Just (song)

"Just" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, included on their second album, The Bends (1995). It was released as a single on 21 August 1995 and reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2007, NME named "Just" 34th on its list of the "Greatest Indie Anthems Ever". In 2008, it was included in Radiohead: The Best Of. The English producer Mark Ronson released a cover version in February 2008 as the fourth single from his album Version.

Writing
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". The angular guitar riff was influenced by John McGeoch's playing on the Magazine song "Shot By Both Sides"; Greenwood said that it was "pretty much the same kind of idea".

Music video
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.

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.

Track listings
UK CD1 and cassette single
 "Just" – 3:52
 "Planet Telex" (Karma Sunra mix) – 5:21 (remix by U.N.K.L.E.)
 "Killer Cars" (Mogadon version) – 3:49 (remix by John Leckie)

UK CD2
 "Just" – 3:52
 "Bones" (live) – 3:13
 "Planet Telex" (live) – 4:07
 "Anyone Can Play Guitar" (live) – 3:39

Australian CD single
 "Just" (album version) – 3:52
 "Bones" (live) – 3:13

Personnel
 Thom Yorke – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
 Jonny Greenwood – electric guitar, Hammond organ
 Ed O'Brien – electric guitar
 Colin Greenwood – bass
 Philip Selway – drums

Charts

Certifications

Release history

Mark Ronson version

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.

Chart performance
It covered peaked at number 48 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 36 on the Scottish Singles chart in 2006.

Track listing

Charts

Mark Ronson and Phantom Planet version 

Ronson re-released the cover in February 2008, as the fourth single from his second album, Version. The song had been released earlier under the tribute album Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads (a Radiohead album tribute) but was never given much promotion by the label. The song quickly gained airplay, being featured in BBC Radio 1's "A-List".

Music video
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.

Charts performance
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.

Track listing

CD Single 
 "Just" (radio edit)
 "Valerie" (SugaRush Beat Company remix)

CD 1 88697271202 / download 
 "Just" (radio edit) – 3:51
 "Valerie" (SugaRush Beat Company remix) – 3:45

CD 2 88697272032 / download 
 "Just" (radio edit) – 3:15
 "Just" (DJ Premier's Justremixitmix) (featuring Blaq Poet) – 3:57
 "Just" (The Go! Team remix) – 2:31
 "Just" (The Loving Hand remix) – 6:12
 "Just" (DJ Premier's Justremixitmix) (featuring Blaq Poet) (instrumental) – 3:57
 "Just" (The Loving Hand remix) (instrumental) – 6:12

10" vinyl 88697271211 
 "Just" (radio edit)"
 "Just" (DJ Premier's Justremixitmix) (featuring Blaq Poet)
 "Just" (The Loving Hand remix)
 "Just" (The Go! Team remix)

Charts

References

External links

1995 singles
1995 songs
2006 singles
2008 singles
Parlophone singles
Radiohead songs
Mark Ronson songs
Phantom Planet songs
EMI Records singles
RCA Records singles
Song recordings produced by John Leckie
Song recordings produced by Mark Ronson
Songs written by Thom Yorke
Songs written by Colin Greenwood
Songs written by Jonny Greenwood
Songs written by Philip Selway
Songs written by Ed O'Brien