In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, R.E.M. hit ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’, has re-entered the charts. The song is currently sitting at No. 61 on the iTunes singles charts and seems to be climbing higher.
Initially released in 1987, the track sees frontman Michael Stipe lament his anxiety over world affairs (the Cold War, Iran Contra) and other dangers (low-flying planes) in a stream of consciousness style.
“I wrote the words to ‘End of the World’ as I sung it,” Stipe told Melody Maker in 1987. “When they showed me that song in the studio I just said, ‘It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.’ I wanted it to be the most bombastic vocal that I could possibly muster. Something that would completely overwhelm you and drip off your shoulders and stick in your hair like bubblegum.”
Watch: R.E.M. — ‘It’s The End Of The World’
COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the music and entertainment industry. Over the past few weeks, a slew of festivals were forced to either postpone or cancel their events entirely. Download Festival Australia and SXSW were both forced to cancel and Coachella announced that the event would be postponed until October. Live Nation, AEG and a bunch of other leading promoters have also pulled all large tours scheduled for the month of March.
