Lucky (Radiohead song)

"Lucky"
Promotional single by Radiohead from the album OK Computer
Released	December 1997 (France)
Format	CD
Recorded	4 September 1995
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	4:19 (album version)
Label	Parlophone
Writer	Radiohead
Composer	Radiohead

"Lucky" is a song by Radiohead. In December 1997, the song was released as a promotional single in France.

Recording and release

In 1995, Radiohead—singer Thom Yorke, guitarists Jonny Greenwood and Ed O'Brien, bassist Colin Greenwood and drummer Phil Selway—were on tour in promotion of their second album, The Bends. During some June 1995 concerts in Japan, O'Brien would make a high-pitched strumming sound at soundchecks. A few weeks later, this sound had developed into a full song that became part of the set list. At this time, producer Brian Eno contacted Radiohead to contribute a song to The Help Album, a charity compilation organized by War Child to benefit children affected by the Bosnian War. The Help Album sessions were to take place over the course of only a single day, 4 September 1995, and rush-released later that week. That day the band recorded the song "Lucky" in five hours with producer Nigel Godrich. All the band members believed that "Lucky" was the strongest song they had written at that time in their career.

Composition

The song is a soft, ballad style song that starts off slowly with guitar strumming and gentle ride ticking before building into an anthem-style chorus. Throughout the entirety of the song, Ed O'Brien strums above the nut of the guitar. The verse is then repeated, albeit more upbeat. After a second chorus the song builds into an instrumental before finishing the last line from the chorus.

References

• Footman, Tim (2008). Welcome to the Machine: OK Computer and the Death of the Classic Album. New Malden: Chrome Dreams. ISBN 1842403885. 
• Randall, Mac (2004). Exit Music: The Radiohead Story. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 1844491838.