The famous “Radio Free Europe” considers its main task to be the promotion of “democratic values” in countries “where freedom of the press is prohibited by the authorities.” Being a non-profit organization, “Freedom” is funded by the US government, which gives reason to critics to doubt its objectivity.
Apparently, Michael Stipe, leader of the REM group, also thought about the inevitability of propaganda on any radio. He shared his views on this issue in the song “Radio Free Europe”.
In 1981, REM released “Radio Free Europe” as their debut single. Two years later, the group signed a contract with IRS and re-recorded the song for the album “Murmur” and released it again as a single.
They say that at the time of recording the composition, the text was not completely ready. Perhaps that is why he is so promiscuous. Even the author himself in an interview with NME called it empty babble.
Let’s hear Stipe:
Our early songs were extremely basic, really simple – songs that could be written in five minutes. Most of them had no words at all. I just started yelling and howling for a long time. This is true. I had to write the lyrics for “Radio Free Europe” because we were going to re-record it for the album. She still doesn’t have a second or third verse.
Alternative America 1983
After the second release, the track hit the Billboard charts, but did not rise high. However, “Radio Free Europe” became a real hit and played an incredibly important role in the fate of the group.
A word from drummer Bill Berry:
Most fans probably don’t know that two years before the release of “Murmur” we were barely making ends meet playing in tiny clubs in the southeast. Gasoline costs did not allow us to risk climbing further. Simply put, our condition was disastrous. College radio and the city’s major club scenes took up the song and expanded our audience to the point where we moved from small clubs to medium sized venues, and the extra revenue made the logical development of this musical frenzy possible. I dare not guess what our fate would have been if this song had not come into existence then.
Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage
1982-2011
The music video for Radio Free Europe was directed by Arthur Pierson.
Interesting Facts
- The video was filmed in the garden of artist Howard Finster, who illustrated the cover of REM’s “Reckoning” album.
- The track is included in Rolling Stone’s The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- The song is featured on the soundtrack of The Party Animal (1984)
Radio Free Europe Lyrics by REM
Decide yourself if radio’s gonna stay
Reason: it could polish up the gray
Put that, put that, put that up your wall
That this isn’t Country at all
Reason: it can whitewash anything
Hang it, hang it, hang it on the wall
But it’s not a country at all Radio station: decide yourselfKeep me out of Country and the word
Wheel of fortune’s leading us: absurd
Push that, push that, push that to the floor
That this isn’t nothing at all
The Wheel of Fortune Leads Us: Absurdity
Drop it, drop it, drop it on the floor
‘Cause it means nothing Straight off the boat, where to go Calling out in transit
Calling out in transit
Radio Free EuropeCall signs on the way
Call signs on the way
Radio Free EuropeDecide: defy the media too fast
Instead of pushing palaces to fall
Put that, put that, put that up your wall
That this isn’t fortunate at all
Instead of destroying palaces
Hang it, hang it, hang it on the wall
It’s not luck at all Radio station: decide yourself Radio station: you decide We’re calling out in transit
Calling out in transit
Radio Free Europe Our callsigns are on the way
Call signs on the way
Radio Free EuropeDecide yourself: come in on a boat
Media’s too fast
Keep me out of country and the word
Disappointment into us: absurd
The media is too fast
Do not interfere with me in the affairs of the country and words
There’s only disappointment in us: absurdity Straight off the boat, where to go?
Calling out in transit
Calling out in transit
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe2 times
Call signs on the way
Call signs on the way
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Song quote
People keep saying that in the “straight off the boat” passage I did something so harmoniously that they all go crazy because it is so modern … or something like that. I myself wonder if I accidentally fooled them? I still have no idea what they are talking about.
Michael Stipe
