When 'Thiller' was topping the charts, the Rolling Stone mag critics named 'Murmur' the album of the year. I went out and bought the cassette, the same day. Been a big fan ever since. 'Driver 8' is fantastic and this version is double fantastic.

My favorite REM song. My time in rural Wisconsin as a kid was full of trains and rail culture. Detroit cars coming in, steel for the up North ship yards, lumber, cattle to Oscar Meyer livestock yards, feed cars, commuters on an old electric line, strawberries loaded in crates right from the field to rail car on a country crossing near the farm. It was beautiful for some reason. Sights, sounds, soaked in Americana long gone. Weird how a song about mode of travel can remind one so much of home.

@steveell4523

7 ай бұрын

Wow. So well written and said. Thanks.

REM was the kind of band that was difficult to pigeonhole. Their music still remains times less.

My favorite REM song; I love this version!

I'm from Athens, GA. and was a teenager in the 80's listening to R.E.M. I can just see them in a studio apartment in downtown Athens recording this.

I love this song. It reminds me of my father who was a railroad engineer for over 25 years. ❤ best band ever.

2020 and listening to this, one of my favourite songs of all time and a hidden gem of REM.

@bassboye8959

3 жыл бұрын

I agree jamie, im 60, heard it 1st in 1987. Reminds me of the beatles rubber soul type songs. I had to learn it on guitar righr away. Still play it today. Ty 4 your comments.

@eastwoofer

2 жыл бұрын

Not a hidden gem. It’s one of their biggest first songs.

@theirshopewithjesuschrist_5867

2 жыл бұрын

Underated tho, my dad is in his mid 50s I'm 28 now and as a child growing up, we would jam these early rem songs riding in the car. Along with other bands like Rush, the police, nirvana, pearl jam, stone temple pilots, and a little heavy stuff like Alice in chains... That's just to name a few. I was pretty much raised on all these bands, mom and dad didn't stay together and divorced. But I have to say one thing among other things that kept me and dad close was music, and I have to say he had good taste and I'm glad he raised me on good music such as this. Rem is still one of my favorite bands to this day, and dad always said Stipe was a genius lol. Good music and good times and I will pass these timeless tunes on down to my kids :)

@manuelparra6549

Ай бұрын

Here we are 2024 haha!!!

I love his more southern tone to his voice in this version, it's great.

One of the few bands that really stand out to me in the 80's. No one sounded like them. Love the rawness of the vid...its like they invited you over for a beer to check out their new song.

@bryanmathew2079

Жыл бұрын

Ya Has a Good Raw Sound-!.

I am 50 and I still think this music blows the crap on the radio of today out of the water!!! Still so great.. pure timeless magic..

@MrDunkiep

Жыл бұрын

Maybe the problem is that all the best songs have been written now. Anything new that's almost great gets written off as derivative and not breaking new ground. Rock n roll was amazing for our generation.

@fairybliss7772

Жыл бұрын

The good music now isn’t on the radio, it’s online. Great music is being made

@ThePhosophorus

Жыл бұрын

Jason isbell is writing straight fire songs today, so it’s not all dead!

@jamsohnson8579

10 күн бұрын

@@MrDunkiep What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

I have always been a punk rock fan and love loud sloppy rock n roll. I've always discredited clean sounding rock n roll. I heard "try not to breathe" by REM and all that changed. I found myself listening to every REM album and performances. They blow me away everytime. They sound so clean but so pure and raw. It's like hearing clean southern punk rock. One of my favorite bands of all time. TIMELESS

@mattroper4959

5 ай бұрын

Love this comment❤❤❤❤

If you are my age - 50 - and you heard REM on college radio in 83/84 - do your kids/nieces/nephews a big musical favour. Remind them where REAL music comes from. Don't be daunted by all the over-processed, focused-grouped spam they're told is "music". It's like hot dogs and high-fructose corn syrup and such. Can't change it all at once. Just be a good dad/mom/uncle/auntie and REMIND them. Show them. Real is as real does.

@kalikadevi

8 жыл бұрын

+Jacquie Maurice I'm not 50, I'm 34, but I have a deep deep love of R.E.M. I used to sing Be Mine to my daughter before she was born and as a lullaby, and sometimes Electrolite. I've played R.E.M. in the car plenty and she can recognize it. She enjoys Automatic for the People and one of her favorite songs is Hyena. I'm really proud of her musical awareness.

@jmaurice1021

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@capricornsister9043

8 жыл бұрын

Well I'm 15, and I've liked R. E. M. Since I was like 11. Of course I heard "it's the end of the world as we know it(and I feel fine)" first, haha.. But Now I like all sorts of things. From zeppelin to Pantera. R. E. M. Was my first favorite band, and will always be my favorite. Driver 8 is one of the best.

@kalikadevi

8 жыл бұрын

+Capricorn Sister Nice to see the youth with good taste in musick!! Michael Stipe is also a Capricorn ; ) Keep up the great work!

@capricornsister9043

8 жыл бұрын

+kalikadevi ha, I'm a Gemini. Capricorn sister is just my favorite mother love bone song.

When i first heard this in this In 94 and my soon to be wife had alread been through Murmur. We are still REM fans after 33 years.

R.E.M part of the soundtrack of my life.

@mcgovern12

5 жыл бұрын

Anyone know who is whistling?

@trp5389

3 жыл бұрын

Same!

@Alan-gi2ku

3 жыл бұрын

Me too.

I can still remember the first time I heard this song. Brings back such poignant memories. Just a wondrously melancholic and atmospheric song.

michael and rem - you all looked and sound great ~

God I miss Rem. Reminds me of doing up my first house in 1998 listening to their greatest hits CD. Don't go back to Rockville and driver 8 were my favourites

One of their best songs

A perfect song--even if you are not especially a REM fan.

you can almost feel Faulkner peering through a space he's pulled open between that Em to Am

1:38 The best bidge in any song, ever. Chills, every time.

They all just smoked - someting exotic. :) My favourite REM song too.

As a southerner I find it cool how prominent Stipe's drawl is here.

@williambilleaud4287

10 жыл бұрын

Stipe is from Collinsville, ILLINOIS. His accent is fake....

@obscurebandfan

10 жыл бұрын

William Billeaud Yes, but he spent a great deal of his childhood moving around the South (Alabama, Texas, and finally Georgia). I think it's safe to say he probably picked up a drawl somewhere along the line.

@williambilleaud4287

10 жыл бұрын

I went to high school with him. People there say "yous" as opposed to "yall". Michael Stipes had no southern accent, but perhaps he had no problem mimicking a southern accent for his own purposes after high school.

@natecorning

9 жыл бұрын

William Billeaud stipe*

@mjg3272

8 жыл бұрын

+William Billeaud He was born in Decatur, Georgia, and lived several places - most in the South - before his family moved to Illinois when he was a teen. His father's family was from Georgia and his mother's family was from Mississippi. Maybe he had no problem repressing a southern accent for his own purposes in high school.

i remember seeing this on that old MTV show The Cutting Edge, i think on sundays after midnight--pure bliss in '85 and now

Why is this my favorite live performance on KZread? Man, REM was really something weren’t they?

@bassboye8959

3 жыл бұрын

I like the electric live version too.

@daveobrien2466

2 жыл бұрын

Sia's breathe me at the hiro ballroom is good too.

@brownlauren15

9 ай бұрын

Definitely my soundtrack from the '80's. They were so raw and pure and really danceable.

REM, what a tight unit.

That was great..I love REM..this is one of my favorite songs

im 52 and boy do i feel old now....great song...michael has a great voice....good timing too

I love R.E.M. as far as Automatic for the people, chronich town, murmur, reckoning and fables of the reconstructions are my favourite albums

This doesn't sound 80s at all, it sounds TIMELESS....

@jonathanroselaw

5 жыл бұрын

Second best band EVER

@Alan-gi2ku

3 жыл бұрын

@@ellebee690 They are so good they take both first and second.

@stephenfiore9960

3 жыл бұрын

*…….Acoustic music will never die. They’re still performing Mozart and Beethoven aren’t they…….8…*

How I would've loved to be in that room! Thumbs up for the Buck smile.... only second time I saw it in 30 years!

@williamheurtley5806

9 жыл бұрын

Debbie Tempalsky .. Same. Would have loved to have been there. I could watch this over and over!

@ClueSign

9 жыл бұрын

Debbie Tempalsky Totes on the Peter Buck smile.

Now it makes me cry... R.E.M. ♥

Grunge a decade before grunge.

@jeffcloser2814

3 күн бұрын

My thoughts exactly !!

Beautiful melody. Classic

Absolutely beautiful. These guys are so talented. One of the very best bands ever.

So young and so good❤

How can a so young person right so insightful lyrics? Amazing song

@karenwebster2465

Жыл бұрын

Old soul. Instinct

Man, I miss shows like "The Cutting Edge" and "120 Minutes"! I must've missed this episode, but at lease I saw it in 2021 after the Snowmegeddon of Texas!

I watched this when it first aired and recorded it on a VHS tape. My favorite REM song, I love the acoustic guitars and Michael’s curly locks and twang! ❤

These guys look no older than 12 years old and they are playing and singing their song that sounds like it’s been with us forever. The song, the Kingston Trio, would cover! Amazing video

A friend of mine's uncle manned an 8-wheeled locomotive our of Whitefish Montana and I'll always associate this song with the stories this older man told me about running the passes through northern Montana.

I hope that youtube et al have the common sense to keep videos like this available so the music can be appreciated in its true state. I was born after this video was recorded, and I love REM, but its videos like these that allow me to appreciate the truth behind the sound at a greater level...thanks maccafixx for seeing it our way!

Wow, what a great time piece, awesome.

Still a ways away.....but still sounding great in '19

This is when I loved R.R.E.M. best ✌🎶💙

So young they look. Thanks for posting this.

Thanks SOOO much for uploading this. Wonderful!

I miss Michael Stipe's long hair!!!💜💜💜

love this song

Nothing like rolling out of bed & playing a classic lol... My favorite REM tune :D

Peter Buck has the best right hand in the history of rock and popular music

Also, I wanted to add. That's one awesome guitar riff. I can really hear the essence and emotion in this track.

The only time I've ever seen Peter Buck smile

@Alan-gi2ku

3 жыл бұрын

He looks so young here.

@samsquanch1996

3 жыл бұрын

@@Alan-gi2ku He was about 27 or 28 here I think.

@Alan-gi2ku

2 жыл бұрын

@@samsquanch1996 I’m aware of his age and he still looks young.

@samsquanch1996

2 жыл бұрын

@@Alan-gi2ku 27/28 is very young.

Love this performance, sound so natural...

Incredible band. Nearly everything they do is magical, everything they touch turns to gold. Thanks for the music guys....thank you.

they look about 12 yrs old! One of my favorites.

Best songwriters of their generation.

I like to see hapiness in their faces

The children look up all they hear are sky blue bells ringing.

@peggyfranzen6159

3 жыл бұрын

I always think I of the Burlington Northern through the Iowa countryside... ✌🌱

REM is a band u will never see again.. the combo created a sound and vibe and feeling and and and... never gonna have it again What I love is when i listened to REM early on didnt have a video so i just listened.. Murmur to Eponymous

My god this breaks my heart.

Wow, this is incredible. I wonder how much more material like this is out there. I have been listening to REM ever since the release of Chronic Town. This is the first time I have ever heard this.

I sometimes forget how much I loved this band back in the 80's. this song is magic.

I can't believe this video has only 216,153 views... considering I must account for about 100,000 of them. Awesome classic stuff here!

I remember seeing this, probably on 120 Minutes. Sure it's on some old VHS somewhere. Love it! Probably my fave acoustic song ever.

@bassboye8959

3 жыл бұрын

One of them for sure.

I still have this entire segment from MTVs 120 ,minutes on VHS. My favorite version of this song hands down and sure wish I could play it on my old Yamaha acoustic. And those curls!!!

@maureenmclaughlin4075

8 жыл бұрын

+Lisa Knell The curls and the lips. He walked past me once in SF with his much younger boyfriend as I was sitting on my stoop. I didn't say anything knowing how shy he is

@finvandewall2445

8 жыл бұрын

+Maureen McLaughlin when was this?

@jeffreyheise3377

8 жыл бұрын

I wish I could play too. Arthiritus. Still rem is the best.

@cheeverdog

8 жыл бұрын

it's not hard to play at all. I figured it out so an y b one can. you tube also has lessons for most songs or you can get the chords on ultimate guitar

@melissatyree566

5 жыл бұрын

Yea, they look like young teenagers here. Mike mills has always looked like a schoolboy. REM always one of my favorite bands. SINCERELY, melissa Tyree

Damn, Peter Buck is da man.. Flawless..

@thais2415

10 жыл бұрын

I always thought stipe the hotter since I see the face of Buck at 1:00

@roo7227

10 жыл бұрын

Thais Czinski Yeah, I was talking about his guitar play, but thanks for the chuckle.. ;P

@2degucitas

10 жыл бұрын

His playing is just like the recording, perfect in every way.

I watched this on MTV when it premiered. Just wow! Even after all of these years

When we were young...

What a gem!

They made this look so easy that I spent all my time forming bands until about '96 when that fell apart. Tried to forget about it for many years, but the urge to do just what they're doing here won't go away, and now I'm at it again. They did it for three decades and have been retired for nearly a decade more, and here I am still chasing after it. Now and then, something gels, and there we are, three or four of us in a room just banging out a song we made up like it's the most natural thing in the world. That's how life is supposed to be. Or at least that's what I saw in this exact video. And I think it really was that way for them, but for most of us, so many things get in the way.

@bassboye8959

3 жыл бұрын

Yes stay with it, it obviously makes you happy. I had 27 yrs playing. Quit for a while (20 yrs) to make $ ect. Started back at it 3 yrs ago. It was the 1st song I relearned. I'm 60 now going on 16 LOL. Been retired 17 yrs mostly adrift. Once I started playing Ang, i built a small studio in the back yard with 20 guitars & basses. It's all I ever wanted to do. I'm too old & ugly to be out giging in my eyes, so I just play for my own enjoyment. I play better than ever now, more mature I guess. Besides, what most people listen to now isn't music, it's refried, freeze dried, reconstituted, cookie cutter crap or plain morose. Depressing. I like the old bands alot better. Some of todays are good, not many really. I can play about 10,000 songs I learned as a teen by ear off records. Best wishes. Stay at it because you love it. PEACE

Great song! I recall where I was an when I heard it for the first time. Ty cousin...I love you xo!

Thank God for letting me to watch this genuine pearl before I die! Thank you, God!

Man, this a great version of Driver 8! Love Bill's percussion.

Bittersweet memories. I don't know if I should be happy I was around when this type of music got it's wings, or sad that that time has passed and kids these days never really get to experience this greatness. Young people are happy with fields of mediocrity, instead of ecstatic for the really important musical experiences out there. Great song, love R.E.M.!

When you're high and you're R.E.M.

Great band🙌

Oh, man....I took photos of this from MTV...they were up all over my dorm room....wow....what a wonderful song!!!

I fucking miss you guys

Nice. Perfect time to the studio version.

I love this

Untuckin real how good this sounds...Rem timeless at this time ...chronic town my fav . ...haven’t heard this in years

love this tune

Pure perfection , wonderful song

In 1984, They played at my University. I was only 14 years old and had no idea who they were...Document changed everything and by then they were too big to come to our city...Oh the agony!!!! So awesome to see them in such a youthful stage in their career!!!! :)

This is so perfect that I'm lost for words...

That needs to go in a time capsule.

they are who really got me back into rock acoustic.

Yes you can count on one hand the number of times Peter has actually smiled. He tries to give off such a serious vibe all the time. Lighten up Pete!

greatest band of all time

No one could have said it better. And if you were an "R.E.M. kid" in high school, you as an adult today shares your sentiment completely.

Brings back some fond memories living in Raleigh NC

Best Live Version I heard Of This Track....Better Than On The Album!!!

Remember this on MTV, IRS' the Cutting Edge when it came out. These guys were HIP

so young yet even back in 84 they had this down, like totally sorted .. fuckin poets

i forgot about how good song this was... classic!!

Un recuerdo de R.E.M cuando sus inicios .y parce una habitación dónde ya cantaban y sonaban estupendo. Gracias por el vídeo.

2:08 Love that bands take note use that instrument

Amazing song. A lot of woodblock.

Peter Buck actually looks happy here for a change. Really great acoustic version of a classic rock tune.