10 Songs Rock Bands Refuse To Play Live

3. R.E.M. – ‘Shiny Happy People’

Shiny Happy People was the second single from R.E.M.’s 'Out Of Time' album. It was inspired by a Chinese propaganda poster the Chinese government released after a massacre in 1989. It was being used to promote significance of Chinese workers and soldiers and made China to be looked upon as a utopia. Michael Stipe’s lyrics, written over what he called “the stupidest song that sounded so buoyant and weird”, were intended to be an ironic commentary on the government’s propaganda campaign. But the irony went over the heads of most fans who just thought it was a nice and catchy tune.

Stipe has gone on record saying ;

“I hate that song. It’s a fruity pop song written for children. It just is what it is. If there was one song that was sent into outer space to represent R.E.M. for the rest of time, I would not want it to be Shiny Happy People.”

Due to the band's dislike of the song, it was emitted from their 2003 greatest hits album and they refused to play it live. The band managed to grit their teeth through just two performances of the song in 1991 before ditching it forever.