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R.E.M. — Radio Free Europe
Album: Murmur
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3964









Released: 1983
Length: 3:49
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Decide yourself if radio's gonna stay
Reason: it could polish up the gray
Put that, put that, put that up your wall
That this isn't Country at all

Radio station: decide yourself

Keep me out of Country and the word
Wheel of fortune's leading us: absurd
Push that, push that, push that to the floor
That this isn't nothing at all

Straight off the boat, where to go

Calling out in transit
Calling out in transit
Radio Free Europe (radio)

Decide: defy the media too fast
Instead of pushing palaces to fall
Put that, put that, put that up your wall
That this isn't fortunate at all

Radio station: decide yourself

We're calling out in transit
Calling out in transit
Radio Free Europe (radio)

Decide yourself: come in on a boat
Media's too fast
Keep me out of Country and the word
Disappointment into us: absurd

Straight off the boat, where to go?

Calling out in transit
Calling out in transit
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe

Calling out in transit
Calling out in transit
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Comments (410)add comment
good music
With all that’s happening in Ukraine today it’s more important than ever to keep radio free and heard by all ears.
 SmackDaddy wrote:

I'm not sure Stipe ever knew them either.


Likely not far off the mark.  Legends of early REM performances had Stipe singing with his back to the audience due to early stage fright as well as very mumbled lyrics.  As a band they didn't put lyrics on record sleeves or inserts either so the listener had to use their imagination in regard to what the lyrics actually were. 
 moodfood wrote:

the original alt-rock band before it was a thing.. 😎



The Replacements

Dar's the one I love the most, but Stipe's not far behind

 jlind wrote:

I'm bored by this right now but I will leave it at 7 #rock


 Aud wrote:
like I couldn't care less that you're boring


I care about what people feel about a song but I couldn't care less what you feel about people.
 jlind wrote:

I'm bored by this right now but I will leave it at 7 #rock



like I couldn't care less that you're boring
Not all college rock ages as well as this. Crazy to think how ahead of its time this was in '83. 
Good Tune
These times misses bands like REM
R.E.M. is hit or miss for me. This tune is a HIT!
Back in the USSR --> Radio Free Europe. I see what you did there, Bill. 
It's a college/grad school party in about 1983 and we're all enjoying each others' company. And then someone puts THIS on.

We explode into that chaotic dance of freedom that you feel when you're in your twenties, life is f-in fantastic, and everything's ahead of you.
I was so lucky to have that experience, and the image of Bob M flailing about in wild abandon as we sing CALLING ALL IN TRANSIT...it's one of the great moments in my timeline.
Bought this on a whim when it came out, at Student Union Records in HUB Mall at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. I had no idea who they were, but loved it upon first listen. I still have the LP, after all these years.
 Steely_D wrote:

I caught them in San Francisco in a small club around this period. I'd heard that they might be good.

I think Buck's amp caught on fire or something when he was playing with the opening act.
I don't remember much about the night except that REM were as good as expected.

And I learned that if you sit at a table, you have to buy a beer, which I couldn't afford at that point...



Wanted to be up front for JB Hutto in 1977, so showed up early and bought three beers so I wouldn't have to give up my table to get more.  Wound up desperately holding on to the very tippy table while the 70-year-old bluesman danced and played on top of it.   By the end of the evening, my bladder was very unhappy with me, but I'd seen a legend.
REM
a band the world could do without.
and Stipe is a cunt
I prefer my radio free of urine.
 Retrograde-orbit wrote:

And I thought it was calling all those in the trenches, which sure made sense to me.


And I thought it was "Calling all men who transmit...." 
If it wasn't for Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Allen Woody, and Mike Gorden....

Mike Mills would defiantly be my favorite Bass player, he is just, gettin' it,  in there.

And of course one of the greatest moments in Rock with that drum break in there.  In my world
quiet in the room is required for that part. There is nothing better.
You had to be there.
I'm bored by this right now but I will leave it at 7 #rock
 Retrograde-orbit wrote:

And I thought it was calling all those in the trenches, which sure made sense to me.
 I thought it was "Calling out, men who transmit..."

Do love REM's IRS years
Fresh new vibe arrived with REM. The evolution of Power Pop with a nod to Pete Townshend who coined the term in 1967 describing music of The Who.  
 bkrans9 wrote:
I've been listening to this song for 37 years. Today, October 13, 2020, is the first time I knew ANY of the words. The internets are amazing
 
I'm not sure Stipe ever knew them either.
I've been listening to this song for 37 years. Today, October 13, 2020, is the first time I knew ANY of the words. The internets are amazing
saving my 10 vote for the first 45 version.  When Stuart Cauley played it for me on my turntable it changed my life
 Soopertimes wrote:
It's my second year at Carleton University and I'm just about to play this track on my morning show at the great CKCU
 

Nice pick, young DJ.
It's my second year at Carleton University and I'm just about to play this track on my morning show at the great CKCU
 bpemby wrote:


In the 70's we referred to it as Alt rock.  Now it's Prog rock.
 
This came out in the 80's. It was then referred to as College Rock. Prog rock is a whole different thing. Procul Harum, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes and later  Peter Gabriel's version of Genesis and  eventually Rush. Artsier, more musically technical rock made by music geeks (I say that as a compliment). Bill plays Porcupine Tree which feels to me like a continuation of prog rock. 
great album - rockin' tune to clean by!
 kbs wrote:

Prog rock, surely?
 

In the 70's we referred to it as Alt rock.  Now it's Prog rock.
 Retrograde-orbit wrote:

And I thought it was calling all those in the trenches, which sure made sense to me.
 
LOL, I've had many lyrics wrong over time. it's always funny when you find out what they really are.
 Steely_D wrote:
I caught them in San Francisco in a small club around this period. I'd heard that they might be good.

I think Buck's amp caught on fire or something when he was playing with the opening act.
I don't remember much about the night except that REM were as good as expected.

And I learned that if you sit at a table, you have to buy a beer, which I couldn't afford at that point...


Found it - 


14 June 1983 - Old Waldorf, San Francisco, CA 
support: Renegades, Let's Active 
soundcheck: I Walk The Line (snippet) / West Of The Fields / 7 Chinese Bros. 
Let's Active set included: Every Word Means No 
R.E.M.: Sitting Still / Moral Kiosk / Catapult / Laughing / Pilgrimage / 7 Chinese Bros. / Talk About The Passion / Romance / Wolves, Lower / Harborcoat / Pretty Persuasion / Gardening At Night / 9-9 / Just A Touch / West Of The Fields / Radio Free Europe 
encore 1: White Tornado / Riders In The Sky / Ages Of You / We Walk / 1,000,000 
encore 2: There She Goes Again / Carnival Of Sorts (Box Cars) 
notes: Peter Buck joins on guitar on Let's Active's opening set on 'Every Word Means No'.
At Rice University in 1984. Read about REM in the weekend paper. Bought Murmur and Reckoning that night. Walked in off the street and caught their show at Numbers a couple of days later. Awesome! By the time the next tour rolled through, they'd made it and you had to buy tickets ahead of the show! How inconvenient.
Whack up the volume - time to rock!
 Grayson wrote:
F*ckhell?! Radio Free Europe following Back In The USSR? No idea what brought THAT on, but keep it coming. 
 Seems to me that the seque is Bill's 'superpower'

Volume up for this one!!!


 dpatte wrote:
>original ? Genesis was considered alt-rock when I saw them in 73 in Montreal.
 
Prog rock, surely?
 Grammarcop wrote:
The original version, which was recorded for Hib-Tone Records, is still better. A little faster beat, a little more rockin'.
 

Agreed, that one is my preferred version.
F*ckhell?! Radio Free Europe following Back In The USSR? No idea what brought THAT on, but keep it coming. 
Brutal.
>original ? Genesis was considered alt-rock when I saw them in 73 in Montreal.
the original alt-rock band before it was a thing.. 😎
Pfff, R.E.M., again...? 
The original version, which was recorded for Hib-Tone Records, is still better. A little faster beat, a little more rockin'.
 sfoster66 wrote:
Man, I always thought it was "callin' out in a trance"...which I actually prefer...damn, ruined for me know....
 
And I thought it was calling all those in the trenches, which sure made sense to me.
 rtrt wrote:

that'd be good to see - got a link?
 R.E.M. Letterman 1983
Still holds up and remains one of my favorites!
Man, I always thought it was "callin' out in a trance"...which I actually prefer...damn, ruined for me now....
 Michaeljcovel wrote:
This song was awesome when they debuted on Letterman  years ago!  {#Bananasplit}
 
I remember it vividly.  REM, and Radio Free Europe especially since it was their intro to the mainstream, was a breath of fresh air after the disco-new wave-synth rock phase that seemed interminably long.  
 Michaeljcovel wrote:
This song was awesome when they debuted on Letterman  years ago!  {#Bananasplit}
 
that'd be good to see - got a link?
I caught them in San Francisco in a small club around this period. I'd heard that they might be good.

I think Buck's amp caught on fire or something when he was playing with the opening act.
I don't remember much about the night except that REM were as good as expected.

And I learned that if you sit at a table, you have to buy a beer, which I couldn't afford at that point...


Found it - 


14 June 1983 - Old Waldorf, San Francisco, CA 
support: Renegades, Let's Active 
soundcheck: I Walk The Line (snippet) / West Of The Fields / 7 Chinese Bros. 
Let's Active set included: Every Word Means No 
R.E.M.: Sitting Still / Moral Kiosk / Catapult / Laughing / Pilgrimage / 7 Chinese Bros. / Talk About The Passion / Romance / Wolves, Lower / Harborcoat / Pretty Persuasion / Gardening At Night / 9-9 / Just A Touch / West Of The Fields / Radio Free Europe 
encore 1: White Tornado / Riders In The Sky / Ages Of You / We Walk / 1,000,000 
encore 2: There She Goes Again / Carnival Of Sorts (Box Cars) 
notes: Peter Buck joins on guitar on Let's Active's opening set on 'Every Word Means No'.
Love this..
This song was awesome when they debuted on Letterman  years ago!  {#Bananasplit}
{#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano}{#Drummer} Long Live the REM..
Maybe PEGIDA should adopt this to open their rallies to save Free Europe.
 treatment_bound wrote:
Just a couple of mid-80's superstars having lunch together 30 years later:
Image result for michael stipe bon jovi

 
Oh no. Bon Jovi was/is a joke band. Longevity is there key to success. REM was a pretty good band. Michael is probably alot more fun to talk with than the bubble head seated next to him.    
Absolutely great bass guitar on this one.
Wait. Those are the real lyrics? I never knew.
An odd transition from While My Guitar Gently Weeps to Radio Free Europe, but I obviously like both songs....
a sophisticated person would never trash another person's work so you can wash away that pronouncement too.
 

misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 


Just a couple of mid-80's superstars having lunch together 30 years later:
Image result for michael stipe bon jovi
 Skydog wrote:

R.E.M. are the Eagles of alt-rock

 

Ouch!  I honestly can't think of a meaner thing to say about any band.
 misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 
R.E.M. are the Eagles of alt-rock
 Far wrote:
Radio Free Europe - needed now.

 
So true...but we have Social Media!!!{#Confused}
I can't ever forget how novel, how different, how urgent, how chiming, how chugging, how full of verve and purpose this was in its day~
 misterbearbaby wrote:
...Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, ...

 
I'm having some kinda hormonal upwelling right now...{#Eek}

Ray—dee—yo ...FREEEE ...YUUURP!!!  Sing it boys...!!!
Radio Free Europe - needed now.
  Cynaera wrote:

I'm there, in spirit... Vegas loves its R.E.M......

  

 romeotuma wrote:

Miss you so much, Ann...

rest in peace...
  
mrtuba9 wrote:
I have to say romeo, your tributes are touching...
  

Thank you, mrtuba9...  I be the holy ghost of big stud Romeo Tuma... everybody in my mushrooming multitude of galactic presidential campaigns loves this groovy song, and this whole album... we love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll... we miss Cynaera so much... hope life be grand for you right this minute, mrtuba9...

Ann Lucas passed away February 6, 2012, at University of Utah Medical Center, at age 55 due to a subdural hematoma, which required surgery. She was put on life support, but after three days without signs of improvement, her family made the difficult decision to discontinue life support and donate her organs on the 6th.

Ann was born on Oct. 12, 1956, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Buss and Dorothy Stepp, who encouraged her to follow her dreams. One dream was to become a published author, which she achieved in 2010 with her novel "Life-Dance". She also wrote fan fiction for the television show "La Femme Nikita".

Ann was also a freelance correspondent for the "Elko Independent" newspaper and had a recurring column called "Shaking the Tree", as well as writing articles for "Elko Daily Free Press".


if Stipe dosn't want us to hear the lyrics why don't they just do intrumentals
    Watch out!  Radio Free Europe is hyperventilating.
Praise the child, knowing where to spent all that money.
A bit of REM never fails to hit the spot.  Just turn it up a notch or two to get the effect. Cleverly followed today by the Arctic Monkeys (Fireside), which demonstrates their relevance today.  Thanks RP.
{#Dancingbanana_2}
 misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 
Here's another case where it couldn't just stop at "I don't like it."  The addition of "...because I have musical taste and erudition" or other things like "because I'm so smart" just kind of baffles me.  Why is "I don't like it" not sufficient?  Is it because the non-fan thinks that otherwise they're somehow lacking, due to the (in this case) 7.8 rating?

"Do you think he's compensating for something?" 
 misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 
Some people would say a song like, oh, "Everything is Broken" by Dylan is doo-doo (Even old-school Dylan fans) while some give it a 10.    Maybe you could say "to me its doo-doo", or just, "I really hate that song"...   It's all a matter of opinion...
 DeemerDave wrote:

Pompous

 

No kidding.


 misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 
Pompous
 misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 
There's just no accounting for musical appreciation. For instance, I'm amazed that someone with your self-proclaimed "musical taste and erudition" would give "Turning Japanese" a 10 (Godlike). Another "hormonal upwelling"?

Of course REM is pop music. Aside from the classical and jazz pieces nearly everything played on RP is pop music. I attribute my enjoyment of REM to having grown up in the 60s, when pop music was heard on AM radio over crappy speakers and had to evoke a visceral reaction or never stay on the charts. Words? Who could make them out? In that respect REM is no different than the Strawberry Alarm Clock. It either hits you in the animal pleasure center of your brain or it doesn't..
 Steely_D wrote:
It's a college/grad school party  in about 1983 and we're all enjoying each others' company. And then someone puts THIS on.

We explode into that chaotic dance of freedom that you feel when you're in your twenties, life is f-in fantastic, and everything's ahead of you.
I was so lucky to have that experience, and the image of Bob M flailing about in wild abandon as we sing CALLING ALL IN TRANSIT...it's one of the great moments in my timeline. 

 

I've heard this hundreds of times since college, and it just sailed by my memory until now...I think I just had a flashback- thanks!
Ah, bringing me back to listening to the college radio station in Fredricton, NB in 1983. Finally something new on the airwaves!
 
 rdo wrote:

You know, I really do appreciate that.  That's how you feel.  I think you need to keep in mind that many, maybe most, music listeners don't rate the level of musicianship as a major factor.  I know I don't.  I do not know if Peter Buck is a great guitarist...maybe his is, maybe he isn't.  I just do not care one tiny bit.   I love listening to this song.

 
Ditto!
 misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 
You know, I really do appreciate that.  That's how you feel.  I think you need to keep in mind that many, maybe most, music listeners don't rate the level of musicianship as a major factor.  I know I don't.  I do not know if Peter Buck is a great guitarist...maybe his is, maybe he isn't.  I just do not care one tiny bit.   I love listening to this song.
 misterbearbaby wrote:
>>It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador << 


misterbearbaby:

R.E.M.'s music was refreshing back at the beginning, and it WASN'T playing on any car or home or portable radios until several years after their debut EP, "Chronic Town", came out in '82. 

We liked 'em, and we had 'em all to ourselves.
 misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 
Thank you for sharing that (rather self righteous) bit of wank. We all feel properly demeaned by your obvious excellence and superiority. 
Such a landmark.
Ignore the crap from the WB years. This fresh explosion of something different... Man. You don't get that often in a lifetime: things change. And this was a harbinger of that.
 misterbearbaby wrote:
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.

 
I don't have a need to defend REM or their music even though geographically, one would think I have a strong propensity to do so. What I thought was a nice anecdotal tale on your behalf turned into a self-righteous diatribe. The sands of time haven't completely washed away the doo-doo.
It's funny, at the time of R.E.M.'s peak popularity I felt that I had developed some musical taste and erudition and judged their music as 'derivative crap' that would never appeal to a sophisticated music listener and player like myself. As I've grown older so many of my big, self-righteous pronouncements have been washed away by the sands if time. But NOT THIS ONE! Their music is pop rubbish, sorry. It might mean something special to you if it was playing on the radio of your dad's AMC Matador when you were a kid having some hormonal upwelling in the back seat, but beyond that, it's doo-doo.
One of my favorite songs, I just read the lyrics for the first time.  I always thought he was singing "calling out in the trenches".  Point being I really do not give a fuck about song lyrics and "meaning".
I am not making this up: 

As I was clicking on Radio Paradise in iTunes, Radio Free Europe was going through my head. And here it is. 

I don't know how you did it, Bill, but that was really cool.  
 rdo wrote:
This is off Murmur...not sure we gain anything by this other version.
 
here is a case in which there is a good reason my post makes no sense...the cover art has been changed from the Eponymous CD...a lot of times things change on the board, esp when others delete the post I was responding to...
Umm, I meant "put", not "push".  Still brilliant.
It's still an awesome song, but demmed if I know what "calling out in transit" really means.  You gotta love the energy within those lyrics, like the threefold repetition of "push".  Brilliant.
Thus is one of the best songs I can imagine. It has some sort of redeeming lyrics I understand. Early '80s in Europe, communism right next door.  
Thus is one of the worst songs I can imagine. Does it have some sort of redeeming lyrics I can not understand. Mumble, mumble.

Great tune, IMO! 

First appeared on Murmur in 1983.  Quite frankly, the entire album is awesome.  Produced by the legendary Mitch Easter and Don Dixon at Reflection Studios in Charlotte, NC.



My favorite 'drum break' of all time! 
This song still sounds as fresh and exciting as the day it was recorded, even after hearing it hundreds of times over the decades. Gotta go with a 10 on this one.
 Cynaera wrote:
Just walked in from the freezing-cold great outdoors, and heard this song. I can't believe I still have the moves - I was dancing up the hallway to my room so I could turn the music UP.  Gawd, I just love this song.  It should be about ten minutes long and end in a fade.{#Dancingbanana} 
 

Miss you so much, Cynaera...  love this song...
 

marvelous song... love it...

-also getting up to dance...
.



Shazam!  Love it!  Everybody in my church be dancing...
 
 asilbuch wrote:

I am new to RP, but have missed your hotel room posts
 

We be dancing...  love this song... hope you are having a lovely day...

 Lazarus wrote:


Everybody in my church loves this song...

 
 
I am new to RP, but have missed your hotel room posts


Everybody in my church loves this song...

 
 jmkate wrote:
Who doesn't chair dance (or leap around the room) to this song?
 

445 AM and I am chair dancing!!
This is off Murmur...not sure we gain anything by this other version.
Who doesn't chair dance (or leap around the room) to this song?
Good Beat and u can dance to it. 80's style
 Cynaera wrote:

I'm there, in spirit... Vegas loves its R.E.M......

 

 romeotuma wrote:

Miss you so much, Ann...

rest in peace... 
 
I have to say romeo, your tributes are touching...
When R.E.M. was really good.
 merkin_muffley wrote:
One the their best, but.... Whenever I first hear this start I always think of Tojo by Hoodoo Gurus. Very similar drum/ bass beat.
 
Hmm... never thought of that but now that you mention it they are fairly similar.  R.E.M. wrote this in '81, Tojo came along I think in '83 but a cool beat is a cool beat.
One the their best, but....

Whenever I first hear this start I always think of Tojo by Hoodoo Gurus. Very similar drum/ bass beat.
REM....Always think of our trips up to Chico to visit daughter at college and dancin at the bars with her crowd...😄
 Blastcat900 wrote:
the 80's are over... this is dated now
 
This coming from someone who only has three or four "9" or "10" ratings for anything recorded after the 1975?
 Blastcat900 wrote:
the 80's are over... this is dated now
For you, perhaps, but many others  including yours truly, would disagree.  Yes the 80' ARE over but this song is not "dated". imo.


 ScottN wrote:
One of my favorite REM songs.  Like so many others Stpie sings, I wish I could understand more of the incomprehensibly sung lyrics.
 
Scott:

Heard a story about this song on the CBC the other day. The announcer said that Stipe's lyrics are intentionally incomprehensible. When he recorded the song he just strung together a bunch of stuff that he made up on the spot. When he sang live, he often changed the lyrics, but nobody knew because nobody knew what the actual lyrics were! The CBC announcer also that this was the song that changed the musical landscape, ushering in the era of "indie" rock. (That's debatable, I'm sure.) 

Best wishes. 
 Blastcat900 wrote:
the 80's are over... this is dated now
 
Nope. {#Naughty}
"Please don't wait for the quietest moment....in the quietest song.....to yell:  RADIO FREE EUROPE!"

-words scrolled on the big screen during R.E.M.'s Green tour. 
this song is from 1981 not '88 or '83, originally a single on the Hib-Tone label.
the 80's are over... this is dated now