26 replies to this topic

[Ebow The Girl]

Well here I am posting at Murmurs again.  It feels like it’s been a long time, and yet not. Like many others, I have grown and changed and haven't been a regular poster here in many years. I am ashamed to say that I didn’t hear the news of the band retiring until 3 days after the announcement when a friend who I made here at Murmurs sent me an email about it. (Yes, I said “retiring” because “breaking up” doesn’t seem right.) My first reaction was that it was no surprise.  The band just finished their last contracted album and then they decided not to tour.  No tour was a big disappointment to me, since I always looked forward to that feeling of renewed love for one of my favorite bands every time I saw them live. I am not angry about their decision though.  I have been a fan of REM since I was 12 years old and now I am 40!  Murmurs was the first album I bought with my own allowance money I saved up as a kid.  The first time I saw them live was at MSG in NYC in the late 80’s when they toured for “Green”, and I have seen them several times since. I am fortunate enough to be old enough to have followed their career from the beginning, and I still love them now at the end.

To be honest, I am happy for them.  Everyone dreams of being able to retire at a young age with a good nest egg, and still have the ability to work on another project or enjoy a hobby without fear of running out of money to support oneself.  They have decided to end the band as friends who have always managed their band with class and dignity, and they made music that they wanted to make. What more could you ask for? We all know that this is not the last we will see or hear from them.  They all have had their own side projects and interests over the years, and you know we will see the guys doing something they love whether its producing music, or writing songs, or playing in another band, or taking photos, or writing a book….and we will be able to enjoy those things just as we have enjoyed the music they made together as REM.  Good luck and thank you REM!!! I will always love you!

On another note, this wouldn’t be a proper farewell post if I didn’t mention Murmurs and all the good times I had here thanks to the band that brought us together.   When I first joined Murmurs on the old, old, old, old, boards, I was a young stay at home mom with a 2 year old son, and a 5 year old daughter who just started kindergarten.  Now they are a freshman and senior in high school!  I went back to college in 2006 and got my science degree in nursing and I have been working as a RN for over 2 years now.  A lot has changed in all those years and I have a lot of memories from here both good and bad, but mostly good….

I remember not a day could go by without me talking to Antti and Christian on AIM. I remember Edwin singing Unbelievable Truth songs, Craig P. playing his guitar for me over AIM, Penny, Miki, Moni (the only “feak” I actually met in person), Katie, Josie, Donna and Kelly – the most awesome couple on murmurs, Eric always making trouble and keeping this place on its toes, Laura who was always the voice of reason, and the love that she found here, Leo (are you guys still together?), Mr. Waffle!!! Our kid brother from Brazil who never ate waffles, Carl A. my awesome Australian friend who kept in touch with me for a long time after stating “that’s it! I’m leaving murmurs!”, Matty, Lisa (pageant girl) from NJ, Flor, Pete!!!, Sweet Fanny Addams, Jason from Georgia whom I had many great conversations with about music, Joni Smeke who I was so nervous for when the time came for him to go into the Isreali army as a scared young man, and then began the countdown until his service was over.  Ethan, I was never really close to you but you have also grown so much over the years, meeting your future wife and sharing your first date with us, then getting married and having a son. And most importantly, my awesome lifelong friend, Christian, who is the only former "feak" that I am still close to.  I’ve watched you change from a confused teenage boy, into a grown man of 30. You are still the same person I met here and yet you are completely and totally different.

I am sure I am forgetting many other people, but know that I loved you all and you guys touched my life in a positive way that I will forever be grateful for. Thanks Murmurs and REM!  It was a great ride and you will always have a special place in my heart.

Connie

[Joni Smeke]

Connie!, It's been ages!, So great to hear from you after all this time!

My experience has been quite similar, I too jumped to say a final "hello" as I heard the news...

[Ebow The Girl]

Hey Joni!  Missed you all these years!  Seems like old times huh? haha.

[Mr. Waffle]

Connie!

All of this experience has been really bittersweet.

I learned about it in the same day, it was funny: I'm currently writing my first feature filme here in Brazil, i was in a meeting with the prducers and suddenly my cellphone started vibrating. one time. two times. vrrrr. vrrrr.
I took a break and there were like 17 alerts (facebook, twitter, emails...). All my personal friends asking me if I was aware of it, giving me support and hoping I was feeling ok.

It was lovely and kinda funny to realize how much people relate me to R.E.M.
it also made me proud of mysel. i think its a good thing to be associated with.

As is Murmurs.
Your post said it pretty well, but we dont realize sometimes how much PEOPLE is what make this world go round. fuck cash.

it was those 4 + 2 guys who made SO MANY people from all around the world (here we have 3 nationalities so far only on this thread) come together, share their thoughts and lives at least for a while.  Anyways...its crazy. Im good with words, its what I do now
but besides the language barrier (which, thanks in good part to this place, is very tiny nowadays) it's just too complex for me to put it on paper
its that sort of "you had to be there" stuff

and you all were
and are
and will always be

one love!

ps: the kid from brazil (I'm 27 but I'm still the "comunnity brat"!) has finally ate some waffles!

[SweetMusic]

Mr. Waffle, on 27 September 2011 - 07:52 PM, said:

All my personal friends asking me if I was aware of it, giving me support and hoping I was feeling ok.

It was lovely and kinda funny to realize how much people relate me to R.E.M.

Sorry to barge into this personal topic, I'll leave immeditaly. I walked into my record store yesterday (which I do almost on a daily basis) and it had been a couple days since my previous visit. The guy behind the counter sees me, puts his hand on his heart and says: I'm glad your still alive. Just thought that was kinda funny in the context of the quote.

(Make that 4 nationalities)

[Joni Smeke]

Wow Ed, you work on films too?, Quite a coincidence...

[DericksHam]

that just gave me lots of pressure to work on  much betterer flounce post.

[Mr. Waffle]

SweetMusic, on 28 September 2011 - 12:48 AM, said:

Sorry to barge into this personal topic, I'll leave immeditaly. I walked into my record store yesterday (which I do almost on a daily basis) and it had been a couple days since my previous visit. The guy behind the counter sees me, puts his hand on his heart and says: I'm glad your still alive. Just thought that was kinda funny in the context of the quote.

(Make that 4 nationalities)

don't leave!
let's reminisce!

lol you're record store (do they still exist??) clerk is more dramatic than my friends...

[Mr. Waffle]

Joni Smeke, on 28 September 2011 - 04:38 AM, said:

Wow Ed, you work on films too?, Quite a coincidence...

yup
I used to be a TV actor here in Brazil, remember?
When I was a kid

I then went to college and majored at Cinema and nowadays I work as a screenwriter (mostly for tv, but now I'm writting my first movie)

[Joni Smeke]

Mr. Waffle, on 28 September 2011 - 07:38 AM, said:

yup
I used to be a TV actor here in Brazil, remember?
When I was a kid

I then went to college and majored at Cinema and nowadays I work as a screenwriter (mostly for tv, but now I'm writting my first movie)

A

Actually, no... I think we never got to talk about those bygone glory days... I thought the "Former Child Superstar" tag was just a tag.

But that explains a lot of things. Also if you were on TV you must be more gatinho than I thought. Oh my!

[Mr. Waffle]

Joni Smeke, on 28 September 2011 - 07:47 AM, said:

A

Actually, no... I think we never got to talk about those bygone glory days... I thought the "Former Child Superstar" tag was just a tag.

But that explains a lot of things. Also if you were on TV you must be more gatinho than I thought. Oh my!

well, actually I didn't talk about it that much, because it would mean nothing to US people and would sound like lying (especially because I was so young)
but once Derek found out it was all he could talk about it, so I decided to just wear it proud lol




that's me (in the corner)(lol)

[Joni Smeke]

Ok, I wanna have your babies now.

[Ronja]

Joni Smeke, on 28 September 2011 - 08:40 AM, said:

Ok, I wanna have your babies now.

whoa that's a bit extreme

[Ebow The Girl]

Mr. Waffle, on 27 September 2011 - 07:52 PM, said:

ps: the kid from brazil (I'm 27 but I'm still the "comunnity brat"!) has finally ate some waffles!

Hey Eduardo! Glad to hear from you.  27 now? holy crap.  I still think of you as 15....  I am happy that you remember me.  We had some goofy conversations way back then and you could always make me smile. Anyway, thanks for posting and I am happy to hear of your film writing career!

[Joni Smeke]

Ebow The Girl, on 28 September 2011 - 02:13 PM, said:

Hey Eduardo! Glad to hear from you.  27 now? holy crap.  I still think of you as 15....  I am happy that you remember me.  We had some goofy conversations way back then and you could always make me smile. Anyway, thanks for posting and I am happy to hear of your film writing career!

Goofy was the name of the game... I have vague memories of a mask... and a huge pillow.

[Mr. Waffle]

Joni Smeke, on 28 September 2011 - 03:08 PM, said:

Goofy was the name of the game... I have vague memories of a mask... and a huge pillow.

I just shit my pants with that one...


i think I still have the PILLOW photo!!!

[RamblingRob]

Ebow The Girl, on 27 September 2011 - 06:39 AM, said:

I have been a fan of REM since I was 12 years old and now I am 40!  Murmurs was the first album I bought with my own allowance money I saved up as a kid.  Connie

Nice post, but I didnt realize REM had been around for 38 years.  

[Driver Nate]

RamblingRob, on 02 October 2011 - 06:34 PM, said:

Nice post, but I didnt realize REM had been around for 38 years.  

There's 7 years unaccounted for, which will henceforth be referred to as "R.E.M., the Missing Years" when they "discovered the Beatles
and recorded with the Stones and once even opened up a three-way package in Southern California for old George Jones" (with apologies to John Prine).

[Kelly A]

RamblingRob, on 02 October 2011 - 06:34 PM, said:

Nice post, but I didnt realize REM had been around for 38 years.  

40 - 12 = 28

Hi Connie!  Well said, and I share a lot of your sentiments.



And yes, Mr. Albuquerque, you should post the pillow pic again.

[Joni Smeke]

Yes, the ladies deserve it.