Creep - Radiohead

Question 1

What key is creep in?

Answer 1

G major

Question 2

Who was it written by

Answer 2

Singer, guitarist Thom Yorke

Question 3

When was it released

Answer 3

Released as Radioheads first single in 1992 but didn’t gain popularity until the release of their debut album “Pablo Honey” a year later

Question 4

What is the structure of the song

Answer 4

8-bar intro/Verse1/chorus/verse2/extended chorus/verse3/chorus

Question 5

What is the melody in the verse like

Answer 5

Repetitive moving between D to A,G,F

Question 6

What do the lyrics do when the melody ascend

Answer 6

Strain towards optimism but fail

Question 7

What do the descending melodies suggest

Answer 7

Sinking back into self pity

Question 8

What does the guitar provide in the verses

Answer 8

Countermelodies

Question 9

When was creep released?

Answer 9

1992

Question 10

What does the melody do in the extended chorus

Answer 10

Soars to top A on ‘run’ before being repeated twice and augmented with one note per bar

Question 11

What is the chord progression?

Answer 11

I/iii#/IV/vi in Gmajor (G/B/C/Cm)

Question 12

What kind of chord is iii#?

Answer 12

Borrowed chord

Question 13

Does the chord progression change throughout the song?

Answer 13

No, remains the same

Question 14

What is the harmonic rhythm like?

Answer 14

Slow, 2 bars per chord

Question 15

What harmonic device is Thom Yorke’s “one secret”?

Answer 15

Pivot note of B in G chord. It is held until the next B chord

Question 16

What does the harmonic ostinatio do?

Answer 16

“Creeps” up the “creeps” down chromatically (D, D#, E, Eb)

Question 17

Which chord is particularly emphasised in the harmony?

Answer 17

Subdominant, chord 4

Question 18

What does the harmonic ostinato achieve?

Answer 18

Portrayal of song’s obsessive lyrics

Question 19

What can be said about the bass line

Answer 19

Walking bass line, consisting of C,D,Eb,F

Question 20

What do we hear before the chorus on the guitar?

Answer 20

Three blasts of guitar noise, “dead” chords

Question 21

What is different about verse 3

Answer 21

The piano replaces the guitar allowing for a more vulnerable sound

Question 22

What use of technology is there

Answer 22

Use of guitar distortion

Question 23

What instruments are playing

Answer 23

Vocals, two electric guitars, bass, drums, piano

Question 24

What do we hear in the melody in “you’re just” at “you’re just like an angel”

Answer 24

Tritone