No Surprises

The song No Surprises, part of Radiohead's album OK Computer, immerses us in a particular atmosphere from its very first notes. Its duration, 3 minutes and 49 seconds, is built with instrumentation that moves away from the guitar as the central axis, seeking a more elaborate and layered sound. The lyrics, which originally explored a conflictive personal relationship, were transformed by Thom Yorke to reflect a critique of the complacency of everyday life and the pursuit of a tranquil existence, even if that tranquility implies a serene end, as suggested by verses about carbon monoxide.

This track was recorded during 1996 and early 1997, in a period when the band, along with their producer Nigel Godrich, was exploring new sonic textures. The recording sessions took place both in their rehearsal space in Oxfordshire and at the historic mansion of St Catherine's Court, in Bath. Curiously, the version we hear on the album is the first take they recorded. Thom Yorke has commented that they tried to record other versions, but they all ended up sounding like an imitation of that original take, so they decided to keep it. No Surprises was released as the third and final single from OK Computer on January 12, 1998, reaching number four in the United Kingdom. The music video, directed by Grant Gee, features a single shot of Thom Yorke's head inside a plastic bubble that gradually fills with water, an image that accompanies the feeling of confinement and resignation conveyed by the song.