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Tongue (song)

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Tongue

| cover = R.E.M. - Tongue.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = R.E.M.

| album = Monster

| released =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Soul

| length = 4:08

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer =

| producer =

| prev_title = Strange Currencies

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = E-Bow the Letter

| next_year = 1996

}}

"'Tongue'" is a song by R.E.M., released as the fifth and final single from their ninth studio album, 'Monster' (1994), on July 17, 1995. It 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."

The single's video, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and shot during the soundcheck prior to the band's June 20, 1995, performance at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, New York, shows a group of teenagers in a living room watching the band perform on TV. The version of the song that plays is slightly higher in tone than that of the album version. It was included as a bonus video on the DVD release of 'In View - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003'.

Live performances



The three live songs that make up the CD single's B-side were performed on 'Saturday Night Live' in 1994. "Tongue" was performed frequently throughout the tours in support of 'Monster' and 'Up' but would only make three more live appearances ever again in 2003.

On March 1, 1995, drummer Bill Berry had to leave the stage during a performance of this song complaining of a serious headache, which turned out to be caused by a brain aneurysm; it is the likely reason for his leaving the band in October 1997. On subsequent dates Berry admitted that it gave him an eerie feeling every time the band performed "Tongue".

Track listings



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

'US 7-inch, CD, and cassette single'

# "Tongue" (album version)  4:13

# "Tongue" (live)  4:34

* "Tongue" was recorded live at Detroit, Michigan, on June 7, 1995.

'UK CD single'

# "Tongue"  4:08

# "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" (live)  4:04

# "Bang and Blame" (live)  4:52

# "I Don't Sleep, I Dream" (live)  3:48

* All live tracks were recorded at 'Saturday Night Live', New York, New York, on November 12, 1994.

'UK cassette and limited-edition 7-inch single'

# "Tongue" (album version)  4:08

# "Tongue" (instrumental)  4:10

* The cassette single has a reverse insert where the B-sides from all other singles could be dubbed onto a cassette and the insert flipped to show artwork and track listing for a live album.

Charts



Release history



References




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