RockLists.com
Cover of Pablo Honey by Radiohead
Cover: Pablo Honey

Song · Radiohead

“Creep” by Radiohead

From the album Pablo Honey (1993)

“Creep” by Radiohead appears on 158 radio countdowns from 44 stations between 1992 and 2026. It was first released in 1993 on the album Pablo Honey. Its best result is #1 on the Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1992. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #2 alternative song of 1993, #2 alternative song of all time and #15 of the '90s.

158countdowns
44stations
#1best position
1#1 finishes
43top 10 finishes
1992–2026years charted

Watch

Radiohead - Creep

Video from YouTube (Radiohead). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Creep" was Radiohead's first single, released in September 1992 and later tucked onto their debut album Pablo Honey, and it very nearly didn't happen: the band cut it only because producers Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie talked them into it while they were working on other material.

It's a self-loathing love song for anybody who ever pined after someone out of reach, Thom Yorke's voice cracking over a slow, sad crawl until the guitar blasts in like somebody kicked the amp. It borrowed enough from "The Air That I Breathe", the song the Hollies made famous, that Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood ended up with songwriting credits.

It went nowhere at first, then found a home on Israeli radio and American alternative stations, and the 1993 reissue made it an international hit. The band grew so tired of it that they dropped it from their shows for years, but it remains their most successful single.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1992 1 Live 105 San Francisco, CA Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1992 105
1993 2 KROQ Los Angeles, CA KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1993 107
1993 5 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana 91X Top 91 Songs of 1993 91
1993 3 Q101 Chicago, IL Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1993 101
1993 31 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1993 50
1993 2 Virgin Radio United Kingdom Virgin Radio Top 10 Songs of 1993 10
1993 2 Triple J Australia (national) Triple J Hottest 100 of 1993 100
2005 60 CD101 Columbus, OH CD101 Top 101 Songs of 2005 101

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
– 15 CRNC 90.1 CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s 91
1994 63 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994) 500
1994 104 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994) 500
1994 85 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1994) 100
1995 22 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995) 500
1995 26 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 300 (July 1995) 300
1995 28 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1995) 100
1996 118 Q101 Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996) 500
1996 104 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996) 498
1996 14 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1996) 100
1997 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1997) 100
1998 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1998) 100
1998 5 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998) 100
1999 8 KROQ KROQ Top 300 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 1999) 300
1999 11 WHFS WHFS Top 500 Songs of the '90s (December 1999) 500
1999 22 91X 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999) 500
1999 26 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 68 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 300 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 300
1999 29 WFNX WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999) 500
1999 24 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 84 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999) 500
1999 81 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 37 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
1999 4 The Buzz The Buzz Top 99 Songs of All-Time (1999) 99
1999 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1999) 150
2000 38 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of the '90s (September 2000) 100
2000 17 DC101 DC101 Top 101 Rock Songs of the 90s 101
2000 38 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000) 500
2000 81 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2000 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2000) 100
2000 51 103.3 The Edge 103.3 The Edge Top 103 New Rock Songs of the Millennium 103
2000 66 The Edge KEDJ Countdown 2000 (106 songs) 106
2001 39 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001) 498
2001 70 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 45 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2001 3 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2001) 100
2001 9 WBRU WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001) 500
2002 13 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002) 500
2002 70 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2002) 100
2002 63 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 46 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 91
2003 17 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003) 500
2003 70 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2003) 100
2003 6 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio VR10x10 (April 2003) 100
2004 2 107.7 The End The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004) 500
2004 70 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 8 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 158 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2004 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2004) 100
2005 2 Live 105 Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of the '90s (August 2005) 106
2005 7 96.5 The Buzz 96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 90s 96
2005 13 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 54 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 5 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2005) 100
2005 154 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2005 16 The Edge KEDJ Top 103 on Independent Radio 103
2005 8 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
2006 8 107.7 The End The End Top 107 Songs of the '90s (December 2006) 107
2006 11 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 10 Live 105 Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 9 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006) 499
2006 147 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2006 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2006) 100
2007 7 KROQ KROQ Top 500 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 2007) 500
2007 32 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2007 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2007) 100
2007 320 WTMD WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time 897
2008 6 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 35 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2008 8 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2008) 100
2009 18 CFNY 102.1 The Edge The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge 200
2009 4 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 36 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2009 12 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009) 200
2009 32 WYEP WYEP 913 Essential Songs 913
2009 9 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2009) 100
2009 13 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (2009) 100
2009 268 WXPN WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009) 885
2010 9 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010) 200
2010 37 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2010 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2010) 100
2011 37 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2011 11 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2011) 100
2012 30 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2012) 100
2012 262 WYEP WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown 500
2012 38 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 102 New Rock Songs of All-Time 102
2012 650 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 37 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2013 27 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2013) 100
2014 39 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 23 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2014) 100
2014 132 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2014 112 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2014) 500
2015 116 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2015) 500
2015 29 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2015) 100
2016 653 WYEP WYEP 913 Countdown 2016 913
2016 21 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2016) 100
2016 267 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2017 30 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2017) 100
2017 281 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2018 55 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 41 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2018) 100
2018 281 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2019 5 X96 X96's Top 100 Songs of the 90's 100
2019 97 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2019) 500
2019 229 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2019 40 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2019) 100
2020 16 DC101 Top DC101 of the 90's 101
2020 40 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2020) 100
2020 294 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 37 DC101 The DC101 Top 500 500
2020 11 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2020) 420
2020 344 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2020) 500
2020 453 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2021 7 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s 908
2021 7 107.7 The End The End Obligatory Top 100 Alternative Songs of All Time (2021) 100
2021 42 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2021) 100
2021 15 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2021) 420
2021 108 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2021) 500
2021 295 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2021) 500
2022 2 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s 900
2022 88 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 42 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2022) 100
2022 877 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2022 18 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2022) 420
2022 39 X96 X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time 500
2022 5 101X 101X 500 (2022) 498
2022 420 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2023 12 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s 893
2023 70 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of The Last 40 Years 91
2023 81 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 220 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2023 37 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2023) 500
2023 17 ALT 104.5 ALT 104.5 Top 104 of ALT Time 104
2023 41 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2023) 100
2023 15 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2023) 420
2024 219 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 97 WYEP WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years 1049
2024 37 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2024) 100
2024 123 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2024) 400
2025 18 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s 500
2025 157 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 31 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2025) 100
2025 82 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2025) 400
2026 5 101X 101X 500 (2026) 500
2026 80 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2026) 500
2026 116 WYEP WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time 1180
2026 798 KXT KXT 917 Song Countdown 917

Charting alongside it in 1993

Best songs of 1993 →
  1. 1CannonballThe Breeders
  2. 3LingerThe Cranberries
  3. 4PlushStone Temple Pilots
  4. 5No RainBlind Melon
  5. 6Soul to SqueezeRed Hot Chili Peppers
  6. 7Heart-Shaped BoxNirvana

Comments

Log in or create a free account to join the conversation about "Creep" by Radiohead.

Be kind and stay on topic. Guidelines

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.