Michael Stipe has already defined “gum” as music that, despite its success, did not even appear in concert repertoires
Throughout its 31 years of existence, the REM released hits of the size of “Losing My Religion”, “Everybody Hurts”, “The One I Love”, “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” and “Man on the Moon”. However, there is one song that can be called the “ugly duckling” of the group’s catalog: “Shiny Happy People.”
The song despised by the group itself is part of Out of Time (1991), the album responsible for raising REM to stardom once and for all. With the participation of Kate Pierson (B-52s), “Shiny Happy People” was the second single from the album, coming right after “Losing My Religion”, which is, for many, the band’s biggest hit.
However, “Shiny Happy People” divides opinions to this day. And within the band, it’s unanimous: nobody likes it. In an interview with The Quietus (via Songfacts), the vocalist Michael Stipe stated the following about the track:
“It’s really a bubblegum kind of song.”
Then, the frontman admitted to feeling “ashamed” of the single since its release. He revealed that he created the song as a way to show his fun side.
The idea that many people have of REM and me in particular is that we are very serious, that I am a very serious poet. But I’m actually pretty fun — my bandmates think that, my family thinks that, my boyfriend thinks that, so I must really be, but that doesn’t always come across in the music!”
Omission of shows and compilations
Apparently, Michael Stipe’s colleagues are not fans of “Shiny Happy People” either. The song was performed by REM live on only two occasions, which were not even shows, but recordings of TV shows.
Furthermore, the track was left out of the “greatest hits” compilation. In Timereleased in 2003 — although the song can be considered a success, since, when it came out as a single, it reached the top 10 of the American chart and was certified gold in the United Kingdom. To conclude his disdain for the song, Michael Stipe stated the following:
If they launched a song into space as a way to represent REM, I wouldn’t want them to choose ‘Shiny Happy People’.”
Despite this negative reputation, the song has appeared in several films and TV series. She was also the first chosen by the production of the series Friends to pack its opening, before being replaced by “I’ll Be There For You”by the duo The Rembrandts.
Collaborated: Augusto Ikeda.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.