[Dogeatdog]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…Michael Stripe didn’t give the rights because he didn’t see the ‘fit’ with the vibe of the series as it was a serious political song…the lyrics were more ironic of those ‘shiny happy people’ that were seen in propaganda posters…depicting something that wasn’t a reality of lives …REM lyrics/songs do tend to often be quite political in meaning and quite deep….I think the catchiness on the tune of Shiny Happy People was more meant as an ironic contrast…?..but that’s the very thing that made it so popular, wasn’t it…so there was an irony……I wounder if Michael Stripe ever regretted his decision with the multiple million dollars earned in Royalties of the Friends theme tune….

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/rem-shi...nanmen-square/

Now your comments for this song choice make sense to me . I never realised it was a political song. You learn something new everyday