I wanna talk about Radiohead. For anyone who doesn't know, they are a five-piece indie band from Oxford, England.
I first started to like them since 1997 when they released 'OK Computer' that year. And actually I bought their album out of scepticism because I used to like to watch this TV programme by this DJ called Wong Chi Chung. And in his programme, he just said that, "It's not the end of the year but I have to announce that 'OK Computer' is the best album of the year." And so I just wanted to try and listen to this album to see if it is that great. And after I bought it, I just think that, "Wow! This is real music!" because it's musically and lyrically great. And Thom Yorke, the frontman of Radiohead, just write songs like a poems and I think he is very honest and he writes great poetic imageries in the songs. And at the time I just discovered that there are actually many possibilities in music. And they actually started my interest in other genres of music, like ambient, electronic, and psychedelic rock and something like that.
They not just open my eyes to music. They also open my eyes to the world. For example, I didn't know there is... there was a profession called 'graphic design' beforehand. And I just think that their album cover is very good. And later I learned that the cover was made by a graphic designer who is also the band's friend. And then at that time I started to take interest in this field and eventually I got a bachelor degree for it.
They have also widened my horizons to the fullest because they are a very socially responsible band. They care about the Third World debts, fair trade, poverty, global warming and the environment. And they make me think about all these world issues I have never thought about before. They encourage me to make a difference. This kind of thing...I just think that not any band in the music scene has this guts to care about.
And also, actually contrary to general belief that Radiohead is depressing, Thom Yorke the frontman is always whining. I actually think that their music is very uplifting and soothing. And also Thom Yorke has heavenly voices. I actually think that their music give me... gives me comfort in the darkest days of my life. And no other band can give me the same powerful consolation than Radiohead. And I think they are the greatest band and always will be.
