10 Awesome Rock Music Songs With Terrible Lyrics
2. Shiny Happy People - R.E.M
Everyone around, love them, love them/Put it in your hands, take it, take it/There's no time to cry, happy, happy/Put it in your heart where tomorrow shines
These lyrics, in the hands of anyone else, would have ruined their career.
Seriously, what is this happy-clappy hippie nonsense? Singing about love and joy is one thing, but you're allowed to be clever with it!
Also, this is apparently what the bridge of this song consists of:
Dit, dit, dit, dit, dit, dit, dit-dit, dit
Good grief.
Despite all of this, Shiny Happy People by R.E.M is fantastic.
In true R.E.M fashion, the phrase comes from a Chinese propaganda poster Michael Stipe saw during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
It was designed to be a satire on the disconnect between this message and the government's actions, but instead it became an all-out bubblegum pop number with a member of the B-52s on backing vocals.
Shiny Happy People gets a pass because of the band behind it and their pedigree. Instead of a career killer, it's a neat little oddity in the discography of one of the greats.
And if you don't like it, then don't worry! Michael Stipe doesn't like it either!