Wikipedia

Stand (R.E.M. song)

"Stand"is a song by the Americanalternative rockbandR.E.M.,released as the second single from the albumGreenin 1989. The song peaked at number six on theBillboardHot 100,becoming R.E.M.'s second top 10 hit in the United States, and topped both theMainstream Rock TracksandModern Rock Trackscharts. The song reached number 48 on theUK Singles Chartand number 16 in Canada. It was placed on R.E.M.'sWarner Bros. Records"best of" albumIn Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003in 2003, as well as the 2011 compilation albumPart Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage.

"Stand"
SinglebyR.E.M.
from the albumGreen
B-side"Memphis Train Blues"
ReleasedJanuary 1989
Recorded1988
Genre
Length3:10
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
R.E.M.singles chronology
"Orange Crush"
(1988) 		"Stand"
(1989) 		"Pop Song 89"
(1989)
Music video
"Stand"onYouTube

The song is an example ofphrase modulation,as the last two rounds of thechorusare each onewhole stephigher than the one previous.[5]The song is meant to be a self-aware "tongue-in-cheek" 1960s-esquebubblegum popsong, meant to resemble the music ofThe Banana Splits,The ArchiesandThe Monkees.[4]

"Stand" was used as the theme song for the 1990–1992FoxsitcomGet a Life,starringChris Elliott.It was parodied by"Weird Al" Yankovicas the song "Spam" on the albumUHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff.

While the song was originally published by Night Garden Music, with administration by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI), it is now administered by Universal Tunes (SESAC).

Friend of the band, Georgina Falzarano, inspired some of the lyrical content of the song. "It was based on a conversation with Georgina about directions, which way is north, which way is south, and so on, and Georgina's response was, 'I have a really bad time with directions but I know my house faces south,'" said Norm Spencley, Falzarano's partner of 24 years.[6]

Meaning

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SingerMichael Stipehas said of the song's meaning, "It's about making decisions and actually living your life rather than letting it happen."[7]Stipe has said of the song's origin that he and the other band members were discussingThe Banana Splits,The Archies,The Monkees,and similar 1960s pop groups. "They threw these superbubblegummysongs at me, and I said, 'I'll raise you and see you one.' And I wrote the most insane lyrics that I could possibly write. Now, it was a very intentional thing to do that. I really like most of those songs, in fact. "[8]GuitaristPeter Buckdescribed "Stand" as "without a doubt, [...] the stupidest song we've ever written. That's not necessarily a bad thing though", comparing the song to "Louie Louie"bythe Kingsmenin terms of "stupid" lyrical content.[9]

Critical reception

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Betty Page fromRecord Mirrorcommented, "Ah, thisMichael Stipe— a god amongst men, apparently (along withMichael Hutchence,of course). What a curiously endearing accent the boy has. This is one of the REMers' more commercial gems — quirky but with an appealing guitar noise and a very nice tune to boot. This would make me want to go and listen to theLP,which I suppose is the idea. Stipe, you have Presence with a capital P. "[10]The song was called "A splendid pop song...simultaneously stupid and profound. Stipe writes about the need for orientation in one's life, as if based on a series of steps for an unknown, invented, dance."[7]

Track listing

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All songs written byBerry,Buck,MillsandStipeexcept where indicated.

1st issue

7 "Vinyl & Cassette single

  1. "Stand" – 3:10
  2. "Memphis Train Blues" – 1:38

12 "Vinyl & 3" CD single

  1. "Stand" – 3:09
  2. "Memphis Train Blues" – 1:37
  3. "(The Eleventh Untitled Song)" – 3:56

Notes: The UK 3 "CD single with the catalogue number W7577 CDX came in a leaf-shaped sleeve.

"(The Eleventh Untitled Song)" is an extended instrumental version of the closing (eleventh) unlisted (untitled) track from the albumGreen.

2nd issue– released later in 1989 with different cover art (a picture of the band on stage) in the UK instead of "Pop Song 89."

  1. "Stand" – 3:09
  2. "Pop Song 89" (Acoustic) – 2:56
  3. "Skin Tight" (LiveOhio Playerscover, written by Jones, Pierce, Bonner, Middlebrooks) – 2:03

Note: live track recorded in Orlando, Florida 30 April 1989

Charts

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References

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  1. ^Pinnock, Tom (April 1, 2016)."R.E.M.: 'If we couldn't be successful being who we were, then we didn't want to be successful'".Uncut.Time Inc.RetrievedOctober 23,2017.
  2. ^Greene, Andy (May 10, 2013)."R.E.M. Reflect on 'Green' on the Album's 25th Anniversary".Rolling Stone.RetrievedOctober 23,2017.
  3. ^Erlewine, Stephen Thomas."Green - R.E.M. | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  4. ^abLukowski, Andrzej (November 23, 2011)."Album Review: R.E.M. - Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011".Drowned in Sound.Archived fromthe originalon October 20, 2012.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  5. ^Cross, Alan(2006-09-10). "How To Talk Like A Rock Snob 6".The Ongoing History of New Music.CFNY-FM.
  6. ^Lebar, Erin (2017-07-04)."Jul 2017: California band's folk festival performance dedicated to Winnipegger they call 'a mentor figure'".Winnipeg Free Press.Retrieved2024-10-08.
  7. ^abBuckley, David (2012-05-31).R.E.M. Fiction: An Alternative Biography.Random House.ISBN978-1-4481-3246-1.
  8. ^Michael Stipe on "Stand",MTV.com
  9. ^Buck, Peter (2003).In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003(booklet).Warner Bros. Records.
  10. ^Page, Betty (January 28, 1989)."45".Record Mirror.p. 29.RetrievedAugust 25,2021.
  11. ^"25 Years Ago This Week: February 26, 1989".chartbeat.blogspot.com.au.RetrievedSeptember 22,2015.
  12. ^RPM Top Singles - April 24, 1989RPM Magazine
  13. ^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – R.E.M. ".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  14. ^"R.E.M.: Artist Chart History".Official Charts Company.Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  15. ^"Cash Box Top 100 Singles".RetrievedNovember 19,2022.
  16. ^"R.E.M. Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  17. ^"R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)".Billboard.
  18. ^"R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)".Billboard.
  19. ^"Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989".RPM.December 23, 1999. Archived fromthe originalon September 7, 2017.RetrievedNovember 22,2017.
  20. ^"1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles".Billboard.Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22.
  21. ^"Billboard Top 100 – 1989".
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