R E M World Leader Pretend

[JerryTheMuleband]

This is my world and I am wolrd leader pretend: Michael, is this the reason why you and your guys quit? Wasn't it you r wolrd anymore? We will miss R.E.M. forever!

[myempathy1]

Sometimes the battle against yourself can be the toughest battle of all.

Love the use of castanets in this song. Sublime!

[themightyrara]

i dont think this song is about a literal world leader, lol

[swarmmaster]

I've always seen this as a song about personal struggles. I don't see a military implication in here at all. The person in this song simply used his mind to justify his shortcomings, but ultimately succeeds to rise above them.

[videovictim3]

green is my fave. love you guys. r&r hof '07!!!! rem rules!!!

[Blink41ColdRomance]

no it sounds like "love will tear us apart". excpt it is way better

[jmhaile]

The best R.E.M. song, perfect melody, amazing lyrics... And if it's my mistake, let me make it good. ;^)

[stevepwood]

Think Michael Stipe has ever thanked God he lives in a country where he can question the motives of the very people protecting his right to do so?

I don't agree with his politics, but REM has always been one of the best sounding bands ever....especially in their IRS days.....

[StevenGA1011]

@stevepwood This is just my interpretation of the song as Michael wrote it about Leonard Cohen -

"Frontman Michael Stipe looked back at the recording of the Green album in a 2008 interview with Rolling Stone magazine. He recalled: "For me, the big moment is 'World Leader Pretend.' It's a tribute to Leonard Cohen, using military terms to describe a battle within. I was so proud of the lyrics and my vocal take that I refused to sing it a second time. I did it once. That was it."

[1michelemichele1]

@anastasia81472 we had so many warnings, too; many pre-date Reagan, but he added a few more & took it all to a whole new level. I think grandpaw was the most amoral of the lot (it's hard to say).

sigh

[chaosONjet]

@anastasia81472 1983 was an age of innocence? you are a fucking fool

[mattiagar]

this is simply a fuckin beautiful song

[meushubris]

War is Peace

Slavery is Freedom

Ignorance is Strength

Welcome to the New World DisOrder.

[chiefsfan364]

@meushubris 1984?

[meushubris]

@chiefsfan364 Yup. They won!

[lyonslaforet]

The first time I listened to this great song, I noticed it was very similar to Losing My Religion in its melody!

[treesloth9]

thank god for weapons. I know Americans love sushi but being raped by imperialistic countries who want to conquer this nation is not my idea of good time. They might just save Mike's life one day. We are well aware of what some countries do to people that are gay. He can thank his lucky stars that he was born here. It's sad that you grow out things and bands like R.E.M. Love all R.E.M. before losing my religion worst song ever

[DeeSting27]

Well done! Love this tune! Love REM!



[MultiDannyboy89]

Great song!!!

[moezbouselmi]

First famous song i saw in youtube with zero dislike (so far)

[MegaCastleRock]

There's not a single REM song I dislike, I love them all!

[nashnwo1234]

fantastic pictures you collected for the video. thanks

[beccasoo]

that tattoo was awesome.

[TheToostoopid]

Agreed!



[accidentsinspace]

I love this song and your video fits it perfectly!

[1michelemichele1]

@Dorcus222 exactly what it's about

still, the sound's good, and everyone's allowed their own interpretation

[ghenttoo]

this was the song that turned me on to rem,

played it over and over when I was a messed up young lad

thanks for posting it man

[jimbob1969]

this song's got nothing to do with war

[MiddleagedGeek]

Green is my favorite R.E.M. album. I know a few of their other albums are more acclaimed, but this is the most accessible one they made. Great track sequencing. Great memories.

[untjazz42]

Though I'm not a huge fan of Green (it's got classic songs on it, but not quite as great and cohesive as their previous as well as forthcoming efforts), I absolutely love this song. Stipe delivers a very introverted lyric, very much unlike the rest of the album ;)

[thyczko2]

IF YOU LIKE REM LISTEN TO MIDNIGHT OIL

[Pablo113]

Humans are the only animal that kills for SYMBOLIC issues! The ONLY ANIMAL, that does that!!!!!!

[schoolercat]

@Pablo113: Perhaps that should give you a clue that we are so much more than ANIMALS! Human beings are capable of abstract thought, communicating through symbols, etc.

[Pablo113]

@schoolercat Still ONLY an ANIMAL, Destined to Die. No more significant than a Potato or a Cockroach!

[Pablo113]

@schoolercat, Research ERNEST BECKER.....

[themoz3]

fuckin great album!

[ffm20zaheri]

this song was dedicated to one of the greatest criminals of the world RONALD REAGAN

may the bastard burn in hell

[nicholsjoshua15]

He is you don't have to worry about it. Ronald Reagan made where a lot of the people who were in Mental Hospitals were let out. That let people who are dangerous walk the streets. I lived next to a woman that was let she had a four year old son she drowned him. and was arrested for the murder of a child.

[RoyBatty666]

Great imagery to a haunting song.

[themooddisorders]

Was the Green album really released on election day, 1988?

[edlyons]

I heard it on the radio today, here in Georgia, wanted to share it with my FB friends who are SOOOOOO sick of war. The videography is brilliant, very deeply moving. It reflects what REM hoped to make people think about, way back in the day...

[DSweeneyPelham]

The pictures of the DC monuments being overlaid with their with images on money bills.. Holy crap that is the best symbolic representation, so simple, so profound, so accurate... Thank you

[twochordcool]

What a great flashback!

I bought this soon after it came out, listened to it tons and then it got buried in the collection underneath more recent goodies - what a GREAT album - I'll have to break it out again!

[madmax9009]

the very last picture is amazing !

[7inga7]

Bravo!

[Beatleberry]

Such a great song on so many levels.

[lee32uk]

Great song taken from my favourite REM album.

[Crispy27]

@lee32uk Nah, this album sucked. You can't release a yellow album and call it Green. Who the fuck do they think they are, renaming colors.

[paquitorivero]

love this song! this is MY world and I am a world leader pretend....REM @ their best

[mobyboy]

so fucking good !

[jnkyrdd0g]

2:55..very clever...and true...

[gione72]

Good

[stevepwood]

Great band, great album, the best song. Michael's voice is at its best here.

[Issicra]

Bravo indeed! You nailed it.

[irenekklein]

BRAVO!!!!

[adders42]

Nice work Steven!

[skinsmagic]

One of my favorites. Thanks for posting.

[ropeadope76]

This song freakin rocks!

[zenswing]

Probably #2 to Wendell Gee. Hey, it's still nothing to balk at!

[karlvorderman]

A huge thank you for uploading the studio version of this obscure classic. It is one of the select band of tunes that actually does merit the word awesome. It also gets a feature in the book 'The Song For Today' by Jimmie Oliver.

[massicciorso72]

Bellissima veramente, l'ho adorata subito questa canzone.

[ammesp]

Awesme band, Awesome song!! nice video!

[tjdude88]

Lol at 2:52 it's like let's put things right!

[m4rlo]

it's quite funny..

[meredumais]

Very well done-we need to get this more views !

[javug]

The Best Song of REM

[Top40ModernRockPlay]

Totally agree, yet it barely registers as a fan favorite. Also, R.E.M. should be next in line to play the Superbowl Halftime show. They are the greatest band to have never played it.

[integral]

@javug hey, what about "Gardening at Night"?

[TheTrifighter]

@javug: you're so right!!!

[yellow6100]

@javug great song

[jpjames1]

Good band