Best R.E.M. song ever?

[Lyric]

:hi:

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. What's the one about Andy Kaufman?

[Lyric]

2. "Man on the Moon"

I would have included it too, if I'd have had the room.

:hi:

[peruban]

71. That's the one I would voted for.

[EFerrari]

10. That's my favorite, too.

:)

[akwapez]

3. not going to pick a best per se, but "Gardening at Night" n/t

[CreekDog]

5. love that song and it was a really interesting sound for them

:hi:

[CreekDog]

4. This is like asking which food is best, Thai, Indian or Mexican

:shrug:

I think their best song from that list is "What's the frequency" though it sounds so unlike most of their music.

I remember loving Automatic For The People when it came out and the downcast "Drive" which was quite a contrast from the previous album Out Of Time which I really liked and could listen to continuously.

And let's not forget some great b-sides they have:
World Leader Pretend (Green)
Belong (Out of Time)
Exhuming McCarthy (Document)

:hi:

[tigereye]

16. after their earliest stuff, I like Document and Green the best

[jonnyblitz]

6. I am partial to "crush with eyeliner"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=149J-FsVbBA

[Redbear]

18. I love that one too

as well as this one :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCfW7Lf3vVc

[jonnyblitz]

29. oh that one is good! i never heard it before

I don't listen to them that much anymore.

[Arugula Latte]

32. I voted for "Driver 8" but I love "Crush" too.

Also, "Fall on Me"

[sarcasmo]

37. I like that one too, Which Album is that song from?

[jonnyblitz]

38. Monster.

:hi:

[sarcasmo]

39. Thanks.

[Sebastian Doyle]

7. South Central Rain

or as it was called here "too new to be named"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykp0Vq77IBw

[jpak]

8. Hyena, Wind Out, Hibtone version of Radio Free Europe, 9-9

among others

[SoxFan]

21. From that time frame, I like "Wolves, Lower"

[SoxFan]

9. Green Grow The Rushes

yeah, I know, I'm probably the only one, but I've always been partial to Fables, and this is an absolutely beautiful piece of jangle pop.

[tigereye]

17. Fables has a neat quality...

[SoxFan]

20. No love for "King of the Road"?

It's a tribute to their musical ability that they were able to play a note with that blood alcohol content!

:rofl:

[Arugula Latte]

63. When they played it in Germany in '85, Stipe sang:

"I'm a man of man by no means" instead of "I'm a man of means by no means" ... :rofl:

[catzies]

26. As someone more than partial to Fables, I must say Good Advices is my fave

on that superb album. :hi:

And check out Theme From Two Steps Onward, from the Fables sessions, on the And I Feel Fine...IRS Collection.


/R.E.M. geek

[underpants]

54. That is a really beautiful song. I have always been partial to Fables too

:hi:

[EFerrari]

11. There's so many but "Night swimming" is also great.

:)

[SalmonChantedEvening]

12. Feathers touch the ground before the weight can leave the air

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ8C7sIsZTw

[Tom Kitten]

13. Voice Of Harold

An outtake from "Reckoning", it's basically the music of "Seven Chinese Brothers" only Michael Stipe reads the liner notes from a gospel album. It first came as the b-side on the 12" single "South Central Rain" and appears on "Dead Letter Office"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK_RK6lF6QM

In case you ever wondered what Stipe was saying (this is from the early mumbly days) I found them and here they are:

Reverend Bill Funderburk sings "He Cared That Much For Me"
Charles Surratt introduces his own composition "On Calvary For Me"
"The Joy of Knowing Jesus" is a song of pure delight featuring John Barbee

The pure tenor quality of the voice of Harold Montgomery
Gives a special interpretation to the grand old hymn "The Old Rugged Cross"
Chill bumps appear and I am frozen in the web they weave as they reveal their
Innermost selves with the outpouring of their hearts
On and on the songs roll and soon you are caught up
In the sermon in each rendition as you come to feel
The devotion and dedication that is poured forth
Suddenly, you know they are real, they mean it!

"Let your light so shine"
Could not be more than half made up
As there shines a light from heaven on your heart
Through their singing. As an artist, Rhonda Montgomery
Exemplifies piano artistry. That's Rhonda! An artist!

This album can be the instrument to mend a broken heart
Or to straighten out your life through the sincere testimony
In the songs of The Revelaires. A must!

J. Elmo Fagg, founder and leader
Of the Blue Ridge Quartet
For 23 Years. Temple Records, LST 390
Planning to make a record?
We are associated with United Music World Recording Studios, Inc.,
West Columbia, SC. The finest sound available anywhere

"The Joy of Knowing Jesus",
Produced by Joel Gentry
Cover/Backliner Design/Reesor

The Revelaires, A must
The Revelaires
A must, in their home

[arcadian]

30. I like that one too

had forgotten about it.

[Systematic Chaos]

14. Every track on "Automatic for the People" is freakin' incredible,

but I can't get through the whole album without listening to Ignoreland twice.

So my vote is for Ignoreland. :)

[tigereye]

15. Gardening at Night, then Don't Go Back to Rockville, then 7 Chinese Brothers

and I like most of the ones on your list, too.


It's very hard to choose a real favorite.

[taterguy]

19. Their cover of the Telivision song See No Evil

Of course it was much better experienced live in the mid-80s instead of via Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO1z4ci3z40

[mitchum]

75. Too bad that rem never had a guitarplayer fit to carry Verlaine or Lloyd's stash

Peter's a nice guy, but I have always hated his guitarplayng

[mitchum]

77. Don't Fear The Reaper

[flvegan]

22. Since nobody's mentioned "Pop Song 89" I will.

One of their best pieces of work.

[nomorenomore08]

49. AKA "Hello I Love You"?

Nah, just kiddin'. :P

[JVS]

23. Imitation of life has the coolest video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEhT2QlRBMo

[Richardo]

24. Don't Go Back to Rockville

[Tuesday Afternoon]

25. well TEOTWAWKI

that is pretty major...I think my fave is:

http://www.youtube.com/v/JtoI0_TG5kI&hl=en&fs=1

[Jean Louise Finch]

27. These Days

Though I'd go for pretty much anything off of Life's Rich Pageant.

I also really liked Hope, and reckon it's about Bill Clinton.

[Left Is Write]

28. Radio Free Europe & Talk About The Passion

[Texasgal]

31. Pretty Persuasion.

Old stuff. :hi:

[Arugula Latte]

34. LOVE that one. The guitar riff towards the end is SUPERB.

:loveya:

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Lincolngirl]

35. I love their old stuff,

Been mentioned here

Life's Rich Pageant

There is sooo much good stuff to choose from tho.

[ulysses]

36. driver 8

You read my mind - I was listening to Fables earlier. :)

[Heddi]

40. Life and How To Live It or

Feeling Gravity's Pull

or

Drive

or

Country Feedback

or

Nightswimming

or

Ebow the letter

or

pretty much all of Murmur, most of Reckoning through Life's Rich Pageant, and one or two (or none) off of everything else after Document.

[Deja Q]

41. Shiny Happy People

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGSDkvh8B0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkHM8xG6i8o

[SoxFan]

59. Bad Toad. No fly for you.

[Deja Q]

61. The song isn't THAT bad.

Plus it's got Kate Pierson in it!

[fishwax]

42. Since nobody has yet mentioned Wendell Gee

then I will mention it :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcHORmlabYU

[mvd]

43. So many great songs. Man On The Moon has always been a fave

:hi:

[Arugula Latte]

44. Wow ... Look at this video for "Drive." I've never seen it. Amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnlAHrPUD2c

[Tom Kitten]

45. Thanks for this post, by the way

REM was my favorite band from the beginning up until about "Life's Rich Pageant"...After that I graduated from college and moved away from Corn Valley and most of my friends who also loved them. What I heard from them later (they still were never played on the radio for a long time) struck me as being a little too much "commercial", which most bands that become successful end up being...But I'm listening to their cds again and am curious about their later output. I really prefer out and out rock'n'roll type stuff and I've heard "Monster" was a return to that sound...Is that true? What of their later output would anybody recommend?

[Fire Walk With Me]

46. Thanks for the perspective on REM. What a great bunch of music.

[derby378]

47. Voted for DRIVER 8, but mad props for END OF THE WORLD as well

:hi:

[CrownPrinceBandar]

48. Nearly anything on "Reckoning".......

"Seven Chinese Bros." and "Pretty Persuasion" jump to mind.

[nomorenomore08]

50. I'll have to go album-by-album:

'Murmur' - "Talk About the Passion," "West of the Fields"

'Reckoning' - "7 Chinese Bros.," "Little America"

'Fables' - "Maps and Legends," "Auctioneer"

'Pageant' - "These Days," "Just A Touch," "Superman" (C'mon, you know you love it!)

'Document - the singles plus "Welcome to the Occupation"

'Green' - "Stand," "Orange Crush"

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

51. "Country Feedback"

an overlooked gem from "Out of Time" is my fav

[mitchum]

74. Another vote for Country Feedback (it's also Stipe's favorite rem song)

[nuxvomica]

52. "Stand"

Partly because it was the theme song of the greatest sitcom in TV history.

[Bossy Monkey]

53. Day in, day out, "Cuyahoga." But I think I'll throw a vote to "It's the End of the World

as We Know It" as I love that, too.

[underpants]

55. Flowers of Guatamala, Green Grow, Wendell G, Driver 8 (of course), etc.

I am, well was, a HUGE R.E.M. fan

I haven't bought an album in a long time though

[gmoney]

56. (Don't Go Back to) Rockville

Love the line "At night I drink myself to sleep and pre-tend I don't care that you're not here with me"

[peekaloo]

57. I Believe

:-)

[electron_blue]

60. ooh, I love that one, too. "I believe... my throat hurts" near the end.

[electron_blue]

58. Perfect Circle

Ahhhhhh I lurves polls like these.

[enigmatic]

62. "Driver8" for your list

Though I'd personally pick "Sitting Still" (or anything off "Murmur"), followed by "Camera", "Feeling Gravity's Pull", and the original hibtone 45 of "Radio Free Europe"..

[redqueen]

64. Other: Night Swimming

Now I want to listen to it.

[bullwinkle428]

68. Thought I'd be the first one to suggest that, and ended up

scrolling nearly all the way down the list to see I wasn't alone! :thumbsup:

[abq e streeter]

65. Cuyahoga, and Fall on Me

[rucky]

66. Thanks for putting Driver 8 in there.

My favorite on the list.

Tied w/ Begin the Begin.

[Withywindle]

67. So. Central Rain, by a mile.

That's just one of the best songs ever by anybody.

From your poll I'd pick "Driver 8." Fables is still my favorite.

[eauclaireliberal]

69. None-they all suck.

nt

[MarthaMyDear]

70. I know YOU DO....but what about REM songs?

:)

Marthanna throws lots of loves and kisses to REM and friends and family!


:loveya:

[Kire]

72. "Don't Go Back to Rockville"

"Leaving New York" is second best song...at least right now.

I'll probably hear another song later and think that is the best song. There are so many good songs.

I saw R.E.M. the day after the first Kerry-Bush debate in 2004 in Philadelphia, with Bright Eyes, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and special guest John Fogerty. The first night of the Vote for Change Tour. It was probably the best night I had that election season. When I woke up after Election Day, someone was playing "Bad Day" by R.E.M. on Air America Radio. Yes it was a "Bad Day".

My new favorite song for this season is "No Sign of Yesterday" by Men at Work. Please find it and listen to it.

Warm Regards,

Erik B. Anderson
Independence Township, New Jersey
Established 1782

[Starry Messenger]

73. I Am, I Am Superman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXMDNaU0UFE

(home video created by comix artist Darick Robertson to song)

[snailly]

76. South Central Rain

That was a long time ago but I remember watching them on Letterman and thinking "Who are these guys?". It was a couple years later when I bought my first REM album. That Letterman performance was the start though. I still fucking love that song.

[AwakeAtLast]

78. Finest Worksong

Ok, the whole catalog really, but I like this one a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D--jPEG6CIE

[Swede]

79. My first favorite and still favorite Fall On Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANHVAezPxi8

Theres a problem, feathers iron
Bargain buildings, weights and pullies
Feathers hit the ground before the weight can leave the air
Buy the sky and sell the sky and tell the sky and tell the sky

Dont fall on me (what is it up in the air for) (its gonna fall)
Fall on me (if its there for long) (its gonna fall)
Fall on me (its over its over me) (its gonna fall)

Theres the progress we have found (when the rain)
A way to talk around the problem (when the children reign)
Building towered foresight (keep your conscience in the dark)
Isnt anything at all (the statues in the park)
Buy the sky and sell the sky and bleed the sky and tell the sky

(repeat chorus)
Dont fall on me

Well I could keep it above
But then it wouldnt be sky anymore
So if I send it to you youve got to promise to keep it whole

Buy the sky and sell the sky and lift your arms up to the sky
And ask the sky and ask the sky

(repeat chorus, etc.)

[Generic Brad]

80. I did not see "All of Them" on the list

I choose "All of Them".