's what gives the song that forward momentum. Also, if you just heard the piano chords alone and clapped along with them, you wouldn't be wrong. In order to use syncopation, you need something else to syncopate against. From the listener's perspective, the piano is the steady beat, the drums enter and sound like they're syncopated against the piano, but then there's suddenly a point when the piano is actually syncopated against the drums. It's a jarring effect, a big switch, but it's definitely not the first time it's been used. Listen to an Afro-Cuban tumbao bass line by itself and try to find the downbeat. All antici ....... pation.

[@makkapetanovic6838]

Patrick Cupo Any syncopation with focus on the upbeats is going to anticipate those beats you were talking about tho? I don't see how you can have syncopation on the upbeats without that

[@patcupo]

mak kapetanovic I see what you're saying. You can have the opposite though, a delayed attack. Those four piano chords would just be half notes on beats 1 and 3 but they're anticipated. But they could have been delayed an 1/8 note on the ands of 1 and 3.

[@jackdiller9087]

Patrick gets it.

[@MARSBELLA1]

Is the drummer in this band frustrated then? Someone just asked me that?

[@patcupo]

Radiohead's drummer? I doubt he's frustrated. He's an awesome musician and I'm sure he can handle it.

[@xisumavoid]

As someone who plays music, playing in the half time before or after the beat has never been especially difficult beyond a bit of extra focus. Nor has it ever seemed particularly special where it crops up in music. Not putting down the band or anything, I don't understand how something that takes 30 seconds to explain is glorified as musical genius in a 10 minute video.

[@kulu2628]

I'm a huge Radiohead fan but i agree

[@KenshiAS]

Xisuma!!! :D

[@chesca6469]

xisumavoid yeah precisely. I'm kinda confused what the message or point of this video is? Is it just explaining syncopation? It all seems very simple... 😐

[@oscodains]

It's like patting your head and rubbing your stomach. No matter how long you've done it you kinda have to think about it first.

[@grantmalone]

It's not hard playing in syncopation, but when the entire song is shifted off the beat - bass drum, chords and vocal line - it takes some effort to not count the 1 where everything seems to be sounding the 1. I'd say the bigger question is what's the point? If nothing in the music itself makes the listener aware that the music is syncopated, why bother? Would be like taking any common time piece of notated music and shifting it a 16th beat forward so it's full of tied 16th notes, then marking accents where the shifted bars land. It's gonna sound the same but just be unnecessarily irritating to read.

[@josephwright4222]

“No ones watching this video anymore” “Probably”

[@JulioAvalos3000]

You had me at Radiohead.

[@RafaelJoseBurgos]

Not quite my tempo.

[@Vox]

media0.giphy.com/media/yj1LYrEmVRf8I/giphy.gif

[@RafaelJoseBurgos]

OMG you repplied. Is the best thing that happened in this year so far in my average venezuelan life.

[@daniellevy1703]

That and the people's revolution.

[@CodyAlushin]

Replied with a quirky gif, even! Vox is on the ball.

[@bryanlilib]

This made my day

[@cfloster]

Friends don't let friends clap on 1 and 3

[@TheWhynaut]

As a musician it does somewhat aggravate me when people clap on 1 and 3 because clapping imitates the typical snare. Yet, I have come to appreciate the power that a well placed clap on 1 and 3 can present. It's all about knowing what to do and when, there are no absolutes in music- just what sounds good.

[@youdbettertube]

The real hero is the guy who shushes the shrieking girl at 5:40 lmao

[@youdbettertube]

@@ripelivejam wat

[@Dogscatsbikes]

ripelivejam incel?

[@ISuckOffCops]

ripelivejam found the incel

[@pre-packaged_9692]

@@SamS-fq5yw Even funnier, listen closely, it's a chick doing the shushing

[@farinheit2celsius]

Why wominz no gip me vagene

[@borp6912]

I was at that Bonnaroo show!! I feel an inkling of significance now!!

[@DarkAvra]

It's in Little by Little too and it's so hard to pin down in the album version

[@warrenmusic]

And "The Butcher"

[@808sos7]

Man it took me TWO years to figure out how to fill the drumbeat in my mind during the first half of the song!!!

[@Datpleb]

it's much more evident in LBL, for sure. Didn't know about the butcher tho, lol god damn it radiohead

[@JivanPal]

It emerges in a lot of tracks written by a lot of bands (heck, you can literally do it with any piece of music, and it makes for a good music exercise-trying to play a piece you know well with a different downbeat) but _Videotape_ was the last place I expected to see it.

[@wgb01001]

This is true. I have a very hard time hearing LBL the "right" way. I can do it for a while but I lose it. Led Zeppelin was also really good at this technique. Black Dog and Candy Store Rock both purposely hide the downbeat.

[@mauriciolinares9295]

This kind of syncopation is not so weird or complex for musicians. In my opinion this song is brilliant because syncopation goes perfectly with the emotions that the lyrics convey. The song is about someone that is about to die (or even dying in that moment) and is recording a final message. This person knows he/she is going to die and its heart is trying to catch the pulse to keep on living, the same way the piano tries to go with the rhythm, but goes "behind" it.

[@yasmin_thelight6789]

Mauricio Linares yesss ❤️

[@phoenixdavida8987]

Great. I love Radiohead but everything after 2003 I'm like not as partial to. But this is great. My boyfriend of 12 years just died out of no where (kinda) and this song is great. Your explanation is the best.

[@brown9671]

Yeah there was no swing or anything, this isn’t that crazy

[@dalex7777]

Mauricio Linares This is why I love Radiohead. I am sad for people who don’t understand their music. Radiohead is the Mozart of our day.

[@squirlmy]

"trying to catch the pulse..." But doomed to never catch it. THAT'S the kicker. If the piano caught up at the end it would be a happy ending, maybe an entirely different song, a song of redemption. It is the fact that it doesn't catch up that makes me cry! Devastating!

[@halseykale9930]

ok it's a great song but "the mystery is so deep" and "this man is using 100% of his brain" is just too much to believe lol

[@natjoh9786]

@@ethandeister6567 if someone can do the downbeats they can do the upbeats. 1 2 3 and 4 are the eight note before the piano and the &s are an eight note after the piano, like playing swung but backwards

[@boozalm3715]

@@ethandeister6567 Not very hard

[@wakeupmofoers691]

to me videotape was kinda basic yet its not.... idk the band is bunch of pros doing good stuff... its whats inside the songwriting... ya know make what u want of it... sounds like spiritual stuff....

[@Morgsch]

Agreed. While Radiohead is one of my favorite bands and its indeed a very interessting thing to note, the video overhypes this rhythm a lot. As a songwriter i can tell you that syncopation is used so much, it would almost be more baffling to hear a song without any syncopation. I know its not the snycopation itself that makes this song special and rather the way they used it, but again: not that complex as they present it in this video. However as a music performer I can also tell you this "using 100% of his brain" might not be to far off. If you lose your inner metronome during a performance without anything to cling on rhythmically, you really gotta focus to stay in tact. So the video is true on this one imo

[@june4171]

fr they just made a 10 min video explaining syncopation💀. like even if it is hard for some people.. many songs have done this.

[@TheMusehobo]

The best version of this song is neither of the versions mentioned here. It’s the solo Thom version on From the Basement.

[@warrenmusic]

I mention this in my original video essay! The click track is so audible in that version...

[@marinathegirl28]

@@warrenmusic I watched this vox video about two years ago, and then went on to listen your Radiohead videos.... I didn't listen to them prior to that... you converted me... mind you I'm 36 yo and had a chance to listen to them this whole time.. they just where not on my radar- you put them there and I just wanted to say thanks!

[@Odrox]

Listen how he starts the first chords. Very easily noticable rhythmic change.

[@tiesthijsthejs]

Vox can easily get away with a separate department only making these wonderful high quality analyses of Radiohead.

[@waterglas21]

It's simple, I see Radiohead I click.

[@therealDannyVasquez]

You could try adding some complexity into your brain then your actions will start to follow.

[@kendo5862]

I also clicked... but on the off beat

[@kaistreetsvisuals]

7:56 It is weird that I just shed a single tear at the thought of knowing there’s somebody else out there who gets it. No one knows why I move like this when I hear this song. No one knows why Radiohead is the only music that can keep me up on a long road trip while it puts everyone else to sleep. It’s hard to explain. At least now, I can send them this.

[@julezdacoolz5955]

i see, :)

[@penguinwolf3330]

Radiohead is one of the most popular bands in the world. I don't think its that mysterious to people why you like them

[@kaistreetsvisuals]

⁠@@penguinwolf3330This was a very specific post about the rhythms that most people don’t hear, even some Radiohead listeners. Maybe I need to broaden my social circle but it was very specific to why people don’t understand why I move the way I do while listening to them and how it puts everyone else to sleep on road trips.

[@penguinwolf3330]

@@kaistreetsvisuals oh ok, fair enough. Sorry for the bother

[@kaistreetsvisuals]

@@penguinwolf3330 No bother at all 🙏🏽

[@simkaart4655]

Nice video. I think these kind of syncopations don't just happen in Radiohead's music because they like it. I think it has to do with the way Thom Yorke plays the piano. Almost all songs that are piano driven (and probably written on piano) have a bit of this rhythm in them. If you listen closely to acoustic solo performances of those songs, you hear the pedal of the piano making the beat. Since it's better to release the pedal in between chords, so you don't trigger tones to ring when they shouldn't, he most likely taught himself a way of playing in which he could tap his foot for the tempo and tapped the pedal at once - creating the basis for beats that sound like this.

[@kalaiselvi5505]

Ok, After reading few comments I see lots of people who know music or musicians themselves are not impressed. But as someone who doesn't understand the nuances of music, this was really enjoyable and interesting for me. I didn't know about syncopation or the brain waves thing and I still struggle to understand what they are talking about with the '&' and 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16. This got me interested to may be try learning about sheet music. Maybe I am their demographic lol

[@RojazzBG]

So I have a degree in music and I teach music. Everything said in this video is hyper-over-complicated. And, imo, this whole thing is completely wrong - a rabbit holr of over-intellectualized music theory.

[@RojazzBG]

W de Vries I doknt care that you don't care :)

[@JLX5]

RojazzBG thank you!! Finally someone with ears...

[@abnormallynormal8823]

Mr. Problematic it... it is though.....

[@YTbeber]

Too bad. 2 mn with an experienced musician AND good teacher, and normally the thing is clear. (Then it needs some time to become familiar with it, ok). It has to do first with a body perception as a walker or dancer. This gives clear reference points in the rhythm. Then, it is about the way we "measure", cut (in 2? 3? 4?...) the flow of events inside those milestones (your foot stomping). Keep searching :), count, ... but have fun first. Music, like poetry, is something that looses its qualities when explained.... though you can analyse and describe some of its tricks, which can be useful but also kills something. Our brothers in India, Africa, and also Afro-Cuban music for instance, really dont care about all these mathematics, they just sing the stuff and then play it nicely.

[@fishsurfer1]

Great job with these videos! These concepts are hard to explain and learn but these examples and commentary are highly helpful.

[@jahhah6719]

I'm a major Radiohead fan... their music catalog is nothing short of brilliant! Nice video

[@JT-ss6si]

He is pretty much playing the piano in between the beat. End of topic.

[@stitchgrimly6167]

It's played on the 4 but it sounds like the 1. We can all stop talking it now. Turns out it's no big deal.

[@jordanfrancis89]

Ok but saying it like that makes me think of dilla swing

[@aidandammermann8378]

Love this series from Vox already! I found the video on warrenmusic's channel a few weeks ago and really loved it. I've never been able to describe the effect in this song, but watching these videos has helped me to learn to appreciate one of my favourite songs in a whole new way.

[@warrenmusic]

AWESOME

[@omarflores1329]

Johnny greenwood just looks cool playing guitar. With his long hair and humbucker telecaster

[@StillGamingTM]

This song has been fascinating and eluding me for YEARS. I know nothing about music so when your explanation came out I was just so happy, I felt sort of validated

[@joesonx]

dear estelle, this and the rhyming in rap episode is something i can watch over and over again. thank you for that!

[@kitsovereign4127]

One of my favorite examples of this sort of rhythm recontexualizing is You Really Got Me (both The Kinks and Van Halen versions). When you hear the guitar riff on its own for the first time, you'll probably hear it as "1 & 2 & 3" - but when the drums kick in, you'll hear it as "& 1 & 2 &."

[@Darel13712]

It's impossible for me to think of it as & 1. It's clearly coming before the beat...

[@nikmedt]

Interesting stuff. Robert Schumann did this kind of thing all the time in the mid 19th century. He often established a figure that feels to imply a certain metric stress but a few lines later will reveal that you've been dancing on the wrong foot the whole time - what you thought was beat 1 was really beat 3. Examples include - First mvt of the piano concerto or the middle section of Grillen op. 12 no 4.

[@johannespruess6067]

your videos are amazing - again and again! You really love it! Thank you very much.

[@WonderingAboutThat]

I love this! Thanks for this fascinating video. I've always been curious about the rhythms in this song.

[@Meandmythirdleg]

Estelle's videos are my favourite from Vox. More music content please!

[@freezedream]

Radiohead - really musical geniuses - I love their musical complexities - breaking expectations, meeting expectations - that's what compelling music is all about.

[@Edu_SM]

These videos are just outstanding!! Thanks!!

[@-topic9506]

I come back to this video every now and then. it's always been one of my favorite Radiohead songs and I could always hear the metronome at the beginning. I used to think I was imagining it. it's just so good. makes you truly adore their musicality even more

[@CalumCarlyle]

After seeing this video last year I actually wrote a song where the rhythm is syncopated *back* a half beat, as part of getting my head around this. Watching this again now, I’m pleased to say this is a lot easier to hear now, much more intuitive.

[@flowerpunk5255]

I love when Vox breaks down music

[@beejay833]

Just discovered this channel.. SO GREAT!

[@middle_pickup]

What a great episode. I've watched this like 10 times, and referred many friends to this.

[@absaxoclar]

I spot that cheeky atoms for peace tour poster in the background

[@warrenmusic]

Its sibling is here - instagram dot com /p/BNAs9PehPD6/

[@oolonsioo3853]

VOX I LOVE YOU , TY for covering such an amazing band like Radiohead

[@ChukcD]

Big fan of this series! Really has inspired my passion for music again!

[@uwnbaw]

Mathcore bands:* *coughs in preparation* * "Observe."

[@TurtleGamers1]

Playing slowly on time is harder than playing fast. And most math music is pretty fast.

[@salman_3833]

@@TurtleGamers1 playing fast really is much easier bcs there r no breaks, at least from my experience

[@fullmoonsociety7463]

How to dissapear completely is also interesting because most of the verses feel like 4/4 but the song is actually in 6/8, and sometimes that's pretty obvious in certain parts, but playing the whole song thinking of it as 6/8 is rather difficult

[@borjangagovski6545]

I immediately knew Warren was going to be in this video when I saw the title. No one else is as obsessed with Videotape's syncopation as he is lol

[@tylerufen]

This is fascinating! Would produce another season!

[@BARACKD127]

You guys are amazing, thank you so much.

[@jvig7353]

Trent Reznor did the same thing back in '89 with "Something I Can Never Have"

[@stitchgrimly6167]

But it didn't have the gasping for air feel to it that this does, by way of the syncopation.

[@mattd5312]

I love this song. I would say it's "buried ," or hidden as a parted rhythm perhaps that the band is hearing similar to the song's meaning of memory of a passed loved one. We don't hear the rhythm, but they do. Makes me enjoy the song even more.

[@allabronskaya9069]

I love this perspective

[@NoahJuan]

I think this hidden element is also reflected in the lyrics when they mention red blue green which are the hidden colours that make up a video image?

[@bossyspaghetti]

Videotape has always been my very favorite song on that album, possibly my favorite in their whole catalog...

[@DylTyrril]

Not to be overlooked is the Thom Yorke From the Basement solo version of Videotape, a personal favourite. You can clearly see Thom working the piano's foot pedals to find his rhythm.

[@nashmillh76]

radiohead songs go through a metamorphosis before getting released and even after that, while they're playing it live. that's why it's always interesting for me; seems like each member is pouring their being into the record/live version.

[@warrenmusic]

Great thought... Agree 100%.

[@ricktrevino309]

WARRENMUSIC Know the name of the Stevie Wonder song?

[@warrenmusic]

You'll have to ask Estelle! She's on Twitter.

[@applesnapple5515]

Master Blaster

[@Zainyyx]

your comment reminded me of I Will (No Man's Land). when i first heard it, it instantly became my favorite. but then i heard the Los Angeles version and i was torn between which i favored the most. still am.

[@christianvaneeden7460]

This is fantastic content. Thank you thank you!

[@jakho19]

Fabulous piece guys! Thank youuuu

[@knightarnaud]

Can we all agree that Radiohead really is the best band in the world?

[@Dismoeyy]

Warrenmusic

[@warrenmusic]

SAY MY NAME

[@Vox]

~shouts into the void~ WARRRREENNNN -joe

[@warrenmusic]

~listens into the void~ OMG is someone saying my name across time and space? I N T E R S T E L L A R.

[@Vox]

media1.giphy.com/media/WJEAsbOLDF0Ig/giphy.gif

[@warrenmusic]

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[@cressnaar]

This put a whole new perception of music to me. Didn't understand everything but I understood enough. Very informative to me. Makes me wanna play my piano more.

[@aislingomalley]

your nerdy enthusiasm for the minutiae of music is inspiring.

[@aj1533]

Like them or not, Radiohead *is* one of the most beloved bands in the world. You may disagree with their opinions but their albums are rated incredibly well and they sell millions of albums without selling out.

[@ishaanthewonderboy]

This very album In Rainbows was released with a "pay what you want" system on their site without any advertising. They are probably the biggest indie band out there.

[@onixxfilth]

Ajay Vishwanaath I love "Creep" and "Karma Police" was one of my faves in middle school.

[@clag1109]

LMAO Radiohead are not indie.

[@teethgrinder83]

Clag don't tell me Pablo Honey and The Bends aren't indie albums lol taken as a whole no they maybe aren't indie any more-especially after OK computer but come on,those first two albums were totally indie

[@roryclague5876]

It's interesting that you would say this since Radiohead were signed to a record label when you claim they were indie, and have been independent musicians since In Rainbows.

[@nashmillh76]

the fast version is not fit for closing track. Street sprite,the tourist all the way through true love waits the closing track has a lullaby like quality, like the band is saying goodbye to you.

[@warrenmusic]

Agree!

[@guilhermedasilva1795]

Wolf At The Door a pretty disturbing lullaby haha

[@SynthsStories]

Great, great motion design and musical knowledges shared! Thanks Vox ;)

"That's cute" -Meshuggah

[@turdferguson9190]

Laughs in polyrhythm....

[@HiroProtaganist]

Radiohead is amazing

[@HiroProtaganist]

Damnit now I have to go listen to this album

[@moesalamander7012]

How was it?

[@BigBang28A]

is it just me or this "videotape" song plays in my nightmares all the time

[@Misterz3r0]

its just you

[@joeyouyang]

When you don't double upload

[@samw1501]

The album version of this song is made more even complex by the gradually-drifting timing of some of the background percussion.

[@mouduge]

Great explanation, thanks, now I love this song even more.

[@julianuary]

As a slightly pedantic RH fan (haha) I have to correct something. The date of that London show was January 16, 2008, not September 29. They were ready to tour Japan by that point.

[@warrenmusic]

There's the detective!

[@julianuary]

You know it! ;)

[@ricardootiniano8315]

"I am a professional musician and this is not hard to play" lol guys you won't get music creds just for commenting like that

[@willritter4076]

I'd be honored if some Radiohead/late 90s fans would check out my acoustic piano & vocal covers of HIGH & DRY and BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY by the Verve on my channel. Live acoustic with no digital editing. Thanks and peace.out.

[@alexfeliciano2151]

You don’t need to be a professional to play off beats. A quick 5 minute demonstration can all you need to know about off beats. They fact the viewers are trying to make is that off beats are not something special. You learn them in 6th grade band class.

[@matthewgriffin3486]

@@alexfeliciano2151 in 6th grade band class you don't have 30,000 fans all clapping on the wrong beat while you're trying to play a 1/16 of a note later

[@grtrukat9360]

There's so many bands between the 70s and 90s that did this in various chords

[@rahul91090]

Alex Feliciano 6th grade? Really that late????

[@jasperbayless]

It is just so brilliant! Fascinating video too.

[@julcaos]

Everyting in this was just brilliant... song, video, editing, research... great job guys!

[@dannii_L]

This completely reinforces a) Why Radiohead are the gift that keeps on giving; and b) Why there is a special place in hell reserved for people that clap to the beat at concerts (oh, how I wish)

[@kehkeh92821]

thats really poetic. I feel like it's almost the same as trying to kick a bad habit. The constant struggle of telling yourself something when it believes it's something else

[@jand563]

I learned something new about one of my favorite songs today. Thanks!

[@padndora021]

What's up with people in the comments saying "this is nothing special", or "anyone can hear this, it's obvious". I mean, of course that if you have musical training you can hear it, but not everything is made for the musically trained? I bet there are a lot of people that watched this and went: "oh man that's awesome I wanna get into music theory more", or people that were encouraged to listen closely and with more thought the songs they heard a million times before. I, for one, thing that's an amazing thing. Being pretentious is a waste of energy, people, so chill.

[@1994savvas]

armedandshort The thing is, this is a really simple musical concept, and it's used all the time with one way or another. Jazz, for example, is built around syncopation. When I clicked the video I was expecting something much more advance. Even for a non-musician, this should be explained in 3 minutes. The rest is just reapeating the same thing over and over.

[@mytakeonlife17]

Thing is, syncopation is usually added in mid song for a x period of time to make it richer. Starting the whole song and keeping it all the way through without going against your main gut to go with the beat (like the audience claping at the wrong time) is not an easy feat especially on a song that seems so simple at first glance (1234)

[@teethincskate]

It's not musical training, you can have literally no musical training and still recognise that.

[@mrmcduck4902]

Actually, I think you'll find creating a 10 min video as if it's a really deep concept is actually closer to 'pretentious' (ie. affecting greater importance or merit than actually possessed) than pointing out how simple the concept is. The piano is out of sync with the beat when the expectation is that it's on the beat (i.e syncopated). Didn't need 10 minutes to explain that one sentence.

[@timhout2032]

@@teethincskate I don't have musical training and I immediately noticed it. I didn't even have to think much if I tried playing it

[@gravygravyjosh]

some people not really getting this. The difficult thing that makes this so interesting is they're playing the syncopated beat without anything on 1 to place it. When you listen on the record it sounds like normal 4, but then they start to build it and fill it out so that it feels polyrhythmic, but they were actually playing along to this "phantom beat" all along. Very cool

[@toymadsun]

Super interesting video! Thanks for that.

[@staindman00]

I LOVED THIS!!

[@arinetic5538]

Ive watched this video multiple times now, and when i watch this video, what's being said and what the band says makes sense that the piano is syncopated. But every single time I listen to Videotape after watching this, i try to follow what this video says the downbeat is, and i completely fail every single time. I can do it while playing it on my own, but listening to the studio version just doesnt make sense. Every musical instinct of mine leads me to believe that it's the drums that are syncopated, not the piano. If they're still playing it with the piano being on the offbeat, they are overcomplicating it for themselves.

[@Misterseb2]

I also think you are right. I completely get what the video is trying to say, but there really is no evidence to suggest that the piano is on the offbeat other than Yorke struggling in that one video. On the other hand, the bonnaroo clip they showed at 7:59 actually has Colin nodding his head as if the piano was on the downbeat (making the drums offbeat). Maybe he's just nodding his head "wrong" intentionally though, because that's easier for him. Idk.

[@warrenmusic]

Check out my superimposed version where I give a drumbeat to count in before the piano. It’s on my SoundCloud

[@nicklee6395]

The crowd clapping (conforming) to the wrong beat while the band following the true beat fits perfectly to their isolationist and lonely identity.

[@L1ttleM1crosoft]

Been subscribed to Warren for years now. Even saw him at the Berkeley show! Hahaha didnt get a chance to meet him but hes taught me pretty much every RH song i know on guitar.

[@spiralations7304]

Not Yet Remembered by Brian Eno is STRIKING to this songs chords and key. I have been a Radiohead fan for years but every day I discover more how directly they draw from their muses.

[@toniyo3]

This channel is an amazing mix of educational, vogue, music, science and cohesion between all these things. I love it.

[@GoLDnTRiXX]

and I'm wondering why they get so much offence. Sometimes, the truth is too hard

[@ollieboy117]

Omori you listen to suicide boys?

[@toniyo3]

Dark Star of course, my profile pic is the cover of their collab with germ, dirtynastysuicide

[@bodbn]

The SJW liberal propaganda is where they get the heat.

[@cutelittleball]

I feel like it's even worse in Bodysnatchers. To this day I do not understand how the intro works. I simply don't get where the beats are. At some point the drums join in, and it always throws me off. It's incomprehensible to my brain for some reason.

[@dalcheerios]

I understand Bodysnatchers now (hopefully it'll lock in for you too!) but I can't understand the beats of Little by Little at all. Neither the downbeats or the offbeats are distinctive enough in my mind to get a sense of it. Some live versions make it clearer but the studio version is confusing

[@matturner6890]

It's because the riff doesn't actually start on the 1st beat. The riff starts off one eighth note before the 3rd beat of 4. So not only does it have a pick-up intro, it also starts on a very weird spot. All the guitars in the song are consistently behind the beat, too. Aside from Johnny Greenwood's reverby solo in the middle, which starts on the actual first beat of the bar, but at the end goes back to being behind the beat. The 1st beat actually comes just after you climb to the 14th fret on the A string. The snare drum is always hitting on the 2 and 4, if that helps.

[@farinheit2celsius]

Also the hi hats aren't a straight rhthym, one is very slightly shifted near the snare I think

[@miguelhuaman8280]

I DID NOT UNDERSTAND

[@matturner6890]

@@farinheit2celsius The whole song is on the ride cymbal aside from a fill at the end...

[@danielkerese9631]

as a drummer its so simple to interpret but i imagine people are like what

[@fkngunicorn]

ily for this

[@ollerich32]

over-analysis overload to the max!