Michael Stipe is serious. Too serious? That may have been the perception in 1991, but anyone paying attention was already aware of R.E.M.’s dark wit. On “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I ...

“I don’t hate it, but I don’t want to sing it,” said Michael Stipe of R.E.M.‘ 1991 hit “Shiny Happy People.” Released on the band’s seventh album Out of Time, “Shiny Happy People” became an instant ...

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe wrote “Shiny Happy People” in part to satirize pop music’s ability to entertain. Though the underlying themes of the lyrics are much more serious. But to most of the ...