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Shiny Happy People

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Shiny Happy People

| cover = R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People.jpg

| type = single

| artist = R.E.M.

| album = Out of Time

| B-side = Forty Second Song

| released = 'Misprinted as May 7 on source'.

| recorded = SeptemberOctober 1990

| genre =

* Jangle pop

* pop rock

| length =

*

* (radio edit)

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer =

* Bill Berry

* Peter Buck

* Mike Mills

* Michael Stipe

| producer =

* Scott Litt

* R.E.M.

| prev_title = Losing My Religion

| prev_year = 1991

| next_title = Near Wild Heaven

| next_year = 1991

| misc =

}}

"'Shiny Happy People'" is a song by the American rock band R.E.M. 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. According to the singer Michael Stipe, the lyrics are a satirical translation of the Chinese government's propaganda following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

"Shiny Happy People" was released as a single in May 1991 in the United Kingdom, and four months later in the United States. It reached number 10 on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100, the fourth and last R.E.M. single to reach the top 10. It reached 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 number two, and in Germany, where it reached number 10.

R.E.M. performed the song with Pierson on 'Saturday Night Live' on April 13, 1991.[http://www.tv.com/shows/saturday-night-live/catherine-ohara-r-e-m--69124/ Saturday Night Live - Season 16, Episode 17: Catherine O'Hara/R.E.M. - TV.com] It was used as the theme song to the unaired pilot for the sitcom 'Friends', before it was replaced by the Rembrandts' "I'll Be There for You", and was briefly used in the first season's tenth episode, "The One with the Monkey". R.E.M. was ambivalent about being known for a pop song widely perceived as lacking gravitas. 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.

Writing



The R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe took the phrase "shiny happy people" from Chinese propaganda posters used after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Stipe described the song as a "really fruity, kind of bubblegum song". "Shiny Happy People" features guest vocals from Kate Pierson, of another Athens band, the B-52's.

Critical reception



Justin Chadwick from Albumism described the song as "buoyant" and R.E.M.'s "most unabashedly pop-fueled composition of their career". He added further, "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 ... are the unequivocal highlight." 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". The 'Daily Vault''s 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." Irish newspaper 'Drogheda Independent' declared it as "unbelievably catchy",'Drogheda Independent'. July 16, 1999. p.19. Retrieved November 26, 2020. while Scottish newspaper 'Dundee Courier' described it as "sardonic but delicious disposable pop"."OUT OF TIME". 'Dundee Courier'. March 28, 1991. p. 18. Retrieved November 26, 2020. A reviewer from 'Evening Herald' deemed it a "gilt-edged" pop hit."R.E.M. rocking with Monsters". 'Evening Herald'. September 23, 1994. p.16. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

'Liverpool Echo' commented that the song "comes at you concealed as bubble gum pop in the guise of an opening string arrangement even Kylie Minogue wouldn't thank you forbefore it throws off the cloak of conformity and gets down to a more resonant rendition of power pop"."Near miss". 'Liverpool Echo'. April 15, 1991. p. 30. Retrieved November 26, 2020. 'Music & Media' called it "heaven on earth", adding that Pierson's voice is "as prominent as it was" on Iggy Pop's song, "Candy". 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'." 'People Magazine' said that Pierson "added some spark". 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." The 'Sunday Tribune' stated that it "waltzes joyfully with the added vocal attraction" of Pierson,"Zombies and Elvis Presley Wine". 'Sunday Tribune'. March 10, 1991. p.26. Retrieved November 26, 2020. and noted the "joyous" and "celebratory" noises, calling it "one of 1991's pure pop highlights"."TOP TEN DUBUN MOVIES". 'Sunday Tribune'. October 11, 1992. p.28. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

Legacy



In its 2006 "Song of the Summer" countdown, CBC Radio's 'Freestyle' named "Shiny Happy People" 1991's "Song of the Summer". By contrast, in 2006, the song received the No. 1 position on AOL Music's list of the "111 Wussiest Songs of All Time". 'Blender' magazine also ranked the song No. 35 on its list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever",[http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=786 Run for Your Life! It's the 50 Worst Songs Ever!] from 'Blender.com'. Retrieved on May 3, 2008. and 'Q' included it in a list of "Ten Terrible Records by Great Artists" in 2005.

When Stipe made an appearance on 'Space Ghost Coast to Coast' in 1995, he said he hated the song. It was one of their few Warner-released singles not included on their 2003 greatest hits album 'In Time', and R.E.M. have rarely played it. However, over time, Stipe's position on the song has softened. Speaking in 2011, Stipe said he was "always at peace" with it, but that it was "embarrassing" that it had become a hit. He said: "Many people's idea of R.E.M, and me in particular, is very serious, with me being a very serious kind of poet. But I'm also actually quite funny hey, my bandmates think so, my family thinks so, my boyfriend thinks so, so I must be but that doesn't always come through in the music.... (But) I'm in 'Shiny Happy People', 'Stand', 'Pop Song 89', 'Get Up', too. Our fruitloop songs!"

Track listing



All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise stated.

'US and UK 7-inch and cassette single'

# "Shiny Happy People"  3:45

# "Forty Second Song"  1:20

'US 12-inch'

# "Shiny Happy People" (Music Mix)  4:45

# "Shiny Happy People" (Pop Mix)  4:04

# "Shiny Happy People" (Hip Mix)  3:33

# "Shiny Happy People" (Master Chief Mix)  3:60

'UK CD and 12-inch'

# "Shiny Happy People"  3:45

# "Forty Second Song"  1:20

# "Losing My Religion" (live acoustic version, recorded on 'Rockline', April 1, 1991.)  4:36

'UK "Collectors' Edition" CD'

# "Shiny Happy People"  3:45

# "I Remember California" (live, from 'Tourfilm')  5:42

# "Get Up" (live, from 'Tourfilm')  3:15

# "Pop Song '89" (live, from 'Tourfilm')  3:30

Personnel



'R.E.M.'

* Bill Berry  drums

* Peter Buck  electric guitar

* Mike Mills  bass guitar, vocals, organ

* Michael Stipe  lead vocals

'Additional musicians'

* David Arenz  violin

* Ellie Arenz  violin

* Mark Bingham  string arrangements

* David Braitberg  violin

* Andrew Cox  cello

* Reid Harris  viola

* Peter Holsapple  acoustic guitar

* Ralph Jones  double bass

* Dave Kempers  violin

* Elizabeth Murphy  cello

* Paul Murphy  lead viola

* Kate Pierson  vocals

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications



Other versions



"Shiny Happy People" is one of several anachronistic songs that appear in the 2013 video game 'BioShock Infinite', which is set in 1912. This version of the song is performed as an Al Jolson-esque big band piece by Tony Babino (vocals), Scott Bradlee (arrangement and piano), Adam Kubota, Allan Mednard, and Tom Abbott.

References



Category:1991 singles

Category:1991 songs

Category:American pop rock songs

Category:Malefemale vocal duets

Category:R.E.M. songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Bill Berry

Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe

Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Mills

Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Buck

Category:Song recordings produced by Scott Litt

Category:Songs written by Bill Berry

Category:Songs written by Michael Stipe

Category:Songs written by Mike Mills

Category:Songs written by Peter Buck

Category:Warner Records singles

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