Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Near Wild Heaven

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Released
  
5 August 1991

Length
  
3:18

Recorded
  
September–October 1990

B-side
  
"Pop Song '89" (live acoustic version)

Format
  
CD (UK / Germany) 7" (UK / Germany / France) 12" (UK / Germany) Cassette (UK)

Genre
  
Alternative rock, jangle pop, country rock, sunshine pop

"Near Wild Heaven" was the third single released from R.E.M.'s seventh studio album Out of Time in 1991. The song was the first single released by the band to have had its lyrics both co-written and sung by bassist Mike Mills. According to a quotation from Peter Buck in R.E.M. Inside Out: The Stories Behind Every Song by Craig Rosen, the lyrics are a collaboration between Mills and lead singer Michael Stipe. It managed to peak at No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart but the single was not released in the United States.

Contents

Mike Mills had previously written the lyrics to the single "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" and he had sung the cover song "Superman", but he had not previously sung his own work on a released recording.

The song is considered to be a tribute to 1960s-pop sunniness.

Music video

The music video for this song features the band playing the song in a crowded café.

Track listing

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

7" / cassette

  1. "Near Wild Heaven"
  2. "Pop Song '89" (live)1

12"

  1. "Near Wild Heaven"
  2. "Pop Song '89" (live)1
  3. "Half a World Away" (live)2

CD

  1. "Near Wild Heaven" – 3:18
  2. "Tom's Diner" (Suzanne Vega) (live)1 – 2:04
  3. "Low" (live)1 – 4:59
  4. "Endgame" (live)1 – 3:28

Personnel

  • Bill Berry – drums, piano, backing vocals
  • Peter Buck – guitar
  • Mike Mills – lead vocals, bass guitar
  • Michael Stipe – backing vocals

    • References

    Near Wild Heaven Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA