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Why Radiohead Still Haunts Us (In the Best Way Possible)
Let’s be honest—no one really discovers Radiohead. You sort of... fall into them. Maybe it starts with “Creep” at the wrong party, or “Idioteque” at the right breakdown. Maybe someone plays In Rainbows and suddenly the floor feels like it might dissolve underneath you. However it happens, once you’re in, you’re in.
ARIELS IN THE SKY
May 27, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
ABOUT THE AUTHORMeet Ariel, Sad Girl, Loud Music, Big DreamsI’m Ariel—musician and full-time fangirl for all things dark, dreamy, and loud. I run Ariels in the Sky, a zine and brand born from my love of Tool, alternative music, goth fashion, and the messy magic of DIY. I’m also in a band, run a thriving Etsy shop with band tees and stickers, and share gear tips, music recs, and behind-the-scenes band life on Instagram. Whether you’re here for spooky cute style, synth talk, or how to grow your own creative empire—I got you. |  |
Why Radiohead Still Haunts Us (In the Best Way Possible)
For me, it was Vanilla Sky.
There’s this moment early in the film when “Everything In Its Right Place” starts playing, and something just shifted. The vibe, the atmosphere, the way the song floats like a dream that’s two seconds from turning into a nightmare—it completely blew me away. I remember pausing the movie, rewinding that scene, and needing to know who could make a song sound like that. It was icy and intimate, mechanical and emotional. It didn’t just soundtrack the moment—it was the moment.
After that, there was no going back. I dove headfirst into the discography, and that’s when I met “Idioteque.”
Still my favorite to this day. There’s something about that song that feels almost too real. It’s glitchy and cold and chaotic—but somehow still danceable? Like the end of the world, but you’re stuck in a strobe-lit basement with your thoughts screaming in sync. It’s a panic attack wrapped in a banger. It's haunting, and that’s exactly why I love it. It doesn’t just make you feel—it makes you feel like your nervous system has been rewired.
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You’re reading Ariels in the Sky — an alt zine inside my world of music, gear recs, fashion, and how to grow your presence online as an alt artist. Spiral out.
Radiohead isn’t just a band. They’re a weird little portal.
Their music doesn’t care about being catchy or cool. It’s interested in you. Your guilt. Your soft little alien soul. The part of you that pretends everything’s fine while quietly glitching out.
What makes them hit so hard, even after all these years?
It’s the way Thom Yorke sounds like he’s singing from the edge of a dream you half-remember. It’s Jonny Greenwood’s guitar work—chaotic, delicate, genius. It’s how each album feels like a different ghost: OK Computer is paranoia in a suit. Kid A is the sound of forgetting yourself on purpose. A Moon Shaped Pool? Pure grief in slow motion.
And the wild thing? They’ve never stood still. A lot of bands pick a lane and ride it into nostalgia-ville. Radiohead builds a new haunted house every time and dares you to live in it.
If you’re a weirdo, an overthinker, a soft goth soul trying to keep your cool in a collapsing world—Radiohead gets you. They don’t offer answers. But they do offer a soundtrack for the in-between.
So whether you’re spiraling to “Pyramid Song” or dissociating to “Everything In Its Right Place,” just know: you’re not alone. There’s a whole world of Radiohead kids out there. Floating. Glitching. Feeling everything too much. Just like you.
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