Optimistic (track)
by Radiohead
Optimistic appears on the following album(s) by Radiohead:
- Kid A (track #6) (this album) (2000)
- Kid A Mnesia (track #6) (compilation) (2021)
- 5 Album Set (Box Set) (track #42) (compilation) (2012)
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Optimistic ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Track ratings | Avg. track rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 12/27/2025 06:37 | mash | 4,190 | 92/100 |
| ! | 11/26/2025 19:55 | Exist-en-ciel | 52,349 | 71/100 |
| ! | 11/24/2025 18:59 | ekingshill | 356 | 87/100 |
| ! | 11/17/2025 23:27 |  II | 4,089 | 72/100 |
| ! | 09/15/2025 17:27 | gmessian | 1,400 | 55/100 |
Rating metrics:
Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some tracks can have several thousand ratings)
This track is rated in the top 1% of all tracks on BestEverAlbums.com. This track has a Bayesian average rating of 89.8/100, a mean average of 88.7/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.9/100. The standard deviation for this track is 13.3.
Optimistic favourites
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Optimistic comments
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A good track with some really cool guitar parts.
Lukeanaderdude 11/14/2016 23:47 | #178447
This song and "How to Disappear Completely" Are the only songs that could fit with Ok Computer. Great Track!
The upgoing guitar scale is really the song's hook. At around 4.30 when the crash cymbals explode there's a great moment.
Anyway IMO works better live with a faster pace than here.
DeusExMackia 03/22/2016 21:54 | #162365
I never thought I'd say this about Radiohead, but that drop....
..holy mother of Mary it's good.
Optimistic is reminiscent of the maligned "guitar-rock" Radiohead were purportedly eschewing from Kid A – but damn if it isn't a great track. You've got thumping, primordial drums, the weaving ondes martenot, some mordant lyricism from Thom Yorke, and a catchy guitar riff, all culminating in a great ending where Phil Selway just has at it with the drumset. Love the transition into In Limbo.
Space-Dementia 01/31/2016 21:08 | #158341
Even though he's giving us helpful advice ("You can try the best you can, the best you can is good enough") it sounds so creepy. I just get the feeling that he's lying. The best you can isn't good enough. He's just telling us that to fuck with us.
Martinborras 02/10/2015 21:32 | #134613
The most melodic song of the album, very nice song. I cant imagine it without In Limbo
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Anti 05/12/2014 00:01 | #111565
Classic Radiohead.
One of the better ones. I'd put this in a compilation.
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