Exit Music (For a Film)
| "Exit Music (For a Film)" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Radiohead | |
| from the album OK Computer | |
| Released | 21 May 1997 |
| Genre | Folk[1] |
| Length | 4:24 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) |
|
"Exit Music (For a Film)" is a song by Radiohead from their album OK Computer (1997). It was included in the end credits of the film Romeo + Juliet but excluded from the soundtrack to the film at the request of the band.[2]
Background
[edit]"Exit Music (For a Film)" was written by the band at the request of Baz Luhrmann, as Luhrmann wanted a Radiohead song in Romeo + Juliet to inspire the band, according to Luhrmann, the song almost wasn't written, as he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
"The most difficult yet most fulfilling journey was that we wanted a really great song for the end credits, i'd already been introduced to this young band called Radiohead. I was talking to this young musician called Thom Yorke. He was on tour and I wanted him to write this last piece of music. We had another song ready. But he was like, 'Yeah man, it's coming. It's gonna be great!' But it was looking like he'd never deliver the song. We were doing the final mix, where you can no longer put new music in. Just as we were mixing the credits sequence – we had another song in there – suddenly this guy runs into the studio in London, where we were recording, with a tape that said 'From Thom, to Baz, I hope I'm not late'. And I spun that song straight into the mix.".[3]
Recording
[edit]
Similar to how "Let Down" was recorded in the ballroom of St Catherine's Court, the vocals for "Exit Music (For a Film)" were recorded in the staircase of St. Catherine's Court.[4]
Release and reception
[edit]"Exit Music (For a Film)" was released on OK Computer on 21 May 1997, and has been seen as one of Radiohead's best songs when ranking all of the band's songs. When ranking every Radiohead song, it was ranked at 20 by Mark Hogan, stating it "reigns as the surest bet to leave theatergoers with goosebumps."[5] When Jazz Monroe ranked the 40 best Radiohead songs, it was placed at 9, stating its a "high-stakes blockbuster of its own. Yorke has never sounded gloomier, with poisonous murmurs rising to a bloodcurdling fever pitch."[6] When ranking the 5 best songs on OK Computer, it was placed number 3 by Jim Beviglia, who stated it "Retelling Shakespeare is always tricky business, especially a story as well-worn as Romeo and Juliet. Radiohead not only dare to do it on this song, but they go for the gusto with a sweeping crescendo." and it "is Exhibit A for how to do a musical and lyrical slow build."[7]
Certifications and sales
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[8] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Cover versions
[edit]- American country singer Kelly Clarkson covered the song during her Kellyoke talk show.[9]
- Matt Heafy of American metalcore band Trivium released a cover of the song. It has a black-and-white music video.[10]
- Vampire Weekend contributed a cover of the song to Stereogum Presents... OKX: A Tribute to OK Computer.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Aaron, Charles (23 June 2017). "Before & After 'OK Computer'". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ Footman 2007, p. 67.
- ^ "Baz Luhrmann". ABC listen. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ a b Wawzenek, Bryan (12 May 2022). "Radiohead Give Star-Crossed Lovers Their 'Exit Music'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ Hogan, Mark (13 May 2016). "I Might Be Wrong: Every Radiohead Song, Ranked". Vulture. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (23 January 2020). "Radiohead's 40 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ Beviglia, Jim (25 September 2024). "Ranking the 5 Best Songs on 'OK Computer,' the Breakthrough Classic by Radiohead". American Songwriter. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "British single certifications – Radiohead – Exit Music (For a FIlm)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ Wang, Jessica. "Watch Kelly Clarkson perform a haunting cover of Radiohead's 'Exit Music (For a Film)'". ew.com. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ DiVitta, Joe (6 April 2017). "Trivium's Matt Heafy Performs Powerful Cover of Radiohead's 'Exit Music (For a Film)'". loudwire.com. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ Lapatine, Scott (12 March 2015). "Stereogum Presents… OKX: A Tribute To OK Computer". stereogum.com. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
Sources
[edit]- Footman, Tim (2007). Welcome to the Machine: OK Computer and the Death of the Classic Album. New Malden: Chrome Dreams. ISBN 978-1-84240-388-4.
| Studio albums | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation albums | |||||||||
| Remix albums | |||||||||
| Live albums | |||||||||
| EPs | |||||||||
| Singles |
| ||||||||
| Other songs | |||||||||
| Video albums | |||||||||
| Related albums | |||||||||
| Related articles |
| ||||||||
