Bittersweet Me
"Bittersweet Me" | ||||
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Single by R.E.M. | ||||
from the album New Adventures in Hi-Fi | ||||
B-side | "Undertow (Live)" | |||
Released | October 21, 1996 | |||
Recorded | November 7, 1995 | |||
Studio | Memphis soundcheck | |||
Length | 4:06 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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R.E.M. singles chronology | ||||
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"Bittersweet Me" is a song by R.E.M., released as the second single from their 10th studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). Like much of the album, the song originated while the band were on the road for the Monster tour, although the song was only ever soundchecked and has never been played live as part of a concert.[1] The song was a bigger hit in the United States than the first single from the album, "E-Bow the Letter", except on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, where the first single's number-two peak bested the number-six peak of "Bittersweet Me".
The CD single features a live cover of "Wichita Lineman", a song written by Jimmy Webb and made popular by Glen Campbell. The video for the single was shot in the style of an Italian movie entitled Stanco E Nudo (a translation of the line "tired and naked" in the song). It was included as a bonus video on the DVD release of In View - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003.
Track listings[]
All songs were written by Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe unless otherwise indicated.
7-inch, cassette, and CD single
- "Bittersweet Me" – 4:06
- "Undertow" (live)1 – 5:05
12-inch and CD maxi-single
- "Bittersweet Me" – 4:06
- "Undertow" (live)1 – 5:05
- "Wichita Lineman" (Webb) (live)2 – 3:18
- "New Test Leper" (live acoustic)3 – 5:29
Notes[]
1 Recorded at the Omni Theater, Atlanta, Georgia; November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie.
2 Recorded at The Woodlands, Houston, Texas; September 15, 1995.
3 Recorded at Bad Animals Studio, Seattle, Washington; April 19, 1996.
Personnel[]
- Bill Berry – drums, tambourine
- Peter Buck – guitar
- Mike Mills – bass, organ, mellotron
- Michael Stipe – vocals
- Scott McCaughey – piano
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
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Release history[]
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | October 8, 1996 | Contemporary hit radio | Warner Bros. | [19] |
United Kingdom | October 21, 1996 |
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[20] |
References[]
- ^ R.E.M. Timeline
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9720." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9788." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9736." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 45. November 9, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – R.E.M. – Bittersweet Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.12. – 18.12.'96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 13, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bittersweet Me". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "R.E.M.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
- ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
- ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1166. October 4, 1996. p. 77. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 19, 1996. p. 37. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
External links[]
- 1996 singles
- 1996 songs
- R.E.M. songs
- Songs written by Bill Berry
- Songs written by Michael Stipe
- Songs written by Mike Mills
- Songs written by Peter Buck
- Song recordings produced by Bill Berry
- Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe
- Song recordings produced by Mike Mills
- Song recordings produced by Peter Buck
- Song recordings produced by Scott Litt
- Warner Records singles