Creep - Radiohead Flashcards
What key is creep in?
G major
Who was it written by
Singer, guitarist Thom Yorke
When was it released
Released as Radioheads first single in 1992 but didn’t gain popularity until the release of their debut album “Pablo Honey” a year later
What is the structure of the song
8-bar intro/Verse1/chorus/verse2/extended chorus/verse3/chorus
What is the melody in the verse like
Repetitive moving between D to A,G,F
What do the lyrics do when the melody ascend
Strain towards optimism but fail
What do the descending melodies suggest
Sinking back into self pity
What does the guitar provide in the verses
Countermelodies
When was creep released?
1992
What does the melody do in the extended chorus
Soars to top A on ‘run’ before being repeated twice and augmented with one note per bar
What is the chord progression?
I/iii#/IV/vi in Gmajor (G/B/C/Cm)
What kind of chord is iii#?
Borrowed chord
Does the chord progression change throughout the song?
No, remains the same
What is the harmonic rhythm like?
Slow, 2 bars per chord
What harmonic device is Thom Yorke’s “one secret”?
Pivot note of B in G chord. It is held until the next B chord
What does the harmonic ostinatio do?
“Creeps” up the “creeps” down chromatically (D, D#, E, Eb)
Which chord is particularly emphasised in the harmony?
Subdominant, chord 4
What does the harmonic ostinato achieve?
Portrayal of song’s obsessive lyrics
What can be said about the bass line
Walking bass line, consisting of C,D,Eb,F
What do we hear before the chorus on the guitar?
Three blasts of guitar noise, “dead” chords
What is different about verse 3
The piano replaces the guitar allowing for a more vulnerable sound
What use of technology is there
Use of guitar distortion
What instruments are playing
Vocals, two electric guitars, bass, drums, piano
What do we hear in the melody in “you’re just” at “you’re just like an angel”
Tritone
