• SanguinePar
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    411 months ago

    R.E.M. and Shiny Happy People. It’s just so out of place, especially on an otherwise great album.

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
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      411 months ago

      I read somewhere that that was the whole point. Their label or manager complained that all of their songs were dull and depressing and why can’t they make something that’s chart friendly, so that’s what they did. If you listen to the lyrics while knowing the back story you can pretty much hear the sarcasm oozing from every syllable.

      Not that I can find any reference to it now, of course, but that’s what I read/heard and it makes the song 10 times better.

      • SanguinePar
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        111 months ago

        Yeah, I could definitely imagine that. Still don’t really like it though :-)

      • SanguinePar
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        111 months ago

        It is. I did see a theory that it was actually a very (too?) subtle commentary on the Tiananmen Square Massacre, but I’m not sure I believe it tbh.

    • @Lifecoach5000
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      111 months ago

      One of the guys from The Monkees recently covered this and it and it gave me a new found respect for this song.

      • SanguinePar
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        111 months ago

        Oh cool, I’ll need to check that out.