Man on the Moon (song)

Last updated

"Man on the Moon"
R.E.M. - Man on the Moon.jpg
Single by R.E.M.
from the album Automatic for the People
B-side "New Orleans Instrumental No. 2"
ReleasedNovember 9, 1992 (1992-11-09)
Genre
Length
  • 5:14
  • 4:39 (edit)
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Drive"
(1992)
"Man on the Moon"
(1992)
"The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite"
(1993)
Music video
"Man on the Moon" on YouTube

"Man on the Moon" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in November 1992 as the second single from their eighth album, Automatic for the People (1992). The lyrics were written by lead singer Michael Stipe, and the music by drummer Bill Berry and guitarist Peter Buck. The song was well received by critics and reached number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 17 on the US Cash Box Top 100, number 18 on the UK Singles Chart, and number one in Iceland. It remains one of R.E.M.'s most popular songs [3] [4] and was included on the compilations In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 and Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011 .

Contents

"Man on the Moon" is a tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman, with numerous references to his career including his Elvis impersonation, wrestling, and the film My Breakfast with Blassie . The song's title and chorus refer to Moon landing conspiracy theories, as an oblique allusion to rumors that Kaufman's death in 1984 was faked. The song gave its name to Miloš Forman's Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon (1999), and features prominently in the film's soundtrack.

Composition

"Man on the Moon" is a mid-tempo country-rock song following a verse-chorus structure with an added pre-chorus and an instrumental bridge following the second and third choruses. The song has six lines in the first verse but only four in the second and third verses. [5]

An early instrumental demo of the song was known to the band as "C to D Slide". [6] Guitarist Peter Buck has explained how the music came together: "'Man on the Moon' was something that Bill [Berry] had, this one chord change that he came in with, which was C to D like the verse of the song, and he said: 'I don't know what to do with that.' I used to finish some of Bill's things ... he would come up with the riffs, but I would be the finish guy for that. I sat down and came up with the chorus, the bridges, and so forth. I remember we showed it to Mike and Michael when they came in later; definitely we had the song finished. I think Bill played bass and I played guitar; we kept going around with it. I think we might have played some mandolin on it in the rehearsal studio."[ citation needed ]

Michael Stipe explained in an interview with Charlie Rose how the lyric was written independently of the music, which had no prior association with the song's eventual lyrical content regarding Kaufman. Stipe recounted the other R.E.M. members had written and performed the music of the song and recorded it along with the rest of the Automatic for the People album during studio sessions in Seattle. As of the final week of the recording sessions, Stipe was still struggling to write the lyric, and the others continued to plead with him to finish it. Stipe attempted to argue the track should be an instrumental, but his bandmates were insistent. [6] Stipe listened to the track on a walk around Seattle on his Walkman cassette player and was inspired to write about Andy Kaufman. [7] After Stipe went back to the studio to complete the vocal track, the track was mixed that night and sent out the following day to be mastered. [8]

Lyric

The song's lyric does not tell a conventional story and instead forms a collection of cultural references, images and ideas. There are repeated mentions of Andy Kaufman, including references to his Elvis impersonation and work with wrestlers Fred Blassie and Jerry Lawler. The song also invokes the conspiracy theories surrounding the Moon landing and Elvis Presley's death as an indirect nod to the persistent rumors that Kaufman faked his own death. [3] [9] Speaking in 2017 to the NME , Mike Mills explained that the perceived ambiguity of Kaufman's legacy, including questions of whether he was a comedian or a performance artist, and whether his work was funny or irritating, was a way to frame other questions about life within the song:

He's the perfect ghost to lead you through this tour of questioning things. Did the moon landing really happen? Is Elvis really dead? He was kind of an ephemeral figure at that point so he was the perfect guy to tie all this stuff together as you journey through childhood and touchstones of life. [6]

Regarding the cryptic lyric, critic Greg Kot wrote that the song "presents a surreal vision of heaven." [10] According to Ann Powers, "Mentioning Kaufman in the same breath as Moses and Sir Isaac Newton, Stipe makes a game of human endeavor, insisting that it all ends in dust. 'Let's play Twister, let's play Risk,' Stipe jokes to the notables he's invoked. 'I'll see you in heaven if you make the list.'" [11]

The lyric to "Man on the Moon" also features a prominent refrain of "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah". Stipe explained that the repetition of "yeah" was intended to playfully upstage Kurt Cobain's heavy use of the word. [7]

Release and reception

"Man on the Moon" was released as the second single from Automatic for the People on November 9, 1992, [12] reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 [13] and number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. [14]

The song was enthusiastically received by critics. Writing for the New York Times , Ann Powers said it "shines with a wit that balances R.E.M.'s somber tendencies." [11] Stewart Mason went even further in his review for AllMusic, calling the song "near-perfect", "almost inarguably Stipe's pinnacle as a singer", and "one of R.E.M.'s most enduring achievements". [3] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton felt that it "may be typical R.E.M. but is not their most commercial ever. The wave of following they have at the moment though means they can do little wrong with this possibly following 'Drive' into the Top 10." [15] Edwin Pouncey from NME commented, "There are things hidden in 'Man on the Moon' that make you feel sad, lonely, nostalgic and warm. There is also the occasional surprise, as when Michael Stipe unexpectedly summons fourth the ghostly presence of a young girl to sing along with a few words from his song. He makes you look over your shoulder while, at the same time, urging you on to look deeper into his strange and personal world." [16] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel wrote, "The gently catchy "Man on the Moon" sounds a bit more like Lifes Rich Pageant -era R.E.M. although the arrangement is more acoustic. Mills' high harmonies, all too rare on this album, add resonance, and as Michael Stipe sings about Andy Kaufman, the Twister game and Elvis, he lapses into a humorous, appealing Elvis-via-Bryan-Ferry imitation. Peter Buck's slide guitar underlines the hummable chorus. The melody sounds a whole lot like a lower-key remake of "Fall on Me", but that was such a great song, who's complaining?" [17] The song was listed at number 19 on the Village Voice "Pazz & Jop" year-end critics' poll in 1993. [18]

Music video

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Peter Care, was shot over three days in Lancaster, California, in October 1992. Care kept a journal of the unusually long planning, filming, and editing process, which was published by Raygun magazine and reprinted in the R.E.M. fan club newsletter. [19]

The video depicts Michael Stipe, attired in a cowboy hat, walking along a desert road before leaping onto a passing truck (driven by Bill Berry) and hitching a ride to a truck stop, where Peter Buck is tending bar and Mike Mills is shooting pool. Berry trades his truck seat for a bar stool, and along with a few of the other customers sings along during the choruses. Stipe eats an order of French fries and then leaves and walks back into the desert. The video is punctuated with Moon-related images, including footage of the NASA Moon landings, an orrery in motion and a clip from Georges Méliès' 1902 film A Trip to the Moon . Television footage of Kaufman wrestling and impersonating Elvis Presley is also shown.

This video, which uses the shorter version instead of the full album version, was ranked number 41 on Rolling Stone magazine's "The 100 Top Music Videos" and has been described as 'iconic' by the NME 's Andrew Trendell. [6]

Track listings

All songs were written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe except as noted.

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [48] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Losing My Religion</span> 1991 single by R.E.M.

"Losing My Religion" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in February 1991 by Warner Bros. as the first single and the second track from the group's seventh album, Out of Time (1991). Built on a mandolin riff, it was written by lead singer Michael Stipe and is about unrequited love. The song was an unlikely hit for the group, garnering extensive airplay on radio as well as on MTV and VH1 due to its critically acclaimed music video, directed by Tarsem Singh. The single became R.E.M.'s highest-charting hit in the United States, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and expanding the group's popularity beyond its original fan-base. At the 1992 Grammy Awards, "Losing My Religion" won two awards: Best Short Form Music Video and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 2017, "Losing My Religion" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<i>In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003</i> 2003 compilation album by R.E.M.

In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 is the second official compilation album released by R.E.M. Issued in 2003, it includes tracks from their Warner Bros. Records era, from 1988's Green to 2001's Reveal, as well as two new recordings and two songs from movie soundtracks. The album was the tenth-best-selling album of 2003 in the UK, and the 50th-best-selling album of the 2000s in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's the Frequency, Kenneth?</span> 1994 single by R.E.M.

"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994). The song's title refers to an incident in New York City in 1986 in which two then-unknown assailants attacked journalist Dan Rather while repeating "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Great Beyond</span> 1999 single by R.E.M.

"The Great Beyond" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., written for the 1999 film Man on the Moon. It was released as a single the same year for support of the film's soundtrack album. On the soundtrack, there is some dialogue from the movie at the end of the track; meanwhile, the single version is a radio edit, with the bridge omitted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiny Happy People</span> 1991 single by R.E.M.

"Shiny Happy People" is a song by the American rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from their seventh studio album, Out of Time (1991). It features guest vocals by Kate Pierson of the B-52's, who also appears in the music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Hurts</span> 1993 single by R.E.M.

"Everybody Hurts" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. from their eighth studio album, Automatic for the People (1992), and released as a single in April 1993. It peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song fared much better on the US Cash Box Top 100, where it peaked at number 18. It also reached the top 10 on the charts of Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Its music video was directed by Jake Scott. In 2003, Q ranked "Everybody Hurts" at number 31 on their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever". In 2005, Blender ranked the song at number 238 on their list of "Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crush with Eyeliner</span> 1995 single by R.E.M.

"Crush with Eyeliner" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released by Warner Bros. Records as the fourth single from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994). Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore provides background vocals. Michael Stipe claims the song was inspired by the band New York Dolls, who, in his opinion, "knew how to exaggerate a song, to make it sound really sleazy and over the top." This was also one of the first songs that surfaced from Stipe after the writer's block that hounded him after the death of his friend, actor River Phoenix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bang and Blame</span> Song by R.E.M

"Bang and Blame" is a song by American alternative rock group R.E.M. It was released as the second single from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994), on October 31, 1994 by Warner Bros. Records. The song was R.E.M.'s last to reach the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 19, and was also their last number-one single on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The single reached number one in Canada—R.E.M.'s only single to do so—and peaked inside the top 40 on the charts of Australia, Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strange Currencies</span> 1995 single by R.E.M.

"Strange Currencies" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. It was included on their ninth studio album, Monster (1994), and was released as the album's third single on April 18, 1995, by Warner Bros. Records. The song reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 47 in the United States. Like "Everybody Hurts" on R.E.M.'s previous album, it has a time signature of 6
8
. The song's music video was directed by Mark Romanek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tongue (song)</span> 1995 R.E.M. song

"Tongue" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released on July 17, 1995 by Warner Bros. Records, as the fifth and final single from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994). The song was only released in the US, UK, and Ireland. In the song, lead singer Michael Stipe performs in falsetto; he has stated on several occasions that the narrator of the song is female. Stipe has also said the track is "all about cunnilingus".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite</span> 1993 single by R.E.M.

"The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was influenced by the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", both in the title of the song and through the song's opening refrain. The band used "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" as the B-side to this song in the U.S. The song was released on R.E.M.'s 1992 album, Automatic for the People, and was later released as a single in February 1993, reaching number one in Iceland, number 13 in Ireland, number 17 in the United Kingdom, and number 29 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leaving New York</span> 2004 single by R.E.M.

"Leaving New York" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released as the lead single from the band's 13th studio album, Around the Sun (2004). Although it was not as heavily promoted as earlier singles, it reached number five on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their 11th and final top-10 hit there. However, the song failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the only lead US single from an R.E.M. studio album not to chart on the US Hot 100 besides "Cant Get There from Here" from Fables of the Reconstruction in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imitation of Life (song)</span> 2001 single by R.E.M.

"Imitation of Life" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was written by band members Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe and produced by the band with Pat McCarthy for their 12th studio album, Reveal (2001). The track's title comes from Douglas Sirk's 1959 film of the same name and is used as a metaphor for adolescence and adulthood. One of R.E.M.'s most pop-influenced tracks, "Imitation of Life" has been described lyrically as "see[ing] through the puffed-up performance of a hopeful entertainer", as well as the enjoyment of love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R.E.M. discography</span>

American alternative rock band R.E.M. has released fifteen studio albums, five live albums, fourteen compilation albums, one remix album, one soundtrack album, twelve video albums, seven extended plays, sixty-three singles, and seventy-seven music videos. Formed in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry, the band was pivotal in the development of the alternative rock genre. Their musical style inspired many other alternative rock bands and musicians, and the band became one of the first alternative rock acts to experience breakthrough commercial success. R.E.M. have sold more than ninety million albums worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E-Bow the Letter</span> 1996 single by R.E.M.

"E-Bow the Letter" is the first single from American rock band R.E.M.'s 10th studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). It was released on August 19, 1996, several weeks before the album's release. During the same month, R.E.M. signed a then record-breaking five-album contract with Warner Bros. Records. The song features American singer-songwriter and "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith performing backing vocals. Smith was cited as a major influence by band members Michael Stipe and Peter Buck, and she also provided backing vocals for "Blue", the closing track on the band's final studio album, Collapse into Now, in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Find the River</span> 1992 song by R.E.M.

"Find the River" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released on November 29, 1993 by Warner Bros., as the sixth and final single from the band's eighth album, Automatic for the People (1992). The song reached number 54 on the UK Singles Charts in December 1993. It did not chart in the US. "Find the River" was one of only three R.E.M. singles released in the 1990s to not make the Top 40 in Britain. The song's music video was directed by Jodi Wille.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drive (R.E.M. song)</span> Song by R.E.M.

"Drive" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It is the first track on and the lead single from their eighth studio album, Automatic for the People (1992), and was the first song lead singer Michael Stipe wrote on a computer. "Drive" peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number two on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. Internationally, "Drive" became R.E.M.'s then-second-biggest hit on the UK Singles Charts, peaking at number 11, and their biggest hit in Norway until "Supernatural Superserious" in 2008, reaching number three. Elsewhere, the song reached the top 10 in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)</span> 2001 single by R.E.M.

"All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" is a song by American rock band R.E.M. It was released on July 23, 2001 as the second single from the band's twelfth studio album, Reveal (2001). The single did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, but it did reach number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, number 31 in Italy, and number 34 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aftermath (R.E.M. song)</span> Song by R.E.M.

"Aftermath" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released as the second single from their 13th studio album, Around the Sun (2004), on November 29, 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supernatural Superserious</span> 2008 single by R.E.M.

"Supernatural Superserious" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It is the first single and third track from the band's fourteenth album Accelerate and premiered on now defunct New York City radio station WRXP on February 5, 2008, without the consent of Warner Bros. Records. The single was first released on February 11, 2008 as an MP3, and February 25, 2008 on CD. Michael Stipe considers the song to be "one of the best things we've ever wrote."

References

  1. "10 Classic R.E.M. Tracks Revisited". Billboard.
  2. "In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 Review". NME . September 12, 2005. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Mason, Stewart. "Song review: Man on the Moon". AllMusic . Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  4. Greene, Andy (September 28, 2011). "Readers Poll: The 10 Best R.E.M. Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 17, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  5. Kelly, Casey; Hodge, David (2011). The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Art of Songwriting. New York: Alpha Books. ISBN   978-1-101-54337-5.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "REM talk to us about the classic 'Man On The Moon' to mark the single's 25th anniversary". NME. November 21, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "R.E.M. Reflects On 25 Years Of 'Automatic For The People'". NPR. November 2, 2017.
  8. R.E.M. - Charlie Rose , retrieved March 16, 2018
  9. Staggs, Matt (September 17, 2014). "Memoir in a Melody: R.E.M.'s Ode to Andy Kaufman in 'Man On the Moon'". Signature. Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  10. Kot, Greg (October 4, 1992). "Killing 'Em Softly". Chicago Tribune.
  11. 1 2 Powers, Ann (October 11, 1992). "A Weary R.E.M. Seems Stuck in Midtempo". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  12. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . November 7, 1992. p. 19. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  13. "R.E.M.: Billboard singles". AllMusic . Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  14. "Man on the Moon". Official Charts Company . Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  15. Masterton, James (November 30, 1992). "Week Ending December 5th 1992". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  16. Pouncey, Edwin (December 5, 1992). "Singles". NME . p. 17. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  17. Gettelman, Parry (October 9, 1992). "R.E.M.". Orlando Sentinel .
  18. "The 1993 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". Robert Christgau. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  19. Gray, Marcus (1997). It Crawled from the South: An R.E.M. Companion. Da Capo Press. ISBN   0-306-80751-3.
  20. Man on the Moon (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1993. 7-18642.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. Man on the Moon (US cassette single sleeve). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1992. 2-18642.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. Man on the Moon (US CD single liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1993. 4-18642.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. Man on the Moon (UK CD1 liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1992. W0143CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. Man on the Moon (UK CD2 liner notes). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1992. W0143CDX.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. Man on the Moon (UK 7-inch single sleeve). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1992. W0143.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. Man on the Moon (UK cassette single sleeve). R.E.M. Warner Bros. Records. 1992. W0143C.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. "R.E.M. – Man on the Moon". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  28. "R.E.M. – Man on the Moon" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  29. "R.E.M. – Man on the Moon" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  30. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1781." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  31. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 2. January 9, 1993. p. 11. Retrieved June 1, 2020.See last week column.
  32. "R.E.M. – Man on the Moon" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  33. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (5.–11. mars)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 4, 1993. p. 29. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  34. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Man on the Moon". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  35. "Tipparade-lijst van week 51, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  36. "R.E.M. – Man on the Moon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  37. "R.E.M. – Man on the Moon". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  38. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  39. "R.E.M. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  40. "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  41. "R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  42. "R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  43. "R.E.M. Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  44. Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996 . Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN   978-0-89820-209-0.
  45. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM . Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  46. "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 4, 1994. p. 16. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  47. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  48. "British single certifications – REM – Man on the Moon". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 3, 2020.