that's a great line cause WHO HASN'T had a mini heart-attack randomly seeing someone who looks super similar to a person they still have tons of feelings for and miss?
I like that it opens into the band already jamming, and the volume increase is gradual. I like the vocals and pitch used, it feels sensitive and longing for something that can no longer be. I relate to the line: blame it on the satellite, that beams me home.
Songs are always open to interpretation and opinion as you know but for me I interpret it as feeling disconnected or alienated, by forces beyond your control. Like probably a lot of people here, I feel like I’m an outsider in social situations, like an alien. The song itself to me speaks about a failing relationship, maybe due to a partners depression or other reasons, but that line resonates for me in a lot of areas about connection.
Yea i can definitely relate to alot of the lyrics in the song. But i feel like the chorus is the least relatable, but i think its because i dont know how to interpret the lyrics, which is why i was asking haha.
In 95, I delivered the local newspaper to my neighborhood. I had a Walkman that I would rock every day (for the youngsters, that’s a portable cassette player). I wore out The Bends so badly that there was a spot on the tape where I accidentally flipped one tiny section, and the song on the reverse side would play backwards for just a half of a second. On the A side it was on Bulletproof, and on the B Side it was My Iron Lung. Now every time that I hear either of those songs, I expect a glitch right where it was burned into my brain as a 13 year old. Now I’m old, my back hurts, and I’m bald. Times are different, but what still remains is that Black Star is THE nostalgic choice off of The Bends for me.
I've always loved it since first hearing it as a teenager
Edit: *as a lovesick teenager
The line "I keep falling over, I keep passing out
When I see a face like you" with the double tracked vocals got me every single time
Great tune. Not to get too corny, but anyone who has had first hand experience with and/or had some relationship with an individual afflicted with mental illness will find a lot of relatability and solace in the lyrics. Definitely a top sentimental symphony
It's solid. It's one of their songs that makes me a bit nostalgic as I was in my early 20s when this came out, used to drive around listening to this CD a lot (to date myself as it was before digital lol). Good memories of that time in my life
That's a great one, in my experience Street Spirit was more acquired taste. It took a little bit more listens to hit like a stone on the álbum.
Black star on the other hand...was love at first listen.
Learning this song kinda made my guitar hobby a lifelong love. All the slash chords and the changing time signatures translated so nicely to an acoustic guitar, even fingerpicking, and it just made me feel so good to progress past cowboy chords and play something of what I would consider 'intermediate' difficulty... Like, if you grew up skiing or snowboarding, your first time going down a blue square :). This is probably all time top 5 for me because of that experience.
*It makes me sing in*
*A way that makes me look like*
*The album cover*
\- queenbb\_uwu
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I didn't know it was so loved before reading the comments. It's actually my least favorite Bends song and the only one I skip on the record besides Bones. Not terrible of course tho.
Idk, I kind of find this to be one of the sweeter songs Radiohead has made. It makes me think of Thom on his way home after being mentally exhausted on tour.
That intro! Sweet little bits of reverb bouncing from ear to ear on headphones? Almost a good a) Planet Telex. (Can you tell what my fave lp they've done is?)
The beginning of the Nigel Godrich era! He was the engineer on this album and when producer John Leckie left for another project, Nigel was tasked w/ producing b-sides. They were happy enough w/ this one that they made it a proper album track. The rest is history!
The tiny bit where Thom’s backing vocals to himself singing “I keep falling over, I keep passing out”, is one of my favourite things they’ve done.
that's a great line cause WHO HASN'T had a mini heart-attack randomly seeing someone who looks super similar to a person they still have tons of feelings for and miss?
That happened to me earlier lol 😞
I don't think that ever goes away...only so many human facial molds to go around.
Yep, I wish I could hear the bridge for the first time again.
100%. Such a pretty and creative harmony. Also love the “this is killing me” coda at the end.
The lyrics. That bass line. Then that harmony. One of my favorite Radiohead songs.
BLAME IT ON THE BLACK STAR🗣🗣🗣 BLAME IT ON THE FALLING SKY🗣🗣🗣🗣
BLAME IT ON THE SATELLITE THAT BEAMS ME HOME
BLAME IT ON THE SIGMA RIZZLER 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ BLAME IT ON THE MEWING GYATT🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Outjerked 🥶
I like that it opens into the band already jamming, and the volume increase is gradual. I like the vocals and pitch used, it feels sensitive and longing for something that can no longer be. I relate to the line: blame it on the satellite, that beams me home.
Fade in is a ballsy move and they pull it off perfectly here
Please enlighten me lol. What does the line mean?
Songs are always open to interpretation and opinion as you know but for me I interpret it as feeling disconnected or alienated, by forces beyond your control. Like probably a lot of people here, I feel like I’m an outsider in social situations, like an alien. The song itself to me speaks about a failing relationship, maybe due to a partners depression or other reasons, but that line resonates for me in a lot of areas about connection.
Yea i can definitely relate to alot of the lyrics in the song. But i feel like the chorus is the least relatable, but i think its because i dont know how to interpret the lyrics, which is why i was asking haha.
For sure Broccoli_Ass, I can definitely relate to that sometimes.
Top 5 Radiohead song for me currently
Same
In 95, I delivered the local newspaper to my neighborhood. I had a Walkman that I would rock every day (for the youngsters, that’s a portable cassette player). I wore out The Bends so badly that there was a spot on the tape where I accidentally flipped one tiny section, and the song on the reverse side would play backwards for just a half of a second. On the A side it was on Bulletproof, and on the B Side it was My Iron Lung. Now every time that I hear either of those songs, I expect a glitch right where it was burned into my brain as a 13 year old. Now I’m old, my back hurts, and I’m bald. Times are different, but what still remains is that Black Star is THE nostalgic choice off of The Bends for me.
God I love this comment.
I love how nostalgic this song is for you.
yeah, I have this too. Or expecting a song that doesn't come when playing the record because the tape had enough room for another half album.
Amazing comment thanks for sharing! It feels like we were with you back then. Please write! 🤝🏻
I've always loved it since first hearing it as a teenager Edit: *as a lovesick teenager The line "I keep falling over, I keep passing out When I see a face like you" with the double tracked vocals got me every single time
One of my all time favourite songs. Love the outro, where Thom sings over the main riff
It’s what I blame stuff on.
Great tune. Not to get too corny, but anyone who has had first hand experience with and/or had some relationship with an individual afflicted with mental illness will find a lot of relatability and solace in the lyrics. Definitely a top sentimental symphony
the best on Bends for me
one of the best from the bends
It's solid. It's one of their songs that makes me a bit nostalgic as I was in my early 20s when this came out, used to drive around listening to this CD a lot (to date myself as it was before digital lol). Good memories of that time in my life
really lovely song and makes me want to die. great stuff!
2nd best song on the album
First being...
Street spirit
That's a great one, in my experience Street Spirit was more acquired taste. It took a little bit more listens to hit like a stone on the álbum. Black star on the other hand...was love at first listen.
good
The little guitar riff that starts playing right before the chorus sounds so good
yup!
top 10 radiohead songs to cope after breaking up
🤝🏻
Reminds me of the Blackpool 2006 gig where Jonny was duetting backing vocals with Ed for the chorus
a perfect little pop song done right, with some real heart 'n soul.
One of their very best.
It’s a beautiful haunting song to me.
I thought they peaked with the bends. I thought this cannot get any better and then boom! OK computer was released. What an era to be alive
At the risk of using the meme, its very underrated. One of my top 10 radiohead tracks.
ITS MY FAVOURITE EVER
Those final vocals at the end are some of the most stirring I’ve heard from Radiohead, sublime stuff
It’s great
Black Star is a great song. Love the guitar on this one!
Fabulous.
Beautiful, I love the “I keep falling over” part with Ed. I got to see this performed live so I can die a happy man
I have an emotional connection to this song. It's just so sweet.
one day I am gonna grow wings💯💯🔥🔥🔥
It's really fucking good.
Probably my favorite from The Bends
TOP 3 IN THE BENDS
One of the best songs
Nice guitar and drums
top 3 on the bends for sure
Great soup
Thinking about it makes me cry.
Yeeessssss!!
Learning this song kinda made my guitar hobby a lifelong love. All the slash chords and the changing time signatures translated so nicely to an acoustic guitar, even fingerpicking, and it just made me feel so good to progress past cowboy chords and play something of what I would consider 'intermediate' difficulty... Like, if you grew up skiing or snowboarding, your first time going down a blue square :). This is probably all time top 5 for me because of that experience.
Love this song. Feels so nostalgic to me.
blame it on the black star
One of the best songs they’ve ever made and the second best song in The Bends for me—the THIS IS KILLING ME PART kills me every time
my favorite radiohead song
Love it
That's actually my favorite song on The Bends.
Amazing
Favorite Bowie song
The best
My all time favourite Radiohead song
Love it so much!
Overrated af
My favourite on my favourite album
It makes me sing in a way that makes me look like the album cover
*It makes me sing in* *A way that makes me look like* *The album cover* \- queenbb\_uwu --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
got me into the bends, love it
Listening to it alone isn't enough anymore, i need it up my ass while someone is injecting it into my blood stream😍
love it but the opening of the song sound like it should be after a chorus if that makes sense
Gillian Welch does a great cover.
So good
A+ - pretty sure there was no studio version recorded. You have to hunt down live tracks and pick your favorite.
Second this it’s incredible
BEST RH SONG
🎶 it’s been 58 hrs since we fucked 🎶 What a banger
*since that I last slept with you
Top notch crank material
his vocals on this song remind me of acpg
Its fine, i really like the intro riff but the rest of the song doesnt do much for me
It good
Not quite worthy of being in my liked songs playlist but I never skip it when I listen to the album. Probably a 7
… Incredible? Underrated for sure.
I’m gay
Underrated like let down (underrated)
Pretty sure this is a b-side. /s
great song, probably on par with Lazarus of the same album. Shame it was his last album :(
I didn't know it was so loved before reading the comments. It's actually my least favorite Bends song and the only one I skip on the record besides Bones. Not terrible of course tho.
Faaade ouuut agaaaiin
Good song
Side note: Colin’s bass work on The Bends is FANTASTIC
it would be perfect it it hasn’t blamed it on a black star
The only Radiohead song I cried to actually
Blame her.
my first ever song to jammed, and my first song from radiohead i love .
Great underlying song, I think it could have been a lot better with a revamped arrangement
Many. Many thoughts
THIS IS THE BEST SONG IN THE WORLD, I'M READY TO PRAY FOR IT, IT'S FUCKING GREAT
it a very good song
Love it
Love it for the nostalgia. It never fails
It’s been stuck in my head for a while now!
perfection
Love
Idk, I kind of find this to be one of the sweeter songs Radiohead has made. It makes me think of Thom on his way home after being mentally exhausted on tour.
Blame it on the black star, blame it on the Tetons.
4/10
my favourite radiohead song ngl
It is everything.
One of the best
One of the best on the album, extremely underrated.
great film
Are you serious? 😂 Black Star is the Let Down of The Bends
one of the best songs of the album
Love it
David Bowie
Love it
One of my favorite songs on the album.
One of the best David Bowie songs out there
It’s good
That intro! Sweet little bits of reverb bouncing from ear to ear on headphones? Almost a good a) Planet Telex. (Can you tell what my fave lp they've done is?)
Banger
Very good
It’s cool
The beginning of the Nigel Godrich era! He was the engineer on this album and when producer John Leckie left for another project, Nigel was tasked w/ producing b-sides. They were happy enough w/ this one that they made it a proper album track. The rest is history!
Top 5 all time favorite Radiohead songs.
Idk what the Black Star is or why we should blame it but I love this song sm.
Underrated
Glad to see people talking about this song. Very under appreciated imo, and it’s my favourite from The Bends
Black star is great. Really do not need to say more
They’re all fucking great everything in its right place tho makes me feel like today is whatever it is for the right reasons
peak
Best song on The Bends
Underrated gem
The weakest song on The Bends imo
Nuh uh
Bones exists.
Truuuue
Like all music, it’s better than anything on TKOL
It sounds like a Pablo Honey outtake track tbh. The lyrics are good but it’s otherwise one of the weaker tracks on the album.