Pop Song 89

"Pop Song 89" is the opening track and third single released from R.E.M.'s sixth studio album Green. It peaked at number 86 on the Hot 100, and in the UK "Stand" was re-released instead.

"Pop Song 89"
Single by R.E.M.
from the album Green
B-side	"Pop Song 89" (acoustic version)
Released	16 May 1989 (US)[1]
Recorded	1988
Genre	Alternative rock[2] bubblegum pop[3][4][5] power pop[6]
Length	3:03
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills Michael Stipe
Producer(s)	Scott Litt R.E.M.
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Stand" (1989) "Pop Song 89" (1989) "Get Up" (1989)

Cash Box called it a "cynical parody of pop" but said that "it turns out they’ve created a pop hit despite themselves."^[7]

The video was directed by band frontman Michael Stipe^[8] and features him and three women, all of them topless, dancing to the song.^[9] When MTV asked Stipe to put censor bars on the three women in the video, he superimposed black bars on the chests of all four dancers, himself included, later stating, "a nipple is a nipple."^[10] The uncensored video would ultimately be made available through the band's YouTube channel in 2011, albeit with an age restriction attached.^[11]

The acoustic version that was used as the single's B-side was also included on disc 4 of the 1993 box set The Automatic Box, along with the other Green B-sides, and the bonus disc of the limited two-disc edition of In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 in 2003.

Cover versions

Motion City Soundtrack covered the song on the Punk Goes 80's compilation album, released on Fearless Records in 2005.

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.

1. "Pop Song 89" – 3:03
2. "Pop Song 89" (acoustic) – 2:58

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12]	94
US Billboard Hot 100[13]	86
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14]	16
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15]	14

References

1. "R.E.M. - Pop Song 89 (LP Version)" – via www.45cat.com.
2. "10 Classic R.E.M. Tracks Revisited". Billboard.
3. "R.E.M. Green 25th anniversary re-issue". Rte.ie. June 2, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
4. "Farewell R.E.M. : Talk about the passion | State Magazine". Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
5. "Album Review: R.E.M. - Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011". DrownedInSound.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
6. Boyd, Glen (May 31, 2013). "Music Review: R.E.M. – Green: The 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition". Blogcritics.org. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
7. "Top of the Pops" (PDF). Cash Box. May 13, 1989. p. 18. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
8. "mvdbase.com - R.E.M. - "Pop song 89"". Mvdbase.com. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
9. "Most NSFW Music Videos". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
10. Richin, Leslie "10 Classic R.E.M. Tracks Revisted" Billboard January 4, 2016
11. R.E.M. (July 1, 2011). "R.E.M. - Pop Song 89 (Official Music Video) [Pop Screen Video Version]" (Video). YouTube. Concord Records. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6378." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
13. "REM Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
14. "REM Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
15. "REM Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2020.