10 Bands Who Used Songs To 'One-Up' Rival Artists

R.E.M. had been going strong ever since their indie rock masterpiece Murmur exploded on the rock scene in the early 80's. What no one could have predicted was that the band were on a trajectory that would take them into the upper echelons of rock stardom as they entered the next decade.

Though much of their 1992 opus Automatic for the People deals with more mature subject matters, Michael Stipe still tried to have some fun with his creative muse by pulling from the alt-rock bands alongside his own. "Man on the Moon" is known now as a reflection on comedian Andy Kaufman, but the casual listener may not pick up on Stipe's overuse of the word "yeah" throughout the tune.

When questioned about it, Stipe explained that he deliberately wanted to fill the song to the brim with "yeahs" in an effort to outdo Nirvana's constant use of the word throughout songs like "Lithium." Despite the more playful wordplay present in the verses, the song still holds up as one of the greatest moments of R.E.M.'s 90's run, as they manage to fit right in among their alt-rock brethren.

Kurt Cobain could have been flattered or annoyed, but rock fans won out in the end by getting a great tune.