Strange Currencies

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"Strange Currencies"
R.E.M. - Strange Currencies.jpg
Single by R.E.M.
from the album Monster
B-side"Strange Currencies" (instrumental version)
ReleasedApril 3, 1995 (1995-04-03)
Genre
Length3:52
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Bang and Blame"
(1995) 		"Strange Currencies"
(1995) 		"Crush with Eyeliner"
(1995)

"Strange Currencies" is a song by American rock band R.E.M.. It was included on their ninth studio album, Monster (1994), and was released as the album's third single on April 3, 1995. The single reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 47 in the United States. Like "Everybody Hurts" on R.E.M.'s previous album, it has a time signature of 6
8.

Composition[]

Stipe has said that the song is about "when somebody actually thinks that, through words, they're going to be able to convince somebody that they are their one and only."[3]

The song almost did not make it on the album due to its rhythmic similarities to "Everybody Hurts." Yet Michael Stipe's melody, the band felt, was too good to pass over, so the original rhythm was slightly reworked.

Music video[]

The video, directed by Mark Romanek, was shot on the first anniversary of the death of Michael Stipe's close friend River Phoenix and features River Phoenix's last girlfriend, actress Samantha Mathis.[citation needed]. It also features an early performance by actor and model Norman Reedus. It is in black and white, and shows the band playing in an industrial area. The images of the band are interspersed with other shots, some of which, such as a child playing with a dead bird, suggest urban decay.

Live performances[]

"Strange Currencies" was played live frequently throughout the Monster tour but was not performed live again until 2003, where the song would then only appear on and off throughout various set lists until their final tour in 2008.

Track listings[]

US CD and cassette single, UK 7-inch and cassette single[4][5][6][7]

  1. "Strange Currencies" (album version) – 3:52
  2. "Strange Currencies" (instrumental version) – 3:52

UK maxi-CD and 12-inch single, UK and Australian CD single[8][9][10]

  1. "Strange Currencies" – 3:52
  2. "Drive" (live) – 4:17 (4:10 in UK)
  3. "Funtime" (live) – 2:16 (2:20 in UK)
  4. "Radio Free Europe" (live) – 4:43
  • All live tracks were recorded at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, on November 19, 1992. The performance, a benefit for Greenpeace, was recorded on a solar-powered mobile studio.

Charts[]

Release history[]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom April 3, 1995 (1995-04-03)
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Warner Bros. [26]
United States April 11, 1995 (1995-04-11) Contemporary hit radio [27]

References[]

  1. ^ Melis, Matt; Gerber, Justin; Weiss, Dan (November 6, 2017). "Ranking: Every R.E.M. Album From Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  2. ^ http://remhq.com/albums.php
  3. ^ Black, Johnny (2004). Reveal: The Story of R.E.M.. London: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-776-5.
  4. ^ Strange Currencies (US CD single disc notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 17900-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Strange Currencies (US cassette single sleeve). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 917900-4.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Strange Currencies (UK limited 7-inch single sleeve). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. W0290X.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Strange Currencies (UK cassette single sleeve). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. W0290C.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Strange Currencies (US maxi-CD single disc notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 43513-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Strange Currencies (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 43513-0.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Strange Currencies (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. W0290CD, 9362435132.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  12. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 04 Jun 1995". Retrieved June 2, 2016 – via Imgur.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9220." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12 no. 16. April 22, 1995. p. 16. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (8.4. '95 – 14.4. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 8, 1995. p. 50. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Strange Currencies". Irish Singles Chart.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – R.E.M. – Strange Currencies" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  19. ^ "R.E.M.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  20. ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  23. ^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  24. ^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  25. ^ "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1996. p. 25. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  26. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. April 1, 1995. p. 35. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  27. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1089. April 7, 1995. p. 44. Retrieved August 8, 2021.

External links[]

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