r.e.m. - satire of cable news in new video

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

maybe it's better suited for the lounge, but i thought the subject matter of the piece might warrant it being on this one



dead on take of cable news:
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/rem/artist.jhtml

On their new video, R.E.M. tweek the way that big media companies deliver all of our information. As the guys play news anchors, weathermen, and political pundits, the overwhelming nature of our daily intake becomes obvious. " It's a fine-tuned, intelligently observed parody," says director Tim Hope.

[Junkdrawer]

1. pre-release lyrics...

A public service announcement followed me home the other day,
I bade it nevermind, go away.
The shit's so thick, you could stir it with a stick,
the paper wouldn't lie, wisdom got lost to mankind, we gloat and jeer with it

Broadcast me a joyful noise into the times, Lord,
count your blessings, ignore the lowest fear, well you can't send us, listen,

Radio no, play the game, three words, first one short,
magazine, book, cinema, N - O - down,
many fears are gone, step down, step down,
watch a heel crush, ah this means war

I saw the light, it can't be right

Broadcast me a joyful noise into the times, Lord,
count your blessings, ignore the lowest fear, well you can't send us,

It's been a bad day, please don't take my picture,
It's been a bad day, please
It's been a bad day, please don't take my picture,
It's been a bad day, please

A public service announcement followed me home the other day,
I bade it nevermind,
The shit's so thick, you could stir it with a stick,
the paper wouldn't lie, wisdom got lost to mankind, we gloat and jeer with it

Broadcast me a joyful noise into the times, Lord,
count your blessings, ignore the lowest fear, come one, what more?

It's been a bad day, please don't take my picture,
It's been a bad day, please
It's been a bad day, please don't take my picture,
It's been a bad day, please

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

2. cool

i've been looking for those

[CoolerKing]

6. those are the old lyrics...

from the 1986 unreleased demo version. It's somewhat different in its new version.

edit: my bad...you put it in your title!

[CoolerKing]

3. what a great song...

funny...this song (which will officially be released on R.E.M.'s second collection of greatest hits In Time due out in October) was originally written in 1985-1986 as a demo for the band's excellent Document album (one of their most overtly political). The song was about frustration over the American media's refusal to criticize Ronald Reagan. The song didn't make it on the album (although its original drum riff and some lyrics merged into It's the End of the World as We Know It."). The demo version has been available in bootleg form for years.

Cut to 2003. The band needs a couple of new songs for the greatest hits albums and, what do you know? the media is up to its same tricks again with King George. So they dusted off the song Bad Day and updated it for 2003.

1986 & 2003: Same shit, different year. Oh well. At least we got a new R.E.M. song out of it even if the circumstances that caused the song to be written in the first place piss me off on a daily basis.

[americanstranger]

4. That's a pretty cool video.

They premiered it on Anderson Kewper's show the othe night.

Yeah, I know it's spelled 'Cooper,' but listen to him the next time he pronounces it - 'Anderson KEWper.' :)

-as

[Junkdrawer]

5. Video lyrics

A Public service announcement followed me home the other day
I paid it nevermind. Go away.
Shits so thick you could stir it with a stick- free Teflon whitewashed presidency
We're sick of being jerked around
Wear that on your sleeve

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord,
Count your blessings.
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down.

Have you ever seen the televised St. vitus subcommittee prize
Investigation dance? Those-ants-in- pants glances.
Well, look behind the eyes
It's a hallowed, hollow anesthesized
"save my own ass, screw these guys"
smoke and mirror lock down

Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord,
Count your blessings.
the papers wouldn't lie!
I sigh. Not one more

Its been a bad day.
Please don't take a picture
Its been a bad day.
Please

We're dug in the deep the price is steep.
The auctioneer is such a creep.
The lights went out, the oil ran dry
We blamed it on the other guy
Sure, all men are created equal.
Heres the church, heres the steeple
Please stay tuned--we cut to sequel
ashes, ashes, we all fall down.


Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord, Count your blessings.
Embrace the lowest fear/Ignore the lower fears
Ugh, this means war.

Its been a bad day.
Br.


Broadcast me a joyful noise unto the times, lord,
Count your blessings.
We're sick of being jerked around
We all fall down.

Its been a bad day...

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

7. they've been threatening to get really political

on the new cd in the spring. maybe this is a hint of things to come

about time these guys came back

[Nlighten1]

8. REM...

I used to like that band but they didn't know when to stop...