REM: Shiny Happy People
I am not the biggest REM fan, because I think they’re a bit too crybaby-ish. Yet, Shiny Happy People is one of the most brilliant songs out there. It is smiling at you with its cheerful voice, but it is actually giving you the middle finger and taking a poop in your pool. It is just smiling while it does it.
Shiny and Happy: Forget about the Great Leap Forward
If you are ever in a gas station or a grocery store, you will hear this song blaring over their speakers. Corporate American seems to think the song is a pop-friendly song that is "mostly harmless". The problem is it is not. It is very much a subversive song. The song was born from the murder of some 300 Chinese people during the Tiananmen Square in 89. After the slaughter, the REM guys noted the propaganda posters from China showing “Shiny Happy People”. So, they made this song as cheesy as possible to show fake happiness in the world. I love that people take this song at face value and really don’t look into the subtext.
The theme is “force happiness on people”. That pessimistic and eye-rolling view is very 90s and Gen X’er and I love it. The world is flowers and rainbows like you want us to believe.
Let’s check out the first verse.
((Meet me in the crowd, people, people Throw your love around, love me, love me Take it into town, happy, happy Put it in the ground where the flowers grow Gold and silver shine))
Basically, he’s saying force your love among the crowd like a virus. (fitting for today) You in town, you are going to be happy or else. I think the ground part is just making fun of “love is all we need”. Good and silver are things that have brought a lot of unhappiness. Nice touch.
Second verse.
((Everyone around, love them, love them Put it in your hands, take it, take it There's no time to cry, happy, happy Put it in your heart where tomorrow shines Gold and silver shine))
Even if they don’t ask for it, love them. Yeah, I didn’t ask for your happy ass to love me. I am having a bad day and f’ off. Even when sad, just stay happy...or else. Don’t worry about the here and now, it is our future that is so bright. Again, with the gold and silver which are forms of money that have caused great pain and superficial.
What is interesting about this song is that people took it as a bright song, but it is subversive as shit. Also, the intro and bridge are in ¾ time which is waltz timing and makes no sense with the rest of the song and actually breaks the poppy dance parts of the rest of the song. It makes the song disjointed, which I believe is on purpose.
Music video
The music video is even more subversive too. We’re greeted with bright colors and a Coca-Cola commercial type group of people being forced to dance in lockstep.
-Note the plastered smiles on everyone’s faces: Ever so often, you will see the band members roll their eyes as their smiles begin to fade.
-The lead singer is dressed in a kid’s outfit and not his normal drab wardrobe. He prances around as if he is forced to and the fake smile is a nice touch. Love it.
-The old man paddling: Behind the scenes of this utopia, there is a group of people working hard to keep the front looking wonderful and peaceful. He comes out toward the end, after drinking the water, he doesn’t dance and just looks at the young people with contempt. Watch him closely.
- Kate Pierson: Yes, that is the woman from the B52s singing the counter-chorus. Watch her too. She rolls her eyes too.
-REM doesn't really like this song anymore: Because people took the song as a real poppy track, they've grown to hate it and don't perform it much.
Only Bevis and Butthead can find the "penis" in Happiness. One of the funniest clips ever.
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