BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) EVERYBODY HURTS
This is one of the band’s most successful songs for sure. I remember when the video would come on and be all slow-mo dark and mysterious. It’s a down tempo track, almost a ballad where the love interest is the common bond of distress, pain, and hurt. Yeah, I went there.
(THREE) IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD
Do I know the words? Not at all. I think there’s something about Joe DiMaggio in there somewhere, but that’s about it when it comes to the verses. Do I know the chorus? Yeah, of course. Who HASN’T sung “It’s the end of the world as we know you it!” over and over again? That scene in Tommy Boy is all you need to know. This might be the band’s best up-tempo track. Right now, it’s my pick.
(TWO) ORANGE CRUSH
This isn’t so much of an obscure track, but not nearly as big as the other 90’s singles. I remember seeing this commercial about Lemmings running off a cliff and THIS song was used in the background. I learned that lemmings do that and that this song rocked from that advert. I don’t have the slightest clue what they were selling though. Any who, I really like this song. I find it getting stuck in my head more often than any other REM song I know of.
(ONE) LOSING MY RELIGION
Before this, REM had credibility and was doing quite well for themselves, but this song put them on a whole another plateau of stardom. Radiohead has “Creep”, NIN has “Closer”, Tool has “Sober”, and REM has this. Just because it’s the most popular doesn’t mean it’s not great. It’s popular BECAUSE it’s great. Judging on impact, on success, on video, and on awesomeness is there ANY doubt here? “Losing My Religion” is just one of those songs. It’s a song that’s going to be part of music forever. It’s iconic and just as amazing as it was when it was released twenty years ago.
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