2 replies to this topic

[OatiosSpellCheck]

REM was my band. I was 11 when "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" came out. I remember recording it off the radio on a little Walkman tape player, and listening to it over and over at the bus stop, trying to figure out what the hell it was about. It was the first song to grab my ear and introduce me to the wider world of modern rock and roll. "Monster" was the first album I ever bought on my own, and I've bought every other album on its release day ever since.

While everyone else at middle school was enthralled with NIN, OffSpring, and Greenday, I was listening to "that rem band" that most of my peers had never heard of, much less liked. I felt an exclusivity over my fandom, except for some of my teachers, whom I could discuss their older albums with (and even borrow). They were my band, and I didn't have to share them. They were the soundtrack to my formative years.

Michael Stipe was also the first gay person (much less celebrity) that I ever had any knowledge of. I distinctly remember a classmate (remember, this is 7th grade), giving me a hard time: "You know their lead singer is gay, right?" Like that was supposed to make me not like their music? I didn't understand why that mattered, which in hindsight was probably an important lesson to learn at that age. But defending Mike Mill's nudie suits? That's another story.

I had the honor of speaking at my high school graduation, and my speech was built around "It's the End of the World as We Know (and I feel fine)." Right? right.

It took me ten years to finally see them live (in 2003, and again in 2008). And of course they didn't disappoint.

[Yarxy]

OatiosSpellCheck, on 22 September 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

REM was my band. I was 11 when "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" came out. I remember recording it off the radio on a little Walkman tape player, and listening to it over and over at the bus stop, trying to figure out what the hell it was about.

They were my band too.
I was 18 when Document came out in 1988...
I remember listening to "Its The End Of The World As We Know It" and being fascinated and amused.
I loved that group, and I loved the music they made.
I remember buying the other albums also, including Monster, and hearing "What's The Frequency, Kenneth" for the first time in 1994.  I think my first thought was "Huh... well, this is certainly different..."

Today I own all 15 albums, plus various collections and compilations and videos.
31 years worth.... wow.

OatiosSpellCheck, on 22 September 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

They were the soundtrack to my formative years.

I understand completely.

OatiosSpellCheck, on 22 September 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

But defending Mike Mill's nudie suits? That's another story.

   LOL.
I still adore the guy anyway.

[Leilani]

They are my band.  Today one of my students asked me "Did you hear the news about yourband?".

My senior class know I am a big fan (as they know I travelled from NZ to Europe to see them in 2008) - even though most of them had never really heard of them before I was their teacher.  We took a few minutes out from learning about the conceptual basis of accounting (it didn't take much persuading) for me to play a few clips from You Tube for those kids who claimed not to know who R.E.M.are, as a bit of a taster.  The boy who was unconvinced after snippets of Shiny Happy People, Man on the Moon, Losing My Religion finally showed a glimpse of recognition at Everybody Hurts and shrugged and said "They sound like Coldplay".  I just smiled at him!

The kids in my class may never be R.E.M. fans, but they may just listen to them a little more conscientiously in future.