41 replies to this topic

[Whiskers]

In Michael and Mikes interview on BBC Radio 2 they got a letter which simply thanked them for the piano break in World Leader Pretend.
After joking how specific it was, Mike explained how he believes songs are made of "moments". I soon realised how true he was.

What's your favourite R.E.M. moment, a little part of a song, maybe not even 5 seconds long, that just catches your attention.

Mine probably goes to the moment in Try Not To Breath when the break ends and the guitar comes in for one final riff - seemingly louder than ever. I can never help but air-guitar to that bit, it's just too epic not to.

[Driver Nate]

Mine would be when Stipe perched himself upon a stage monitor at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill during their concert their on April 22, 1989 and sang some song that took on a very otherworldly quality and completely hushed the crowd. To this day I'm still not entirely sure what the name of the song was but out of all of the tunes listed on the R.E.M. Timeline site from the final encore that night I'm thinking it was "Harpers" (originally done by Hugo Largo). I sure would love to be transported back to that evening one more time but I'm not positive if that concert is even in circulation amongst tapers.

[fredrik]

The best moment of All The Best, to me, is in the middle of the bridge. Just as the chord changes to F (for those who care) and the organ really SWELLS - that has an enormous lift to it.

[Pilgrimager]

Maybe I'd go for the opening drum salvo of ITEOFW...just 'cause it was the first thing I eever heard from R.E.M but aside from that sentimental reason I'd go for the way Michael sing 'out of twarrhhhhhhnnn' at the end of Boxcars...even though he does sound like he's singing while throwing up:)

[bflood]

I love, love, love the chorus of Pilgrimage with Michael, Mike and Bill all singing.  (edit)  oops..this is much longer than a moment.


A moment that really stands out to me is on the live recording of Time After Time, etc from Utrecht in 1987.  The cascading ovation from the crowd at the end of this poignant performance always sends shivers up my spine when I listen to it.

[MAK]

I have many, but one of them is definitively the bridge of UNDERTOW, 20 seconds aprox (in this video from 2:11 to 2:31)

http://www.youtube.c...zOqdiDUE#t=133s

[thomas08]

Fall on me, the intro to the third chorus. while michael is singing "...and bleed the sky and tell the sky...", mike sings a backing harmony of just "ooooo" or whatever, always gives me goosebumps.

or the crackle/breaking up of the megaphone during the last chorus of orang crush. brilliant

[Colinzeal]

thorn plucker, on 05 January 2012 - 11:36 AM, said:

It Happened Today at 2:06  - It's brilliant, uplifting, and magical.

From 46 secs to 1:09 in that song for me.

[Colinzeal]

MAK, on 05 January 2012 - 12:19 PM, said:

I have many, but one of them is definitively the bridge of UNDERTOW, 20 seconds aprox (in this video from 2:11 to 2:31)

http://www.youtube.c...zOqdiDUE#t=133s

I love that too. Always do a wee Peter Buck lunge on air guitar when I hear that.

[Colinzeal]

2:50-3:06

Needs to be heard in the context of the song, but beautiful moment in a beautiful song.

Thats me done, I could go on forever with this game.

[TheMiddleDistance]

I personally like the end of Find The River as it trails off out of hearing.

[Ryan011235]

Welcome to the Occupation, going out of the bridge back to the verse; the way Peter digs into the G and D chords is excellent.

[High_Speed_Train]

The guitar solo in Flowers of Guatemala. Beautiful, nostalgic, emotionally powerful.

[twinkle17]

High_Speed_Train, on 05 January 2012 - 07:34 PM, said:

The guitar solo in Flowers of Guatemala. Beautiful, nostalgic, emotionally powerful.

I second that High Speed Train.  It just gives me the goosebumps every time.  Love it.

[ebowtheloser]

"Here's a little agit for the never believer" Gives me chills to this day. The Automatic version more than the live versions though.

[space banjo]

thomas08, on 05 January 2012 - 01:14 PM, said:

Fall on me, the intro to the third chorus. while michael is singing "...and bleed the sky and tell the sky...", mike sings a backing harmony of just "ooooo" or whatever, always gives me goosebumps.

Couldnt agree more

[Kimo]

thorn plucker, on 05 January 2012 - 11:36 AM, said:

It Happened Today at 2:06  - It's brilliant, uplifting, and magical.

Agreed. Definitely one of my favorites.

This one is just stunning: (Let me in- Transition 2nd chorus -> 3rd verse)

http://www.youtube.c...OcAQfEAM#t=100s

[bflood]

Another great moment to me is Bill's drum roll that concludes the bridge after the second chorus on the Letterman performance of So. Central Rain in 1983.  Bill plays the drums in a different manner than the subsequent album version.  Much more aggressive.

[sciryl2K]

That little spiraling riff Buck does near the end of "Wake-Up Bomb." I air-guitar it every time with no shame!

[Driver Nate]

The percussive clinks Bill makes in "Time After Time (annElise)". The first one can be heard at approximately the 2:02 mark. The snippet that follows the track in this clip (from Left of Reckoning) is also a pretty cool little musical moment.