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Encyclopedia > Radio Free Europe (song)

"Radio Free Europe" has been widely recognized as R.E.M.'s first single, released on Hib-Tone Records in 1981.

The title was derived from the infamous radio station of the same name; however, the actual song doesn't even sound close to it. Lyrics like "Raving station, beside yourself", the typical example of Stipe's technique, are so strange, it is hard to figure out exactly what they mean. Also, when played live, Stipe felt no need to sing the original lyrics, instead incorporating surnames (such as IRS Records staffer Keith Altomare) into the song. Stipe's voice was so low-key (almost a mumble) that most people would probably not even notice it anyway.

The song was re-recorded in 1983 for R.E.M.'s first album, Murmur, and accompanied with a music video (at the request of MTV), directed by Arthur Pierson. The video took place in the garden of artist Howard Finster, who would go on to paint the album cover for the band's second album, Reckoning. R.E.M. as it is today: (L to R) Mike Mills, Michael Stipe and Peter Buck R.E.M. is a rock band formed in Athens, Georgia in early 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and vocalist Michael Stipe. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Murmur has a number of meanings, including the following: Murmur, demonology, is a Great Duke and Earl of Hell Murmur in Latin means noise, whisper, murmur, and the sound of the trumpet. ... MTV (abbreviation for Music Television) is a cable television network which was originally devoted to music videos, especially popular rock music. ... The Reverend Howard Finster (December 2, 1916- October 22, 2001) was a visionary artist from Summerville, Georgia who was inspired by God to spread his gospel through the environment of Paradise Garden and over 46,000 pieces of sacred art. ... There are four albums called Reckoning or The Reckoning: The 1984 R.E.M. album, Reckoning The 1981 Grateful Dead live album, Reckoning The 1988 Margaret Becker album, The Reckoning The 2000 Project: Storm album, The Reckoning This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might...


Track Listings

(1981)

  1. Radio Free Europe (3:46)
  2. Sitting Still (3:07)

(1983)

  1. Radio Free Europe (4:03)
  2. There She Goes Again (2:49)

External Links

[1] Video clip at remhq.com

Band members: Bill Berry · Peter Buck · Mike Mills · Michael Stipe
Additional musicians: Nathan December · Buren Fowler · Peter Holsapple · Barrett Martin · Scott McCaughey · Bill Rieflin · Ken Stringfellow · Joey Waronker
Management and producers: Joe Boyd · Don Dixon · Bertis Downs, IV · Mitch Easter · Don Gehman · Jefferson Holt · Scott Litt · Pat McCarthy
Albums: Chronic Town (EP) · Murmur · Reckoning · Fables of the Reconstruction · Lifes Rich Pageant · Document · Green · Out of Time · Automatic for the People · Monster · New Adventures in Hi-Fi · Up · Reveal · Around the Sun
Compilations: Dead Letter Office · Eponymous · R.E.M.: Singles Collected · The Best of R.E.M. · In the Attic · In Time
Videos: Succumbs · Pop Screen · Tourfilm · This Film Is On · Parallel · Roadmovie · Perfect Square · In View
Musical styles: Alternative rock · College rock · Jangle pop · Post-punk


 

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