6 beautifully imaginative covers of Radiohead's 'Karma Police'

From a Middle Eastern rhapsody to a reggae masterpiece, the enigmatic anthem has spun off some pretty amazing homages

Radiohead
(Image credit: Facebook.com/Radiohead)

"It ain't often that someone successfully pulls off a Radiohead cover," says Ned Hepburn at Death and Taxes. That hasn't necessarily stopped bands from trying, Hepburn adds, but "after nearly 20 years of 'Creep' being played at every open-mic in every coffee shop by every dude that owns an acoustic guitar," Radiohead's "Karma Police," off 1997's OK Computer, is suddenly in vogue.

The results are mixed, of course — there are some fine, inventive covers of "Creep," too. Here are six inspired versions of Radiohead's more enigmatic anthem, from the exotic remake to a bit of goofiness.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.