Ian Black's video: Shiny Happy People by REM Partial Instrumental Cover

I learned this yesterday and thought I'd present it to you as it was always meant to be... clumsily strummed by a glum Scotsman the colour of the moon living a cursed life in a chaotic world 🙃 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Shiny Happy People" is a song by the band R.E.M. It appeared on their 1991 album Out of Time, and was released as a single in the same year. The song features guest vocals by Kate Pierson of the B-52's, who also appears in the music video. The song was released as a single in May 1991 in the UK, but did not go on sale in the U.S. until four months later. It peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, the fourth and last R.E.M. single to reach the top 10. It also peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the first R.E.M. song to reach the top 10 in the UK and the only one to reach the top 10 in both countries. It is R.E.M.'s most successful song in Ireland, where it reached No. 2, and in Germany, where it peaked at No. 10. R.E.M. performed the song with Pierson on Saturday Night Live on April 13, 1991.[5] It was used as the theme song to the unaired pilot for the sitcom Friends, known at that time as Friends Like Us. It was replaced by The Rembrandts' "I'll Be There for You," but it was later briefly used in the first season's 10th episode, "The One with the Monkey". R.E.M. was ambivalent about being known for a pop song that lacked gravitas. Singer Michael Stipe said in 2016: "It's a fruity pop song written for children ... If there was one song that was sent into outer space to represent R.E.M. for the rest of time, I would not want it to be 'Shiny Happy People'".[2] The lyrics for the song were written as a satirical translation of the Chinese government's propaganda used after the 1989 Tiananmen massacre.[6] Justin Chadwick from Albumism described "Shiny Happy People" as "buoyant" and R.E.M.'s "most unabashedly pop-fueled composition of their career". He added, "Regardless of the song's true inspirations or whether you care for the song or not, I suspect most can agree that the soaring backing vocals supplied by Kate Pierson, of R.E.M.'s fellow Athens based comrades The B-52's, are the unequivocal highlight."[7] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Ace guitarist Peter Buck drives alternative band further into the mainstream on this commercially accessible, hook-driven pop tune." He stated that Pierson "contributes splendid vocal harmonies on infectious, sing-along chorus."[8] The Daily Vaults Christopher Thelen said it is the song "that dared to show a new side of R.E.M. - a, well, happy side. Who woulda thunk it? The song is a tad cornball, but is infectiously catchy, nonetheless."[9] Drogheda Independent said it is "unbelievably catchy".[10] Dundee Courier described it as "sardonic but delicious disposable pop".[11] Evening Herald noted it as a "gilt-edged" pop hit.[12] Liverpool Echo commented that "Shiny Happy People" "comes at you concealed as bubble gum pop in the guise of an opening string arrangement even Kylie Minogue wouldn't thank thank you for—before it throws off the cloak of conformity and gets down to a more resonant rendition of power pop".[13] Music & Media called it "heaven on earth",[14] adding that Pierson's voice is "as prominent as it was" on Iggy Pop's song, "Candy".[15] Terry Staunton from NME described it as "bubbly", noting that it "opens with a lilting waltz before breaking into a sun-drenched pop anthem, a warm and welcome blood relative to the B-52s' own 'Love Shack'."[16] People stated that the guest singer "add some spark".[17] Mark Frith from Smash Hits noted that the song is "very summery, optimistic and has some fine vocals" from Pierson. He added, "It's so good that it will make you too want to go around and give the world a great big hug. Summer's here and everything's groovy."[18] Sunday Tribune stated that it "waltzes joyfully with the added vocal attraction" of the B-52's singer.[19] The newspaper also noted the "joyous" and "celebratory" noises of "Shiny Happy People", calling it "one of 1991's pure pop highlights."[20] In its 2006 "Song of the Summer" countdown, CBC Radio's Freestyle named "Shiny Happy People" 1991's "Song of the Summer".[21][22] By contrast, in 2006, the song received the No. 1 position on AOL Music's list of the "111 Wussiest Songs of All Time".[23] Blender magazine also ranked the song No. 35 on its list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever",[24] and Q magazine included it in a list of "Ten Terrible Records by Great Artists" in 2005.[25] When Michael Stipe made an appearance on Space Ghost Coast to Coast in 1995, after Space Ghost asks him to sing the “Shiny Shiny People” song, he simply states "I hate that song, Space Ghost."