The Ten Moments In Radiohead Songs Which Give You Goosebumps

We asked readers to name their ultimate goosebump moment, that sliver in a song – a key change, drum solo, scream or howl – that gives you the shivers. The science behind chills in music is fascinating. “Frisson” as it is officially called, is caused by a flood of dopamine in the brain, in turn caused by the emotional effect of a certain moment in a song.


We worked out the Ultimate Goosebump Moment in a song by looking at over 1,000 responses – a bit in Foals’ Spanish Sahara – but there has been so much discussion about Radiohead moments that we figured a stand-alone piece was in order. Also, they beat Muse and Pink Floyd to the top spot of the most suggestions for one band. So, which moment in a Radiohead song makes you shiver and prickle? Let us know in the comments below and here are the top ten moments already suggested.

10 The quickening moment in ‘Reckoner’ when Thom starts humming/oohing back into the chorus

9 When the celestial backing vocals come in on ‘Separator’
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8 The first five notes of ‘Everything In Its Right Place’

7 The climax in “Climbing Up The Walls’ where Thom screams the song title

6 The “for a minute there, I lost myself” vocals, especially live, towards the end of ‘Karma Police’

5 “It’s going to be a glorious day/ I feel my luck could change” climax in ‘Lucky’

4 In ‘Paranoid Android’, when Jonny Greenwood’s guitar solo ramps into gear

3 When the mellotron choir come in on ‘Exit Music (For A Film)’ at “breathing, keep breathing)
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2 The beginning of ‘Pyramid Song’

1 Thom’s vocal in ‘Let Down’ after the bridge and when the harmonies come in at 4:00 with “one day, I am going to grow wings”

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