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Michael Talks Submarine

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By ethank at 04/04/2008 - 6:12am
Video: 
Average: 5 (3 votes)
by ethank on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 6:16am
so I was in the room when this was taped and I realized at this point that I don't inhabit the same world as this man.

still my favorite song on the record and among the favorite songs from their catalog for me.

by Sam on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 7:35am
Love, absolutely love, the fucking song.

But I've asked judges to order mental competency examinations of defendants for less insane ramblings. Who gives a fuck . . . can't argue with the results. If people don't love this song then there is no hope for them.

And I love the suit/shirt/tie combo, but I hope he has a closet full because its been the same about 2 weeks straight now. But its tight as hell.

by wcstriker on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 7:55am
As someone who has tried to write songs (I'm not a songwriter, I've only actually finished 1 song) I like to listen to the thoughts of real songwriters. No more than after seeing this video do I know I have no chance of ever writing the type of song that I like because my mind just doesn't work that way. Hell, I have a hard time making up a lyric that isn't grammatically correct let alone coming up with a song about a melody powered submarine to escape a cataclysmic post-apocalyptic happy dystopia!

My big stretch was a song about loneliness equating to being alone on a boat out at sea.

BTW, yes, AWESOME song!! Wasn't sure at first, but now it's one of my 11 favorite on the album.

Frank in PHX

by rosie on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 9:13am
great for michael to share his dreams/thoughts like this. weird concept, but it works so well in the song.

i loved sing for the submarine from the moment i heard it, and the more i listen the more i get from it. it's my favourite from the record, and definitely well up there amongst my fave r.e.m. songs.

sue

by robertandrews on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 9:23am
Errr...

by phlmth on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 9:50am
Out of the shadows ... I don't think you can write the songs Michael writes without thinking on many different levels and freely. There's a lot of information he shared in that one interview that gives insight into his creative process. He said he doesn't share this side too often with people (paraphrased), but i believe it is this ability he has shown that gives us the songs we praise, incoherent rambles or not. I certainly prefer the rambles to the expected answers - the history we already know - the rambles a great insight. ... back into the shadows.

by Chris H on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 10:30am
I adore this song, and that's a fascinating insight that should shut up those who can't accept the fact that he namechecks other REM songs in the lyrics. Well, here he explains not only why he does that, but why those specific songs. And, as much as anything that Stipe says be said to make sense, this makes perfect sense.

I have to say, I'd love to see this song being used as the basis for a short film, possibly animated. It's too dark to be a single, so I don't think we'd ever see the video for this, but my God, what a concept. A submarine powered by melody.

I particularly like the fact that the MOG reporter clearly has no clue how to react once Michael's finished.

by haggis on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 10:30am
Interesting...but I'm still not keen on the song. It's not a bad song - and it probably pisses over 95% of ATS - but it's my second least favourite on Accelerate. Just doesn't do much for me....I don't hate it though. I suppose that is one of the more pleasing things about Accelerate in that it doesn't have any real stinkers unlike the last 2 albums.

by dvbtucson on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 2:27pm
Fascinating - I hadn't really put a lot of thought into interpreting these lyrics yet, but it totally makes sense to me. What's compelling to me is how well the music fits in with the 'happy dystopia' of the lyrics.

In the past few years, I've really been thinking more consciously about how my favorite REM songs have lyrics that have an organic relationship to the music. (Something Michael mentioned recently in an interview, that he tries to write lyrics that would seem like no other ones could fit the music - I'm horribly paraphrasing, but you get the idea.)

Listening to it on my ipod while walking the other night and the total effect of the siren singing at the end really hit me. It is so beautiful - almost operatic. I really want to hear it live - would be beautiful in a outdoor venue like the Hollywood Bowl....

by Boxcar on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 2:37pm
I agree. I would rank the song # 9 out off 11. Great point on Michael's thought process when writing lyrics. It's the mystery of the lyrics that zone me in. I'm always trying to interpret what the hell he's talking about in his songs. That's what makes them so fun! Great job Michael!