R.E.M. - Bad Day (P.S.A.) Demo 1986 (audio)

[astroboirap]

RIP Rem

[GAdawgsfan93]

The lyrics are not really set in this version. That's probably why they waited to use this song. But, I actually preferred the guitar track on this version better.

[cpHiJet]

awesome

[woodenthomas]

I used to have that poster! Back in the 80's. Mike Mill's shirt says "The Bad news Bears"

[mantra3000]

Their unplugged for MTV is not an album, but it is a good document of when their musical ability and vista peaked. Which gave Automatic, which is their best album in my opinion too, actually not just an album but a little piece of mythology.

Ooooh, to hear Automatic demos... Couldn't find any.

[Scionification]

Nice version!  The guitar sounds great.

The lyrics could use a little polish.

[sashwap]

the best version of this song, in my opinion

[soulscanner66]

REMchout/BeginXtheXBegin/tofud­ujour /: Thanks for posting. First time I heard this, I thought "End of the world" too. Now I know why.

Funny thing, I can hear why Peter loved this and Michael didn't. The guitar riff was totally there (almost unchanged in new version), but the vocals are awkward.

I also can see why Michael reworked the lyrics and vocals. The song became politically relevant again.

[HeeroYuyDekkers]

I love the old version aswell as the newer version.

[BirdofSaxony]

Listening this for the first time in about two months, judging by my earlier comment, it makes me wonder... what if there was an earlier version of Animal? It seems unlikely, because it sounds much more like recent R.E.M. than Bad Day does, but maybe they just reworked it more drastically.

[whirlpoolzend]

Love this version (well love every version ;)

[ceeqanguel]

LYRICS PLEASE!!! (i can't figure them all out)

[KerreyTheBitterSugar]

this demo version is as cracking as the newest one!

[deliverthegoods18]

This is great,though i do prefer the newer version. Thanks for sharing it.

[haddingtonbb41]

not a patch on the later version.

[BirdofSaxony]

You can tell that "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" borrows some material from this version. Most notably being the very beginning and end of the song, and the "step down, step down" line, which are both absent from the 2003 single version, of course.

[Issicra]

Isn't that interesting? I never knew that this song was originally from the Pageant sessions.. and I just always assumed that REM re-wrote End of the World in the instance of Bad Day.

REM is well known for re-writing their own songs.

[march2fuzz]

i much prefer this to the later version ....

[clarkbell]

I hear someone coughing at the beginning.

[renzgarcia84]

Amazing, so "Monster"

[CowboyFreestone]

i'm actually watching them live right now and Michael's voice is kind of gone... but they still kick ass

[dmamacher]

Wow! This version doesn't fit with the rest of their repertoire from the 80's at all. A scary first glimpse of what to expect from Monster, forward.

[BirdofSaxony]

You better be excluding New Adventures in Hi-Fi with that comment.

[GrandMoffHawkins]

Better be excluding Automatic for the People, too. Thats probably their second best album

[sdjordan911911]

Assuming you only own 2 REM albums ...

[joeyjokester]

automatic is their best album IMO... although I have to give credit where its due to Out of Time. That was such a solid release too. But early REM with radio free europe, driver 8, so central rain (i'm sorry) is also amazing.... LOVE REM.... What is their best album in your opinion?

[DonnerParty1000]

@joeyjokester Murmur and Automatic For The People

[Psykel]

Hehe, Michael's harmonica skills haven't improved much over the years. :P

There's a crazy hobo living on the streets of Stockholm who plays harmonica like that.

And yeah, I love both versions of Bad day. :)

[glamLizzie]

Fantastica questa versione..è più ''country''..un futuro capolavoro ;)

[akacja77]

Little chaotic,but nice

[Jammerkevin]

I like this older veersion of the song. Its got that "raw" sound. Its as if the band is finding their way through the song, not really sure of what they've got. Just four guys having fun with a jam in the studio. It really and it turned out wonderful. Again, great,great song!

[SonicYoutth]

I find ALOT better than the new version.

This is more raw, warm and alive, although I love both versions, this version is alot better.

[HeeroYuyDekkers]

The newer version is better. Though this is quite funny to listen to.

[AMG991]

i love how the lyrics still apply. we're screwed, aren't we?

no matter, as long as R.E.M. continues to put out brilliant music.

[Dyrsen]

Marvellous! Great track! God bless they released it some 17 yrs later...

[shinyhappy12]

the best i love their old sound, i saw them quite a few times back then!!!

[BeginXtheXBegin]

I would give anything to be able to see them back then. Unfortunately, I wasn't even born then so I'll have to rely on Youtube.

[musicbrain5]

Don't worry I rely on YouTube for that as well! My dad used to see them in clubs before they were even FAMOUS. (He's from Athens GA like them lol)

And I like this version much better than the new one. Also because it was done when Bill Berry was with them. He gave them a great drum sound. Nobody can top him.

[sashwap]

by far the best version of this song.

[solidsn2004]

OMG where did you find this one???

I need it!!!

Do you know if I can find it from somewhere?

[nicholas9889]

its on "And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987"

[YJ4]

Been a fan for almost 10 years... but. I do like the newer version better. Just my opinion.

[pulpstress]

awesome. just awesome.

[ThatHansonCover]

way better than the new version, wow

[buckynohair]

I know lol. thats y i put the other comment directly above straight after. I knew wot i meant just f*cked up lol.

[NiXPredator]

wow thank you ... never heard rock music mixed with beautiful melody this perfect before (0:25-0:37). where did you get this ?

[guromaon]

where can I get the lyrics of this song? thanks

[NiXPredator]

search on google for "REM Bad Day Lyrics" and click the first result =)

It works with nearly EVERY song you can imagine

[guromaon]

thanks, but I'm looking for the 1986 version, in google always appears the song from "Best of REM"

[NiXPredator]

hmm good question but sorry, i don't think you'll find them. This version of the song was a just demo and never aired.

[Eyedunno]

Haha, I forgot that this song has lyrics that later showed up in ITEOTWAWKI.

[buckynohair]

Well the 2003 version anyway lol.

[buckynohair]

Fkin awesome man. Better than the original.

[Ersmarker]

Um, this IS the original...

[Garmrr]

Beautiful. Thank you. From Argentina

[tofudujour]

BeginXtheXBegin said it sounded like "Its the end of the world" The truth is that its the same arrangement. I quote Peter Buck."We never could figure out the arrangement for Bad Day. I really liked the song. but Michael didn't. So without really explaining to him what I was doing, I re-wrote it and turned it into It's The End Of The World. It's the same chords in a different key, and it has the same kind of vibe." I just thought I would clear things up. It's a great song. thanks for posting it!

[iang2643]

Wow, thanks for the info, never knew that

[texsurfer]

great stuff. too bad Bill's gone. magic stuff and times...

[SnakesRush]

wow, it's so great!! it's really fun ;-)

[67kurt94]

wow! you are awesome!

thank so much!

you rules man!

[dcfcinla]

thanks 4 this, R.E.M.Chout, you rule, as ever!

[spooky11092001]

oh thanx for this, goosebumps, awesome, cant belive how great this is

[demetrios4voto]

interesting!!!!

[italian896]

THis is better then the one in 2003

[BeginXtheXBegin]

Wow, this is fantastic. It sounds like 'It's the End of the World as We Know It' at the beginning and at other times. I've been wanting to hear an early version of this, thanks so much for posting it.

[MarkaBland]

thanks for that post... was dying to hear the early version of ( as it was titled back then ) P.S.A.