R.E.M. World Leader Pretend Pinkpop 1989

R.E.M. plays World Leader Pretend live at the Pinkpop Festival 1989.

[@Bntnredsox]

"Green" was an incredible album. I can't say enough about it, and this song is powerful. Well done Athens, GA

[@gordongrant444]

Green is my least fovorite REM album (well, Around the Sun is very close.. ) To each thier own.

[@tuanistico]

I think was their best.

[@BirdofSaxony]

The "We live as we dream, alone" comes from a Gang of Four song titled that, if you're wondering.

[@KerreyTheBitterSugar]

great performance,the intro with banging on a chair is legend.

[@BrunoCristovao1979]

Great song and great performance. The best band in the world. REM will always be Berry, Buck, Mills, Stipe. There's no replacement for Berry. Awesome.

[@AdrianneReneeR]

His voice is comforting once you listen to their music your whole life.

[@josefinebliss2801]

I just started listening to them in July last year and his voice is incredibly comforting to me.

[@marcocastelli7716]

Maybe their most beautiful song !!!

[@BadgerPat]

+Marco Castelli Good call, and let's add Nightswimming to the list, too.

[@Valiumtino71]

I was at this very concert, I was 18 at the time, and will never forget that beautiful sunny day! They were fantastic!!

[@joeybellfurie]

I was there too . 1989 - Dayton , Ohio . Green tour . This gives me the chills every time I see it . "You fill in the mortar , you fill in the harmony "

[@absolutelynonameslef]

That show at UD Arena was my very first concert, as a 13 year old. 45 year old me still loves this album.

[@dr.scanlan6112]

@@absolutelynonameslef What a great 1st concert! I love that album as well.

[@Sean1983]

I went to their show in Vancouver in 2003 and they played this - Michael announced that that very performance was the first time they'd played it at a show since 1989.

[@steverok67]

A, truly, one-of-a-kind band, with, perhaps, more integrity than any other.

[@rinibos1535]

I was there! I was young, first time REM, nice summer evening.....some things are bigger than words can express I guess.....

[@GRMS66]

My favourite REM song. Must have played it a thousand times in the old days we used to carry portable CD players around. 😂😂 First seen them play it live in Edinburgh on the Green tour in 1989 and got the ticket for the show that very day. Where does the time go? Pure class. And class is permanent. Thank you for so many great memories Michael, Peter, Mike and Bill - the legendary REM.

[@peterselles590]

the first 1 minute is the first footage i ever saw what i later found out was R.E.M. on dutch national tv (followed by its the end of the world) i was 13 and hooked

[@hyvakoira]

Much more than a song!!

[@stipelover]

This is just beautiful.

[@gerfarmer]

Theyself is correct Bill Berry left in Oct1997, eight years after this clip. I remember seeing this song live in Dublin on the Green Tour. The image of Stipe banging the chair has stayed with me to this day. 10/10

[@lyonslaforet]

Yes and the "trick" of the beaten chair with a stick also comes from Gang Of Four when they 'd play "He'd Send In The Army" live....

[@MrShotta1989]

Nice.. thanks for uploading 89 the year I was born. Good lyrics timeless music!

[@kirsipuuful]

My favorite all time, great song !

[@beerhe]

I regret not seeing them in concert.

[@mattaki]

mike mills is the man.

[@Nightswimmer80]

He definitely is.

[@JLDB1987]

Seeing this live on tour when it was new was incredible. Their early to mid 80's shows were uinique, electric things. Energetic, moody, spontaneous---that's why they are in the HOF. Not too many chances to see them without Bill after this.

[@RIPmyers]

Great song and band from my home state of Georgia.....Go Dawgs....UGA and Athens, Georgia rule!!!

[@jeffbrown-hill7739]

What a fantastic performance.

[@DjRogCon]

REM Green Tour was my first concert I attended as a kid. This song is still solid

[@absolutelynonameslef]

Same here! I was just a wee lad (13, I think).

[@fosters36]

Reach out for me, and hold me tight..... geweldige band, mooie momenten op pinkpop die ik zal koesteren

[@jatojo]

This song made me discover the real REM.

[@chandand5740]

Awesome as ever

[@tmoore2010]

This song defined some portions of my teen years.

[@feke19833]

pretty cool song! I love green!

[@ginamari]

I love this song

[@theeponym]

I'd be tempted to say the same. Definitely my favourite of the '80s albums.

[@extoraxot1930]

Shit, this performance is just AMAZING and PERFECT. Love REM from argentina ❤️❤️

[@ff621]

I only had the chance to see them once and they put up a good show.

[@matthewstetson711]

Nice live version with the GOF intro. REM was the shit.

[@REMchout]

Nice man. . thanks. Nice Gang Of 4 intro/Jon King chair bash.

[@demetrios4voto]

thank you

[@quartzy4914]

This is an amazing song; don't know why it wasn't a single. This isn't the best performance of the song on KZbin, though.

[@cakewin]

we placed this video. it is awsome.

[@roberialeite4916]

perfeita música !

[@josefinaherreweghe5358]

Lyrics I sit at my table and wage war on myself It seems like it's all, it's all for nothing I know the barricades And I know the mortar in the wall breaks I recognize the weapons, I used them well This is my mistake Let me make it good I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down I've a rich understanding of my finest defenses I proclaim that claims are left unstated I demand a rematch I decree a stalemate I divine my deeper motives I recognize the weapons I've practiced them well, I fitted them myself It's amazing what devices you can sympathize (empathize) This is my mistake Let me make it good I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down Reach out for me and hold me tight Hold that memory Let my machine talk to me, let my machine talk to me This is my world and I am world leader pretend This is my life And this is my time I have been given the freedom To do as I see fit It's high time I've razed the walls that I've constructed It's amazing what devices you can sympathize (empathize) This is my mistake Let me make it good I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down You fill in the mortar You fill in the harmony You fill in the mortar I raised the wall And I'm the only one I will be the one to knock it down

[@npspec34]

Excellent, Johnny Quest. White gloves? To quote Ringo, "I've got blisters on my fingers!" Or was that the walrus. Let my machine talk to me.

[@buddhabder]

@lexo30 I agree. I was horrified when I heard Shiny Happy People for the first time.

[@frankcourtney6065]

Fitted them myself 😉

[@lexo30]

@cpkuhnen I am old enough to have seen them do this song on the Green tour, back in 89 (I still have the tour programme somewhere) and Stipe did the Gang of Four intro in Dublin at the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion, too. I also read most of the reviews of the UK gigs on that tour, and he did it pretty regularly, apparently.

[@krism6260]

I'm thinking "Why didnt I know they were at Pinkpop?". But i forgive myself, i was 12...

[@antonionunes4557]

NOTE 1000!!!!

[@demetrios4voto]

thank you! to elphantalla1

[@talladegajunkie1439]

I heard that distorted guitar intro they used for Feeling Gravitys Pull on the Green tour...... Do you have Feeling Gravitys Pull from this performance?

[@ff621]

Green was their Best album ever

[@gordongrant444]

I beg to differ...

[@Alan-gi2ku]

Everything from “Chronic Town” to “Up” was very good to excellent. Reveal had 3 great songs. After that it was kinda hit and miss but still some good stuff.

[@oophelia46]

I remember spending all my babysitting money on REM cassettes. wow.

[@jeffreyg4626]

what are cassettes?

[@hankrosenfeld8433]

SO SPOT ON TRUE POIGNANT RIGHT NOW

[@kukai888]

mine too!

[@lexo30]

@karmapolicemannn I agree. I think that Green was the last absolutely great album REM made, and that this is the finest song on it. I am not a snob; I was so excited that they suddenly started to get really famous, but at the same time I was hating the records that they made. To this day I think Monster and New Adventures are the only decent albums since Green.

[@gordongrant444]

I beg to differ...

[@davestark7776]

Complete nonsense. .

[@theyself]

No, it was during the Monster tour that he had the aneurysm.

[@stipelover]

This is great! Do you have more clips from this show?

[@averst69]

I had the bootleg "The Dream" but some stupid Junk broke into my appartment and stole it years and years ago. Does someone have a copy?

[@ZoophPA]

"I demand a recount"

[@scottroberts6781]

Yep. How appropriate all these years later.

[@ZoophPA]

@@scottroberts6781 The entire song is scarily still accurate.

[@YouDolo]

i wonder is this about GB Sr.?

[@lord-dark-coffee]

Today...

[@talladegajunkie1439]

Do you have anymore from this?

[@henriquenoronha1352]

Esta é pro Adão e silva

[@buttholesurfer666]

Just politicians in general.

[@y.i.y.i.3436]

where is Mani

[@dghaag]

chair

[@npspec34]

Pro all the way amateurs need not apply

[@gusoverton8295]

before REM became self righteous pricks full of themselves. I like this.

[@gordongrant444]

I hear you. They, i.e. Michael, really became loathsome later on, though they continued to make some great records, in spite of his descent into self-righteous pretentiousness.

[@davestark7776]

Oh bore off....

[@blobcity3591]

I am rem - Peter buck