Pop Song 89 Explained

Pop Song 89
Cover:R.E.M. - Pop Song 89.jpg
Type:single
Artist:R.E.M.
Album:Green
B-Side:"Pop Song 89" (acoustic version)
Released:16 May 1989 (US)[1]
Recorded:1988
Genre:
Length:3:03
Label:Warner Bros.
Prev Title:Stand
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Get Up
Next Year:1989

"Pop Song 89" is the opening track and third single released from R.E.M.'s sixth studio album Green. It peaked at number 86 on the Hot 100, and in the UK "Stand" was re-released instead.

Cash Box called it a "cynical parody of pop" but said that "it turns out they’ve created a pop hit despite themselves."[7]

The video was directed by band frontman Michael Stipe[8] and features him and three women, all of them topless, dancing to the song.[9] When MTV asked Stipe to put censor bars on the three women in the video, he superimposed black bars on the chests of all four dancers, himself included, later stating, "a nipple is a nipple."[10] The uncensored video would ultimately be made available through the band's YouTube channel in 2011, albeit with an age restriction attached.[11]

The acoustic version that was used as the single's B-side was also included on disc 4 of the 1993 box set The Automatic Box, along with the other Green B-sides, and the bonus disc of the limited two-disc edition of in 2003.

Cover versions

Motion City Soundtrack covered the song on the Punk Goes 80's compilation album, released on Fearless Records in 2005.

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.

  1. "Pop Song 89" – 3:03
  2. "Pop Song 89" (acoustic) – 2:58

Notes and References

  1. Web site: R.E.M. - Pop Song 89 (LP Version). www.45cat.com.
  2. 10 Classic R.E.M. Tracks Revisited. Billboard.
  3. R.E.M. Green 25th anniversary re-issue. June 2, 2013. January 20, 2019. Rte.ie.
  4. Web site: Farewell R.E.M. : Talk about the passion | State Magazine . October 28, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171028144748/http://state.ie/features/r-e-m-r-i-p . October 28, 2017 . dead . mdy-all .
  5. Web site: Album Review: R.E.M. - Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011. DrownedInSound.com. January 20, 2019. October 20, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020055914/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16670/reviews/4144091. dead.
  6. Web site: Boyd . Glen . Music Review: R.E.M. – Green: The 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition . Blogcritics.org . May 31, 2013 . 20 October 2018.
  7. Top of the Pops. Cash Box. May 13, 1989. 2022-12-21. 18.
  8. Web site: mvdbase.com - R.E.M. - "Pop song 89". Mvdbase.com. September 3, 2017.
  9. Most NSFW Music Videos. Rolling Stone. September 3, 2017.
  10. Richin, Leslie "10 Classic R.E.M. Tracks Revisted" Billboard January 4, 2016
  11. Web site: R.E.M. . R.E.M. - Pop Song 89 (Official Music Video) [Pop Screen Video Version] ]. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/xjMwfDFypa4 . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube . Concord Records . 5 July 2021 . R.E.M. 2011 . Video . 1 July 2011.