"I Might Be Wrong": Modal Fluctuation in the Music of Radiohead

The study offers an alternative approach to music-theoretical analyses of harmony and tonality in Radiohead's work by examining "modal fluctuations" in their music. By identifying modal fluctuation as a key element of their harmonic style, these fluctuations are interpreted in the analysis as interactions between different states, each possessing its own distinct qualities. Building on the research of Chris McDonald and Philip Tagg, it is argued that these qualities can be better understood by considering the historical and cultural contexts in which they emerged, rather than by applying principles from external theoretical frameworks. Starting from a mapping of the relationships between all modal pitch collections through a single chromatic alteration, a selection of Radiohead's works is analysed according to three increasingly complex harmonic categories: "Monomodality," "Simple Modal Fluctuation," and "Complex Modal Fluctuation." It is suggested that this approach not only deepens our understanding of the meanings within their music, but also offers a new perspective from which popular music more broadly can be examined.