I saw REM in Chicago when this album came out! Another fun fact: my wife & I worked at an art supply store in Chicago, and a woman applied for and got a job, it was Linda Stipe, Michael's sister! My wife hired her! Linda was cool!
I'll only say this. If I was as wealthy as Mr. Stipe my Sister wouldn't have to work. It would be her decision and her decision alone. But she wouldn't have to out of necessity.
I 100% understand your criticism of this song. You really need to get REM though to understand why its awesome. REM is a complex band and I saw them 6 or 7 times. Its not an easy food to like right away though. IMO you honestly need to sit at the dinner table many times before you get it. Once you get it, you will love it including this song. If you want more lyrics then this, react to Its The End of the World and We Know it. Its also on this album. You will get plenty of lyrics there. BTW I think REMs first 5 albums stand up to any 5 albums in rock and roll by anyone. This is their album number 5. Ironically after this album, they got the most popular. The first 5 albums though are my favorite.
Frank I respect you opinion but totally disagree. I believe that music and food are so personal to each of us, liking or getting it should not require effort from the consumer. We either like it at first listen (or taste) or we don’t. I was a freshman in college when I heard Radio Free Europe. I loved the song right away and almost everything I ever heard from them. I initially though the were a British band because their sound was similar to the “new rock” coming out of the UK at the time. For me a great song is all about the music, then the voice, then the lyrics. If the lyrics rhyme and make sense that’s a bonus. I love that Brad and Lex seek to understand the true meaning of the lyrics of the songs they react to. But, I have learned that some songs have no meaning. The writer was doing their best to rhyme and get to the next verse.
Some people never get some things. It took me awhile to like someone like the Ramones. I get them now, but, I didn't for a long time and I know many who seemingly will never get them. Perhaps there is really nothing to get. Who knows.
farout . i jammed to these dudes in the early 80's. early college days . flunked out though. they came to town ( three hundred miles away) and 4 of us purchased 4 tickets. i didn't make it though. didn't get to see "WTFK". my own fault, just so happens i found my lost shroom stash. u do the math.
As I recall, this was the first big hit from REM. It really stood out among other songs on the radio. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, but sung with passion.
He had love, it came and went. He tries to occupy his time with distractions so he doesn't think about it. This goes out to the one lost love that never escapes the mind. It's a burning passion kind of love...
My generation’s Beatles in that they were different than anything out there at the time (1983-84) and were consistent in writing great songs. And although they weren’t “radio friendly” they influenced future generations of artists. They were underground/alt/college superstars.
I think this was called / considered "Alt Rock" at the time. they were pretty unique. I love "Orange Crush", "Stand" and of course "Losing my Religion"
I think at the time they called it "College Rock" but it later came to define the alternative genre. They were a huge influence on the landscape of music for the next 30 years.
I met this band outside a tiny venue in Denver, Colorado where you could only buy "general admission" tickets for the whole place, which seated about 500 total. My best friend and I were out there very early. This was before anyone ever really heard of R.E.M. They are an ASTOUNDING band and I can send you a long way down the R.E.M. rabbit hole.
Lyrcs of earlier REM songs were rarely literal. This is almost an eyeroll at the idea of writing a love song. Michael Stipe said the song is "incredibly violent" and added, "It's very clear that it's about using people over and over again"
@@virtualsnake1994 Exactly right. Brad is too focused on looking for the literal meaning of every lyric. Sometimes it's opaque poetry. Sometimes it just evokes a feeling. Sometimes it is left intentionally vague so that it means something different to each listener. And sometimes it doesn't mean anything, and you just have to groove to the sound of the music and the sound of the words. I really wish these guys would stop watching lyric videos and just listen to the music. Lex at least tries to hear the song, not just parse the lyrics like a lawyer parsing a contract.
First R.E.M. song I ever heard. That's the one that got them famous, though they'd already made a couple albums by then. Fame doesn't come instantly to the real ones, only to the ones that are somebody's product.
I heard about REM on MTV for years before I actually heard their music. This was sort of my into to "Alt "music. I evolved along with the band. I thought they were great, especially early stuff, before "Out of Time"
@@raymo6795 The One I Love played on MTV, that's my first impression of R.E.M. I liked it, but it was just another MTV music video to me, at first. But since R.E.M. was getting popular off of that, MTV started playing some of their older stuff, then Green came out, with Pop Song 89, Orange Crush and Stand, and I started buying all of their cd's. Around 97 or so, my niece started liking the same kind of music I do, so I loaned her all of my cd's, and their house burned down with all of my cd's in it. Nobody was hurt, but you know, stuff burned up. I replaced some of my old cd's, and bought new stuff, but now we have Spotify and RUclips.
@@chrisa4695 every so often I stop to contemplate the writer’s intent, but usually I just enjoy the music as well. REM obviously put some time and thought into the lyrics, seems a shame to listen mindlessly, but that is what we mostly do.
This one had all of the words it needed, I think. The strangeness is part of the message, and so is the music. Great songs like Driver 8 and Can't Get There From Here have more words without losing the strangeness.
Last REM reaction I said how they influenced the grunge bands that came after them especially Nirvana that includes both bands lyrics not being literal or even at times having any meaning at all... great band one of my favorites.
The western sounding is jangle rock, jangly guitar playing style. But, also like Lex explain the other western tone, is like country music style guitar lick. Good ears! REM is one of the pioneers of indie and alt rock, college rock groups that crossovered to mainstream radio and tv back in the '80s. Back then these kind of groups were mainly underground on college and alternative radio and videos only shown on MTV shows for underground groups. The shows were 120 Minutes and The Cutting Edge.
This band is a Southern legend (from Athens GA)!! I remember seeing them in a small club (The Pier in Raleigh NC) and have followed their music ever since. This is my FAVORITE period in their storied decades long career! Try 'Orange Crush' another great song from this time.
So many great tunes from this band. Definitely worth going down the rabbit hole 🕳. Saw them perform at Bridge School, such a great acoustic performance.
Every word in every rock song isn't easy to understand. Some words are metaphors some words are poetry sometimes just words. Can't try to easily define every song
Ive always interpreted the FIRE! shout to be analogous to him actually releasing the song into the world. He cant give the song to her personally because he left her behind. Shouting FIRE! like a gun prompt, shooting the song or the feeling into the world.
@@yensilluap Thinking on it a bit more, the music swells like a cannon shot right when Stipe sings FIRE!, an ascending pattern, a cymbal crash right at FIRE! then a ringing drone guitar line like your ears ringing after. Its amazing how music can wordlessly paint a picture.
Great alternative/indie college rock band that hit mainstream in the '90s. The singer and Nirvana singer were good friends ad were working on thiings together. Kurt died so young. B-52s used to collaborate with REM often due to them being from Georgia and same genre.
The key line, “The one I left behind. A simple prop to occupy my time.” It’s a anti-love song. It doesn’t surprise me at all they don’t get R.E.M. This band has depth that isn’t necessarily going to be too understood by reactors who randomly pick a song here and there. R.EM. flourished in the day when you’d get a band’s D.N.A. after listening to the entire album.
Right. Lyrics became more and more cryptic. Michael Stipe doesnt like to talk about his lyrics in interviews. i guess they are not really ment to be recovered. they have poetric vibes but its up to the listener what they could mean. I for myself enjoy the sound and the feel of the songs and try to not think too much about those words. ;-)
To me, this song stands on it's own without even considering all that. They know it has to and they handle it like the awesome band that they were. Kind of an unsung rhythm section these days, too. Mike Mills has such a friendly, melodic style on the bass and Berry is powerful and steady af.
If you want some REM with some lyrics, you MUST check out "It's the End of the World as We Know It" - there's enough lyrics there to stump a generation lol
Early to mid REM featured dense, enigmatic lyrics that were hard to decipher (especially on the first couple of albums) and interpret, and I loved them for it!
Listening to REM is kind of like eating sushi. First you're a bit of shocked, maybe confused. Then you take another bite and get "something". After that, you just enjoy the experience.
Here's a genre you guys have never looked into it's called cow punk. Country rock with the energy of punk rock. Try starting out with the godfathers of cowpunk, Jason and the scorchers something like both sides of the line or absolutely sweet Marie
First real "band" outside of those I grew up with in the grunge movement that I really connected with...I feel absolutely lucky as hell now to have seen them live as they have a catalogue of music very few can hold a candle to.
When (and where) I went to high school Alternative and R.E.M. were treated as practically synonymous -- R.E.M. being the only band the local radio stations both played and called alternative. At least that was how it was until the middle of my senior year when Nirvana introduced us to grunge and started the 90s alternative boom. Lead singer Michael Stipe, btw, called this a "mean" song about using people / people being used -- just props to kill time with when bored. (I liked the sound of it but didn't think much what it could be about.)
@@seantimmons5900 It's totally made up by me, but because he's gay, I always imagined it could be about Fire Island in New York... which is known for being the gay Hamptons, has a lot of big festivals and parties. So like, hey, "the one I love, you were a prop on Fire Island... and now I'm out, back to the normal day-to-day". Again, this is all my weird interpretation of it
I went to UGA and so did they. After they had finished school and were starting to get a lot of praise as an alternative rock band, they would occasionally show up at the 40 watt (Bar) and jam. It was awesome. They were my favorite band back then. Still love them. Only the early albums though !!!
Just the opposite. This was off their sixth album, and actually the first album that put the college sound behind them, and replaced it with the big-production, big-drum, over-produced sound.
Just found this reaction... awesome song!! You guys are all over the place in the songs you pick. And thats great for me cuz i'm all over the place too : ) Keep up the good work !!
Much of R.E.M.'s early music is pretty circumspect in terms of lyrics. It's meant to make you think about the song in a time when songs weren't thought of too much. This is a song about a person who uses others for sex, but a lot of people would request the song on the radio for their bf/gf or play it at weddings only knowing the title. That reaction really put Stipe's efforts as a songwriter into focus. For me, the allure of the band was trying to figure out not just the words, but what the words meant. This is because Stipe uses words often in very indirect ways to build whatever story he's telling. "Fire" in this song, can refer to a lot of things. The album it's from had the note "File Under Fire" on it because a lot of the songs on the album referenced fire. So it could be tied to that mini-theme or it could be the fire of lust/love/jealousy or any other emotion that can easily become all-consuming. I think you should listen to "Fall On Me". It's about pollution and acid rain, which was something that was a lot worse in the late 70's and 80's due to air pollution. The lyrics are somewhat circumspect but the vocal arrangements are nice and there is a three person counterpoint on the last chorus where Stipe, Mills, and the drummer, Bill Berry are all singing different parts.
Steven, you're awesome.. thanks for the info..this song reminds me of my teenage years.. funny how it was R.E.M and CRANBERRIES the only alternative bands I would listen to.. everything else was heavy metal 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
REM had a unique sound out of Athens Georgia IIRC, like the B-52's... They had some great hits over a long career. Check out What's Your Frequency Kenneth for some of their later stuff, or the early greats like Orange Cush, or The End of the World as We Know it
Life's Rich Pageant is probably their best album (in my opinion) Try Began the Began, and Superman (their silly pop song) kinda defined the alternate music scene for awhile. They were great live during that period. Even though it wasn't my usual thing (metal head kid) I enjoyed seeing them live in HS.
I like Lex's description of this song! For some reason it reminds me of the song " Bad Company".That's probably why I love this song so much because of the sound❣️
Fact check! Michael Stipes actually wrote this as a break up letter for his partner. They had been planning this trip and it was supposed to be amazing. Michael was really eager to go but his partner had doubts. This was before Nirvana and the whole alternative scene so there wasn’t really a lot of money around. Michael really went out of his way to make the trip. When his partner didn’t show up at the airport he knew it was over but went anyway. He wrote the lyrics on the plane and when he landed he had the song figured out. After being accommodated in a tent with a cheese sandwich (after especially asking for a vegan alternative), no toilet and sleeping on a lousy mattress Michael went home. He changed the lyrics from Fyre to Firestorm to hide the shame. The song is featured on their album “13 songs”, released on Epitaph/Victory in 1983.
Was at UGA in Athens during their beginnings. Saw them in some of my art history classes. Even though this is great, their earliest stuff is better. They would play Legion Field for free....Great energy!
I''m surprised after listening to so much rock that you are so focused on lyrics. It's not a requirement for a rock song to make any sense at all to be relatable.
Micheal the singer of rem regrets writing this song based off its dark lyrics. As a quote "The song is about using people over and over" Still one of the greatest songs of all time.
That's what it's all about: a little hypnotic, elusive lyrics, VERY well crafted songs, a punchy sound with an edge and always restless in their search for something not quite run of the mill. That they were able to do all this with such quality for so long is just incredible. Keeps one coming back for more. That's why they're so special for so many people. It's a long list of very special songs: ""Man on the Moon", "Driver 8", "Gardening at night", "living well's the best revenge", "I believe"...sorely missed.
R.E.M. was one of the original 'alternative rock' bands in the 80's, and they broke big in the 90's when the genre became lucrative. Michael Stipe (vocals) wrote a lot of songs about angst and simple emotions that defined the music of 90's grunge bands like Nirvana & Pearl Jam. And FYI, Michael Stipe is gay...
Adapting to early Grunge/pre-alt/whatnot can be a little difficult. Think of REM & their peers as Post- GenesisRushForeignerFleetstadtMacEagles, lavish, overproduced, studio effects, 70s Prog & Pop. Getting back to stripped-down, jangly guitar, clear vocals of Folk Rock '60s like The Byrds, etc. This track is standout.
This is not a love song. This is a song sung from the perspective of a man who uses women as "props" to cure his boredom, pretending to love them. Then, when he gets bored with one woman, he leaves her behind in favor of another woman. The backing vocals in the second and third "Fire!" choruses are singing, "She's coming down on her own now." This was omitted from the lyrics in that video. "The One I Love" was R.E.M.'s big breakthrough onto Top 40 radio. They'd had some alternative rock hits from 1983-1986, but this song crossed over to the Top 40 in the fall of 1987, when it peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. That "Wild West" sound that Lex talked about is often referred to as "jangle-pop," which is basically pop-rock with some folk and country influences. The term originated in the 1980s as a nod to Bob Dylan and The Byrds. In 1965, The Byrds covered a Bob Dylan song called "Mr. Tambourine Man," and their style of music had a direct influence on many alternative rock acts from the mid-1980s through the mid-2000s. The Byrds were the originators of the sound, with hits like "Mr. Tambourine Man" (1965), "Turn! Turn! Turn!" (1965) and "Eight Miles High" (1966). R.E.M. later became the torchbearers of the sound, with several Top 40 hits from 1987-1995, and alternative rock hits all the way until 2004. Another great jangle-pop band from the late 1980s and early 1990s is The Smithereens. Songs like "Blood And Roses" (1986), "House We Used To Live In" (1988), "A Girl Like You" (1990) and "Too Much Passion" (1992) are excellent songs by them, the latter two crossing over to Top 40 radio. Other examples of jangle-pop include more radio-friendly alternative rock acts from the 1990s and early 2000s like Live, Gin Blossoms, The Cranberries, Counting Crows, Matchbox Twenty, and The Wallflowers. Also, the Goo Goo Dolls mellowed out from a punk-rock band in the 1980s and early 1990s to a jangle-pop band from the mid-1990s onward. And speaking of The Wallflowers, they brought jangle-pop full circle. The lead singer of The Wallflowers is Jakob Dylan. Guess who his father is? Other excellent but more obscure jangle-pop songs from the 1990s include, but are not limited to: "Being Simple" by the Judybats (1993) "Slackjawed" and "74-75" by The Connells (1993, 1995) "And Fools Shine On" by Brother Cane (1995) "Angeline Is Coming Home" by The Badlees (1996) "Live Through This (Fifteen Stories)" by Mighty Joe Plum (1997)
Lead singer Michael said - "It's a song about using people over and over."
I’ve always liked the classic sound of this song, almost like a throwback
I was briefly in a covers band and you would not believe the live reaction from the audience when we played this. So simple but so much passion.
As a retired musician, I stand by your comment 🤘🏻
I saw REM in Chicago when this album came out! Another fun fact: my wife & I worked at an art supply store in Chicago, and a woman applied for and got a job, it was Linda Stipe, Michael's sister! My wife hired her! Linda was cool!
Where was the fun fact?
isn't every fact fun ??
I'll only say this. If I was as wealthy as Mr. Stipe my Sister wouldn't have to work. It would be her decision and her decision alone. But she wouldn't have to out of necessity.
I 100% understand your criticism of this song. You really need to get REM though to understand why its awesome. REM is a complex band and I saw them 6 or 7 times. Its not an easy food to like right away though. IMO you honestly need to sit at the dinner table many times before you get it. Once you get it, you will love it including this song. If you want more lyrics then this, react to Its The End of the World and We Know it. Its also on this album. You will get plenty of lyrics there. BTW I think REMs first 5 albums stand up to any 5 albums in rock and roll by anyone. This is their album number 5. Ironically after this album, they got the most popular. The first 5 albums though are my favorite.
Frank I respect you opinion but totally disagree. I believe that music and food are so personal to each of us, liking or getting it should not require effort from the consumer. We either like it at first listen (or taste) or we don’t. I was a freshman in college when I heard Radio Free Europe. I loved the song right away and almost everything I ever heard from them. I initially though the were a British band because their sound was similar to the “new rock” coming out of the UK at the time. For me a great song is all about the music, then the voice, then the lyrics. If the lyrics rhyme and make sense that’s a bonus. I love that Brad and Lex seek to understand the true meaning of the lyrics of the songs they react to. But, I have learned that some songs have no meaning. The writer was doing their best to rhyme and get to the next verse.
Some people never get some things. It took me awhile to like someone like the Ramones. I get them now, but, I didn't for a long time and I know many who seemingly will never get them.
Perhaps there is really nothing to get. Who knows.
Life's Rich Pageant was the one that hooked me on REM
This music sucks
farout . i jammed to these dudes in the early 80's. early college days . flunked out though. they came to town ( three hundred miles away) and 4 of us purchased 4 tickets. i didn't make it though. didn't get to see "WTFK". my own fault, just so happens i found my lost shroom stash. u do the math.
As I recall, this was the first big hit from REM. It really stood out among other songs on the radio. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, but sung with passion.
Yep, like Hook and with the same meaning.
Stand and Orange Crush
He had love, it came and went. He tries to occupy his time with distractions so he doesn't think about it. This goes out to the one lost love that never escapes the mind. It's a burning passion kind of love...
My generation’s Beatles in that they were different than anything out there at the time (1983-84) and were consistent in writing great songs. And although they weren’t “radio friendly” they influenced future generations of artists. They were underground/alt/college superstars.
I think this was called / considered "Alt Rock" at the time. they were pretty unique. I love "Orange Crush", "Stand" and of course "Losing my Religion"
I think at the time they called it "College Rock" but it later came to define the alternative genre. They were a huge influence on the landscape of music for the next 30 years.
"I am Superman" and "Swan, Swan Hummingbird" a couple more that I would add to your list of my fav's...
Don’t see many orange crush mentions. I adore stand. It’s their most underrated song
I met this band outside a tiny venue in Denver, Colorado where you could only buy "general admission" tickets for the whole place, which seated about 500 total. My best friend and I were out there very early. This was before anyone ever really heard of R.E.M. They are an ASTOUNDING band and I can send you a long way down the R.E.M. rabbit hole.
Lyrcs of earlier REM songs were rarely literal. This is almost an eyeroll at the idea of writing a love song. Michael Stipe said the song is "incredibly violent" and added, "It's very clear that it's about using people over and over again"
I got that the first time I heard it.
some lyrics are just abstract.
@@virtualsnake1994 Exactly right. Brad is too focused on looking for the literal meaning of every lyric. Sometimes it's opaque poetry. Sometimes it just evokes a feeling. Sometimes it is left intentionally vague so that it means something different to each listener. And sometimes it doesn't mean anything, and you just have to groove to the sound of the music and the sound of the words. I really wish these guys would stop watching lyric videos and just listen to the music. Lex at least tries to hear the song, not just parse the lyrics like a lawyer parsing a contract.
First R.E.M. song I ever heard. That's the one that got them famous, though they'd already made a couple albums by then. Fame doesn't come instantly to the real ones, only to the ones that are somebody's product.
I heard about REM on MTV for years before I actually heard their music. This was sort of my into to "Alt "music. I evolved along with the band. I thought they were great, especially early stuff, before "Out of Time"
@@raymo6795 The One I Love played on MTV, that's my first impression of R.E.M. I liked it, but it was just another MTV music video to me, at first. But since R.E.M. was getting popular off of that, MTV started playing some of their older stuff, then Green came out, with Pop Song 89, Orange Crush and Stand, and I started buying all of their cd's. Around 97 or so, my niece started liking the same kind of music I do, so I loaned her all of my cd's, and their house burned down with all of my cd's in it. Nobody was hurt, but you know, stuff burned up. I replaced some of my old cd's, and bought new stuff, but now we have Spotify and RUclips.
I’ve been a fan for 40 years and still don’t “get” many of their songs. I just enjoy the music & Michael Stipe’s voice.
@@chrisa4695 every so often I stop to contemplate the writer’s intent, but usually I just enjoy the music as well. REM obviously put some time and thought into the lyrics, seems a shame to listen mindlessly, but that is what we mostly do.
Document was their fifth album - hence the “5” (R.E.M. No. 5 actually) on the cover.
I love this song. The simplicity yet it just sounds great
I first heard REM back in 1982 on a tv show.
Try "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" - Same band, different vibe and more to get your teeth into.
"Night swimming" might be a song you would like from these guys!!!
Driver 8, Fall on Me
My favorite REM song. Still makes me cry.
A favourite
Yes
Automatic holds a dear place in my heart
This one had all of the words it needed, I think. The strangeness is part of the message, and so is the music. Great songs like Driver 8 and Can't Get There From Here have more words without losing the strangeness.
This takes me back to my student days (89-92). This song was on the jukebox all the time in the student bar (mostly because of me!)
"Everybody Hurts" is another you guys need to listen to. SO beautiful.
Last REM reaction I said how they influenced the grunge bands that came after them especially Nirvana that includes both bands lyrics not being literal or even at times having any meaning at all... great band one of my favorites.
The western sounding is jangle rock, jangly guitar playing style. But, also like Lex explain the other western tone, is like country music style guitar lick. Good ears! REM is one of the pioneers of indie and alt rock, college rock groups that crossovered to mainstream radio and tv back in the '80s. Back then these kind of groups were mainly underground on college and alternative radio and videos only shown on MTV shows for underground groups. The shows were 120 Minutes and The Cutting Edge.
When I was in High School I hated their song Man on the Moon... now its one of my favorite songs.
3:08 the moment when Brad realizes the third verse is the same as the previous two.
😆
This band is a Southern legend (from Athens GA)!! I remember seeing them in a small club (The Pier in Raleigh NC) and have followed their music ever since. This is my FAVORITE period in their storied decades long career! Try 'Orange Crush' another great song from this time.
So many great tunes from this band. Definitely worth going down the rabbit hole 🕳. Saw them perform at Bridge School, such a great acoustic performance.
"ok, that song didn't go anywhere".
Exactly my friend, exactly.
Meta
Every word in every rock song isn't easy to understand. Some words are metaphors some words are poetry sometimes just words. Can't try to easily define every song
Ive always interpreted the FIRE! shout to be analogous to him actually releasing the song into the world. He cant give the song to her personally because he left her behind. Shouting FIRE! like a gun prompt, shooting the song or the feeling into the world.
that's how I see it
Good thought - always wondered and that makes sense
@@yensilluap Thinking on it a bit more, the music swells like a cannon shot right when Stipe sings FIRE!, an ascending pattern, a cymbal crash right at FIRE! then a ringing drone guitar line like your ears ringing after. Its amazing how music can wordlessly paint a picture.
It's a primal scream. And fire in the context of the song means a lot, passion, lust, destructive potential
Great alternative/indie college rock band that hit mainstream in the '90s. The singer and Nirvana singer were good friends ad were working on thiings together. Kurt died so young. B-52s used to collaborate with REM often due to them being from Georgia and same genre.
REM played colleges for years then made it big they were awesome live
REM Reckoning. Awesome album.
Psychedelic furs-love my way
Alton Brown directed the music video. The backup singer is the one from B52s
The key line, “The one I left behind. A simple prop to occupy my time.” It’s a anti-love song. It doesn’t surprise me at all they don’t get R.E.M. This band has depth that isn’t necessarily going to be too understood by reactors who randomly pick a song here and there. R.EM. flourished in the day when you’d get a band’s D.N.A. after listening to the entire album.
Right. Lyrics became more and more cryptic. Michael Stipe doesnt like to talk about his lyrics in interviews. i guess they are not really ment to be recovered. they have poetric vibes but its up to the listener what they could mean. I for myself enjoy the sound and the feel of the songs and try to not think too much about those words. ;-)
@@weissfussindianer well also he was in the closet all those years.
Chill out Mr. High horse. This song is pretty basic without context of REM as a whole, give them a break
To me, this song stands on it's own without even considering all that. They know it has to and they handle it like the awesome band that they were. Kind of an unsung rhythm section these days, too. Mike Mills has such a friendly, melodic style on the bass and Berry is powerful and steady af.
If you want some REM with some lyrics, you MUST check out "It's the End of the World as We Know It" - there's enough lyrics there to stump a generation lol
I loved their early stuff which has almost a folk vibe at times. Check out the song DRIVER 8.
Early to mid REM featured dense, enigmatic lyrics that were hard to decipher (especially on the first couple of albums) and interpret, and I loved them for it!
Listening to REM is kind of like eating sushi. First you're a bit of shocked, maybe confused. Then you take another bite and get "something". After that, you just enjoy the experience.
It’s a vengeful and dark song really.. amazing.
My favorite REM song .. thank you guys.
I always liked to believe that his "Simple thought" is what he's firing out to the one he loves.
The "Simple prop" are the lyrics to occupy his time as the vocalist. The last one gave it away, "Another prop has occupied my time.." Pretty cheeky.
LOVE LOVE LOVVVE alllll this! Congrats to you and your team. KEEP THEM COMING!! Respect ALWAYS. - BZ.
Gotta love the Gump head tilts. Sometimes a song is just about sending a song out to someone you care(d) about. Sometimes simple is best.
The Occupation is my favourite track off this album. Makes me think of a dream I never actually had.
Yes, I love this album. I thought it had the best overall sound of any of their albums.
Mike Mills background vocals on the choruses really make this song magical
Here's a genre you guys have never looked into it's called cow punk. Country rock with the energy of punk rock. Try starting out with the godfathers of cowpunk, Jason and the scorchers something like both sides of the line or absolutely sweet Marie
First real "band" outside of those I grew up with in the grunge movement that I really connected with...I feel absolutely lucky as hell now to have seen them live as they have a catalogue of music very few can hold a candle to.
'Til Tuesday "Voices Carry"
Good request.
When (and where) I went to high school Alternative and R.E.M. were treated as practically synonymous -- R.E.M. being the only band the local radio stations both played and called alternative. At least that was how it was until the middle of my senior year when Nirvana introduced us to grunge and started the 90s alternative boom. Lead singer Michael Stipe, btw, called this a "mean" song about using people / people being used -- just props to kill time with when bored. (I liked the sound of it but didn't think much what it could be about.)
In my university alternative meant Pixies, tbh.
The Payolas "Eyes Of A Stranger"
REM lyrics are rarely literal. Often it’s about the vibe and the flow.
I always took it as "firing off a letter."
He's writing letters to lovers past and present in the song.
Not really. The one I "love" is just a prop to occupy my time. I've found another so he set fire to his old "love". The narrator doesn't know of love.
@@seantimmons5900 LOL.
@@seantimmons5900 It's totally made up by me, but because he's gay, I always imagined it could be about Fire Island in New York... which is known for being the gay Hamptons, has a lot of big festivals and parties. So like, hey, "the one I love, you were a prop on Fire Island... and now I'm out, back to the normal day-to-day". Again, this is all my weird interpretation of it
Everybody Hurts is a must with R.E.M. you really need to experience the video that goes with it. It adds SO much more to the song.
Forgot this song. I bought CD because of this song and its end of the world as we know it back in 90s
I went to UGA and so did they. After they had finished school and were starting to get a lot of praise as an alternative rock band, they would occasionally show up at the 40 watt (Bar) and jam. It was awesome. They were my favorite band back then. Still love them. Only the early albums though !!!
This is one of their early releases... They rocked much harder back then! Rockville, or Orange Crush are a couple other early hits for them! 😁
If you want to hear a BANGIN' song by R.E.M., try "WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY KENNETH?". It's more rock based than most of their other songs. It's great!
One of my favorite songs❤️
This is getting back into their college music days. Great stuff. I was actually in college then so...
Just the opposite. This was off their sixth album, and actually the first album that put the college sound behind them, and replaced it with the big-production, big-drum, over-produced sound.
Just found this reaction... awesome song!! You guys are all over the place in the songs you pick. And thats great for me cuz i'm all over the place too : ) Keep up the good work !!
Much of R.E.M.'s early music is pretty circumspect in terms of lyrics. It's meant to make you think about the song in a time when songs weren't thought of too much. This is a song about a person who uses others for sex, but a lot of people would request the song on the radio for their bf/gf or play it at weddings only knowing the title. That reaction really put Stipe's efforts as a songwriter into focus.
For me, the allure of the band was trying to figure out not just the words, but what the words meant. This is because Stipe uses words often in very indirect ways to build whatever story he's telling. "Fire" in this song, can refer to a lot of things. The album it's from had the note "File Under Fire" on it because a lot of the songs on the album referenced fire. So it could be tied to that mini-theme or it could be the fire of lust/love/jealousy or any other emotion that can easily become all-consuming.
I think you should listen to "Fall On Me". It's about pollution and acid rain, which was something that was a lot worse in the late 70's and 80's due to air pollution. The lyrics are somewhat circumspect but the vocal arrangements are nice and there is a three person counterpoint on the last chorus where Stipe, Mills, and the drummer, Bill Berry are all singing different parts.
Steven, you're awesome.. thanks for the info..this song reminds me of my teenage years.. funny how it was R.E.M and CRANBERRIES the only alternative bands I would listen to.. everything else was heavy metal 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
I prefer this old style REM. The lyrics might make you think "WTF?", but they always draw you in and make you listen.
REM had a unique sound out of Athens Georgia IIRC, like the B-52's... They had some great hits over a long career. Check out What's Your Frequency Kenneth for some of their later stuff, or the early greats like Orange Cush, or The End of the World as We Know it
One of my favourite albums ever.
He says ,maybe he set her on Fire, i cannot stop Friggin Laughing !
E-Bow the Letter featuring Patti Smith. Deep, moving poetry. Worth the listen.
Old school R.E.M. is preferable to what came later. Although Automatic For the People is a great album.
I am a big fan of accelerate myself. Love that album.
@@zalmute423 monster and hi-fi are my 2 favorites. right in between your preferences!
"New Adventures in Hi-Fi" is their masterpiece.
Fire could be the emotion he feels...like his heart is on fire.......or he is taking a blast at her like a canon! FIRE!!!!!!
Love, love me some REM.
Life's Rich Pageant is probably their best album (in my opinion) Try Began the Began, and Superman (their silly pop song) kinda defined the alternate music scene for awhile. They were great live during that period. Even though it wasn't my usual thing (metal head kid) I enjoyed seeing them live in HS.
"Begin the Begin" is incredible.
@@scottfrench4139 Yeah it'd be my favorite REM song.
R.E.M. lyrics are enigmatic to say the least, and often inscrutable.
REM had many hits.
I like Lex's description of this song! For some reason it reminds me of the song " Bad Company".That's probably why I love this song so much because of the sound❣️
A classic!
The whole theme and premise of this song is - " NEXT PLEASE ! "
You really need to do Everyone Hurts by REM. I want to get Brad's take on the lyrics. Also a very almost haunting song.
Oh man, they played this on the radio so much I got sick of it. lol
This song was so huge in the Alternative scene.
Fact check!
Michael Stipes actually wrote this as a break up letter for his partner.
They had been planning this trip and it was supposed to be amazing.
Michael was really eager to go but his partner had doubts.
This was before Nirvana and the whole alternative scene so there wasn’t really a lot of money around.
Michael really went out of his way to make the trip.
When his partner didn’t show up at the airport he knew it was over but went anyway. He wrote the lyrics on the plane and when he landed he had the song figured out.
After being accommodated in a tent with a cheese sandwich (after especially asking for a vegan alternative), no toilet and sleeping on a lousy mattress Michael went home.
He changed the lyrics from Fyre to Firestorm to hide the shame. The song is featured on their album “13 songs”, released on Epitaph/Victory in 1983.
I've always thought this song is like Hook by The blues travelers that you reacted to a couple of months ago.
'Oasis - Morning Glory' song shares a similar guitar riff to this song's chorus.
Perfect for Kids in the Hall
Was at UGA in Athens during their beginnings. Saw them in some of my art history classes. Even though this is great, their earliest stuff is better. They would play Legion Field for free....Great energy!
Stipe's lyrics are sometimes hard to parse out, enigmatic, downright weird. "This one goes out to ..." sounds like a song introduction at a concert.
It is the kind of phrase that used to be said on radio.
I''m surprised after listening to so much rock that you are so focused on lyrics. It's not a requirement for a rock song to make any sense at all to be relatable.
Micheal the singer of rem regrets writing this song based off its dark lyrics. As a quote "The song is about using people over and over" Still one of the greatest songs of all time.
That's what it's all about: a little hypnotic, elusive lyrics, VERY well crafted songs, a punchy sound with an edge and always restless in their search for something not quite run of the mill. That they were able to do all this with such quality for so long is just incredible. Keeps one coming back for more. That's why they're so special for so many people. It's a long list of very special songs: ""Man on the Moon", "Driver 8", "Gardening at night", "living well's the best revenge", "I believe"...sorely missed.
Just make sure you get the Eponymous version of Gardening At Night.
R.E.M. was one of the original 'alternative rock' bands in the 80's, and they broke big in the 90's when the genre became lucrative. Michael Stipe (vocals) wrote a lot of songs about angst and simple emotions that defined the music of 90's grunge bands like Nirvana & Pearl Jam.
And FYI, Michael Stipe is gay...
I always saw this as a critic of love songs in general
I am not a big REM fan. I just like watching your videos and this was a good one, super cool guys
Please do REM - Drive
Saludos from Brazil 🤘🇧🇷
Lol 3:07 He’s like Didn’t I just here this same verse twice already.. What the fuck?
Serious 80s goodness!
Get your beer mugs ready and say this one insert (. ) fire 🔥
Finest work song is a good one.
Georgia grown.
You'll notice Kate Pierson of the B-52's on backing vocals. 🎶🥰Rome,Georgia🥰🎶
Backing vocals by Kate Pierson from The B52s
"What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" is a must song by R.E.M. for you 2 to react to.
I suspect he just wanted to yell something, and "fire" came out LOL
Great song. Congrats 200k.
Thanks Thomas!
Adapting to early Grunge/pre-alt/whatnot can be a little difficult. Think of REM & their peers as Post- GenesisRushForeignerFleetstadtMacEagles, lavish, overproduced, studio effects, 70s Prog & Pop. Getting back to stripped-down, jangly guitar, clear vocals of Folk Rock '60s like The Byrds, etc. This track is standout.
This is not a love song. This is a song sung from the perspective of a man who uses women as "props" to cure his boredom, pretending to love them. Then, when he gets bored with one woman, he leaves her behind in favor of another woman.
The backing vocals in the second and third "Fire!" choruses are singing, "She's coming down on her own now." This was omitted from the lyrics in that video.
"The One I Love" was R.E.M.'s big breakthrough onto Top 40 radio. They'd had some alternative rock hits from 1983-1986, but this song crossed over to the Top 40 in the fall of 1987, when it peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
That "Wild West" sound that Lex talked about is often referred to as "jangle-pop," which is basically pop-rock with some folk and country influences. The term originated in the 1980s as a nod to Bob Dylan and The Byrds. In 1965, The Byrds covered a Bob Dylan song called "Mr. Tambourine Man," and their style of music had a direct influence on many alternative rock acts from the mid-1980s through the mid-2000s. The Byrds were the originators of the sound, with hits like "Mr. Tambourine Man" (1965), "Turn! Turn! Turn!" (1965) and "Eight Miles High" (1966). R.E.M. later became the torchbearers of the sound, with several Top 40 hits from 1987-1995, and alternative rock hits all the way until 2004.
Another great jangle-pop band from the late 1980s and early 1990s is The Smithereens. Songs like "Blood And Roses" (1986), "House We Used To Live In" (1988), "A Girl Like You" (1990) and "Too Much Passion" (1992) are excellent songs by them, the latter two crossing over to Top 40 radio.
Other examples of jangle-pop include more radio-friendly alternative rock acts from the 1990s and early 2000s like Live, Gin Blossoms, The Cranberries, Counting Crows, Matchbox Twenty, and The Wallflowers. Also, the Goo Goo Dolls mellowed out from a punk-rock band in the 1980s and early 1990s to a jangle-pop band from the mid-1990s onward. And speaking of The Wallflowers, they brought jangle-pop full circle. The lead singer of The Wallflowers is Jakob Dylan. Guess who his father is?
Other excellent but more obscure jangle-pop songs from the 1990s include, but are not limited to:
"Being Simple" by the Judybats (1993)
"Slackjawed" and "74-75" by The Connells (1993, 1995)
"And Fools Shine On" by Brother Cane (1995)
"Angeline Is Coming Home" by The Badlees (1996)
"Live Through This (Fifteen Stories)" by Mighty Joe Plum (1997)