“I’m trying not to say anything. I mean, what the fuck are you going to say after today? There’s absolutely nothing to say.”To merely recall the facts, the play by play of the day, seems like we’re selling our memories short. People say that time heals all wounds; well, that’s because time numbs our emotions. But when we want to remember, we need to find ways to reopen those wounds- to relive, not just the facts, but also the feelings that we felt.
While the rest of the world was figuring out that the planes that crashed into the towers were indeed hijacked by terrorists, Radiohead had begun to play a concert in
“So who here doesn’t know about it?” asks Thom Yorke following a stellar rendition of Pyramid Song. “Everybody knows that I’m talking about…you don’t know what I’m talking about? You don’t know about the aeroplanes in
The crowd remains mostly silent though Thom’s speech; as if this is news to them- which it probably was. Thom himself is still unclear on the number of planes that crashed, and his version starts with two, and then jumps to seven, before settling on four.
From the nearly silent crowd, you can hear one disbelieving fan scream out “Bullshit!” expressing what we all felt on that day; that feeling of denial that stems from not wanting to believe what we’ve just heard.
We’re not scaremongering
This is really happening
But that was just one of the many feelings that permeated the day. We went from denial and disbelief, to anger, to depression, to that horrible feeling of helplessness. And it was the helplessness that brought us together. It was helplessness that forced us to sit together in front of the television, just watching in silence. It was helplessness that made us cry; that made us weep.
I remember going home, and just sitting in my room, listening to the radio, and quietly strumming along on my guitar. 98 Rock was taking requests from listeners, listeners who kept calling in and telling the DJs why this particular song was the one getting them through the day.
At my first ever concert, Sonic Youth was supposed to open for Pearl
So maybe this is why Radiohead decided to play their show that night, despite what had just happened over the pond; because music is how they would’ve gotten through it anyway. Because music is how we deal with our problems, how we express our emotions, and how we get through life.
But I can’t help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
To remember 9-11 this year, let’s not just recall what happened, but how we felt on that day. Let’s listen to the helplessness in Thom’s voice, a helplessness that always exists, but seems to be even more potent on this particular show, and use it to reopen those wounds, and reignite those feelings.
When you listen to the lyrics to Idioteque, it sounds as if Thom Yorke isn’t just trying to sing them, but to passionately convince himself of their truth- despite the horror that that truth involves.
We’re not scaremongering
This is really happening
Yes, it was happening. And the only thing left to do was to throw up our hands; in anger, in sadness, in helplessness, and in disbelief.
This September 11th, let’s try to remember.
Radiohead in Berlin: September 11, 2001
Radiohead- Climbing Up The Walls
Radiohead- Packt like Sardines in a Crushed Tin Box
Radiohead- Everything in Its
Radiohead- Like Spinning Plates
Radiohead- How to Disappear Completely
Download the whole show as a ZIP file
2 comments:
oh, out of bandwidth, well it's no wonder, with such a post. thanks for putting it up and i'll check back for it tomorrow xoxoxo
wow, I never knew that. it's so true, music helps us get through the hard times.
thanks for the zip file!
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