R.E.M., "Shiny Happy People"

Rocky Road

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Let us go back to September 1991. Yeah, it was a bummer that summer was over, and that we had to go back to school (my junior year of college). But it was nice to see those college friends. And unlike my first two years in jail-cell dorms, this time I had an apartment with three others.

With the space, Doug and I cobbled together a Sony D-66 Discman; Denon integrated amp; JBL speakers; Monster IL-400 interconnects; and original Monster speaker Cable.

At the time, UC Santa Cruz was a haven for "wannabe hippies," upper middle class kids who wanted to emulate their parents' generation's 60s vibe and culture.

One average Fall day, my housemate Todd brought over his wannabe hippie friends. Either MTV or VH1 played R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People." Whoa! Todd's friends hated "Shiny Happy People." Those wannabe hippies were even angrier than they were against the Gulf War, Clarence Thomas, and not being able to go topless in public.

Now, I am and was normally a hardcore heavy metal fan. But with the B-52's Kate Pierson, "Shiny Happy People" seemed to follow in the feel-good steps of, say, "Roam." Perhaps naively, I said, "I kinda like this song," which drew the wannabe hippies' ire.

OMG! You should have seen the disapproving stares those wannabe hippies shot my way. Their wrath was light years worse than any abuse we audiophiles have ever had to endure. But anyway, this was also the time Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and grunge wiped out popular music. It also had the effect of crushing the debate about "Shiny Happy People."

Today's elementary school kids do not know the history of "Shiny Happy People," so they, as I did in 1991, really like it, enjoy singing gaily. I still like it. Okay, I'm not going to name names, but certain old friends into alt-rock still detest "Shiny Happy People," still call it the worst R.E.M. song ever. Man, you would have thought that the wannabe hippies had equated R.E.M. with Clarence Thomas!

Okay, so I'm throwing this open to you. What is your opinion of "Shiny Happy People?" Thumbs-down? Thumbs-up? Take it or leave it?

The Audiophiles' DJ,
-Lummy The Loch Monster

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Topic - R.E.M., "Shiny Happy People" - Luminator 11:59:52 02/21/15 (6)

RE: R.E.M., "Shiny Happy People" - DMAC 13:16:28 02/27/15 (0)

RE: R.E.M., "Shiny Happy People" - digda_beat 23:14:20 02/26/15 (0)

How could the alt-rock crowd like something that was popular! I love that song and the whole album (nt) - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 17:03:27 02/23/15 (0)

I think the R.E.M. boys will tell you... - MWE 15:38:08 02/23/15 (0)

RE: R.E.M., "Shiny Happy People" - Prisoners 13:01:44 02/23/15 (0)

RE: R.E.M., "Shiny Happy People" - FenderLover 09:07:58 02/23/15 (0)

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