"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. 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
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".[6] 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".[7] "Just" was produced by John Leckie, who had also produced "Shot by Both Sides".[8]
"Just" was the first song Radiohead finished while working on their second album, The Bends (1995), at RAK Studios.[9] According to the guitarist Ed O'Brien, earlier versions were about seven minutes long.[8] Yorke said it was the most exciting thing Radiohead had recorded up to that point.[8]
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.[12]
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.[12]
Reception
In 2007, NME named "Just" the 34th-greatest "indie anthem".[13] In 2017, NME named the guitar solo one of the greatest of all time.[14] 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."[11]
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] The song played as the follow-up to "Valerie", which was still in the UK top 20 upon the release of "Just". It reached No. 31.[30]
^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.
^ abcdefLowe, Steve (December 1999). "Back to save the universe". Select.
^ abRandall, Mac (12 September 2000). Exit Music: The Radiohead Story. Delta. ISBN0-385-33393-5.
^Just (UK cassette single sleeve). Radiohead. Parlophone. 1995. TCR 6415.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Just (UK CD2 liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone. 1995. CDR 6415.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^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)
