R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth? (Official Video)

[Sidmo]

Of all things I just found out the meaning behind the name of this song, which happens to be made fun of in the form of a subtle joke in Archer.

Thus Archer brought me here!

[aivilik]

WHat the hell is with the commercials?

[23hooey]

0:32 you can see its kurt's guitar its a left hand stringed upside down and the bass players suit is gram parsons

[jstifyd]

I think Mike Mills is one of the most under-appreciated musicians in music. Great bass lines and incredible harmonies.

[KenRocker1968]

...

[jcmalty]

Kurt Cobains Jagstang!!!!

[JWFernel]

Dan Rather

[Eliskoopa]

I still remember this song being played on the radio back in 1994. Good year for music that was.

[MillionMillionBirds]

Tha fuck?! this song is censored!

[typearmy]

I want guitar

[nineblind]

This song always make me smile. Thanks

[corbinscorner]

thanks for the tune.... this totally made my night once again.



[cassieainsfan]

@jeff4bucks TRUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[shelleyinthecity]

How did the same band that made this incredible song also do crap like "Shiny Happy People" and "Radio Song"? 

[DonnerParty1000]

@shelleyinthecity Those 2 songs were missteps in an amazing career.

[KenRocker1968]

What about Part Wealth?How much does Kenneth actually make?

[dent9585]

Takes me back to the Fall of '94 as a college sophomore. Remember thinking, "Damn, this song rocks!" My opinion hasn't changed in 18 years.

[Cambrensis]

Turn it up - louder - no more -God I love it!!!!

[AvatarAang132]

Kurt Cobain's Fender Jagstang :))

[ADZ01982]

Before i played this song i made sure i turned by speakers nice and loud. ( my apologies to by downstairs neighbour !)

[cwatson426]

Hahahaha I just heard a reference to this song in an episode of Archer. Also, never noticed Michael's funny face at 3:09-3:10.



[MrLondonCage]

This is a great song! I mean one of the best ever written!  Period.

[84timknight]

I love the fact that instead of letting Kurt Cobain's Jag-Stang guitar gather dust Peter Buck used it on this song and included it in the video....nice touch! ;)

[ZeldaFoxEars]

@84timknight I know its great.

[tsimon1234]

I was born the year this song came out... seems I was destined to love it!

[TheDeanmmich]

All REM songs rock!! this is a great one!!!

[arbiter1962]

REM's most powerful track.Just kickin !

[jakkoboese]

Great song, my father loved this song. R.I.P pops

[jek21]

WOW, Radiohead totally ripped this song off for Bones!

[peypq]

@jek21 yeah, and then muse ripped bones off for about half of the songs on showbiz.

[BareBandSubscription]

@peypq And like Radiohead, Muse evolved to a point where you can't really justifiably call them rip-offs anymore. Radiohead wasn't as original as people hailed them to be back in the day, but they've grown.

[BareBandSubscription]

@jek21 Radiohead's core sound is essentially just that of the late Jeff Buckley with "Monster"-era Peter Buck guitar effects and (technically impressive) instrumentation. You're not that far off.

[museandmanicsfan]

@jek21 Muse, Radiohead and R.E.M are amazing groups. Muse are better than Radiohead in my opinion, and even though I love Bones, I believe that most of the tracks on Showbiz are better. Radiohead are more original, but I think that Muse are a development (or perhaps 'improvement). However, does anyone here know 'Too Many Sandwiches' by Stereophonics? That song strung to mind the first time I heard this. Check it out!

[jek21]

@museandmanicsfan I find that people who say that generally haven't heard very much Radiohead.

[museandmanicsfan]

@jek21 On the contrary, I have listened to their entire discography multiple times through. I know more Radiohead songs than most people who call themselves Radiohead fans.

[jeff4bucks]

Interesting fact: Peter Buck is playing Kurt Cobain's guitar on the song.

[gerardwayy101]

@jeff4bucks fuckk man i was going to mention that

[CosmicDoorknob]

@jeff4bucks How do you know that exact fact?

[Torkgasmicgirl8]

@jeff4bucks ..and is Mike Mills wearing Gram Parson's suit?

[Pinion512]

@jeff4bucks I thought that loser Cobain was a left handed player?

[alexcastor]

@Pinion512 they restrung the guitar so if you look you can see he's playing it upside down

[Pinion512]

@alexcastor Makes sense.

[dinosaysraah]

@jeff4bucks i was just going to say that :P

[SmokingFighters83]

9 people don't find the frequency!!!!

[pod7178]

Can you believe how this total idiot I once worked with called them "annoying" ????? KILLED ME, FUCKING KILLED ME RUINED MY WHOLE EVENING !!!!!! FUCK HER !!!!! R.E.M. FOREVER!!!!!!!!!

[jonnysolar]

@pod7178

If she said REM were 'anoying' then I'd just love to know what she called good music ;) Bet it was stuff like NDubz and Riihanna, followed up by a touch of Bob the Builder.... Some just have no taste

[arizacalderin]

@pod7178 Probably she loves reggaeton... Poor stoopid bitch!! Long live R.E.M!!!

[pod7178]

Nothing beats being fifteen years old, when this first came out!

[potgab7]

@pod7178: Aw, hell, I reckon being 44 did...particularly now! Damn those smokes was good...sigh...

[DickDastardlyx]

What was the story behind this song?  I can't remember. Didn't some guy beat the hell out of Dan Rather and kept repeating "What's the frequency Kenneth" while he was doing it.

[JRCrowley]

@DickDastardlyx That is correct, sir. Please see here /watch?v=2Huyn9itzIw

[hork111]

@DickDastardlyx It was about a jealous boyfriend. They mistook Rather for a guy who was banging the guy's girlfriend. The gentleman connecting his fist to Rather's face was asking his buddy (Kenneth) what was the frequency (that Rather was banging the girlfriend ie hourly, daily, weekly, etc). Presumably this was an attempt to calibrate the punishment to the frequency of the sexual trysts.

[AlphaGreeky]

@DickDastardlyx "It refers to an incident in New York City, where news anchor Dan Rather was the victim of an unprovoked attack by an unknown assailant, who, between beatings, would ask, "what's the frequency, Kenneth?" The assailant was identified as William Tager, who attacked Rather because he thought the media had taken control of his mind."

[salgoudsamoht]

@AlphaGreeky well, did Dan ever tell him the frequency, or not? it seems like it would be common sense to tell the poor fellow what the frequency was rather than take a beating like a yard dog. that story never really made sense even with the info about Mr. Tager. If you live in the usa, it's just common sense to know how to handle those who wish to know frequencies, which year it is, or when the mother ship will arrive. if Mr. Rather was too dense to figure that out, he deserved an ass whuppin

[AlphaGreeky]

@salgoudsamoht Interesting viewpoint. salgoudsmoht. Tell me more.

[AlphaGreeky]

@salgoudsamoht : Do a search on youtube for "They're coming to take me away" by Lard..........it explains quite a lot.

[salgoudsamoht]

@AlphaGreeky no, i don't want to. i prefer to remain ignorant. in the 1950s, mental healthists began releasing people incarcerated in institutions for the very very nervous. wonder drugs like thorazine would keep them docile so they would not harm themselves or others once released. this over-reaction to prior problems with nuthouses was blinded by optimism about a clever technological solution. it's pretty typical of american policy makers in every field, whether it's dope, sex, music, or war.

[AlphaGreeky]

@salgoudsamoht this is a live performance of REM playing the song Live with Dan Rather back in 1995: on youtube. Do a search for "REM & Dan Rather - What's The Frequency Kenneth? - 1995 "

Dan seems Rather unfamiliar with the tune i must say. What does this all mean?

[salgoudsamoht]

@AlphaGreeky it means that the beating administered by Mr. Tager resulted in significant damage to Mr. Rather' pre-frontal cortex, i.e., he got brain damage in the part of the head where conceptual thimking are done. This was no setback to his career as a teleprompter reader. ocular abilities are handled by the parietal lobe upside the head. however, in a creative context such as filming a music video, he'd be confused since he couldn't think abstractly. He would (and did) look like a retard.

[atripa645]

Kurt Loved REM

[acbloy]

@atripa645 Wanker did himself. fuck him- you can't do that shit- WE deserve more, so die cc- this is REM, they didn't take the sucker way out-they just sold the house

[Dirlandas]

Perfection. Pop perfection.

[MrPorkpie81]

I can't believe they've amended the end lyric!. Sounds such a bodge job.

[acbloy]

@MrPorkpie81 porkie pies, kaaahhnt- you get to drink from the firehose!!

[449ray]

i got a speeding ticket while listening to this song

[minami072]

懐かしい！マルコビッチの穴を見たときは彼が主役かと一瞬思った­ことがある。

[stateyourrights]

Yeah go Jag-stang

[2bare2foot2]

Interesting how they changed the final lyric, from "I never understood don't fuck with me, uh-huh." to "I never understood the frequency, uh-huh." For the music video.

[semlohd]

@2bare2foot2 I dunno, maybe some people think 'fuck' isn't a very appropriate word.

[Nathangrant120]

They dont make music like this anymore



[ScareyW]

isn't it an old song ? cuz I heard it in Friends

[blackwelderadam]

@ScareyW 1994...during the time of "Friends."

[leefoster222]

@ScareyW 1994

[uvebeentagged]

I wish they would do one last tour. didn't get a chance to see em live

[endooggeno1990]

Mike Mills Tambien Toca Una Guitarra De Cobain En El Video

[1212MrTomb]

Peter buck is playing Kurt Cobain's Fender Jag-stang in this video. makes it quite sad actually.

[ChurchPunk88]

@1212MrTomb indeed. I can't every imagine Kurt's guitar playing something with that light of distortion.

[schroeder8911]

6 people don't understand the frequency...

[00stupid1]

Radiohead Hearing damage

[paisteuser06]

such a neat video, mood-liftin' tune, i love it. I know the 90s are LONG gone but we HAVE to experience some kind of music revolution soon. Someday my grandkids will ask me what music was like in my day, and ill reply with "Well...get off my lap and go help grandma!!"

[aintmisbehavinn]

I have to keep playing this over and over jus to keep my sanity..

[buslady138]

@aintmisbehavinn Me too!

[Bozzezon]

I just love the sound of that guitar!

If you was able to just pick one sound.. this would be it!

Can listen to this all day long.

Peace <3

[intothealways]

6 people couldn't understand the frequencies.

[pandrea2003]

this video made​me fall in love, in far 1994

[REMLostmyreligion]

Lol, they cut "don't fuck with me" out @3:42...

[xdavstratx]

hes playing kurt cobains guitar so lucky....!!

[NicoleDiver]

Stipe so fucking cool in this video

[djstavri]

R.E.M. = Kings of alternative rock

[jasonr041175]

ONE OF THE GREATEST OPENINGS OF A SONG EEEEEVER!!!!!!

[phoebe150]

Michael Stipe at his best behind the mic.

[darwleg]

I like this song, it sounds a little bit grunge !

[TheOnlyCharlton]

the guitarists guitar was designed and played by kurt cobain

[acbloy]

@TheOnlyCharlton that's a left handed Fender Jaguar strung for a righty,mate- Kurt Cobain may have played one but he was -7 years old when she came out. Unless you're suggesting he "designed" from another realm- possible, but I'd have to consult Ravi for proof- cheers

[TheOnlyCharlton]

@acbloy nope, its a left handed (converted for righty playing) fender jag-stang designed by kurt, however when he died, courtney love gave it to the guitarist who plays it in this video.

[fatriff]

@TheOnlyCharlton Peter Buck uses Kurt Cobain's Jag-Stang that he received as a gift from Courtney Love after Cobain died and plays it upside-down as Cobain was left-handed.

[TheOnlyCharlton]

@fatriff yes

[ThatKrookedVulture]

My name is Kenneth, so my film teacher calls me "Frequency"!!

[ELAMOAFORTUNADO]

Happy Birthday, Peter Buck!!!!!!! I love this song!!!!

[ThroneTm]

LIVERPOOL FC

[hilliuno]

this one, i think is my personal favourite of them.

reminds a little of planet telex by radiohead, specially in the chorus :D

[Ali74]

My favourite REM track. Such an underrated song

[WastedDaze78]

@Ali74 I love it, it rocks, but not my favorite... but then again I don't have a favorite REM song... they put out a shit load of good songs! 

[ArtypNk]

Arr Ee Em

[myempathy1]

What's the Frequency, Kenneth? The 8th Millennium Prize Problem.

[leefoster222]

too bad ricflairfan5's account was terminated he had a lot of god R.E.M. content. stupid youtube copyright laws. hes got a top comment too

[Nirvanafan4ourever]

I wish i had Kurt Cobains Jag-stang, it looks so awsome in this video.

[StereOasis93]

@Nirvanafan4ourever Is that really Kurts?

[steelundergrounder]

what album is this from?

[Sting383]

@steelundergrounder Monster. Terrific album.

[redjohn201]

I love this song but would anyone care to explain what its about?

[bebioamaro]

@redjohn201

Stipe said in a recent interview that it's about a guy who's already old but still acts and dresses like he's a hip teenager, going to rock shows with baggy shirts, but no matter how much he tries, he just doesn't fit in, and the kids all go like "what's this grandpa doing here?", which is a feeling that Stipe said he had felt a few times already by the time they were doing Monster.

[redjohn201]

@bebioamaro Thanks for that explanation...appreciate it.

[tbbarre16]

@redjohn201

river pheonix, actor that od'd

[Saxony4]

This song gives dan rathers nightmares.

[bjdon99]

Its funny that they'd make a song about a crazy dude beating up Dan Rather, and that it would be a hit.

[Saxony4]

@bjdon99 -beats you senselessly while screams, "What's the frequency, kenneth?!"-

[maxdecphoenix]

@bjdon99 even crazier, is they actually had Dan Rather sing it, poorly, a few years later :P

[flipside799]

Jag-stang! RIP Kurt Cobain. Woot REM

[dirtyal1234]

rem, my favorite pandora station. spent a lot of $ on their cds over the years :)

[DeanGuitar1992]

REM are awesome 

[jeanom11]

this is funny, Mills was going through his sequin stage!!!!!!!!!!!! love it....

[wowbobwow37]

@jeanom11

Yeah, loved the rhinestone suit he wore when I saw them on this tour.

[carbon4me]

R.E.M. thank you for this kick ass song. Of course this is my favorite song in your long list of outstanding releases.

Ken in San Jose, CA

[kanutops]

I never thought I would find a song with my name in it! Thanks R.E.M.

[Indolentable]

Cobain's guitar made me happy to see this video

[cnabrunk77]

@007dicktator Aww. So funny. Internet rage is so amusing.

[filiparmstrong]

he playing on Kurt Cobain's guitar:D

[TheGreatNighthawker]

@filiparmstrong \m/

[cnabrunk77]

@007dicktator Wow....if you think that was a funny joke you have a real shitty sense of humor. I'd like to see you do better them you social retard. Go troll a teen Christian site or something and stop trying to comment on shit you have no idea about. Yeah they broke up, eventually all bands will. I can't even begin to tell you how much we all laughed at your belligerent raging here. You know if you could spell worth half a shit or even use proper grammar you might actually be funny..maybe.

[atheistphilosopher]

@cnabrunk77 At their age I think you call it retirement.

[ongkienemir]

lagu kenangan waktu gue terdampar di Lhokseumawe Aceh, sendirian, jauh darimana mana, my memory song when I was stranded in Lhokseumawe Aceh, alone, in the middle of nowhere

[cnabrunk77]

Sorry my mistake, formed in 1980, so 30 or so years

[cnabrunk77]

@007dicktator Yeah thats why he and his band was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 and been around for 20 or so years. Oh and were seen as a pioneer of the genre by bands such as Nirvana and Pavement.......yeah it was all about the stars on his clothes.

[EoghanKeegan]

It's been ages since I listened to this. Glad to hear it again.

[vvsillybillyvv]

white man can rap

[1rhpsfan]

3 people don't know what the frequency is.

[GSeward]

Ha, this reminds me of when I was in middle school

[db0311usmc]

@GSeward reminds me of when I was in the Marines half way through my enlistment....good times

[spacefreak09]

Hey Kenneth, what's the frequency?

[shelleyinthecity]

Mike Mills went through a weird phase in 1996 when he liked wearing those ugly ass rhinestone suits.

[Screeech9]

I swear, if the video started, i thought to myself, did i type RATM ?

[scottyg354]

@Kenster1025 dude, I'm 27 and I bought a copy of Monster when it first came out. Think i was like 12. Monster and Dookie by Green Day were my first two albums.

[indiralaksmi]

@scottyg354 Oh My God, me too XD. I asked my grandma to buy me the Dookie album of Greenday, then few weeks after I bought Monster.

[fatriff]

@scottyg354 Well, I am 32 and I bought Monster when it 1st came out in 1994 and I was 14.. So your talking SHIT. Dookie came out a few months before Monster.

[MrPolymeneas]

good to see Kurt Cobains guitar been played in a song like that.....

[MrGhost321]

michael stipe is cooler bald

[lxw0052]

Wow. For whatever reason, one of the only classic REM CD's I have never owned, and what I feel is their best rocker. By far. Though formally disbanded, what a band! What range. From rockers like this to atmospheric tunes like "Night Swimming" to folk-tinged "Song, Song". Berry, Buck, Mills and Stipe: "You will be missed. Shine on you crazy, Georgian, kudzu tangled, night gardening, free European diamonds."

[REMjimmy]

"What's the frequency, Kenneth?" is your Benzedrine, uh-huh

I was brain-dead, locked out, numb, not up to speed

I thought I'd pegged you an idiot's dream

Tunnel vision from the outsider's screen

I never understood the frequency, uh-huh

You wore our expectations like an armored suit, uh-huh

<3

[SmotPoker09]

i can feel the sound of that guitar through my veins

[breen05]

I feel lucky that I got to see REM at Old Trafford... amazing band first band I ever really liked If they ever decide for one last tour I will deffo go and see them... farewell REM you have given us years of amazing Music and good luck for the future

[MattTMoss]

notice in the background that is Kurt Cobain's actual Jag-Stang. His personal Jag-Stang.

[RebelThoughts]

@MattTMoss In the background? Peter Buck is full on playing it in the video.

[MattTMoss]

@RebelThoughts Well, in most of the video it's just chillin in the background

[Flashpoint922]

If you notice, this was Michael's first ever appearance with the "bald" hairstyle! Notice they don't show the top of his head until BAM! The first chorus! Remember, when this came out in September 1994, it was the first time anyone saw him without any hair! :) He's had it since :p

[mtristanj]

Dance, Michael, dance.

[theforestero]

this song always makes me sad and i dont know why....backstory stipes?

[HumanistMercenary4]

REM, real musos

[oboogie80]

What a kick ass song

[johnandelizabth]

Here's to hoping you change your mind!

[kmo359]

Damn good Band!

[ricflairfan5]

even trollers dare not touch the dislike bar

[toptoon4ever]

@ricflairfan5 if anyone did touch the dislike bar they would be hunted down and forced to accept a marmite only diet

[Ludak021]

@ricflairfan5 F U, I give REM instant gay down thumb. Seems you like thumb up don't you? O yes you do. You got erection now..thumbsss..uuup...fag.

[ermaslv44]

@ricflairfan5 i did problem?

[tigerslilly29]

Great '90's song. I miss the '90's sooo much!

[sergeantfan3]

See the dislike bar? Me neither.

[Kenster1025]

Man I am glad my name is actually Kenneth....but it is sad that the only ones who make reference to this song are those over the age of 30 or 35. While I am only 20, and knew this song in the early 2000's.