Life, The Universe, And Radiohead Calum Marsh

Thom Yorke loves The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. We all know that. Everyone's quick to point out that OK Computer's 'Paranoid Android' is a reference to that book/radio show/mini-series/Hollywood movie franchise, but fans often forget about or overlook a plethora of other equally-obvious Hitchhiker shout-outs. Today I present to you, dear readers and Radiohead fanatics, the comprehensive list of Radiohead-Hitchhiker connections. None of these are officially verified, but I'm sure you'll find that my conclusions are undeniably accurate nonetheless. ___________________________________________________________________ The Song: 'Just' (The Bends) The Line: "Don't Get My Sympathy/Hanging Out The 15th Floor" The Reference: In The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe, the second book in the Hitchhiker series, Zaphod Beeblebrox is mysteriously transported to the head office in charge of the 'Hitchhiker's Guide' book. As he searches the building for a man named Zarniwoop, an alien named Roosta shows up and rips the building in two. Half of the building - the half that Zaphod is in - is moved to a planet called Frogstar World B. Zaphod, confused, is left hanging on the side of the building, and he happens to be on - yep, you guessed it - the fifteenth floor. ___________________________________________________________________ The Song: 'Paranoid Android' (OK Computer) The Line: " When I am king, you will be first against the wall" The Reference: When asked about his creators, Marvin (the Paranoid Android himself, no less), declares that they are "a bunch of jerks who'll be first against the wall when the revolution comes". Coincidence? I think not. ___________________________________________________________________ The Song: 'Paranoid Android' (OK Computer) The Line: "The Panic, The Vomit" The Reference: The line "The Panic" kinda sounds like "Don't Panic", which is the famous inscription on the front cover of The Hitchhiker's Guide and which is the most prominent line from the series. ___________________________________________________________________ The Song: 'Sail To The Moon' (Hail To The Theif) The Line: "Maybe You'll Be President...Sail To The Moon" The Reference: Well, Zaphod was President of the Galaxy, and he flew a ship in space, and ships usually sail, and, um, the moon is in space. Right...? ___________________________________________________________________ The Song: 'Motion Picture Soundtrack' (Kid A) The Line: title The Reference: The Hitchhiker's Guide was turned into a motion picture, and that motion picture had a soundtrack. ___________________________________________________________________ The Song: 'Subterranean Homesick Alien' (OK Computer) The Line: "I'd show them the stars and the meaning of life." The Reference: He'd show them that meaning of life, the Universe, and everything, is 42 - just like in the book. Oh, and there were a lot of stars in Hitchhiker's (because they're in space, obviously). ___________________________________________________________________ Download: Radiohead - Creep (Live) Buy: Thom Yorke - The Eraser