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2 + 2 = 5 (song)

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"2 + 2 = 5"
Song

"2 + 2 = 5" is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead, released as the last single from their sixth album Hail to the Thief in 2003 (see 2003 in British music). Its lyrics include the album's title.

The song's title "2 + 2 = 5" recalls the symbol of unreality from George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.[1] In the book, inhabitants of an authoritarian future state are made to engage in doublethink, replacing their own conscience and beliefs with those imposed from above. At the end of the novel, the protagonist's individuality is demolished, as he avows that two and two are, in fact, five. The song contains similar inaccuracies including January bringing April showers. This line has also been thought to refer to climate change.[citation needed]

The album lists subtitles, or alternative titles, for each of its songs. 2 + 2 = 5's is The Lukewarm. Singer Thom Yorke has mentioned it as a reference to the works of Dante.[2] The Book of Revelation uses the phrase in chapter 3: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."[3]

With lyrics like "All hail to the thief, but I'm not" and "Don't question my authority" there have been repeated suggestions from many musical critics that the song is based on the controversial election of George W. Bush in 2000. The band have strenuously denied this, saying in one interview, "It would be too easy for us to insult George Bush".[4]

The song reached number 15 on the UK singles chart.[5]

Track listings

  1. "2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
  • 12" 12RDJWL6623
  1. "Sktterbrain" (Four Tet remix)
  2. "Remyxomatosis" (Super Collider remix)
  1. "2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
  2. "Remyxomatosis" (Christian Vogel RMX) - 5:07
  3. "There There" (first demo) - 7:43
  • CD two CDRS6623
  1. "2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
  2. "Skttrbrain" (Four Tet remix) - 4:26
  3. "I Will" (Los Angeles version) - 2:14
  • DVD DVDR6623
  1. "2 + 2 = 5" - 3:21
  2. "Sit Down Stand Up" (Ed Holdsworth's video)
  3. "The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time" (excerpt)

Cover images

Trivia

  • The first part of the song is in a 7/8 time signature, which switches to 4/4 about 1 minute 22 seconds in (after the words "Two and two always makes five...").
  • At the beginning of the song, the listener hears guitarist Jonny Greenwood saying "We're Rolling!" while plugging his guitar in, and lead vocalist Thom Yorke is heard saying "That's a nice way to start, Jonny...".
  • The tune and structure of the song changes dramatically at 2:25 - the same numbers in the title.

See also

References

  1. ^ Greenplastic.com Song Information
  2. ^ "Thom Yorke on 'Hail To The Thief'". XFM online. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
  3. ^ http://africanamericansfordemocracy.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_africanamericansfordemocracy_archive.html
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ "UK Top 40 Chart Archive". Retrieved 2006-10-02.
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