Yes, in case you were dead this weekend, or perhaps trapped in a mall all weekend, you’ll know that “Twilight” took over the universe this weekend, scoring some $70-some million at the box-office and essentially giving an eye-brow raised, “how you like them apples?” to all the haters and cynics (including us) that were tired of hearing how the vampire teen goth film was going to take over the culturalsphere for weeks on end.
Well, it happened, fine, we sort of assumed it would, though the numbers are astronomical and way above projections, good for Summit Entertainment, maybe they’ll try putting out something good now. Anywhoo, so it took over the universe, but did the vampire biting have to infect Radiohead too? Yup, while they didn’t license their music to the Chop-Shop/Atlantic friendly soundtrack supervised by Alexandra Patsavas who owns the Chop Shop label (hmm, how convenient), they did so for the film and the band’s “15 Step” from In Rainbows appeared in the tween film’s closing credits.
The anti-consumerist, anti-capitalists in Radiohead seem to be OK with closing credit songs of late having appeared in the credits for “Choke” (“Reckoner” from Rainbows) and Thom Yorke’s solo-venturing “Analyze” which closed out Christopher Nolan’s non-Batman film, “The Prestige.” What will the community think? Not sure, but either way, we’re a little disappointed with Radiohead for this affiliation. Didn’t this movie make a shit-ton without you? Is Colin Greenwood a fan of the books or something? We must say, Radiohead and “Twilight” seem like very strange bedfellows to us.
Radiohead – “15 Step”
Why are you suprised?
they are the ultimate band for sad boring people. Y´know, Twilight people.
It’s kind of true. In Rainbows is a snoozer, but still, it will raise eyebrows. 10 bucks says pfm/stereogum, et al take note.
I loved In Rainbows (although still not more than Kid A, Ok Computer, or the Bends) but disappointed with their decision.
Hey – it could’ve been “We Suck Young Blood”.
Ha, good point!
Hell yea, that song is on my fake vampire movie soundtrack, and you playlist peeps failed to include it on yours. Anywho, being a huge RH fan, I don’t mind the connection. Mind you, I’d rather have seen them stick with Muse (maybe a song per film), any addition of RH to a film automatically raises its rating a letter grade. Still waiting on their Bond theme…
“Christopher Nolan’s non-Batman film, “The Prestige.””
I see what you did there!
You consumerist capitalist basturds!
Thank god i have been looking for an article talking about this. I was wondering if no body noticed what Radiohead had done. When I heard the opening drum part for the song I thought that can’t be Radiohead. No way, not in this kind of movie. Sure enough it was and I left. I’m still confused at why they did it and what they have to say about it.
Thank you! I am a big Radiohead fan (shamelessly) and also a Twilight fan (shamefully). I literally covered my ears when the Radiohead started playing at the end — so incongruous!
Thank you for the info on the Radiohead song.
I admit I have seen the movie three times. What? I am a sucker for romance and I love the series!
In any case, I bought the soundtrack thinking it was hidden in it and though I don’t mind the majority of the music on the cd, I was disappointed to find one of the last songs played in the film wasn’t included in the cd.
I am only happy the film was as successful as it was because now maybe Summit will allow another $15m+ to help with the visual affects so desperately lacking in this first adaptation.
To be honest, when I went and saw the movie on Friday, I didn’t believe I’d enjoy it. I did, though.
I mean, it was marginal. But when I saw it was over and heard that insane beat from “15 Steps” I flipped my shit all around the theatre, ahaha. I was amazed at the choice to end the movie, and I fully support it.
i kind of hope someone confronts thom in an interview in the near future. i’d love to hear what he has to say about this. the movie was awful as i imagined it would be, and hearing radiohead at the end was the only thing that kept me from intentionally driving my car off a cliff when i left the theater. but i would rather sacrifice my life than ever associate my favorite band with that monstrosity.
Jayme. 5/5, lol.
I am SO sad that they used Radiohead for the credits–and Muse during the movie as well. Twilight is something fun–it is mindless fun, like watching television. I don’t think that Twilight, Muse, and Radiohead belong on the same level. Muse and Radiohead are godlike compared to Twilight.
I love Radiohead and Twilight. What does it matter that they let their song be in the movie? Does it mean you like Radiohead less?? That would be.. stupid.
Thought the name was 15 Step
yeah i realy hope they come out with some sort of intervew with them cause that realy didnt seem like something radiohead would do ya know. i actually just saw the movie last night though and it was actually better than i expected. needless to say though it still sucked…
This is ridiculous, many of you may not remember that Radiohead lent one of their songs to the closing credits of a huge teen flick in late 90s, Baz Lurhman’s Romeo and Juliet w/ Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. So what. It was actually on Ok Computer as “end credits for a film” and wasn’t on the movie soundtrack. How is this selling out? If anything it brings their music to the attention of a newer and wider audience. Isn’t that the point of being an artist? Creating something that people will enjoy? Some of you people take yourselves way too seriously. If the song didn’t fit with the movie or seemed out of place I could see a reason to complain. However, all of the movies I have seen, that Radiohead has been included in, the songs were well placed and added to the viewing experiences. They make very good choices as to where and when to let their music be used. If they were truly selling out they would have their more of their music shoved into way more crappy movies.
Yeah… the music business has changed. Artists have to continue making money somehow, in order to support their craft. Now that everyone downloads everything, I fully support artists making money in alternative ways.
"end credits for a film"?
it's "exit music (for a film)", and they didn't allow it to be contributed to the romeo and juliet soundtrack, it was written for that purpose.
their b-side "talk show host" was also included. with that film it seemed more obvious that yorke was intentionally involved. you may call luhrmann's romeo and juliet a "tween" film, but the difference in quality, visual story-telling, directing & acting is huge.
i don't love radiohead any less, but this is disappointing. twilight seems to represent what the RH guys are so against… commercialism, consumerism, conformity etc.
romeo and juliet was gold compared to twilight. and fake plastic trees was in clueless but i didnt mind that either; its a clever movie.
but yeah really twilight was crap. boring in its entirety and i kept cracking up at all the sullen yet incredibly good looking faces. it doesn't make me like radiohead any less, but it's hard to listen to 15 step and not think about airbrushed vampires dressed in abercrombie.
good job, thom.
hmph. I was jealously annoyed that they'd included a radiohead being a fairly tepid only-read/watched-it-because-it-was-there Twilight fan and an OH MY GOD TOM YORKE HAVE MY BABIES Radiohead fan.
Buuut… it's not like they're snatching Radiohead's image away..they've been around too long for that to happen. And perhaps this promotion of superior music in a younger audience will encourage a dammand of better quality music as opposed to, say, Kesha. No. No. she's not quality..I WILL fight you.
To conclude, good call Radiohead.
V
I do not mind the inclusion of a song by Radiohead in Twilight. I agree that such an inclusion will only bring a wider following to this incredible band. And it should be noted that Stephanie Meyer is a huge Radiohead fan, so it seems logical to me that a song by them would find its way into some part of the movie. I rather liked it and thought it fit with the vibe of many of the other song selections as well as Carter Burwell's score.