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I remember REM self-nominating 'Shiny Happy People ' as the worst song. And even though it was one of their most successful songs in the charts they refused to

I remember REM self-nominating 'Shiny Happy People ' as the worst song. And even though it was one of their most successful songs in the charts they refused to play it live.

JohnFen 2y ago
Indeed. As with all things, "popular" and "good" are two very different qualities that aren't always correlated with each other.
ricardo81 2y ago
Shame they think that. Anything with Kate Pierson singing and moving gets my vote.
- hinkley 2y ago
  On the flip side of this, generally speaking I like every duet I’ve heard with Stipe. Except this one. Campfire Song with 10,000 Maniacs. And Kid Fears with the Indigo Girls still gives me chills.
  - jeffbee 2y ago
    Stipe singing other people's songs: good. Stipe writing songs: sometimes acceptable. I like to joke/start arguments by saying that R.E.M's greatest album was "Sentimental Hygiene".
    - soylentcola 2y ago
      I was "Lucky" to hear him join Radiohead on stage to sing one of their songs back in 98 (iirc).
hinkley 2y ago
Denis Leary: I want you to pull this bus over on the side of the Pretentiousness Turnpike! I want the shiny people over here, and the happy people over here.
aetherson 2y ago
We Built This City is fun forgettable pop music. Shiny Happy People was wretched from day one. Fight me.
- dreamcompiler 2y ago
  SHP is a song for kids. They didn't write it for you. https://youtu.be/VRfhX-XAIiY?t=3820 https://youtu.be/VRfhX-XAIiY?t=3820
- soylentcola 2y ago
  The lyrics are cheesy, but I find the music, harmonies/performance to be just fine. Wouldn't be the first decent song with crap lyrics.
nuancebydefault 2y ago
Shiny happy people is so non- REM by REM. It is just out of place.
- rusk 2y ago
  I think it was meant to be satirical. Like, it’s supposed to be about how the old folks want the young folks to be. Pleasant times.
  - partomniscient 2y ago
    No one is ever going to be as happy as the guy in the purple shirt and black beret in that music video. Not even Ren and Stimpy.
- senderista 2y ago
  Or out of time. I'll see myself out.
- nuxi 2y ago
  Maybe you'll like the reverse, (possibly) the most REM song by non-REM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSltuCqOzJY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSltuCqOzJY

I remember REM self-nominating 'Shiny Happy People ' as the worst song. And even though it was one of their most successful songs in the charts they refused to play it live.

JohnFen 2y ago

Indeed. As with all things, "popular" and "good" are two very different qualities that aren't always correlated with each other.

ricardo81 2y ago

Shame they think that. Anything with Kate Pierson singing and moving gets my vote.

hinkley 2y ago
On the flip side of this, generally speaking I like every duet I’ve heard with Stipe. Except this one. Campfire Song with 10,000 Maniacs. And Kid Fears with the Indigo Girls still gives me chills.
- jeffbee 2y ago
  Stipe singing other people's songs: good. Stipe writing songs: sometimes acceptable. I like to joke/start arguments by saying that R.E.M's greatest album was "Sentimental Hygiene".
  - soylentcola 2y ago
    I was "Lucky" to hear him join Radiohead on stage to sing one of their songs back in 98 (iirc).

hinkley 2y ago

Denis Leary: I want you to pull this bus over on the side of the Pretentiousness Turnpike! I want the shiny people over here, and the happy people over here.

aetherson 2y ago

We Built This City is fun forgettable pop music. Shiny Happy People was wretched from day one. Fight me.

dreamcompiler 2y ago
SHP is a song for kids. They didn't write it for you. https://youtu.be/VRfhX-XAIiY?t=3820 https://youtu.be/VRfhX-XAIiY?t=3820
soylentcola 2y ago
The lyrics are cheesy, but I find the music, harmonies/performance to be just fine. Wouldn't be the first decent song with crap lyrics.

nuancebydefault 2y ago

Shiny happy people is so non- REM by REM. It is just out of place.

rusk 2y ago
I think it was meant to be satirical. Like, it’s supposed to be about how the old folks want the young folks to be. Pleasant times.
- partomniscient 2y ago
  No one is ever going to be as happy as the guy in the purple shirt and black beret in that music video. Not even Ren and Stimpy.
senderista 2y ago
Or out of time. I'll see myself out.
nuxi 2y ago
Maybe you'll like the reverse, (possibly) the most REM song by non-REM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSltuCqOzJY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSltuCqOzJY