R.E.M.- So Central Rain (Live 1983)

[pyrogyra72]

OH MY I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT MICHAEL STYPE HAD HAIR!!!!!

[catkisser]

This really reminds me of hiking through a state park with my cassette version of discman. Peanut butter on whole wheat and grapes.

[catkisser]

I don't know what show this was.. but, at the risk of being racist, I don't think African Americans were that into REM.

[Jammerkevin]

@catkisser I'm an african American and I've been into R.E.M. ever since I saw them when I was going to school in Atlanta in the early 80's. I was present at an early show at Tyrone's in Athens. I didn't know what to expect. My friends just said, "We've got to go to Athens and see the music scene" I accidently stumbled onto the band. Naturally, I was mesmorized by the band's set and I was an immediate fan ! !

[catkisser]

An entirely welcome blast into the very nice past.

[mom2eandem]

look at those baby faces!

and why do I still dance like that??

[rog944]

I do remember seeing this when it aired on tv. This is my first memory of R.E.M.

[filltheband]

Man, this is great. There's some great stuff from the Tube in 83 but this is on another level. I wish they'd put this on their IRS years DVD compilation. Thanks to Elpantalla1.

[mikedsorensen]

I saw this "live" in '83. A friend and I were channel-clicking and came across the show before the band was on. We were dismissing the show as lame, childish and boring.

Then R.E.M. was introduced and we sheepishly recanted our criticism. That was the first and last time I ever saw "Livewire."

[MORBIN5150]

Great vintage film!!!!! Hell. I am from Athens,Ga. and had not seen this ...thanx for the post. Still don't know how many versions of these lyrics are out since they played the college scene.

[biffodio]

Thanks for posting this. Maybe I'm making it up, but I vaguely remember a Q+A session in this episode where one of the kids asked if the band would print lyrics because Stipe's vocals are so hard to understand. Stipe was peeved, as I recall, though I think that was his default state at the time.

[joeyjokester]

yea. he said that he didn't want to give out lyrics because they change the lyrics when they sing live sometimes, depending on how they feel. They still keep the original meaning of the song, but either way, they want the opportunity to change the lyrics during live performances. It was also said that he wanted people to interpret the song on their own without having the lyrics there to stare at.

[cdzlink]

I heard them say once that once they decided to do an older song on a tour and had to go into a guitar shop and find the book because they couldn't remember how to play it or the words.

[Zepster77]

What a great live band they were. Holy mackeral!

[B2thaT]

I AM BLACK!!!! I'm not in this video but I've been dancing to and loving R.E.M. since 1986!! Just saw them again in NC last month. I think this video is great and I wish I'd seen it back in the day so I (and my cousin) would not have felt so left out at all of their shows.... LONG LIVE R.E.M.

[B2thaT]

I AM BLACK!!!! I'm not in this video but I've been dancing to and loving R.E.M. since 1986!! Just saw them again in NC last month. I think this video is great and I wish I'd seen it back in the day so I (and my cousin) would not have felt so left out at all of their shows.... ((( LONG LIVE R.E.M. )))

[damgypsy21]

black people danceing to rem......i think i have seen everything there is to see on the internet....lol

[johnbourbon]

haaa you took the words right outta my mouth

[biglice33]

The best band ! Thanks !

[Orkomagic]

This is the wierdest set I've seen in a long time.

[jjj7477]

nice crowd of "Kids from Fame" rejects......!

[zxrayx]

this song would be 100 times better with synthesizers. . .

[robramos1969]

Please put down the pipe my friend.

[MoonchildMindaugasRo]

My most fav REM song :D

Great :D

[pauleyh]

nice live performance prolly the best live one ever

[ttwnrancon]

I remember this episode. It actually started with a skit where Newman tried to get into the place, before eventually sneaking in. Hence the "door person" pulling him in somewhere. At least that's how I remember it. I could be wrong - it was about 25 years ago.

[angrylambie]

oh yay - breath if fresh air - thanks for upload!

[chrismoff17]

This is brilliant - thank you for posting one of my fave songs of all time in a surreal setting of mid 80's muppets!

[Soniclife91]

thats offensive to muppets!

[vivathe90s]

WTF?!Is the host being pulled in to the dancefloor by a cameraman as video starts? ...This is f$@/% bizarre.

Anyway , R.E.M. ROCKS !

[LunaSeaSane]

Real ironic, easy smiles and dance poses to something that has nothing to do with looking cool dancing on TV. But the times were kinder. Isn't that strange?

[BeginXtheXBegin]

Ooh, this is awesome. Except for all the weird people dancing. But the music is great.

[WickedWings07]

Sweet! You got the other song from the Livewire show up!  Thanks for the add!