B-side "Forty Second Song" Length 3:45 | Recorded September–October 1990 | |
Released May 6, 1991 (UK)
September 3, 1991 (US) Format UK: CD, 7", 12", cassette
US: 7", cassette Genre Alternative rock
pop rock
jangle pop | ||
"Shiny Happy People" is a song by the band R.E.M. The song appeared on their 1991 album Out of Time and was released as a single in the same year. The song features guest vocals by Kate Pierson of the B-52's, who also appears in the song's music video.
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It peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, the fourth and last R.E.M. single to reach the top 10 on the chart. It also peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the first R.E.M. song to reach the top ten in the UK and the only one to reach the top ten in both countries.
The band performed the song with Pierson on Saturday Night Live on April 13, 1991. It was first released as a single in May 1991 in the UK, but did not go on sale in the U.S. until four months later.
Despite the song’s success, band members were ambivalent about being known for a pop song that lacked gravitas. “It’s a fruity pop song written for children. It just is what it is,” Stipe told the BBC’s Andrew Marr in 2016. “If there was one song that was sent into outer space to represent R.E.M. for the rest of time, I would not want it to be Shiny Happy People.”
Track listing
All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise stated.
US/UK 7"/cassette singles- "Shiny Happy People" – 3:45
- "Forty Second Song" – 1:20
- "Shiny Happy People" (Music Mix) – 4:45
- "Shiny Happy People" (Pop Mix) – 4:04
- "Shiny Happy People" (Hip Mix) – 3:33
- "Shiny Happy People" (Master Chief Mix) – 3:60
- "Shiny Happy People" – 3:45
- "Forty Second Song" – 1:20
- "Losing My Religion" (live acoustic version, recorded on Rockline, April 1, 1991.) – 4:36
- "Shiny Happy People" – 3:45
- "I Remember California" (live, from Tourfilm) – 5:42
- "Get Up" (live, from Tourfilm) – 3:15
- "Pop Song '89" (live, from Tourfilm) – 3:30
Reception
In its 2006 "Song of the Summer" countdown, CBC Radio's Freestyle named "Shiny Happy People" 1991's "Song of the Summer". By contrast, in 2006, the song received the No. 1 position on AOL Music's list of the "111 Wussiest Songs of All Time". Blender magazine also ranked the song No. 35 on its list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever", and Q magazine included it in a list of "Ten Terrible Records by Great Artists" in 2005. When Michael Stipe made an appearance on Space Ghost Coast to Coast in 1995, he simply stated "I hate that song, Space Ghost." Due to the band's dislike of the song, it was one of their few Warner-released singles not included on their 2003 greatest hits album In Time. It was later included on their 2011 greatest hits album Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011.
Other versions
Despite R.E.M's dislike of the song, in 1999, they created a parody, called "Furry Happy Monsters", and performed it on Sesame Street with a Muppet version of Kate Pierson singing back up, voiced by Stephanie D'Abruzzo of Avenue Q. The monsters from the Monsters in Day Care segments (and the Two-Headed Monster) were also featured in this video. This song is about being called "monsters" and having a split personality disorder by being happy, then sad and then happy all over again.
Alvin and the Chipmunks recorded a cover of the song as a playable track for their 2007 video game. The song has also been covered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, but without the lyrics.
A cover version of the song is featured on the 2004 video game Donkey Konga 2.
The Fatima Mansions recorded a song of the same title which used the main title line in its chorus on their EPs Bertie's Brochures and Tima Mansió Dumps the Dead. While the music and verse lyrics were totally changed, R.E.M.'s members are still credited as the authors.
"Shiny Happy People" is one of several anachronistic songs that appear in the 2013 video game BioShock Infinite, which is set in 1912. This version of the song is performed as an Al Jolson-esque big band piece by Tony Babino (vocals), Scott Bradlee (arrangement and piano), Adam Kubota, Allan Mednard, and Tom Abbott.