Just (song)

1995 single by Radiohead

"Just"

Single by Radiohead
from the album  The Bends
Released| 21 August 1995 (1995-08-21)[1]
Genre|

* Alternative rock[2]
* Britpop[3]
* experimental rock[4]

Length| 3:55
Label| Parlophone
Songwriter(s)| Radiohead
Producer(s)| John Leckie
Radiohead singles chronology
| "Fake Plastic Trees"
(1995)  | "Just"
(1995)  | "Street Spirit (Fade Out)"
(1996)

|
|

Music video
"Just" on YouTube

"Just" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, included on their second album, The Bends (1995). It was released as a single on 21 August 1995 and reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

In 2008, "Just" was included in Radiohead: The Best Of. The English producer Mark Ronson released a cover version on his 2008 album Version.

## Writing[edit]

"Just" was the first song Radiohead finished while working on The Bends at RAK Studios.[5] At the time of recording, the singer, Thom Yorke, said it was the most exciting thing Radiohead had recorded.[6]

Much of "Just" was written by Radiohead's lead guitarist, Jonny Greenwood. Yorke said Greenwood "was trying to get as many chords as he could into a song".[7] According to the guitarist Ed O'Brien, earlier versions of the song were about seven minutes long.[6] The lyrics describe someone in a bad relationship, with a "malicious" vocal vibrato from Yorke.[6]

"Just" begins with a strummed solo guitar, which the critic Mac Randall likened to the 1991 Nirvana song "Smells Like Teen Spirit".[6] Greenwood plays octatonic scales that extend over four octaves.[8] In the solo, he uses a DigiTech Whammy pedal to pitch-shift his guitar solo into a high, piercing frequency.[6][5] The angular guitar riff was influenced by John McGeoch's playing on the 1978 Magazine song "Shot by Both Sides"; Greenwood said that it was "pretty much the same kind of idea".[9] Both "Just" and "Shot by Both Sides" were produced by John Leckie.[6]

## Music video[edit]

The "Just" music video was directed by Jamie Thraves, who adapted it from an idea he had for a short film. It took two days to shoot. The street scenes were filmed on Liverpool Street, London; the scenes of the band were filmed on a set.[10]

In the video, a man lies in the middle of the pavement, attracting attention from passersby. The members of Radiohead watch from an apartment above. The man's conversation with passersby is displayed in subtitles; they ask why he is lying down, but he refuses to explain. Eventually, the man explains, but his explanation is not subtitled. The bystanders lie down next to him.[10]

## Reception[edit]

In 2007, NME named "Just" the 34th-greatest "indie anthem".[11] In 2017, NME named the guitar solo one of the greatest of all time.[12] In 2020, the Guardian named it the 32nd-greatest Radiohead song, writing that it placed Radiohead between grunge and Britpop: "Hailstorm distortion meets perky hooks, wily vocals and ... an absurd pageant of guitar chords. The chorus flips the grunge ethos on its head, swapping self-loathing for theatrical vitriol."[13]

## Track listings[edit]

UK CD1 and cassette single[14][15]

1. "Just" – 3:52
2. "Planet Telex" (Karma Sunra mix) – 5:21 (remix by U.N.K.L.E.)
3. "Killer Cars" (Mogadon version) – 3:49 (remix by John Leckie)

UK CD2[16]

1. "Just" – 3:52
2. "Bones" (live) – 3:13
3. "Planet Telex" (live) – 4:07
4. "Anyone Can Play Guitar" (live) – 3:39

Australian CD single[17]

1. "Just" (album version) – 3:52
2. "Bones" (live) – 3:13

## Personnel[edit]

* Thom Yorke – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
* Jonny Greenwood – electric guitar, Hammond organ
* Ed O'Brien – electric guitar
* Colin Greenwood – bass
* Philip Selway – drums

## Charts[edit]

Chart (1995)  | Peak
position

|

Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[18] | 7
Scotland (OCC)[19] | 18
UK Singles (OCC)[20] | 19
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[21] | 37

## Certifications[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[22] | Gold  | 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Silver  | 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history[edit]

Region  | Date  | Format(s)  | Label(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

United Kingdom  | 21 August 1995  |

* CD1
* cassette

| Parlophone | [1]
28 August 1995  | CD2  | [24]

## Mark Ronson versions[edit]

### With Alex Greenwald[edit]

"Just"

Single by Mark Ronson featuring Alex Greenwald
from the album  Exit Music
Released| 13 March 2006 (2006-03-13)[25]
Length|

* 5:21
* 3:51 (radio edit)[25]

Label| RCA
Songwriter(s)|

* Thom Yorke
* Jonny Greenwood
* Colin Greenwood
* Ed O'Brien
* Philip Selway

Producer(s)| Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson singles chronology
| "Ooh Wee"
(2003)  | "Just"
(2006)  | "Stop Me"
(2007)

|
|

Alex Greenwald singles chronology
|  | "Just"
(2006)  | "Shake"
(2021)

|
|

Mark Ronson and Alex Greenwald covered "Just" for the Radiohead tribute album Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads. It was released digitally on 13 March 2006 as the lead single.[25] It reached number 48 on the UK Singles Chart[26] and at number 36 on the Scottish Singles Chart in 2006.[27]

#### Track listing[edit]

Download[25]No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Just"| 5:21
2.| "Just" (radio edit)| 3:51

#### Charts[edit]

Chart (2006)  | Peak
position

|

Scotland (OCC)[27] | 36
UK Singles (OCC)[26] | 48

### With Phantom Planet[edit]

"Just"

Single by Mark Ronson featuring Phantom Planet
from the album  Version
Released| 15 February 2008 (2008-02-15)[28]
Genre| Funk rock[29]
Length|

* 5:20
* 3:13 (radio edit)[28]

Label|

* Sony
* RCA

Songwriter(s)|

* Alex Greenwald
* Sam Farrar
* Darren Robinson
* Jeff Conrad

Producer(s)| Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson singles chronology
| "Valerie"
(2007)  | "Just"
(2008)  | "Bang Bang Bang"
(2010)

|
|

Phantom Planet singles chronology
| "Our House"
(2005)  | "Just"
(2008)  | "Do the Panic"
(2008)

|
|

Music video
"Just" on YouTube

Ronson rereleased the cover in February 2008 as the fourth single from his second album, Version, now credited as featuring Alex Greenwald's band Phantom Planet.[28]

The music video was directed by Jim Canty, it acted as a sequel to and paid homage to the earlier Radiohead video. The video features a city sweeper finding the group people lying around on ground.[30][citation needed]

The song played as the follow-up to "Valerie", which was still in the UK top 20 upon the release of "Just". "Just" reached No. 31 after its release.[31]

#### Track listings[edit]

Just - EP[28]No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Just" (Radio edit)| 3:13
2.| "Just" (DJ Premier's justremixitmix) (featuring Blaq Poet)| 3:56
3.| "Just" (The Go! Team Remix)| 2:29
4.| "Just" (The Loving Hand Remix)| 6:11
5.| "Just" (DJ Premier's justremixitmix) (featuring Blaq Poet Instrumental)| 3:55
6.| "Just" (The Loving Hand Remix Instrumental)| 6:13

CD single

1. "Just" (radio edit)[32]
2. "Valerie" (SugaRush Beat Company remix)

CD 1 88697271202 / download

1. "Just" (radio edit) – 3:51[33][34]
2. "Valerie" (SugaRush Beat Company remix) – 3:45

CD 2 88697272032 / download

1. "Just" (radio edit) – 3:15[35]
2. "Just" (DJ Premier's Justremixitmix) (featuring Blaq Poet) – 3:57
3. "Just" (The Go! Team remix) – 2:31
4. "Just" (The Loving Hand remix) – 6:12
5. "Just" (DJ Premier's Justremixitmix) (featuring Blaq Poet) (instrumental) – 3:57
6. "Just" (The Loving Hand remix) (instrumental) – 6:12

10" vinyl 88697271211

1. "Just" (radio edit)"
2. "Just" (DJ Premier's Justremixitmix) (featuring Blaq Poet)
3. "Just" (The Loving Hand remix)
4. "Just" (The Go! Team remix)

#### Charts[edit]

Chart (2008)  | Peak
position

|

Scotland (OCC)[36] | 23
UK Singles (OCC)[31] | 31
UK Dance (OCC)[37] | 3

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 19 August 1995. p. 31.
2. ^ Partridge, Kenneth (13 March 2015). "Radiohead's 'The Bends' at 20: Classic Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
3. ^ Domanick, Andrea (13 April 2017). "The Guide to Getting Into Radiohead". Vice. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
4. ^ Barker, Emily (26 January 2015). "30 Albums That Made 1995 A Vintage Year For Music". NME. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
5. ^ a b Randall, Mac (12 September 2000). Exit Music: The Radiohead Story. Delta. ISBN 0-385-33393-5.
6. ^ a b c d e f Lowe, Steve (December 1999). "Back to save the universe". Select.
7. ^ Randall, Mac (15 May 2015). "Radiohead's The Bends 20 Years Later: Reexamining a Modern Rock Masterpiece". Guitar World. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
8. ^ Ross, Alex (12 August 2001). "The Searchers". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
9. ^ Buxton, Adam (7 July 2013). Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood and Adam Buxton sit in [Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service BBC Radio 6]. BBC Radio 6. Event occurs at 14:32. "Q: That was a live version of that Magazine track... [Colin Greenwood :] it's a special record for both of us... John McGeoch guitar playing... So I thought it would be nice we could listen to some stuff ... and maybe influence some of what we do... Q: I dont see anyone objecting to Magazine on the Radiohead tour bus ... Have you ever covered any Magazine track ? [Jonny Greenwood:] Sure, we have played "Shot by Both Sides" and we have played the song "Just" which is pretty much the same kind of idea. Q: You were thinking very much Magazine with the angular guitar riffing on "Just", right ? I've been thinking that on most of our kind of angular guitar songs that we do. It's really inventive music."
10. ^ a b Martoccio, Angie (13 March 2020). "'The Bends' at 25: Radiohead's 'Just' Video Director Looks Back". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
11. ^ "The Greatest Indie Anthem Ever revealed". NME. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
12. ^ Schiller, Rebecca (6 October 2017). "50 greatest guitar solos of all time". NME. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
13. ^ Monroe, Jazz (23 January 2020). "Radiohead's 40 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
14. ^ Just (UK CD1 liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone. 1995. CDRS 6415.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. ^ Just (UK cassette single sleeve). Radiohead. Parlophone. 1995. TCR 6415.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. ^ Just (UK CD2 liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone. 1995. CDR 6415.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. ^ Just (Australian CD single liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone. 1995. 7243 8 82372 2 2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 6848". RPM. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
19. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
21. ^ "Radiohead Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
22. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Radiohead – Just". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
23. ^ "British single certifications – Radiohead – Just". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
24. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 26 August 1995. p. 43.
25. ^ a b c d "Just (feat. Alex Greenwald) - Single by Mark Ranson". Apple Music. 13 March 2006.
26. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
27. ^ a b "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
28. ^ a b c d "Just (feat. Phantom Planet) - EP by Mark Ronson". 15 February 2008.
29. ^ Elingburg, Scott (17 April 2015). "'The Bends' and Its Cover Songs". PopMatters. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
30. ^ "Mark Ronson - Just (Official Video) ft. Phantom Planet". YouTube.
31. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
32. ^ "Just: Mark Ronson: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
33. ^ "Mark Ronson ft. Phantom Planet "Just" CD1". Discogs. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
34. ^ "Mark RONSON feat PHANTOM PLANET - Just". Retrieved 1 February 2009.
35. ^ "Mark Ronson ft. Phantom Planet"Just" CD2". Discogs. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
36. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
37. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 August 2023.

## External links[edit]

* "Just" music video on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

Radiohead

* Thom Yorke
* Jonny Greenwood
* Colin Greenwood
* Ed O'Brien
* Philip Selway

Studio albums|

* Pablo Honey
* The Bends
* OK Computer
* Kid A
* Amnesiac
* Hail to the Thief
* In Rainbows
* The King of Limbs
* A Moon Shaped Pool

|

Compilation albums|

* Radiohead Box Set
* Radiohead: The Best Of
* OKNOTOK 1997 2017
* MiniDiscs [Hacked]
* Kid A Mnesia

Remix albums|

* TKOL RMX 1234567

Live albums|

* I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings

EPs|

* Drill
* Itch
* My Iron Lung
* No Surprises / Running from Demons
* Airbag / How Am I Driving?
* Com Lag (2plus2isfive)
* In Rainbows Disk 2

Singles|

| 1990s|

* "Creep"
* "Pop Is Dead"
* "Stop Whispering"
* "My Iron Lung"
* "High and Dry / Planet Telex"
* "Fake Plastic Trees"
* "Just"
* "Street Spirit (Fade Out)"
* "The Bends"
* "Paranoid Android"
* "Karma Police"
* "Lucky"
* "No Surprises"

|

2000s|

* "Pyramid Song"
* "Knives Out"
* "There There"
* "Go to Sleep"
* "2 + 2 = 5"
* "Jigsaw Falling into Place"
* "Nude"
* "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)"
* "These Are My Twisted Words"

2010s|

* "Supercollider" / "The Butcher"
* "The Daily Mail" / "Staircase"
* "Burn the Witch"
* "Daydreaming"
* "I Promise"
* "Man of War"

2020s|

* "If You Say the Word"
* "Follow Me Around"

Other songs|

* "Let Down"
* "Everything in Its Right Place"
* "The National Anthem"
* "How to Disappear Completely"
* "Idioteque"
* "Optimistic"
* "True Love Waits"
* "15 Step"
* "House of Cards" / "Bodysnatchers"
* "All I Need"
* "Reckoner"
* "Lotus Flower"
* "Spectre"
* "Lift"

Video albums|

* Live at the Astoria
* 7 Television Commercials
* Meeting People Is Easy
* The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of All Time
* In Rainbows – From the Basement
* Radiohead for Haiti
* The King of Limbs: Live from the Basement

Related albums|

* True Love Waits
* Hold Me to This
* Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads
* Radiodread
* Jaydiohead
* Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on Her Magical Ukulele

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Live performances
* Atoms for Peace
* The Smile
* Stanley Donwood
* Nigel Godrich
* Dead Children Playing
* Radio and Juliet
* Radio Rewrite
* Sericomyrmex radioheadi
* The Music and Art of Radiohead
* 2012 stage collapse
* "Scott Tenorman Must Die"
* "Get Free"
* Kid A Mnesia Exhibition
* Clive Deamer
* Dasyomyliobatis thomyorkei

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Mark Ronson

* Discography
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

* Here Comes the Fuzz (2003)
* Version (2007)
* Record Collection (2010)
* Uptown Special (2015)
* Late Night Feelings (2019)

Other albums|

* Barbie (2023)

Singles|

* "Ooh Wee"
* "Just"
* "Stop Me"
* "Oh My God"
* "Valerie"
* "Wake Up Call (Remix)
* "Bang Bang Bang"
* "The Bike Song"
* "Somebody to Love Me"
* "Anywhere in the World"
* "Uptown Funk"
* "Daffodils"
* "Feel Right"
* "Diamonds Are Invincible"
* "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart"
* "Late Night Feelings"
* "Find U Again"

Featured singles|

* "Everyday"
* "Easy"

Promotional singles|

* "I Can't Lose"

Related articles|

* Silk City
* Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson

* v
* t
* e

Phantom Planet

* Alex Greenwald
* Sam Farrar
* Darren Robinson
* Jeff Conrad

* Jason Schwartzman
* Jacques Brautbar

Studio albums|

* Phantom Planet Is Missing
* The Guest
* Phantom Planet
* Raise the Dead
* Devastator

EPs|

* Limited Edition Tour EP

Compilations|

* Negatives
* Negatives 2

Singles|

* "California"
* "Do the Panic"

Related|

* Discography
* Operation Aloha
* Blackblack

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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