Radiohead – Palo Alto
I don’t know what happened post OK Computer. Although I can appreciate Kid A, Amnesiac, Hail to the Thief, and the Eraser (Thom Yorke’s solo album), I don’t think I love them as much as their early albums and single….
So here we have Palo Alto, one of my favorite b-sides (this and Polyethylene)
In a city of the future
It is difficult to concentrate
Meet the boss, meet the wife
Everybody’s happy
Everyone is made for lifeIn a city of the future
It is difficult to find a space
I’m too busy to see you
You’re too busy to waitBut I’m okay, how are you?
Thanks for asking, thanks for asking
But I’m okay, how are you?
I hope you’re okay tooEveryone one of those days
When the sky’s California blue
With a beautiful bombshell
I throw myself into my work
I’m too lazy, I’ve been kidding myself for so longI’m okay, how are you?
Thanks for asking, thanks for asking
But I’m okay, how are you?
I hope you’re okay too
i used to live in california (fresno), and i don’t think i’ve ever gone through palo alto – although i now want to take a picture of the city sign now….
yeah – East Palo and the area of Menlo Park I live in BOTH USED to be part of Palo Alto. The town annexed both out. My area of Menlo Park is not that different than Palo Alto, but East Palo Alto has had a bad rep for a long long time. Many homicides and drug relates crimes there. Its just over the freeway from where I am. EPA has changed DRAMATICALLY over the years. There is a shopping center (with Ikea, Best Buy, Home Depot, McDonalds etc – in an area where it did not feel safe to drive through at night before.
My friend loves this song. She’s from East Palo Alto, which is the hood, apparently. It was sort of like being on the outside looking in.
Well they certainly CAPTURE Palo Alto. It’s were I live, or rather, next door in Menlo Park. I’ve lived on either in or next door to Palo Alto for over 30 years. I watched the rise of silicon valley and the makings of many millionares just from being at the right company at the right time. It truly is a “beautiful bomshell” especially for all the kids who grew up here with their parents working the dream of making millions while spending every penny they make just to live here. (average home 2 bed/1bath well over a million dollars now)And on the millionares that silcon valley has made (the ones I know personally) – money gave them the opportunity to step off the merry go round. It gave each of them one less thing to worry about and added 10 more things to worry about.It is indeed a blessing and a curse.