Morning Bell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Morning Bell" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Song by Radiohead | ||
| from the album Kid A | ||
| Released | 2 October 2000 | |
| Recorded | January 1999 - April 2000 | |
| Genre | Rock, Experimental | |
| Length | 4:29 | |
| Label | Parlophone | |
| Producer(s) | Nigel Godrich and Radiohead | |
| Kid A track listing | ||
| Idioteque (8) |
"Morning Bell" (9) |
Motion Picture Soundtrack (10) |
"Morning Bell" is the ninth (and penultimate) track on the Radiohead album Kid A (2001), also found in another version on Amnesiac (2001).
Contents |
[edit] Two Versions
According to Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, the song went through many stages, and the Amnesiac version was actually the first to be written, before being "lost" and then suddenly remembered again, leading to the other version. Both versions were committed to tape during the same period of recording sessions in 1999-2000 (along with the rest of the material on both albums). However, the Kid A version was released first and is better known. It also forms the basis for the song's live performances.
Driven by electric piano chords, "Morning Bell" as it appears on Kid A is in a 5/8 time signature, with the fifth ('extra', as it were) beat filled in with a drum roll. A programmed drum machine is used in the album version, but in live concerts the tense pattern is played by drummer Phil Selway.
In contrast, the Amnesiac version (officially identified as "Morning Bell/Amnesiac") is based in common time, features desolate acoustic orchestration (including organ) and no audible percussion. This version is also nearly two minutes shorter and lacks the climactic ending, however, the rest of the lyrics are unchanged.
"Morning Bell" is noted as one of the relatively rare instances of a musical artist recording two distinct studio versions of a song and releasing both of them (another being Bob Dylan's "Forever Young"). The band has described Kid A and Amnesiac as two very distinct albums, although products of the same recording sessions, with "Morning Bell" providing an intentional link. However, this move met with a bit of skepticism from some critics and fans.
[edit] The Song
Thom Yorke, who wrote the song, said in an interview that the lyrics were 'extremely violent'[1]. The song contains lines like 'cut the kids in half', in contrast to its quiet yet hypnotic melody. Allegedly benefiting from the Dada method of cut-up poetry, "Morning Bell" has been taken as a typical example of Radiohead's cryptic style on Kid A, privileging atmosphere and sound over literal sense.[1] However, many view it as a song "about divorce", a theory explicitly supported by Yorke in some comments made at live concerts, though seemingly not in others. He has also said "Morning Bell" is about ghosts (literally). Some have even viewed it a vague critique of globalization, along with other songs on the album.
Whatever the song's meaning, 'Cut the kids in half' may be a reference to a scenario from the Bible in which two women are fighting over custody of a baby and the wise King Solomon is asked to adjudicate. He proposes a fair solution: that the child be cut in two and one half be given to each woman. Shocked by the cold logic of such a proposal, the real mother is quickly identified and her baby placed back in her hands.
Interestingly, when asked about the relationship, if any, between Kid A and Amnesiac, Yorke described the albums themselves as "twins, separated at birth."
[edit] Trivia
- Morning Bell has been covered by ?uestlove of hip-hop collective The Roots. His smooth version appeared on a 2006 tribute compilation.
- On Kid A the song is linked to the previous song "Idioteque" by a transition. The sampled electronic sounds of "Idioteque" continue as they are absorbed into the beat of "Morning Bell." Coproducer Nigel Godrich often makes use of such effects with Radiohead and others.
