45 replies to this topic

[molinatobars]

Long-time lurker & fan, first time posting...
Just wanted to share a theory I have about Überlin: to me it is without a doubt a song about gay cruising. The way Stipe talks about the song: going into a strange city, wandering around and then meeting someone, is exactly what gay cruising is.

"Hey, man, tell me something do you want to go with me tonight" to me, is the key lyric. It's a song about a hook-up, no more, no less.

Of course it's a beautiful song. But a song about the old and revered practice that is cruising. Awesome.

[ThunderRoad]

Hm, I dunno.
As far as interpretation goes, it could probably be as well about gay cruising.

I always imagined that the song is more about the daily struggles of life and how one tries to cope with them and go through them. How you can get carried away by the masses in a big city and somehow still remain isolated, but not necessarily in a bad way.

Well, who knows.

[michaels]

Listen to the chorus. It can only be about taking drugs. Lots and lots of psychadelic drugs. Also the very first line is a giveaway. Drugs, man. Drugs.

[Milsean Cady]

I do think that particular line "Hey, man, tell me something, are you off to somewhere, do you want to go with me tonight" does sound suspiciously like gay-cruising, because it's awfully, "hey, you, stranger, do you want some company?" But it could very well be spoken to a close friend...like, "do you really have something big planned for the night, or do you want to hang out with me?" But again, it's only that line. I interpret the rest of the song like this: You wake up in the morning, do all your normal stuff, and at night, feel a change in the air, so go flying through the city (a familiar one, in my view) like tomorrow might not come, although it will and you'll be waking up, eating breakfast, going to work, riding the train, etc. all over again.

Shrug. Dunno. Interesting theory though.

[sewayland]

JMS's lyrics are often not about anything.

[MyNameIsDean]

molinatobars, on 24 April 2011 - 09:35 PM, said:

Long-time lurker & fan, first time posting...
Just wanted to share a theory I have about Überlin: to me it is without a doubt a song about gay cruising. The way Stipe talks about the song: going into a strange city, wandering around and then meeting someone, is exactly what gay cruising is.

"Hey, man, tell me something do you want to go with me tonight" to me, is the key lyric. It's a song about a hook-up, no more, no less.

Of course it's a beautiful song. But a song about the old and revered practice that is cruising. Awesome.

What about straight cruising?


Is there such a thing? If not, why not?

[Driver Nate]

MyNameIsDean, on 25 April 2011 - 01:57 PM, said:

What about straight cruising?

Is there such a thing? If not, why not?

There is such a thing, at least there was when I was growing up. That's why drive-ins were for. I guess it may have started in the 50s but I remember it being pretty popular right up until the 80s but then most of them seemed to disappear. There was one in particular called the Toot n' Tell It on Highway 24 in Richlands, NC. Whenever I passed by there on the weekends there were always cars circling the parking lot.

[Mr. Waffle]

lol

to me it's about the daily struggle of life
you just continue going, being methodic, hoping things will change

but maybe I think that because it's how I'm living nowadays
that song just touched too many buttons for me
I was in a 3 year relationship, my girlfriend dumped me, got a really big fight with my now former company partner...life's a mess and this song makes pretty much sense in this way.

"we walk the streets to feel the ground I'm chasing", in this context is just brilliant and it kills me everytime I hear it

because I'm doing stuff with the "little-est" of happiness, excitment, just hoping things will change
I'm still numb, you know?
so I make it through the day, when the day becomes night, I make it throught the night...and of it goes.
will it stop? will it be more than just making it through? I dont know.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

Just remember, lube is your friend.

[SaladMan]

Let's all be honest...It's the good version of Rebecca Black's "Friday"

[stipeeyes]

Take your pills, comb your hair, go to work. I don't know where your getting the cruising part from.   It's a song about the everyday person to me.  As Michael said the song is about someone who is trying to make a connection with anyone at all.  

When Michael was asked in that stupid Butt magazine if he cruised he didn't know what the guy was talking about.  He said Auto Cruising is that what you mean?

[Saturn returned]

'Take your pills'..... = ? = Anti-HIV drugs?

[Milsean Cady]

Oh for goodness' sake.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

oobel, on 26 April 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:

'Take your pills'..... = ? = Anti-HIV drugs?

Huh?
Please tell me you're kidding.

[Kimo]

Milsean Cady, on 26 April 2011 - 09:29 PM, said:

Oh for goodness' sake.

Ditto.

[zapiekanki]

forgive me for what I'm going to say but every time I listen to this song I can't help but think of the mediocrity of the main character. This is someone who takes the UBahn to work, makes his breakfast, combs his hair. We previously had seen this type of banality in Stipe's lyrics (Electron Blue and Parakeet come to mind) but I wonder where's the audacity of Discoverer's character ("opportunities and possibilities")? where are his challenges? Are we still listening to the same album?

(If a may advance a silly theory these lyrics may reflect the prevailing economic climate in Europe, at the time of REM's Hansa studio residency)

[Kimo]

zapiekanki, on 27 April 2011 - 04:41 AM, said:

forgive me for what I'm going to say but every time I listen to this song I can't help but think of the mediocrity of the main character. This is someone who takes the UBahn to work, makes his breakfast, combs his hair. We previously had seen this type of banality in Stipe's lyrics (Electron Blue and Parakeet come to mind) but I wonder where's the audacity of Discoverer's character ("opportunities and possibilities")? where are his challenges? Are we still listening to the same album?

“Stability is not immobility.”

Klemens Von Metternich

[Saturn returned]

Sweet Fanny Addams, on 26 April 2011 - 10:56 PM, said:

Huh?
Please tell me you're kidding.

I really do not see what is wrong with that possibility (and its only a possibility). There should be no stigma or disgust in relation to people who need these drugs. The song has a gay motif right? The final line makes that clear. Michael has been known to campaign for people with this disease. What pills do you think he is taking? Vitamins? Blood pressure medication? Viagra? Ecstasy?

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

oobel, on 27 April 2011 - 07:04 AM, said:

I really do not see what is wrong with that possibility (and its only a possibility). There should be no stigma or disgust in relation to people who need these drugs. The song has a gay motif right? The final line makes that clear. Michael has been known to campaign for people with this disease. What pills do you think he is taking? Vitamins? Blood pressure medication? Viagra? Ecstasy?

That's one hell of a leap. I know a lot of people who take pills with their breakfasts. Some are for blood pressure, for thyroid problems, depression, all manner of things.  I have no idea what kind of pills Michael is talking about and actually, neither do you. You've decided  that because he is a gay man, this is a gay song which inevitably leads into HIV infection and AIDS.  That is a terrible message and I don't believe Michael Stipe would make that leap, let alone put it in a song full of poppy hooks.
Uberlin might have a gay theme. It equally may not. Even if it does, which is pure speculation, why would there be an automatic link to being on anti HIV pills? HIV virus does not discriminate. Straight people get it. You seem to be dwelling in the past where gay=AIDS. I disagree. Science disagrees.
There is no shame in having HIV or in taking appropriate medication, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Michael Stipe  for years has had to deal with false reports that he has AIDS because he is a gay man and is skinny. I can only begin to imagine the tedium of dealing with that kind of reactionary thinking which is borne out of ignorance.
Why would he put it in a jolly up tempo song? That does not compute.