paranoid android

Ah, Radiohead. Paranoid Android has long been touted as one of the greatest songs of all time which is both accurate as it is controversial. You either love Radiohead, or you love to hate them.

Anderson & Roe are a duo of Julliard graduates who've come together to create something quite magical, taking their inspiration from one of the most magical bands of all time. That being said, their rendition of Paranoid Android is no amateur-hour David Sides creation, but a well thought out and intelligently contrived work of art.

I've long loved the idea of a Paranoid Android that doesn't understand where it stands. Half-human, half-robot; it attempts to resolve the human condition and the robot one as well. It wonders aloud the arguments of Searle, whether it truly is more than just a Chinese Room, and if its emotions and understandings of reality are true. Is his consciousness the product of neural networks, or the circuitry of his motherboard? Does it matter?

Notice the following:
~0.43 - Parallel lines cascading upwards in a reverse harmonic waterfall
~2.20 - Paranoia. Exchange of lines between pianos with frequent changes in dynamics.
~3.20 - Controlled chaos.
~4:05 - An elbow? Why not! Unleash thy anger toward the world!
~5:40 - The Android's lament.

What a fantastic ending! Rolling chords, chaotic firings as if it never truly understands its identity. This is simultaneous pianistic virtuosity and identity confusion. Run, android - and learn to understand who you are like Sonny tried to understand himself.

(The original, if you'd like to compare)