� Talk Show Host 4:41

 
Originally released: January 1996

Available on: Street Spirit (fade out) (single)

Alternative version: Nellee Hopper mix - Romeo And Juliet (soundtrack)

 
I want to, I want to be someone else or I'll explode
Floating upon the surface for
The birds, the birds, the birds

You want me, well fucking well come and find me
I'll be waiting with a gun and a pack of sandwiches
And nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing

You want me, well, come on and break the door down
You want me, fucking come on and break the door down
I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready ...

 

One of the best B-sides ever recorded by any band, Talk Show Host presents Radiohead exploring the trip-hop style. The song recalls Portishead's debut album, Dummy. The original version, on the Street Spirit (fade out) CD1, is the most guitar driven of the versions released. The band has never articulated the song's meaning, but the number does contain some of Radiohead's best lyrics. The next version released was the Nellee Hooper remix on the William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet soundtrack, which differs from the original in that it includes various backing sounds and far less guitar, giving it a mysterious feel. The most unusual version is the Black Dog remix, in which the instrumental part and the vocals are played at different tempos than they are on the original - it's hard to sing along with. This version is very wild, and when the acoustic guitar comes in, the track takes on a magical quality. The best version, however, is the live take, with Jonny's added keyboards and a wonderfully long guitar jam at the end.