What you guys aren't realizing about Creep is that it is esentially inspired by Prince to begin with.

I don't know how to say what I mean here...

Perhaps someone else can explain better...

But I believe Creep is inspired by Prince's music, not on an obvious level. Maybe inspired by the actual song Purple Rain. In it's phrasings and cadence...

I can't explain why I think this, other than that is instinctual to me. Maybe it's the falsetto parts of Creep compared to the falsetto parts in the second half of Purple Rain.

Maybe it is the bpm.

Maybe the phrasing of the verses.

I also have always thought Creep was very, very similiar to U2's "With Or Without You"... Listen to those two back-to-back.

But Creep seems derived from Purple Rain through some sort of unconscious osmosis.

Can anyone elaborate on my intuition here?
[Edited 4/30/08 15:53pm]

I guess my reason for this post is that there are a lot of Radiohead fans saying they don't like butchering their beloved Radiohead's song.

The fact of the matter is Radiohead is heavily influenced BY Prince. These young kids that come up listening to Radiohead, but have never gotten into Prince's music won't realize or recognize the influence. But us old school Prince fans, we see it. The influence is there.

There are so many artists out today that are influenced by Prince, but the young fans don't realize this.

One example I always think about is the great song called "What Will You Say?" by the great, late Jeff Buckley. This is a BRILLIANT and inspired song and always brings a tear to my eye. However, I can absolutely hear pangs of influence from "The Cross" and "Purple Rain."
[Edited 4/30/08 16:12pm]

I haven't heard it...I only saw about 2 minutes of the "Coachella" guitar solo.

I agree and I'm also a big Radiohead fan. The song Creep had a special meaning. Now, the Prince version actually made me think of the song but gives me a totally new feeling. His version has soul and is uplifting, instead of the depressing Radiohead version which I also love.

Creep is to Radiohead as Purple Rain is to Prince. The songs are similar too.

Yes, but the deadpan verses and "this-is-my-heart-on-the-table" mood of Radiohead's Creep is inspired by the same "this-is-it" feel from Purple Rain... Then the new Prince covers Radiohead which kinda is covering the old Prince.

It's a full-circle.

Well Prince sang it like he owned it, that's for sure!

apparently creep was inspired by 'the hollies - the air that i breathe'

i can't hear it myself, but radiohead retooled the melody of this song & Hammond and Hazlewood share the songwriting credits (and royalties) for "Creep" with Radiohead's Thom Yorke as a result. true!

http://www.greenplastic.com/band/

apparently "Creep" IS NOT inspired by Prince's music. The article further explains it from what I see.

Creep sounds nothing like anything Prince has ever written before.

berniejobs said:

Prince's version is quite like purple rain. He took Creep and put it through the Purple Rain mold. Complete with shoo be doo type singalongs and piano/synth outro...

The actual song, no. I don't think so...

Dayclear said:

I agree...he sure put his own stamp on it...I found it more moving than Radiohead's version...maybe it was hearing the audience reaction. Either way, I sure hope he plays it in Dublin..

Dayclear said:

Simply beautiful

I've never heard their version. Is it any good?

Graycap23 said:

You mean the original version by Radiohead?
Here's the video:

I haven't figured it out yet - will we ever? But there is definitely some message in him singing this song, maybe just the way he re-worded it but something .... could I be any more vague..

Jeffiner said:

I think it was said that he transformed it from
a negative to a positive...
if I remember what the article was saying.

InsatiableCream said:

Why the long face?

wildgoldenhoney said:

because everytime a band makes good muisc it has to be "prince inspired"

wildgoldenhoney said:

Hmmm... yes. Well, it really moved me anyway, and maybe in the end that's the only thing that matters...

InsatiableCream said:

Jeffiner said:

I wanted to stay within the confines of self-loathing.

wildgoldenhoney said:

You been drinking tonight Wildgoldenhoney???!!! I don't understand anything you're saying

Jeffiner said:

Woook wook wook wook.

wildgoldenhoney said:

Oh, I think I've got it now! Just needed a glass of wine to get on the same wavelength...

Jeffiner said:

I was using the wording from an article in one of the threads,
although I can't remember which one it was...
but it said something like it was transformed from a dirge of self-loathing
to an uplifting ballad of an eternal embrace.
Or something like that... I don't remember exactly how they worded it.
But that article complimented the beauty of the song...