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We All Go Back to Where We Belong
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Wikipedia article
"'We All Go Back to Where We Belong'" is the final single from American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in 2011. The song is the lead single from the band's final album, the career-spanning greatest hits compilation 'Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 19822011'. The song was made available over the Internet on October 17, 2011.
Recording
The song was originally written by bassist Mike Mills and was recorded by the band in Athens, Georgia in July 2011, after the sessions for its final studio release, 'Collapse into Now'. The band finished this song as well as the demos "A Month of Saturdays" and "Hallelujah" with producer Jacknife Lee initially with the intention of creating an album independently, after having fulfilled its contractual obligations to Warner Bros. Records, but decided to disband instead.
Two music videos with direction by Dominic J. DeJoseph and Michael Stipeone starring Kirsten Dunst and the other with John Giorno. Stipe conceived of the concept for the videos spontaneously while recording his vocal track and asked DeJoseph to make the videos in the style of Andy Warhol's 'Screen Tests'. Stipe personally asked Dunsthis neighbor in New York Cityto star in the video and did three takes with Dunst; the one that was chosen had him singing the song to her off-camera.
Reception
Critical reception
Early reviews of the song considered it a "low-key, string-drenched ballad" (Stereogum) and compared it to the pop styling of Burt Bacharach and R.E.M.'s 2001 album 'Reveal'. Jon Dolan of 'Rolling Stone' gave the song 3.5 out of five stars, writing that the "orchestral folk rock... suits their breakup perfectly." 'Exclaim!' Alex Hudson had a similar sentiment, declaring the single "a nice kiss-off with lyrics that read a bit like a pensive goodbye message." Claire Suddath of 'Time' also considers it a fitting final single, comparing it with the wistfulness of "Man on the Moon" and 'The Boston Herald's Jed Gottlieb has compared it favorably to R.E.M. ballads "Nightswimming" and "Perfect Circle".Chart performance
Personnel
'R.E.M.'
*Peter Buck guitar, writing, and production
*Mike Mills bass guitar, background vocals, writing, and production
*Michael Stipe vocals, writing, and production
'Technical personnel'
*Chris Bilheimer art design
*Jacknife Lee production
References
Category:2011 songs
Category:2011 singles
Category:Folk rock songs
Category:Rock ballads
Category:Song recordings produced by Jacknife Lee
Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe
Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Mills
Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Buck
Category:Songs written by Michael Stipe
Category:Songs written by Mike Mills
Category:Songs written by Peter Buck
Category:R.E.M. songs
Category:Warner Records singles
Category:Black-and-white music videos
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