R.E.M Songs Ranked
R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe. Additionally, many liner notes from the band’s albums list attorney Bertis Downs and manager Jefferson Holt as non-musical members. One of the first alternative rock bands, R.E.M. was noted for Buck’s ringing, arpeggiated guitar style, Stipe’s distinctive vocal quality, unique stage presence and obscure lyrics, Mills’s melodic basslines and backing vocals, and Berry’s tight, economical drumming, and backing vocals of his own. In the early 1990s, other alternative rock acts such as Nirvana and Pavement viewed R.E.M. as a pioneer of the genre. After Berry left the band in 1997, through some changes in musical style to include electronic music and pop-rock sounds, the band continued its career in the 2000s with mixed critical and commercial success. The band broke up amicably in 2011 with members devoting time to solo projects despite having sold more than 85 million records worldwide and becoming one of the world’s best-selling music artists. R.E.M. disbanded amicably in September 2011, with former members having continued with various musical projects, and several live and archival albums have been released. Here are all R.E.M songs ranked.
Missed the vocals of R.E.M.? Click below and listen to their immortal songs.
20. Try Not to Breathe (Automatic for the People, 1992)
“It’s a beautiful song that hits me in the feels. Probably my favorite song from Automatic. Makes me feel like I’m floating on air..”
19. Country Feedback (Out of Time, 1991)
“One of the best R.E.M. songs, my favorite one, associating great music with incredible lyrics, simply fantastic. I love the guitar solo on the version from R.E.M.’s Road Movie soundtrack.”
18. Let Me In (Monster, 1994)
“The back story to this is sadder than the song itself. The day before Kurt Cobain died he was supposed to be picked up to go to Atlanta for a recording session with Stipe. As the story goes Michael Stipe sent a limo to pick him up. The Driver waited for him and knocked on the door and no one answered. Hence the title let me in.”
17. Driver 8 (Reckoning, 1984)
“So so good – the various guitar sections are all such a joy to listen to and play! The lyrics capture that old-time American feel Very catchy Riff, just a flat out awesome song”
See more: R.E.M. Albums Ranked
16. Find the River (Automatic for the People, 1992)
“Somewhat overlooked, but it really is such a nice song. Of course, REM is amazing so they have lots of nice songs, but this one is really special”
15. The Great Beyond (Man on the Moon, 1999)
“This is so incredible, the lyrics. The message. The just all around incredible is one of the things that keeps me going in life! This song is one of those that brings back memories of a great time. That will always make it my favorite”
14. What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? (Monster, 1994)
“Great track based on a unique, bizarre, jarring, and hilarious popular culture event. The music is catchy rock and contains a fun message about the media.”
13. Fall on Me (Lifes Rich Pageant, 1986)
“The song is about anything you want it to be. It could be about acid rain, but there is a double meaning. The sky is a metaphor for your reputation and living life carefree and how easily it can be tainted, polluted, by other individuals as well as yourself. You have to take care of it, be careful of your actions, who you share your secrets with….but is that really living? “
12. South Central Rain (Reckoning, 1984)
“This song reeks strongly of regret, this huge chance passed and the narrator couldn’t stop it from doing so. or maybe he regrets taking action on it, and quite literally feels sorry to the other for not having the guts to take the chance. on a more personal note, it just sounds so big and haunting, even for a little pop song.”
11. Stand (Green, 1988)
“This is a typical REM song about privilege. The northern hemisphere of the world is much, much more affluent than the south. The western world is more developed than the east. In fact, when an eastern nation becomes developed they are said to have become “westernized.”
10. Orange Crush (Green, 1988)
“Orange Crush is the best REM song at least one of my favorites. It came at the time of the first Gulf was and made me think of my husband at the time overseas and now it reminds me of my son who is in the Army and been to Iraq.”
9. Drive (Reckoning, 1984)
“I think the line is “Ollie ollie income free”, referring to the conservative position on income taxes. And I think the reason this song sticks with people is that it’s so haunting. No one knows quite what the lyrics mean, but there’s something ineffably sinister about them. Coupled with the very ambient and minor guitar lines, this song becomes almost scary (especially when alone at night).”
8. Shiny Happy People (Sesame Street: Songs from the Street, Vol. 6, 2003)
“This song makes me happy! I also picture the moves from the music video, which makes me laugh. The backing vocals and harmonies make this my all time favorite.”
7. Nightswimming (Automatic for the People, 1992)
“This wonderful unique song brings back my childhood – carelessness, innocence, this feeling of security, warmth, lightheartedness, secrets, unconditional trusting,…This song offers the unique chance to bring back this time, its impressions and all the memories when needing them. Just love it!”
See more: The Corrs Albums Ranked
6. Radio Free Europe (Murmur, 1983)
” Just a jangly pop hook and an easy to sing to chorus. Good example of why this band was so good: infectious tunes that mixed great harmonies and a slick guitar.”
5. The One I Love (Document, 1987)
“Love this song, first listened to it on a record player in my basement with my mom. When my brother went into basic training for the army, he wrote me a letter how it was his favorite song to sing. This song is so special to me”
4. Man on the Moon (Automatic for the People, 1992)
“What can I say? I love those yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah. I love that “Hey baby”? I love the chorus that many band would have killed for. I love the guitar solos. I love the quiet part. And I love that repetition of the chorus at the end. EVERYTHING about this song is completely mind-blowing.”
3. It’s the End of the World as We Know It (Document, 1987)
“Even if you don’t know all the lyrics, you should still love it. But, you love it more if you know all the lyrics. Me and my friends like this song because it’s in Chicken Little (unpopular opinion) and we were singing this in school when the fire alarm went off!
2. Everybody Hurts (Automatic for the People, 1992)
“It just a good song and it is true… The Best of REM… Sometimes it is just a reminder that everyone at some point in time is in the same position as you. The Human factor. A beautiful song both the music and the lyrics.”
1. Losing My Religion (Out of Time, 1991)
“Winner of MTV’s Euro song of 1991. Incredible video as well. All about being under scrutiny with a task at hand. People/person there, watching. This song introduced me to rock music. Before I heard it I only listened to what they played on the radio.. And its still one of the best songs I’ve ever heard.”