2 + 2 = 5 (song)

"2 + 2 = 5" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the third and final single from their sixth album, Hail to the Thief (2003). It reached number two on the Canadian Singles Chart, number 12 on the Italian Singles Chart, and number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also featured on Radiohead: The Best Of (2008).

"2 + 2 = 5"
Single by Radiohead
from the album Hail to the Thief
Released17 November 2003
Genre
Length3:21
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)Radiohead
Producer(s)
Radiohead singles chronology
"Go to Sleep"
(2003)		 "2 + 2 = 5"
(2003)		 "Jigsaw Falling into Place"
(2008)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

Recording

"2 + 2 = 5" is a rock song that builds to a loud climax.[1] It was recorded in 2002 at Ocean Way Recording studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with producer Nigel Godrich.[2] It was recorded as a studio test, and finished in two hours.[3]

Title

The title is a reference to the slogan 2 + 2 = 5 from the 1949 dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.[4] The song's alternative title, "The Lukewarm", references Dante's Inferno, in which the "lukewarm" are those in hell who did nothing wrong but did not oppose wrongdoing.[5]

Track listings

Promotional CD (CDRDJ6623)

  1. "2 + 2 = 5" – 3:21

Promotional 12" (12RDJWL6623)

  1. "Sktterbrain" (Four Tet remix)
  2. "Remyxomatosis" (Cristian Vogel RMX)

CD1 (CDR6623)

  1. "2 + 2 = 5" – 3:21
  2. "Remyxomatosis" (Cristian Vogel RMX) – 5:07
  3. "There There" (first demo) – 7:43

CD2 (CDRS6623)

  1. "2 + 2 = 5" – 3:21
  2. "Skttrbrain" (Four Tet remix) – 4:26
  3. "I Will" (Los Angeles version) – 2:14

DVD (DVDR6623)

  1. "2 + 2 = 5" – 3:21
  2. "Sit Down Stand Up" (Ed Holdsworth's video)
  3. "The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time" (excerpt)

Personnel
  • Thom Yorke – vocals, guitar
  • Jonny Greenwood – guitar, analogue systems, ondes Martenot
  • Ed O'Brien – guitar, effects, backing vocals
  • Colin Greenwood – bass
  • Philip Selway – drums, percussion

Charts
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 54
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[7] 2
France (SNEP)[8] 64
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 36
Italy (FIMI)[10] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 99
Scotland (OCC)[12] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 15

See also

References
  1. Lynskey, Dorian (2011). 33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day. HarperCollins. p. 519. ISBN 978-0-06-167015-2.
  2. "MAPS AND LEGENDS". NME. 29 April 2003. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  3. "Radiohead Hail to the Thief interview CD" (Interview). Parlophone. 22 April 2003. Promotional interview CD sent to British music press.
  4. Bloom, Madison (21 February 2017). "10 Songs Inspired by George Orwell's 1984". Paste. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  5. "Thom Yorke on 'Hail To The Thief'". XFM online. Retrieved 29 October 2006.
  6. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  7. "Radiohead Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  8. "Lescharts.com – Radiohead – 2+2=5" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  9. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Radiohead". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  10. "Italiancharts.com – Radiohead – 2+2=5". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  11. "Dutchcharts.nl – Radiohead – 2+2=5" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
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