Having quickly placed one of their song into the jukebox on Friday, I wanted to come back to R.E.M, as they deserve more than a fleeting mention. Song choice from them today is Man on the Moon, which was their second single from their 1992 Album Automatic for the People. The lyrics of the song are a tribute to Andy Kaufman, the American Actor and Entertainer that died in 1984, with the chrous playing up to the moon-landing conspiracy which was mirroring the idea the Kaufman's death had been a hoax. The lyrics makes reference to the career of Kaufman including his famous Elvis impersonation.
The lyrics were written by R.E.M's front man Michael Stipe, with the melody written by Bill Berry and Peter Buck and for me it is a beautiful song. R.E.M, first came into my life when I was in high school and was one of those bands that I religiously taped off the Top Forty on a Sunday night. I was out with friends at the weekend and we were reflecting that the youth of today don't know the fun of taping music off the radio and trying desperately not to get the voice of the DJ onto your mixed tape. Although I think with the Top 40, I would always be called for tea before the end of Top 40 so I would have to keep the tape running.
Formed in 1980, R.E.M.'s music spans 30 years up until the band's split in 2011. Automatic for the People was one of two of their most commercially successful albums, with Out of Time being released two years after. For me, they were a stable diet of high school years and music camps adventures. I will always remember that they played Murrayfield in Edinburgh just after I had finished high school. A concert, which alas, I missed, but I remember that it became a significant event in meeting two of my best friends from University as we all discussed R.E.M. on the first day of our course. They both are more dedicated fans of R.E.M. than me so hopefully I will have got my facts right today and they had huge posters of Michael Stipe on their bedrooms wall.
The song itself was a critical success reaching number 18 in the chart, and going on to be the main song on the soundtrack of the film about Andy Kaufman starring Jim Carey. Described by the New York Times as "Shining with a wit that balances R.E.M. more somber tendencies", it speaks to the girl inside of me that always wanted to travel around space and go to the moon. Reach for the stars has always been one of my beliefs.
Have a listen and see if you believe what the New York Times reporter said:
R.E.M's Man in the moon
Written by R.E.M
Released: 1992
Album: Automaticc for the People
