R.E.M. - Orange Crush | REACTION

[@JStarStar00]

REM was neck and neck with U2 for the biggest band in the world in the late 80s-early 90s.

[@martyniner8893]

Micheal Stipe’s father was a chopper pilot in Vietnam

[@Thefess]

I was wondering why there are helicopter sounds in the background. Had to be a nod to that

[@42Mrgreenman]

This song is indeed about Vietnam, but if you notice in the video, the young man is only wearing one dog tag, which would indicate that he had a family member that died serving in the military (One tag is kept with the military, one sent home to the family, you can see it in a scene from Saving Private Ryan where one squad member is idly looking through a box of dogtags collected from the dead for Ryan's name and tossing them aside like playing cards when Tom Hanks chastises him for doing something so morbid right in front of the whole platoon, and IIRC, in some situations they had to imbed the other tag in the body because they were so maimed that they couldn't be identified once the body left the immediate battle area where witnesses could identity them) So, in the video it seems like his brother has died and he is digging a grave, but has no body, only a small box of his personal effects from the military...(IIRC one of the band's friends did die in Vietnam)

[@laneynorth8253]

They were so good live. Love REM. 💕

[@jonathanlocke6404]

I think a lot of people think of them as this sort of folky acoustic rock with mandolins, but these guys could pin your ears back...

[@brookehornback1896]

I was a fan of REM before they got any radio play so glad to see this review.✌

[@michaelmaloskyjr]

When you say you were a REM fan BEFORE they got any airplay -- how then did you hear their music?

[@michaelmaloskyjr]

@@amykidd6811 I was curious because I think most older fans of REM (majority now lol) heard REM through MTV (120 Minutes, IRS' The Cutting Edge, etc.) Radio play of their 1983-84 vinyl "Murmur" and "Reckoning" would have been limited to SPIN Magazine format radio stations and ofc college radio. So REM is an excellent example -- one of many -- where TV breaks in a band long before radio. (Hah! I still have my white IRS Man t-shirt I ordered from that show "The Cutting Edge" which ran from '83 to '87 and ofc was REM's record label until 1987.)

[@jeffrogers2180]

'84, South Central rain...

[@susanoneill370]

Thanx for diving into R.E.M.! Think the lyrics are sooooo important. And, Nick, you got it! Groove, baby, groove!

[@bartstarr100]

Orange Crush could be Napalm, could be Agent Orange. The harmonies, the jangly guitars and the indecipherable lyrics. Beautifully 1980s fog of reality.

[@nancymartineau-bauman6018]

This is one of my favorite songs they did, this certainly got a lot of air play back in the day. Good choice to review. Such an easy song to groove with.

[@Dana-ld4wf]

Their best song is,What's Your Frequency Kenneth. A great dance song.

[@venturefar2851]

Great band , great singer pioneers of progressive rock.

[@jwine4145]

For big as REM was back in the 80s&90s, I rarely hear them on the radio. Thanks in advance for reacting to a great band!!

[@Positive7277]

Great song!! Love R.E.M! Great song to cover. One of my favorite 80’s bands. 💖

[@kathyedleman633]

This song and "The one I Love" are my favorites.

[@boognish94]

They randomly picked the name R.E.M. out of a dictionary and they liked the name because it wouldn't peg them down as 1 style of band or music. As far as what you should react to next I'd recommend "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" a real banger of theirs.

[@saltydog4759]

Heart wrenching and bad ass at the same time. BTW, the drum was played to emulate the sound of an AK being fired at you.

[@Anautistictherapist]

REM is indicative of being in a dream state while asleep. It’s reflective of the sound of their music, which generally has a “dreamy” feel to it.

[@ppiechnik]

Hey guys! You are a short distance from me....Destin!! Enjoy your interest in the music I have listened to for years!!!

[@MrDeadstu]

R.E.M. trivia - Michael Stipe suffered from massive stage fright throughout his whole career.

[@stevechurch4728]

everything they did on the IRS label is a great listen again and again and green is just full of great songs throughout with, you are the everything,world leader pretend, wrong child,get up,hairshirt and untiltled being sublime tracks.

[@heatherturner6955]

This reaction was layered... From you talking about what REM means to Orange Crush, (the pop) to Agent Orange (i did not know was the meaning) to the actual reaction to the song. Their songs are good and memorable. I had a few of their "singles". But when my daughters were little they loved them on Sesame Street with Shinny Happy Monsters. 😄

[@debbiedebster5806]

Wow, it was almost a literal LIFETIME ago that these guys were the shhhh! I love the revisit of this one, as it's always been "Losing my Religion" that gets the fan fare & reactions! Your heads bobbing in unison said it all!! 😉 that was killer!! What's fun, is I never had this "album", I had this one in an MTV 120 Minutes CD mix.... wow!! Where's my cane?🤣😃✌♥️

[@timorr2399]

R.E.M..... Stand, Get Up, Pop Song 89, Its The End Of The World As We Know It.

[@nilsalmgren4492]

I thought it said I've got my sprite... I've got my orange crush..talking about drinking soda pop.

[@4yules]

i believe rems masterpiece is the document record.." finest worksong" ,"the one in love" and "the end of the world as we know it" off of that were the big ones

[@bobbyfisher2402]

One of the best shows I’ve seen, early 80s with Minutemen opening. Great band.

[@EG3D.Design]

Should listen to some Manfred Mann. Blinded by the light, Spirits in the night, Circles are some amazing tunes!

[@peppernagre3126]

Odd Fellows Local 151 is a Banger

[@vickiroman189]

There is a stunning movie starring Tim Robbins called "Jacob's Ladder" that I believe deals with the after effects on an American soldier of the "orange crush." Our guys over there were exposed to it in the process of trying to kill the foliage so we could see the "enemy." I don't think they were told about its toxicity and, of course, were definitely not given a choice of whether or not to be exposed to it.

[@michaelmaloskyjr]

My writing instructor at Ithaca College was Fred Wilcox who wrote the devastating "Waiting for an Army to Die." Dow Chemical constantly tried to sabotage the book's promotion, e.g., by pretending to be Fred's agent and calling up radio stations to cancel his appearances where he was scheduled to talk about the book.

[@vickiroman189]

@@michaelmaloskyjr I would say unbelievable, but I know better. God save us.

[@waynecox3958]

It’s the end of the world as we know it………..now on to Orange Beach!

[@FirstHumanOfficialChannel2024]

Ok Fellas time to go old school back to the early 70s...... KISS first Album.... "Strutter" Studio version

[@toddboyle1716]

Also try: It's The End Of The World As We Know It, Everybody Hurts, Fall on Me, Losing My Religion, & Can't Get There From Here.

[@babylonsister118]

I reall love Man in the Moon, but you really need to know who Andy Kauffman is to fully appreciate. Thanks!

[@feliciakidd9358]

Oh I love that one too. I love the music video also.

[@StratsRUs]

On

[@michaelconnolly7681]

Phenomenal song. I would recommend Texarkana by them. It's one of their deep cuts which is very spiritual and reflective on life- great stuff. Another brilliant reaction video

[@californiahummus]

Anything before Losing My Religion is a good REM song.

[@JacobKasza]

Hey 502 just wondering if we would get any more daft punk anytime soon?

[@darrelyoung5066]

Love the Broncos jersey. another orange crush Broncos defense

[@davidelswick6660]

REM has some great songs. One that will stick with you is "Everybody Hurts" - especially if you react to the video.

[@hilman41]

agent orange in vietnam.

[@ryantiger6605]

Don't know if you listened to midland but I love that band.

[@KevinRCarr]

It's the End of the World as We Know it. Yah. That one.

[@charlesh946]

Big Orange Crush kat fans!!!

[@robovike]

Orange Crush will always be the winner, not sure why I went with Sunkist for those few years. I mean it was fine, just not, you know, stellar. I feel like Fanta Orange is more mandarin than orange, but I'm not a botanist. Also you would be well served by reacting to some REM tracks from their album "Document." And their later album "Automatic for the People" is very good.

[@scifimonkey3]

Check out the song ‘Accelerate’. Real banger although they have loads of them.

[@0okamino]

Drinking an Orange Crush may enhance the experience of listening to the song. However, being exposed to Agent Orange is extremely unlikely to have the same effect, nor to enhance your life in any positive way (very much the opposite, in fact).

[@lilo8677]

It sounds little bit like talk talk and few songs of duran duran ,british New wave

[@michaelmaloskyjr]

"It sounds like Talk Talk..." WHO or WHAT sounds like Talk Talk, etc.?

[@lilo8677]

@@michaelmaloskyjr the song of r.e.m

[@lilo8677]

@@michaelmaloskyjr the song of r.e.m

[@michaelmaloskyjr]

@@lilo8677 REM sounds nothing like (early) Talk Talk who were synth driven as many New Wave acts were. REM employed a distinctive jangly guitar sound and harmonizing vocals typical of other REGIONAL acts like Pylon. Early Mitch Easter is another influence. ("Athens Inside/Out" anthology still holds up). I lived in Athens in '99 and remember seeing Stipe sitting at Big City Bakery talking to Rufus Wainwright. I think by then only Mills and Stipe still lived there. Alas, returning to my point -- REM slowly cultivated their sound having more in common with anthemic bands like early U2 ("Boy") than the acts you mentioned and flourished by way of SPIN magazine and college radio.

[@lilo8677]

@@michaelmaloskyjr i meant this song only sounded like the bands i mentioned i know the band has their own style and i really like them

[@StratsRUs]

Look at pictures of what Agent Orange did.Then laugh at the spinal deformities it caused.

[@garydrewlevine]

During the Vietnam war, the US militatry conducted field experiments to develop combat enhancing drugs. These drugs, mostly LSD and mega doses of amphetamine were given to US troops to see if the drugs improved their combat effectiveness. The LSD and amphetamine combination was quickly dubbed "spine" by the soldiers because the drugs induced a state of hyper awareness that kept users awake and attentive. Soldiers who took the drug were "straight on spine"

[@jjbigfoot9077]

Two of my uncle's were on that crap and said although it was very effective coming down from it was a real bitch.

[@annewoodard6803]

The best banger in REM’s songbook 😁❤️

[@Cynthia-qo9wu]

Rem is the best band ever!!!!❤️

[@ppiechnik]

Agent orange and Orange Crush are 2 very different things!

[@theblackhole22]

The song's title refers to the chemical defoliant Agent Orange manufactured by Monsanto Corporation and Dow Chemical for the U.S. Defense Department and used in the Vietnam War.

[@davidanderson6372]

"Can't Get There From Here" is a must listen. Great song, one of their early bangers.

[@davidwalker4684]

I quite often sleep with my eyes open and I talk in my sleep, have terrified some poor girls that I forgot to warn. I have been woken quite a few times by ladies literally screaming when they wake up next to me and I look like I am possessed by the devil.

[@davidwalker4684]

Night swimming is my personal favourite of these guys it’s incredible, they produced the pure sound of nostalgia it’s pretty but so very melancholic. A rare song that balanced happy and sad

[@annepascoe3029]

Fantastic band been in to them since about 88 they are magnificent

[@tallykev6608]

Huge college radio band back in the 80s... their first four albums are absolute classics, but they started transitioning to a more radio friendly band in the late 80s - 90s - kinda started with this album. There are so many great songs by this band, it's hard to suggest just one. One I wouldn't recommend is "Everybody Hurts"

[@StratsRUs]

They had a broader audience than the Murmur-Only crowd could stomach.

[@SAM-dg3vd]

this is a little late to the party, but Pete Buck tells Letterman on their appearance (where they played Radio Free Europe and So. Central Rain) that R.E.M. was just something they saw... a short, catchy thing that would be easy to remember, and that it can mean anything anyone wants it to... doesn't have anything to do with what the initials stand for.

[@MarkTitus420]

R.E.M. grows on you after a while. I was slowly introduced to it quite by chance when they released their first record 'Murmur'. I was a Hard Rocker at the time; all into Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix and all that (which I still like) but somehow these guys caught on with me - ended up getting sucked up into the Alternative Rock scene eventually; took R.E.M. with me. All their records are pretty great for the most part, 'Document', and 'Fables of the Reconstruction' are the probably the weakest, their best to me is probably their first - 'Murmur'.

[@tracysnow349]

Do: "Bad Day", Cuyahoga"(one of my personal faves), and "Swan, Swan, Hummingbird" is crazy good.

[@Cynthia-qo9wu]

Hair shirt is good

[@Bill_Jones.]

Do you take requests ? I’d like to put a dime in the jukebox for The Fabulous lThunderbirds “Wrap It Up.”

[@chrisarmes4570]

Talk About The Passion, Superman, Pop Song ‘89, Fall On Me, Finest Worksong, Radio Free Europe. Post Haste!

[@xkcman]

I think you guys would enjoy checkig out Sweet, very unique and certified banger!

[@andrewcarpenter9222]

Song is about agent orange sprayed in Nam.

[@imminenthippo603]

Automatic For The People

[@tracysnow349]

About time you react to R.E.M. I would give you tons of great songs to react to but we would be here all damn day! Thanks for doing this one. R.E.M. will always give you a message.

[@Cynthia-qo9wu]

Hairshirt strucks a cord ❤️

[@myrhino70]

Love to hear your reactions to some of the classic punk and rock bands of the late 70's early 80's especially one of the great bands THE CLASH! You should also react to Sex Pistols and The Ramones, Madness and The Jam! I think you will enjoy the unique sounds of each!

[@cindyjennings5976]

Check out Drive from Automatic for the People. My favorite. You might like the lyrics better.

[@bobs9395]

Love R.E.M. I've seen them 4 times in concert. When they were in Chicago, I saw them 2 nights' in a row and they played different songs each night. Michael Stipe himself has said that he doesn't care for his voice lol.

[@tracysnow349]

Okay Bronco fan man! Liking that shirt. You know the Broncos were once called the "Orange Crush" I guess.

[@paullagasse5504]

I think it was there defense that they nickname orange crush for a few years

[@peggyhill8539]

Losing My Religion, What’s The Frequency Kenneth?, Everybody Hurts…sooo many good songs! Saw them during the tour for Green at Shoreline Amphitheater in ‘89 in Mtn. View, CA. Great show! Love R.E.M.❤

[@nicolerizzo1314]

Mike Mills is the king of backup vocals 💜

[@vincentbrannelly8786]

Absolute masterpiece .

[@wave1806]

If you watch your self in the video your heads are like chipmunks 😁😁😁🤘

[@oceanbluebandflorida]

Cool song 🤟🤟🤟🤟

[@Bekka_Noyb]

My fave REM song! ♥

[@kentmains7763]

REM is one of those bands that I shouldn't like and don't want to like but I really like.

[@jacobjones5269]

So, in the pool hall?.. The orange crush is a handicap.. Playing 9 ball, the person receiving the handicap gets all the breaks, no matter who wins the previous game, and both the orange 5 ball and the 9 ball are money balls, and win the game if made legally..

[@nickwheeler403]

Pop Song 89 is my favorite song on that album. First album I ever bought. 🤘🏽

[@paullagasse5504]

Hello how are you I know you I knew you

[@StargazerFS128]

This song kicks butt, you can’t help but turn this song up, no way.

[@steve3291]

REM stands for Rapid Ear Movement (obviously a play on words) for this beyond brilliant band. Reading through the comments there are so many great songs mentioned and everyone has their own favourite. One of mine is Texarcana from Out of Time and sung by Mike Mills rather than Michael Stipe. I also love the song 'The one I love' from the Document album because it is not what it seems, 'Let me in' which is off the Monster album and a tribute to Kurt Cobain and an earlier one from the Murmur album '(Don't go back to) Rockville' which sounds like a country song. Also listen to Monster and Out of Time, it's like they were recorded by different bands which is one of REMs most amazing attributes and why they lasted so long.

[@StratsRUs]

Rapid Ear Movement !?!! WTF

[@angelagraham3911]

Rapid eye

[@stevencantrellzenroom7383]

Agent Orange