Radiohead

Lyrics

[Spoken Verse]
Fitter, happier, more productive
Comfortable, not drinking too much
Regular exercise at the gym three days a week
Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries
At ease
Eating well
No more microwave dinners and saturated fats
A patient, better driver
A safer car
Baby smiling in back seat
Sleeping well, no bad dreams
No paranoia
Careful to all animals
Never washing spiders down the plughole
Keep in contact with old friends
Enjoy a drink now and then
Will frequently check credit at moral bank
Hole in wall
Favors for favors
Fond, but not in love
Charity standing orders
On Sundays ring road supermarket
No killing moths or putting boiling water on the ants
Car wash, also on Sundays
No longer afraid of the dark or midday shadows
Nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate
Nothing so childish
At a better pace
Slower and more calculated
No chance of escape
Now self-employed
Concerned, but powerless
An empowered and informed member of society Pragmatism, not idealism
Will not cry in public
Less chance of illness
Tires that grip in the wet
Shot of baby strapped in back seat
A good memory
Still cries at a good film
Still kisses with saliva
No longer empty and frantic
Like a cat
Tied to a stick
That's driven into
Frozen winter shit
The ability to laugh at weakness
Calm
Fitter, healthier and more productive
A pig
In a cage
On antibiotics

If we were to look at the music industry today, it's almost impossible to ignore Radiohead's influence. The British band's ability to blend everything from rock to electronica and their willingness to push boundaries in experimentation have positioned them as pioneers of modern rock for over three decades.

About Fitter Happier

Radiohead's critically acclaimed album, OK Computer, released in 1997, is still considered one of the most influential albums of all time. OK Computer is an album that redefined rock music, breaking free from tradition and leading the way for a new wave of experimental bands.

Fitter Happier is one of the tracks in the album that has left a lasting impression on listeners. The song is a list of bullet points that reflect the melancholic and dehumanized world that we live in today. The track is a scathing attack on modern society, with the lyrics highlighting the problems and contradictions of everyday life.

The song features a synthesised voice called ‘Fred,' which was found on the SimpleText application supplied with 90s Macintosh computers such as the LC II. This unique feature has added to the eerie quality of the song, causing listeners to feel as if they are being spoken to by a machine.

One of the hallmarks of Radiohead's music is their willingness to push boundaries and experiment with sound. Fitter Happier is a prime example of the band's ability to merge experimental music with social commentary. The song is a haunting piece that strikes a chord with its listeners, primarily due to its ability to embody the coldness and unfeeling nature of modern life.

The track is often cited as the most accurate in describing what OK Computer is all about. With its list of diagnoses of modern society, it reflects the entire ethos of the world we are living in today. The lyrics are delivered in a matter-of-fact way without emotion, reflecting the unemotional and disconnected nature of society.

Fitter Happier may be one of the most disconcerting songs on the album, but its criticisms are still very relevant today. The bullet points that make up the lyrics serve as a warning sign that things may have gone too far, and we need to take a step back and re-evaluate our lives.

The song also achieved wide recognition outside of the album; with its lyrics and images adapted from the album artwork being used on advertisements in music magazines, signs in the London Underground, and even shirts.

Fitter Happier is a warning about the future, a solemn reminder to take a moment and reflect on where we are headed as a society. As we march towards unprecedented technological advancement and increasingly complex systems of living, we must ask ourselves whether we are prepared to abandon the values that make us human.

The Bottomline

Radiohead's Fitter Happier highlights the failure of modern society to provide a compassionate and healthy environment for its people. The song is an essential piece of commentary that warns us of the potential consequences of living in a disconnected world. Its unique style and synth voice delivery give it an eerie quality that leaves an indelible impression on its listeners. Fitter Happier has become a cultural touchstone and will continue to inspire future generations to question our society's values and direction.

• Release Date: May 21, 1997
• Artist: Radiohead