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Just (song)

"Just" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, included on their second album, The Bends (1995). It features an angular guitar riff played by Jonny Greenwood, inspired by the band Magazine. It was released as a single on 21 August 1995 and reached number 19 on the UK singles chart.

"Just"
Single by Radiohead
from the album The Bends
Released21 August 1995 (1995-08-21)[1]
Genre
Length3:55
LabelParlophone
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

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

Recording

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Much of "Just" was written by Radiohead's lead guitarist, Jonny Greenwood. According to the singer, Thom Yorke, Greenwood "was trying to get as many chords as he could into a song".[5] Greenwood's 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".[6] "Just" was produced by John Leckie, who had also produced "Shot by Both Sides".[7]

"Just" was the first song Radiohead finished while working on their second album, The Bends (1995), at RAK Studios.[8] According to the guitarist Ed O'Brien, earlier versions were about seven minutes long.[7] At the time of recording, Yorke said it was the most exciting thing Radiohead had recorded.[7]

Music

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"Just" begins with a strummed guitar, which the critic Mac Randall likened to the 1991 Nirvana song "Smells Like Teen Spirit".[7] Greenwood plays octatonic scales that extend over four octaves.[9] In the solo, he uses a DigiTech Whammy pedal to pitch-shift his guitar into a high, piercing frequency.[7][8] The lyrics describe someone in a bad relationship, with a "malicious" vocal vibrato from Yorke.[7] The Guardian placed the song between grunge and Britpop.[10]

Music video

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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.[11]

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.[11]

Reception

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In 2007, NME named "Just" the 34th-greatest "indie anthem".[12] In 2017, NME named the guitar solo one of the greatest of all time.[13] In 2020, the Guardian named it the 32nd-greatest Radiohead song, writing: "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."[10]

Track listings

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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

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Charts

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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

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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

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 21 August 1995
  • CD1
  • cassette
 Parlophone [1]
28 August 1995 CD2 [24]

Mark Ronson and Alex Greenwald versions

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"Just"
 
Single by Mark Ronson featuring Alex Greenwald
from the album Exit Music
Released13 March 2006 (2006-03-13)[25]
Length
  • 5:21
  • 3:51 (radio edit)[25]
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
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]

Chart performance

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It reached number 48 on the UK Singles Chart[26] and at number 36 on the Scottish Singles Chart in 2006.[27]

Track listing

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Download[25]
No.TitleLength
1."Just"5:21
2."Just" (radio edit)3:51

7" vinyl 166167422433[28]

  1. "Just"
  2. "Just" (radio edit)

Charts

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Chart (2006) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[27] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 48

2008 re-released

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"Just"
 
Single by Mark Ronson featuring Phantom Planet
from the album Version
Released15 February 2008 (2008-02-15)[29]
GenreFunk rock[30]
Length
  • 5:20
  • 3:13 (radio edit)[29]
Label
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 re-released the cover in February 2008 as the fourth single from his second album, Version, now credited as featuring Alex Greenwald's band Phantom Planet.[29]

Music videos

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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.[31][citation needed]

Chart performance

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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.[32]

Track listings

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Just - EP[29]
No.TitleLength
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)[33]
  2. "Valerie" (SugaRush Beat Company remix)

CD 1 88697271202 / download

  1. "Just" (radio edit) – 3:51[34][35]
  2. "Valerie" (SugaRush Beat Company remix) – 3:45

CD 2 88697272032 / download

  1. "Just" (radio edit) – 3:15[36]
  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

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Chart (2008) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[37] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[32] 31
UK Dance (OCC)[38] 3

References

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  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. ^ Randall, Mac (15 May 2015). "Radiohead's The Bends 20 Years Later: Reexamining a Modern Rock Masterpiece". Guitar World. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Lowe, Steve (December 1999). "Back to save the universe". Select.
  8. ^ a b Randall, Mac (12 September 2000). Exit Music: The Radiohead Story. Delta. ISBN 0-385-33393-5.
  9. ^ Ross, Alex (12 August 2001). "The Searchers". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ^ a b Monroe, Jazz (23 January 2020). "Radiohead's 40 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  11. ^ a b Martoccio, Angie (13 March 2020). "'The Bends' at 25: Radiohead's 'Just' Video Director Looks Back". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  12. ^ "The Greatest Indie Anthem Ever revealed". NME. 3 May 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  13. ^ Schiller, Rebecca (6 October 2017). "50 greatest guitar solos of all time". NME. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  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. ^ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166167422433?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D264184%26meid%3D050d435439f94c9db74ccd348d205fac%26pid%3D101430%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D145974664914%26itm%3D166167422433%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DCompVIDesktopATF2V2AndXaiHotClickWithCompV6&_trksid=p2332490.c101430.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A166167422433050d435439f94c9db74ccd348d205fac%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABEHq5%252FnIFMUEf6B1DI668RyGdRfI6covxK3pfZkGKdoYS7E%252BGpwAAhWsHYONVmD6V%252F0M2QBH5MAp%252FSREr50o7W9Hf%252Fc%252FSFUDVpL20Hgqjl%252ByjzitcIEpiOd1YnCNAqtFwfnSl9kGvZxJUgzZBubbwd54MrU6x2NI228IvOkqfHJ7S102s%252BXDsoq0LDXTt%252B8%252FIri%252FovpbHduOVm24Xpcpb3bQ%252FjjtJTLCOUNeQuhllUgGr%252FIrHDLS%252F705WRJOqjixh%252FiY7rXjrcwpf8liRxQXW1VRuqL0T%252BAvrKuVU4ma28PzJMCGPgD3YBLJGlujt8GRB7AyDgmqDMVJuQMgus9MZ89stjvdB%252Fhp1okDLZWVfug%252Bz%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&epid=19052251336&itmmeta=01J8SPXGA4JTNYTNDX2VEHSY1P
  29. ^ a b c d "Just (feat. Phantom Planet) - EP by Mark Ronson". 15 February 2008.
  30. ^ Elingburg, Scott (17 April 2015). "'The Bends' and Its Cover Songs". PopMatters. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  31. ^ "Mark Ronson - Just (Official Video) ft. Phantom Planet". YouTube.
  32. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  33. ^ "Just: Mark Ronson: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  34. ^ "Mark Ronson ft. Phantom Planet "Just" CD1". Discogs. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  35. ^ "Mark RONSON feat PHANTOM PLANET - Just". Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  36. ^ "Mark Ronson ft. Phantom Planet"Just" CD2". Discogs. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  38. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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