Radiohead’s “Let Down” Enters the UK Top 100 — 27 Years Later
- Ian Bennett
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
It’s not every day a song from 1997 makes its debut on the UK Top 100. But Radiohead’s “Let Down” isn’t just any track—it’s a sprawling, emotional masterpiece that has quietly haunted listeners for decades. Now, nearly 30 years since its release on the seminal album OK Computer, “Let Down” has found unexpected chart success, thanks in no small part to the modern-day kingmaker: TikTok.
A Song Out of Time
When OK Computer was first released, “Let Down” was never issued as a proper single. It sat buried among other titanic tracks like “Karma Police” and “Paranoid Android”, adored by fans but largely overlooked by the mainstream. Even so, its layered soundscape—glassy guitar arpeggios, Thom Yorke’s spectral falsetto, and lyrics dripping in existential ache—made it a sleeper favourite.
Now, in 2025, “Let Down” has officially landed in the UK Top 100 and debuted on four U.S. Billboard charts, including No. 14 on Hot Rock Songs and No. 18 on Hot Alternative Songs. It’s a rare late-career chart resurgence for Radiohead—and it’s one powered not by radio or playlists, but by users with smartphones and editing software.
The TikTok Effect
The resurgence of “Let Down” is another case study in how Gen Z and TikTok are reshaping the music charts. The track has been featured in thousands of videos—particularly in nostalgic or melancholic edits—often paired with scenes from films, rainy days, or dreamy nature clips.
TikTok didn’t just introduce “Let Down” to a new generation—it recontextualised it. The track’s existential themes feel more resonant than ever in a post-pandemic, digitally saturated world where feelings of disconnection and quiet longing have become part of everyday life. In many ways, “Let Down” is the perfect song for this moment: fragile, intimate, and achingly beautiful.
Radiohead’s Surprising Chart Record
Despite their cultural significance, Radiohead hasn’t had many mainstream chart moments in the streaming era. “Let Down” becomes only their second-ever entry on the Hot Alternative Songs chart (the first being “Creep,” which hit No. 3).
On the broader Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts, it’s their eighth appearance. That may seem surprising for a band as influential as Radiohead, but it’s a reminder that the charts don’t always reflect impact—until a viral trend changes everything.
Why “Let Down” Is Resonating Now
There’s no single reason for the resurgence—but a few key factors stand out:
Timeless themes of isolation, alienation, and modern malaise. Lines like “One day I am gonna grow wings” hit particularly hard in the current social climate.
Cinematic instrumentation that pairs perfectly with visual content—ideal for TikTok edits and reels.
Emotional resonance for both older fans rediscovering the song and younger listeners hearing it for the first time.
What’s most powerful is that “Let Down” hasn’t changed—we have. And our collective moment in time has finally caught up with what the song has always tried to say.
A Quiet Triumph
Radiohead has always thrived outside the bounds of commercial success, carving their own lane in alternative and experimental rock. But seeing “Let Down” finally achieve chart recognition feels like a quiet vindication—for the band, for long-time fans, and for the power of music to find new life when the time is right.
In an era where trends come and go at lightning speed, “Let Down” reminds us that some songs are just waiting for the world to listen closely enough.