AboutAndreas Moss Expertise Your question is my challenge, I`m updated on news, gossip and where to find everything on the net since I have system over what info there is about Radiohead officially and unofficially. Feel free to share opinions, philosophies, gossip and thoughts about Radiohead as well.
Expert: Andreas Moss Date: 8/14/2005 Subject: Radiohead: true artists
Question Hi Andreas
I live in Egypt where Radiohead are relatively unknown because basically our only two sources of music are the radio and cable music channels such as MTV and they almost only play mainstream music. However, two years ago , a friend introduced me to Thom Yorke and co and i was blown away by their creative music. Their music really is a welcoming change from all that commercial stuff and it made me realize the difference between music and art..Music moves the body but art moves the heart and makes you think: there is a message in every Radiohead song and while some may call their music negative or depressing, I would rather call it "eye-opening" meaning that Radiohead makes us see what's wrong with this world, therefore i would like to believe that their is an element of hope in their music..Anyway i was wondering if you could tell me how many albums have Radiohead sold? Btw i find it weird that one of Radiohead's least accessible albums (Kid A) is their only album to have reached number 1 in the US...I would have thought that a more accessible album like the Bends would have had more success there than Kid A.
Answer Hello Mouafac,
Sorry about the delay of answering your question, seems like there is an error on Allexperts these days. I got to know this question today first. I've told the administratiors and it will be fixed as soon as possible.
I completely agree with what you say about art and music. You sound like the kind of person I'd like to meet. I've always loved Egypt, seems like such a beautiful country. I'd love to travel there someday.
Thom Yorke once got a question if he thought Radioheads music is depressing and negative, and he explained that he had a theory that anything is uplifting presented as music. There's dark themes in Radioheads music, but there's always hope in them like you say.
How many albums Radiohead have sold? Gee, thats a tough question.
Well, OK Computer is definitely their must successful album. I think the last time I read anything it had sold around 15-20 million records. It sold very well all around the world.. and since it still tops "best album ever"-polls and such it probably has sold a lot more.
I think Kid A and Amnesiac sold around 6-7 millions each. The Bends I think around the same, but they have all sold a lot more afterwards slowly as well, so I don't think there's anyone counting.
You are right about The Bends being more accessible than Kid A. The reasons has to be seen in context.
The Bends was released in 1996 and Radiohead, as a band from Britain, had no real audience in USA at that time. Creep was a huge hit in USA a few years back, but after Pablo Honey came out a lot of reviewers kind of wrote off Radiohead. The Bends was quite popular in England however, and after Street Spirit was released as a fifth single from the album The Bends started selling quite a lot suddenly.
OK Computer however blasted all that away. It never was number 1 in USA, but it stayed a steady sale for ages and ages and ages there.
There was this HUGE await after OK Computer for the next album.. that kind of is why Kid A was received like it did. Radiohead was kind of like the biggest band in the world at that point. They weren't around The Bends.
The Bends actually sold more after the success of their later albums than when it was released. But I've always found it a funny fact that Kid A got to number 1 in USA. :)
Anyway, I hope my rambeling has been somewhat helpful at least?
Feel free to ask anything else some other time, and have a nice weekend.
Andreas
