R.E.M. World Leader Pretend

Madrid 10-21-03

[@ElephantRage]

probably one of their most underrated masterpieces

[@rftulie]

This is indeed one of REM's best songs. In spite of having gone to 4 concerts, I never heard them play this live, so thanks for the video, Stipey 104. Miss them, but glad as heck we had them for so long. So many emotional, meaningful, thoughtful, poetic songs with loads of musical integrity & beauty. How did so much of that emanate from just these guys? Grateful to have been around when they were and to have ears to hear them.

[@UncleAndy13]

Definetly. Green is a great album and this is one of the best songs off of it.

[@pirilampa]

Perfect lyrics! "This is my mistake. Let me make it good. I raised the wall and I will be the one to knock it down."

[@jamespuleo3269]

Heard this song on the radio today before work (NYC/wfuv) and had to get on the net and hear a few more versions as soon as I got home. A favorite, always, from a band with so many beautiful works - and 30 years later feels just as real and potent as ever. Thanks for posting and !!!Thank you, guys!

[@stipey104]

+James Puleo Awesome. Thanks for the nice reply.

[@sheluvsvideos]

REM's lyrics are so poetic! so deep...

[@alystyn]

I've always loved this song :) REM is only the best band ever.

[@gtdupree]

Wow, that is an outstanding bridge....good song too. Very strong.

[@stipelover]

This is one of my absolute favourite REM songs. LOVE IT.

[@WaluigiCubed]

An amazing performance of an amazing song. That's pretty much all that needs to be said there.

[@hullcityafc72]

Green was the album by which I discovered this magical group in 1990. One of the best ever albums although it never gets into peoples Top 10s or Top 25s it does mine. It doesn't contain one weak track IMO & I ditto npspec34 as stating WLP to be my fav REM song.

[@stipey104]

It is a brilliant song. Some of Mr. Stipe's finest lyrics.

[@stipey104]

Let my machine talk to me. It's like your brain is your machine, you have to guide your own machine.

[@Issicra]

Oh man... that Green tour was amazing, wasn't it? *shivers at the memory*

[@crispset]

I just added this song to one of my playlists(for the second time[2]) Great song thanks for posting this video....

[@babeth83]

Merci REM pour tout ce que vous faîtes et vous êtes. Pour quand une tournée en France???

[@KerreyTheBitterSugar]

this awesome song will never get old ^^

[@haddingtonbb41]

you are so correct. the 2005/7/8 shows are by far their best.

[@sonicwingnut]

It's actually describing a relationship in military terms. I had an interview somewhere where he explained it, it was inspired by another poet who did something based along a similar concept.

[@bmailb]

I saw them in 1987 in Hartford Ct. in the front row. At the time i was still obsessively listening to Life's rich pageant and Document. It was a wonderful experience. Some young man rushed the stage and was in the process of getting punched by security. Peter Buck leaps off the stage and grabs the security guard and throws him out of the arena ......great drama

[@markyp1965]

Probably my fave REM song. Superb :-)

[@msully]

Best song on green album¬!!

[@Willburys]

i love here about more than 25 years

[@TheCactusBoi]

LOVE this song!!!

[@RabbiJochanan]

I love "the wrong child"! I think that song is pure art! Unfortunately, I have never heard a live performance of it... It is kind of hard to re-create live as the driving part of it is the dual vocal of Michael Stipe. Mike Mills has a good voice, but I am not sure that he wants to attempt that song live.

[@mortenthoms]

they are great live better then on cd i think will se them again when i can...

[@Willburys]

ilove this Song, its beautyful.

[@tjp623]

Awesome song...Thanks stipey

[@Sublimenate94]

I saw them live like 2 years ago. Still kick ass

[@stipey104]

Always kick ass, I have seen them 26x so far.

[@Reveal32]

2 things; 1/ Ken Stringfellow's organ playing really adds to this version, making it feel quite slinky and giving it the insistent nature of the original studio effort. 2/ I wish JMS would bring in his castanets in the bridge just like ion the studio version.

[@gpeddino]

AMAZING version.

[@isawacat]

Hold that memory...

[@mistresselyria]

what a great lyrics!

[@mallafets]

now thats what you call a fucking performance....great song.

[@rmevers]

I wish they would use the steel guitar on the break as per the album. One of their last really melodic songs I liked so well.

[@Issicra]

26 times? Nice! I've seen them 3 times.. Twice on the Green tour, and then once on the Monster tour. As much as I loved those shows, I think they have better and more energy now live. I would love to see them again.

[@PTheodore33]

I absolutely, positively agree with freshflower4!

[@everythingafter]

this song is especially relevant today..

[@stipey104]

@rftulie You make some great points. They will still be doing their own thing. Michael Stipe is on tumblr posting some interesting pictures, etc. I think singing and writing lyrics is what he does best but at least he's still doing something.

[@Elpantalla1]

Nothing can beat the tourfilm version. Ever.

[@crispset]

great song

[@DRUMMERxGURU]

i would like to go see them live. :)

[@stipey104]

Wow that's cool. I've been in the front row a few times. Which is a very exciting place to be. He's very yummy that's for sure. His raspiness just makes him extra masculine.

[@sharonb314]

Thanks for this one, signed on to you, don't disappoint me. Ignore the snit pickers.

[@themooddisorders]

excellent my kin!

[@stipey104]

Peter Gabriel did it first when he was in Genesis from 1970-1976.And of course Kiss painted their entire faces. Michael most likely lifted it off of Gabriel because he mentioned how much of a fan of his he is. So Marilyn isn't the first.

[@stipey104]

I love it too.

[@sickpoola]

@dascotton my too,Green is ,in my opinion,their best album....

[@Willburys]

best time of rem

[@dowling1981]

What about the portained ones in the background?

[@TheMarsFactory]

Love REM!!

[@crispset]

yes, yes Freedom

[@theeponym]

@ BlackProteus No, it doesn't. Military concepts != ripping off. The context and meanings are totally different. And lyrically, Stipe has already said this was him trying to write in the style of Leonard Cohen with lots of elegant phrases and metaphors. It's not coincidence this was the first song of theirs to have the lyrics printed with the album.

[@thomasjwargo]

I believe it is from "Green".

[@stipey104]

I can only agree with you.

[@ElephantRage]

epic.

[@tsourd]

couldnt agree more

[@GilsMusic]

My favorite song from Green and a great video you have posted! I do a solo acoustic rendition that I posted as a video response to this. I hope you like it! 5*****

[@astroboirap]

good ol michael stripey pants

[@clintxoxox]

omfg 5 star deluxe

[@theeponym]

There are some incredibly gems on their more recent albums. I encourage you to check them out.

[@DrWu59]

One of my favorite R.E.M. songs... and from my least favorite R.E.M. album.

[@thepezdispenser]

where´s this song from? which album?

[@mpluvsme]

LOL. right on.

[@sickpoola]

@karmapolicemannn agree with you,for me--the best from Green!!

[@stipey104]

I also agree with freshflower4

[@whirlpoolzend]

@ElephantRage: Definitely.

[@valgardgaming]

We're all screwed......the most painful truth i must admit but our indulgance and curruption has doomed us, so fix it or make effective space travel mates

[@DSLRmusic]

Me too.

[@Nigelxman]

@stipey104 I love REM but "Michael Stipe" and "masculine" should not be used in the same sentence. lol

[@stipey104]

The songs seem related in terms of personal politics but nothing more. I like Fortress but never really new the lyrics so just looked them up. In my opinion World Leader Pretend's lyrics are written better.

[@jpjames1]

good live

[@stipey104]

Just a note if a user is not going to post about the videos I have uploaded than don't post. I do not want any people advertising their sleazy porn sites or I'll just remove them. I agree Elpantalla1.

[@whales]

One of my favorite REM songs but Mike Mills should chill out with those backups

[@stipey104]

Well if you can't understand these lyrics which are as plain as can be either you have just learned how to understand english or you are going death. This song sounds nothing like other R.E.M. songs. So I take it you don't know many of their songs. Finally he doesn't look stupid. He looks cool and he wore the Stripe 6 years ago now. So get over it.

[@demetrios4voto]

I RECOGNIZE REM

[@theeponym]

lol @ calling REM commercial. If they're striving to be "commercial" they're not very good at it. Because you certainly aren't hearing much of their stuff on mainstream hits stations. Also, don't forget this is a 20+ year old song from an alternative music pioneer. If it sounds mainstream to you, you might want to consider that maybe, just maybe it's because new often imitates the old.

[@stipey104]

You would what? wink wink Yeah you know a lot of straight guys want him. Just something about him.

[@jatojo]

Great song - nice performance (except for Mike who's a bit out of tune here...). I thank R.E.M for three decades of fabulous music.

[@stipey104]

commercial sounding? WHATEVER.

[@themooddisorders]

@karmapolicemannn cuz Stipe is a mind head

[@stipey104]

@bordercollieluv You are too trying to be confrontational. You've been posting snarky remarks all over this site. Anyway this isn't about you, My profile is a dedication to R.E.M. It's all about the Stipe got it.

[@jorgep138]

stripe did if first...obviously

[@stipey104]

@Nigelxman He's a man, he's extremely hairy and has a penis. So yes he is masculine. BTW I said that a year ago.

[@seboux69]

magique, rem forever...