Without going into the artist's mind and research, I had thought this song was about servicemen returning from Vietnam and reentering civilian life, battling the side effects of war and Agent Orange.

They’re early stuff is still the best for me. Radio Free Europe is an energetic song

@raymo6795

2 жыл бұрын

"Fall on Me" is a favorite of mine...REM was an excellent and original act

I am/was under the impression the song references Agent Orange, used in the Vietnam war, to defoliate the Vietnamese jungles. Great song and reaction

@fan123casual8

2 жыл бұрын

At the time this was written, some Vietnam vets were dying of cancer, and it was suspected the chemical “Agent Orange” used during the war to kill plants/trees may have caused cancer in people exposed to it.

@dave0915

2 жыл бұрын

@@fan123casual8 it was also implicated in causing birth defects in the offspring of the soldiers exposed to Agent Orange.

This is a great song by R.E.M. The groove on this song is undeniable. 🔥

My old man died of exposure to Agent Orange. This sounds always hits different every time I revisit it.

The first 6 or7 REM albums are loaded with great material.. "Driver 8", "South Central Rain", "Pretty Persuasion ", "Don't Go Back to Rockville", "Can't Get There From Here", and "I Believe " are all outstanding tunes..

@elegantirony78

2 жыл бұрын

I love the video of Pretty Persuasion at the Old Grey Whistle Test. Michael Stipe with long hair

@4tuneagent

2 жыл бұрын

@@elegantirony78 I'll have to look for that one.. sounds great! Thanks.

I think the best 5 minutes I have spent on stage was covering this song at a one-off concert (I played bass). It was just so, so, so much fun. I still have vivid memory of thinking "holy crap, this is amazing" and being totally in the pocket with the drummer, wailing on those floor toms. Just great. I'll never forget that feeling.

Elvis Costello "Everyday I Write The Book"

One of my favorite REM songs! Have you heard ‘The One I Love’ yet?✌🏻

One of REM'S best. Always have loved this from DAY ONE!

R.E.M. are and will forever be legends. National and international treasure. So illusive and artistic. Several decades of independent song-making at the highest level. Poetic, punchy, and exquisite, they keeping you coming back for more. Try songs like "Man on the Moon", "Driver 8", "Carnival of sorts (box cars)", "I believe", the list is endless. Worth a deep dive. Better if live (specially their "live at the Olympia").

REALLY LIKE THIS SONG!!! Great reaction!!!! R.E.M. are just outstanding band!!!!

You are the first reactor I ever witnessed to react to this song, that is so cool. This is the first song I ever heard from R.E.M . way way back in the mid 80's.

@annesmith2259

2 жыл бұрын

Me too, never seen this reacted to either. A fantastic song

Chod, most of the best REM songs are not the radio hits, IMHO. I've always been an R.E.M. fan. They came up locally (Athens/ATL GA) and had a unique sound when they hit. Great live band.

One of my top 5 bands. Love REM!!! Pink Floyd being my #1 and REM #2. Thank you for doing more of their music.

@rogeroran2911

2 жыл бұрын

I agree. Those are my 1 and 2 as well.

I knew Bill Berry, REM’s drummer. Great guy, fantastic songwriter and drummer. 😁❤️. One of my all time favorites of theirs.

Good pick! It's about a Vietnam vet & agent orange.

REM what a fricken awesome group

Today the world lost a brilliant talent in the producer, engineer and musician Richie Podolor. Richie was an amazing musical guide for Three Dog Night from its very first record at MCA and he continued producing for us right on through to our new album, that is just about to be released. Despite his low-key demeanor, Richie was a powerhouse; beginning in the 1960’s he worked as a producer, engineer, musician, composer and arranger for countless artists including the Monkees, the Turtles, the Electric Prunes, the Grateful Dead, Donovan, the Dillards, Chris Hillman, and Black Oak Arkansas, as well as Steppenwolf for whom Richie engineered their huge hits “Born to be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride”. Scores of artists, songwriters, producers and engineers have been impacted by Richie’s ideas and techniques. He was a great musician and a dear friend. Richie Podolor will be missed even as his talent still rests in the music and musicians that he touched......please react to the audio version "Woman" by Three Dog Night from their "It Ain't Easy" album.

An excellent movie along the lines of this song is Jacob’s Ladder (drama, but mild horror)

Here we go, REM is classic stuff

REM's drummer, Bill Berry (I think), is like lint. You'll find him in the pocket. As they evolved, he came out to eat, occasionally. REM had their own territory.

This is my favorite REM song. The Green album was their pinnacle to me.

Favorite REM song

Orange Crush definitely refers to Agent Orange. I have recently read that Stipe has said that "spine" was a slang term for an experimental drug sometimes distributed to troops in the field. It was intended to combat fatigue and enhance alertness, and may or may not have contained LSD and methamphetamine...

@raymo6795

2 жыл бұрын

...I have been listening to this song for years (decades) and I never knew that...the things you learn on KZread

@jonathanlocke6404

2 жыл бұрын

@@raymo6795 I should say that I read this in the comments section of another reaction to this song, so I just repeated it, and did not verify it.

@raymo6795

2 жыл бұрын

@@jonathanlocke6404 . …It all makes pretty good sense though✌️

This is my favorite R.E.M. song, I'm glad it's getting some love here! The whole production is great, but I especially love the rhythm section here. Bill Berry's groove and Mike Mills' bass lick are so cool. My 2nd favorite song of theirs is "Superman", an early track that also highlights the rhythm section!

How can you not like this?

I love this song. For your next R.E.M. song, you could react to "Radio Free Europe" or "Fall on Me", and definitely check them out at some point.

Thank you so much Chod!!! This is my most favorite song from REM!!! Orange crush,is about agent orange that was sprayed to kill jungle growth in Vietnam,and ended up poisoning vets and civilians alike.My spine refers to Heroin that was used during this so called "police action" in Vietnam. I had family members who served in that WAR ,and thank God they all came home alive but not unscathed! The stuff they told us about still give me nightmares!!!! When this song came out I turned it up so loud and played it over and over I eventually blew my speakers out on my stereo!!!!!🤍🤍🤍

Been a long time since I have heard this. Great to hear it again. Thanks for the reaction. I would recommend Driver 8 as a next song of theirs. An interesting early song of theirs is called 'Swan, Swan Hummingbird '. I cannot really predict if you will like it or not.

☮️💙💙💙thank you for all you bring!

Agent Orange. Defoliant used on Vietnam's jungles slopes.

I thought it was about the soft drink 😂 for the longest time 😂

The guitarist played a Rickenbacker guitar

I haven't heard this song by them before. Glad you are always giving bands other chances. I also do that for songs and singers.

They are from my area of the country. Athens GA.

Yet again you take me back to my youth,Keep Rocking Chod ,thanks

Thank you for this😘 I think you would like "What's the frequency Kenneth?🔥

I Could Turn You Inside Out is really good. It is from the same album

Orange crush refers to agent orange that was sprayed on the soldiers during the vietnam war. Their songs 1987 and prior have more of my favorite songs then their ones are post that year. But even in saying that I like the newer stuff too but not as much.

REM was a fantastic band. Much more then the same few songs often requested. Great to see you react to this not often requested. Try drive, fall on me etc. Early REM epic

While the meaning may be in question, I recall a local radio interview(I'm in Atlanta) with REM indicating that revelations concerning Agent Orange inspired the creation of the song.

Some suggestions: from the album "Murmur"; "Radio Free Europe", "Pilgrimage", "Talk About the Passion". Their early work has a spare, borderline punk, sound to me. I love the entire album "Fables of the Reconstruction", folky with a southern feel. I also liked the album "Up" from the 90's. Iconic albums are "Document", "Automatic for the People", and "Life's Rich Pageant". Keep looking, they have a large and varied catalog.

this song is about agent orange used as a defoliant in the Vietnam war. I hate and love this song. Orange crush makes you sick as hell and makes you cough up blood. The lead singer wrote this song about hiis fathers exposure

💚💚💚💚💚

Pretty sure that this is when Warner Brothers signed them and demanded harder content

REM - Odd Fellows Local 151

Aka the Bike Song.

Great song Chod , but please MORE the Guess Who., Share the land

Conveniently could apply this nickname to both Napalm and/or Agent Orange.

This song doesn’t have a happy vibe to me, but I guess that’s in the eye of the beholder. It does have a fast tempo, but it’s in a minor key, which usually evokes a sadder mood.

@FunkinItUpaBit

2 жыл бұрын

I know what you mean and couldn't agree more Fan123. I'm a minor key junkie!

I think you’ve only done “everybody hurts” and “night swimming” and u LOVED them BOTH....dude, they’re so killer....forgotten by the younger generation cuz the got the fuck out of the spotlight, they were HUGE, and they refused to play old, classic material, so they shot themselves in the foot too:(

Not a fan of R.E.M. but I really do like this one.

dude turn up your mic

I feel sorry for u reactor guys sometimes, cuz u can’t just go and binge a great band, u have to hold off, so you’ll always have plenty of material to react to, it bums me out--- u did “night swimming” and raved about it, man! Do “world leader pretend” “you are the everything” “it the end of the world” “radio free Europe” and MANY, MANY others, this band, and the pixies are responsible for the entire 90’s IMO, and both started in the 80’s, deep in the 80’s

@vincentvancraig

2 жыл бұрын

I meant “raved” not “raced”

Today the world lost a brilliant talent in the producer, engineer and musician Richie Podolor. Richie was an amazing musical guide for Three Dog Night from its very first record at MCA and he continued producing for us right on through to our new album, that is just about to be released. Despite his low-key demeanor, Richie was a powerhouse; beginning in the 1960’s he worked as a producer, engineer, musician, composer and arranger for countless artists including the Monkees, the Turtles, the Electric Prunes, the Grateful Dead, Donovan, the Dillards, Chris Hillman, and Black Oak Arkansas, as well as Steppenwolf for whom Richie engineered their huge hits “Born to be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride”. Scores of artists, songwriters, producers and engineers have been impacted by Richie’s ideas and techniques. He was a great musician and a dear friend. Richie Podolor will be missed even as his talent still rests in the music and musicians that he touched......please react to the audio version "Woman" by Three Dog Night from their "It Ain't Easy" album.