Radio Song
"Radio Song" | ||||
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Single by R.E.M. | ||||
from the album Out of Time | ||||
B-side | "Love Is All Around" (live) | |||
Released | November 4, 1991 | |||
Recorded | September–October 1990 | |||
Genre | Funk[1][2] | |||
Length | 4:15 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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R.E.M. singles chronology | ||||
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"Radio Song" is the fourth single released by R.E.M. from their 1991 album Out of Time, where it appeared as the opening track.
Lead singer Michael Stipe once said that he hoped everyone had enough sense of humor to realize that he was "kind of taking the piss of everyone," himself included.[3]
Stipe also asked KRS-One, leader of Boogie Down Productions (of which Stipe was a fan), to contribute to the track. He provides some backing vocals for the track, as well as a closing rap, and appears prominently in the video.
Track listing[]
All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.
US/UK/Germany 7" / US/UK cassette[]
- "Radio Song" – 4:15
- "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15
UK "Collectors' Edition" CD[]
- "Radio Song" – 4:15
- "You Are the Everything" (live)3 – 4:43
- "Orange Crush" (live)² – 4:03
- "Belong" (live)4 – 4:47
US/Germany CD / US 12"/maxi-cassette[]
- "Radio Song (Tower of Luv Bug mix)" – 4:14
- "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15
- "Belong" (live)4 – 4:07
UK/Germany 12"[]
- "Radio Song" – 4:15
- "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15
- "Shiny Happy People (Music Mix)"
Notes[]
1 Recorded on Rockline, Los Angeles, California; April 1, 1991.
2 Incorrectly listed as "Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia; November 13, 1989"; actually from Miami Arena, Miami (FL), April 29, 1989.
3 Taken from the live performance video, Tourfilm.
4 Recorded at the Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina; November 10, 1989.
Details for the second and third live recordings (tracks three and four) for "Collectors' Edition" are not provided on the CD materials.
Charts[]
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] | 53 |
Ireland (IRMA)[5] | 5 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] | 56 |
Portugal (AFP)[7] | 3 |
UK Singles (OCC)[8] | 28 |
Personnel[]
- R.E.M.
- Bill Berry – drums
- Peter Buck – guitar
- Mike Mills – organ
- Michael Stipe – lead vocals
- Additional musicians
- David Arenz – violin
- Ellie Arenz – violin
- Mark Bingham – string arrangement
- David Braitberg – violin
- Andrew Cox – cello
- Reid Harris – viola
- Peter Holsapple – bass guitar
- Ralph Jones – double bass
- Kidd Jordan – baritone, tenor and alto saxophone
- Dave Kempers – violin
- KRS-One – rapping
- Scott Litt – echo-loop feed
- Elizabeth Murphy – cello
- Paul Murphy – lead viola
Use in other media[]
The song was featured in the Cameron Crowe film Singles (1992), although it is not included in the official soundtrack album.[9]
Bingo Hand Job version[]
A live version of "Radio Song" was released in early 2019 via Noisetrade. Recorded in 1991 at The Boderline in London, the track was credited to Bingo Hand Job, a pseudonym for R.E.M. and guests (who also adopted various fake names). A recording of the much bootlegged full concert was officially released in April 2019 as Live at the Borderline 1991.[10]
References[]
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Out of Time - R.E.M. | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Yates, Henry (June 12, 2019). "How to buy the very best of R.E.M." Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Black, Johnny (2004). Reveal: The Story of R.E.M.. London: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-776-5.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 48. November 30, 1991. p. 25. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Radio Song". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – R.E.M. – Radio Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 4. January 25, 1992. p. 28. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ "R.E.M.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Singles Soundtrack". TheUncool.com. 2015. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017.
- ^ "Bingo Hand Job Albums - NoiseTrade". Paste. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
External links[]
- R.E.M. songs
- 1991 singles
- Songs written by Bill Berry
- Songs written by Peter Buck
- Songs written by Mike Mills
- Songs written by Michael Stipe
- Song recordings produced by Scott Litt
- Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe
- Song recordings produced by Mike Mills
- Song recordings produced by Peter Buck
- Song recordings produced by Bill Berry
- Songs about music
- Songs about radio
- Warner Records singles
- KRS-One songs