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On April 5, 1980, four young musicians – vocalist Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry — got together and performed their first show at an abandoned church on Oconee Street in the college town of Athens, Georgia.
It was the start of what would become the greatest American rock band of all time.
We’re talking R.E.M., of course.
In honor of the 40th anniversary of this live debut — and because so many of us are just aching for a reason “Talk About the Passion” for R.E.M. — I asked people on social media to name their favorite R.E.M. and explain why.
What follows is some of the responses. But I’ll go first and answer this very difficult question, which could possibly have roughly 100 correct answers — depending on the day, my mood and other factors. After all, no band has delivered more great songs during its career than R.E.M.
But if I had to pick just one …
“Nightswimming” (From 1992’s “Automatic for the People”)
“Michael Stipe’s lyrics are so vivid, so evocative that the song comes across like my own personal, private lost memory.” — Me
In honor of 40th anniversary of @remhq first concert … Please share your favorite R.E.M. song and say why it's your favorite. I'll start. "Nightswimming" – @michaelstipe lyrics are so vivid, so evocative that song comes across like my own personal, private lost memory.
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) April 3, 2020
“Gardening at Night” (from 1982’s “Chronic Town”)
The snapping of Bill Berry’s drumming captured my 13 year old imagination. Then I saw them on ‘Letterman’ a few months later and I was hooked for life.” – Rick Pyle
https://twitter.com/RickPyle1/status/1246128158476140545
“Begin the Begin” (from 1986’s “Life’s Rich Pageant”)
“My favorite is “Begin the Begin” – my reason may be as simple as that it’s the opening track on the first REM album that I fell in love with. Or that it’s a compact, kick-ass tune.” — Scott Ducker
My favorite is "Begin the Begin" – my reason may be as simple as that it's the opening track on the first REM album that I fell in love with. Or that it's a compact, kick-ass tune.
— Scott Ducker (@scottducker) April 3, 2020
“So. Central Rain (I’m sorry)” (from 1984’s “Reckoning”)
“Takes me right back to the mid 80s, when R.E.M. could do no wrong.” – DJ Rotten Robbie
So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry). Takes me right back to the mid 80s, when R.E.M. could do no wrong. https://t.co/1lXn7TewPfhttps://t.co/epIlPoizcE
— DJ Rotten Robbie Is Awful (@djrottenrobbie) April 3, 2020
“Perfect Circle” (from 1983’s “Murmur”)
“Hi Jim! “Perfect Circle” and the oldest of reasons to love a song, a boy.” — Ravili
Hi Jim! "Perfect Circle" and the oldest of reasons to love a song, a boy.
— Ravili 🦄 🌈 ⚾🐈⬛ (@OhVilly) April 3, 2020
“Sad Professor” (from 1998’s “Up”)
“It’s like asking me to choose between my favorite children!! I can only go by what first popped into my head today – this live in-studio performance of “Sad Professor” from UP. Such a great song from an underrated album.” — Miguel Rodriguez
It's like asking me to choose between my favorite children!! I can only go by what first popped into my head today – this live in-studio performance of "Sad Professor" from UP. Such a great song from an underrated album. https://t.co/ME8IeGNBrm
— Miguel Rodriguez (@ThatsSoMiguel) April 3, 2020
“Find the River” (from 1992’s “Automatic for the People”)
“‘Find the River’ is a gorgeous document with both a sense of loss/ finality and hope/ rebirth.” – Daniel Jimenez
https://twitter.com/DMJreports/status/1246141900614074369
“Driver 8” (from 1985’s “Fables of the Reconstruction”)
“Driver 8 … almost hypnotic still.” — henlyhouse
Driver 8…almost hypnotic still
— henleyhouse (@henleyhouse1) April 3, 2020
“Pilgrimage” (from 1983’s “Murmur”)
“‘Pilgrimage’ because of the part at 2:15-2:30 and then again at 3:25-3:40. The @m_millsey
background singing with Bill’s drumming gets me every time and always has. @remhq” — Harris
"Pilgrimage" because of the part at 2:15-2:30 and then again at 3:25-3:40. The @m_millsey background singing with Bill's drumming gets me every time and always has. @remhq https://t.co/uXapBewNXa
— Harris (@ohkiv) April 3, 2020
“So many choices, but I’ll go with Pilgrimage. The way each run through the chorus builds on the last one gets me every time.” – Paul
So many choices, but I'll go with Pilgrimage. The way each run through the chorus builds on the last one gets me every time.
— ❄️ 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝗹 ❄️ (@paulscan) April 3, 2020
“Leave” (from 1996’s “New Adventures in Hi-Fi”)
“We all have to move on from painful memories.” — Denis Costello
https://twitter.com/SoCalCostello/status/1246145504565768201
“It Happened Today” (from 2011’s “Collapse Into Now”)
“So many choices but let me give a vote for ‘It Happened Today’ from the final studio album, “Collapse Into Now.” Beautiful ending with all their voices blending into one. Can still hear it calling me.” — Sean P. Horrigan
So many choices but let me give a vote for "It Happened Today" from the final studio album, Collapse Into Now. Beautiful ending with all their voices blending into one. Can still hear it calling me.
— Sean P. Horrigan (@sphorrigan) April 3, 2020
“You Are the Everything” (from 1988’s “Green”)
“Because of the memories it holds and how lovely it is in itself.” — Yasmeen Khan
You are the Everything
because of the memories it holds and how lovely it is in itself.— cats are better than people (@iesamina) April 3, 2020
“Country Feedback” (from 1991’s “Out of Time”)
“MS didn’t even have lyrics for it. He went in, sang what was in his heart (delivering the most raw and real vocal in music history) and walked out. PB and BB had their minds blown and stayed up all night recording music to put with it.
“MM came in the next morning to a nearly complete masterpiece. All he had to do was add some organ to it and it was done.” — Joe Emery
MM came in the next morning to a nearly complete masterpiece. All he had to do was add some organ to it and it was done.
— Joe Emery (@Bad__Scooter) April 3, 2020
“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” (from 1994’s “Monster”)
“I think they’ve all been covered so far, so I’ll go for ‘What’s the Frequency Kenneth’, it rocks and has great lyrics.” — MikeA
I think they’ve all been covered so far, so I’ll go for ‘What’s the Frequency Kenneth’, it rocks and has great lyrics.
— MikeA (@mikea7719) April 3, 2020
“Talk About the Passion” (from 1983’s “Murmur”)
“The best 3 minutes of music recorded in the 80s.” — Daniel Marshall
Talk about the passion – the best 3 minutes of music recorded in the 80s
— harlequin1974 (@harlequin1974) April 3, 2020
Talk about the passion – the best 3 minutes of music recorded in the 80s
— harlequin1974 (@harlequin1974) April 3, 2020
“Fall on Me” (from 1986’s “Life’s Rich Pageant”)
(No explanation necessary)
“Radio Free Europe” (debut single from 1981)
“Oh wow there’s so many to choose from, each intrinsically different from the next and equally perfect in their own right, but I’d have to say “Radio Free Europe” bc it’s always the first song to come to mind when I think of them after 30+ years of listening.” — Michael JK
https://twitter.com/michaeljklimis/status/1246149997797748741
“Cuyahoga” (from 1986’s “Lifes Rich Pageant”)
“Just because.” — Bryan
R.E.M. – Cuyahoga https://t.co/xC4lIJwzOU via @YouTube just because
— Bryan (@thebeardyboy71) April 3, 2020
“E-Bow the Letter” (from 1996’s “New Adventures in Hi-Fi”)
“There are times I play “E-Bow The Letter” on repeat far more times than I can count. It’s so perfect. So evocative. (Honorable Mention: Such a bummer that the only band to take a crack at “It Happened Today” live was…Pearl Jam.)” — Mark Provenzano
There are times I play "E-Bow The Letter" on repeat far more times than I can count. It's so perfect. So evocative. (Honorable Mention: Such a bummer that the only band to take a crack at "It Happened Today" live was…Pearl Jam.)
— Mark Provenzano (@bbison724) April 3, 2020
What’s your favorite R.E.M. song? Post your selections in the comments below, please.
Fall on Me
— Veronica Mers (@veronicamers) April 3, 2020
