REM - Shiny Happy People

[VoR]

I genuinely believe that Kate Pierson in this video was my very first celebrity crush.

 

[Tisch]

I like it as much as Michael Stipe hates it.

 

[Tisch]

But I'm glad it didn't end up being the FRIENDS theme tune

 

[VoR]

Was that something that almost happened?!

I can see why Stipe finds it annoying. It’s really a better fit as a B-52s song than an REM one.

But it’s just so fun!

 

[octophone]

It's *fine*. Going into waltz-time before the coda doesn't work and it could have done with a few more lyrics but so what? People get so grumpy when a group do something fun and it became a stick with which to beat them. Because Peter Buck is such a music fan and a collector, that rubbed off on him and he decided he hated it (he also hated making the video) - Stipe and Mills were tiptoeing around him by this time and allowed him to veto it from their 'best of'.

REM made records a lot worse than this but, still, it wouldn't be in my top 20/30.

 

[Tisch]

Was that something that almost happened?!

Yes! In the pilot they also left in an outro going into one of the scenes.

 

[jyxz]

 

[RaspberrySwirl]

The chorus is unbearable but I like the verses.

 

[RJN]

Fine but they have so much better. Their best is At My Most Beautiful imo

 

[Cerro de Casa]

It's nice. But yeah I never really feel the need to listen to it. And it's really jarring in the context of the album. Would have been a far better fit on Green.

 

[jivafox]

One of the best songs of all time.

 

[octophone]

It's nice. But yeah I never really feel the need to listen to it. And it's really jarring in the context of the album. Would have been a far better fit on Green.

But Green has "Stand" so "SHP" would sound really pale next to that.

 

[Saltwater]

I adore it.

 

[straightorbroken]

Kate P sings a rainbow on this, it's so utterly utterly.

 

[Vicky the Vole]

It's nowhere near one of their best songs, but I do like it.