An absolute classic. I think you hit the meaning really well at least the way I've always thought of it. Kids being piled on with expectations from adults without being shown how they should meet them, so they're just expected to figure it out on their own, being carried along by the crowd and by the demands of society, which leads to alienation and hopelessness. Pretty deep for a seemingly simple song.
Amazing track from an amazing band. This cd impacted my young life in an extraordinary way. Rem is the soundtrack of my life. I started listening in college, and never stopped. Automatic For the People affected me very deeply, and, I think it's one of their best. Thanks for a great review.
Wow...super impressed with your lyrical analysis! I started loving R.E.M. after I attended a concert at Red Rocks at age 13? (1983?) R.E.M. was the 1st opening act, then BowWowWow and The English Beat headlined. I guess Murmur had just dropped and nobody knew anything about them. My BF who was only 12 at the time bought the album the next day or so when she was downtown in Colorado Springs at Independent Records. The next time I saw her (she lived across the dirt road we lived on, Mohawk Trail, in Chipita Park, CO, so it was probably pretty soon after the show) I mentioned how I had heard that song from the first band on the radio, Radio Free Europe, & really liked it. Then she GAVE ME THE ALBUM she had bought in town (like an hour drive down from Ute Pass) I was so surprised! Thank you Jennifer, you rock! We got dropped off at Red Rocks for that concert, too. How cool was that?! Little girls, all the way in Denver, first time at Red Rocks rocking out all afternoon/evening with R.E.M., BowWowWow & Ska?! I love another band from Athens, GA that NOBODY has EVER reacted to...maybe you'll be the first? They're called Chickasaw Mudd Puppies and I believe R.E.M. helped? produce their album, *_8-Track Stomp_* or something like that? I like just about every song on that album. I think the song Skyline? (if that's the name) has backing vocals or something by members of R.E.M. But check out Cicada, W.A.S.P., Roadrunner, Jambalaya, Superior, Moving So Fast,...any of them, they're all great! You won't be disappointed, I promise.
I know what it is like to be in the middle of a huge crowd.... several times. Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Kansas, Stones, Dylan, Clapton, Who.... not quite the same experience. You were on point with the lyrics
Just to add on to my comment below, this reminds me of the line in Lennon's Working Class Hero, "When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years, then they expect you to pick a career. But you can't really function, you're so full of fear". Very similar themes.
Years after first hearing this I read a bit where Michael Stipe mentioned the influence of Rock On by David Essex on this song. I’d never heard Rock On and it really matches the verse melody, and the strings are a nod to it too.
I really dig it when that overdriven electric guitar kicks in at the half way point, but to me, they should have kept the song amped up from that point on...and continued to build the volume and the intensity...into a hard rock masterpiece. This could have been one of the greatest arena rock anthems of all time, had it not lost it's punch by going back to the acoustic guitar after the mid point solo. I wish they would have taken it sonically BIGGER...such a trippy song....
An absolute classic. I think you hit the meaning really well at least the way I've always thought of it. Kids being piled on with expectations from adults without being shown how they should meet them, so they're just expected to figure it out on their own, being carried along by the crowd and by the demands of society, which leads to alienation and hopelessness. Pretty deep for a seemingly simple song.
Amazing track from an amazing band. This cd impacted my young life in an extraordinary way. Rem is the soundtrack of my life. I started listening in college, and never stopped. Automatic For the People affected me very deeply, and, I think it's one of their best. Thanks for a great review.
not many react to this one. not one of their more recognizable hits but a great REM track and one of my favorites. great reaction :)
My favourite R.E.M. song! Thanks for reacting to it! 😊
Wow...super impressed with your lyrical analysis! I started loving R.E.M. after I attended a concert at Red Rocks at age 13? (1983?) R.E.M. was the 1st opening act, then BowWowWow and The English Beat headlined. I guess Murmur had just dropped and nobody knew anything about them. My BF who was only 12 at the time bought the album the next day or so when she was downtown in Colorado Springs at Independent Records. The next time I saw her (she lived across the dirt road we lived on, Mohawk Trail, in Chipita Park, CO, so it was probably pretty soon after the show) I mentioned how I had heard that song from the first band on the radio, Radio Free Europe, & really liked it. Then she GAVE ME THE ALBUM she had bought in town (like an hour drive down from Ute Pass) I was so surprised! Thank you Jennifer, you rock! We got dropped off at Red Rocks for that concert, too. How cool was that?! Little girls, all the way in Denver, first time at Red Rocks rocking out all afternoon/evening with R.E.M., BowWowWow & Ska?!
I love another band from Athens, GA that NOBODY has EVER reacted to...maybe you'll be the first? They're called Chickasaw Mudd Puppies and I believe R.E.M. helped? produce their album, *_8-Track Stomp_* or something like that? I like just about every song on that album. I think the song Skyline? (if that's the name) has backing vocals or something by members of R.E.M. But check out Cicada, W.A.S.P., Roadrunner, Jambalaya, Superior, Moving So Fast,...any of them, they're all great! You won't be disappointed, I promise.
Love this song! So glad to see your reaction!
I know what it is like to be in the middle of a huge crowd.... several times. Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Kansas, Stones, Dylan, Clapton, Who.... not quite the same experience. You were on point with the lyrics
Just to add on to my comment below, this reminds me of the line in Lennon's Working Class Hero, "When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years, then they expect you to pick a career. But you can't really function, you're so full of fear". Very similar themes.
I meant to mention that but forgot, good catch!
Years after first hearing this I read a bit where Michael Stipe mentioned the influence of Rock On by David Essex on this song. I’d never heard Rock On and it really matches the verse melody, and the strings are a nod to it too.
Love all of R.E.M's songs. One song particular that I haven't heard any reactions to is 'Superman'. Perhaps you might react to it?
I always loved the video for this one. It really caught the essence of gigs at that time.
Another good song from REM. Am I shocked ? Heck no! This is in my top 3 songs from them 😊
Live it. Thanks for your hard work. ❤
Meant LOVE IT.😊
Great song, cool band! Next, check out Can’t Get There From Here, released in 85. Stellar bass and groove in this one! ✌️
Don’t see any reactions to Drive , very underrated song of REMs catalogue. So checked it out 😊
Well, I only found one reaction to Bang and Blame 😕
I really dig it when that overdriven electric guitar kicks in at the half way point, but to me, they should have kept the song amped up from that point on...and continued to build the volume and the intensity...into a hard rock masterpiece. This could have been one of the greatest arena rock anthems of all time, had it not lost it's punch by going back to the acoustic guitar after the mid point solo. I wish they would have taken it sonically BIGGER...such a trippy song....
Driver 8
Early R.E.M. So good
Don't think I would categorize this as early r.e.m. more like middle r.e.m.