Dave's Music Database

Saturday, September 18, 2021

R.E.M.: Top 100 Songs

l to r: Mike Mills, Bill Berry, Michael Stipe, and Peter Buck. Image from TheGuardian.com

R.E.M. formed in Athens, GA. Active 1980-2011. Developed huge following with college audiences in the early 1980s as one of the first "alternative rock" groups. R.E.M. is the abbreviation for Rapid Eye Movement, sleep’s dream stage. Members: Michael Stipe (v), Peter Buck (g), Mike Mills (b), and Bill Berry (d: 80-98). Buck, Mills, and Berry worked with Warren Zevon on the one-time collaboration Hindu Love Gods in 1990. Buck was also in Minus 5 (95).

Their song “Losing My Religion” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999. Their album Automatic for the People (1992) is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time.

Click here to see other best-of lists from performers and here to see other best-of lists from songwriters and/or producers.

Spotify Podcast:

Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The Best of R.E.M., 1981-1987 based on this list. It debuts September 21, 2021 at 7pm CST. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.)

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Losing My Religion (1991) #1 AR,MR
2. Everybody Hurts (1992)
3. It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (1987)
4. The One I Love (1987)
5. Radio Free Europe (1981)

DMDB Top 5%:

6. Man on the Moon (1992)

DMDB Top 5%:

7. What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? (1994) #1 MR
8. Drive (1992) #1 MR
9. Shiny Happy People (1991)

DMDB Top 10%:

10. Fall on Me (1986)
11. The Great Beyond (1999) #1 AA
12. Orange Crush (1988) #1 AR,MR
13. Stand (1988) #1 MR
14. Imitation of Life (2001) #1 AA
15. E-Bow the Letter (1996)
16. Nightswimming (1992)
17. So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) (1984)

DMDB Top 20%:

18. Driver 8 (1985)
19. Bang and Blame (1994) #1 MR,CN
20. Daysleeper (1998) #1 AA

21. Bittersweet Me (1996) #1 AA
22. Supernatural Superserious (2008) #1 AA
23. Don’t Go Back to Rockville (1984)
24. Finest Worksong (1987)
25. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite (1992)
26. Strange Currencies (1994)
27. Can’t Get There from Here (1985)
28. Superman (1986)
29. Pop Song 89 (1988)
30. Crush with Eyeliner (1994)

31. All I Have to Do Is Dream (1986)
32. Bad Day (2003) #1 AA
33. Find the River (1992)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

34. Talk About the Passion (1983)
35. Pretty Persuasion (1984)
36. Gardening at Night (1982)
37. Perfect Circle (1983)
38. Electrolite (1996)
39. Leaving New York (2004) #1 AA
40. Ages of You (1985)

41. Radio Song (w/ KRS-1, 1991)
42. Moon River (1984)
43. Lotus (1998)
44. Star 69 (1994)
45. At My Most Beautiful (1998)
46. Maps and Legends (1985)
47. All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star) (2001)
48. Near Wild Heaven (1991)
49. Turn You Inside Out (1988)
50. Begin the Begin (1986)

51. Catapult (1983)
52. Ignoreland (1992)
53. Swan Swan H (1986)
54. Hollow Man (2008)
55. Texarkana (1991)
56. King of the Road (1984)
57. Wendell Gee (1985)
58. Low (1991)
59. King of Birds (1987)
60. Get Up (1988)

61. First We Take Manhattan (1991)
62. Cuyahoga (1986)
63. Country Feedback (1991)
64. The Lion Sleeps Tonight (1992)
65. These Days (1986)
66. Pilgrimage (1983)
67. Überlin (2011)
68. Animal (2003)
69. Tom’s Diner (live, 1991)
70. The Wake-Up Bomb (1996)

71. Aftermath (2004)
72. I Believe (1986)
73. I’ll Take the Rain (2001)
74. We All Go Back to Where We Belong (2011)
75. Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars) 1982)
76. Sitting Still (1981)
77. Tongue (1994)
78. Welcome to the Occupation (1987)
79. #9 Dream (2007)
80. World Leader Pretend (1988)

81. You Are the Everything (1988)
82. Disturbance at the Heron House (1987)
83. We Walk (1983)
84. Femme Fatale (1986)
85. Toys in the Attic (1986)
86. Exhuming McCarthy (1987)
87. Electron Blue (2004)
88. Pale Blue Eyes (1984)
89. Try Not to Breathe (1992)
90. There She Goes Again (1983)

91. Love Is All Around (1991)
92. Crazy (1985)
93. Photograph (w/ Natalie Merchant, 1993)
94. Hope (1998)
95. Time After Time (Annelise) (1984)
96. Discoverer (2011)
97. Mine Smell Like Honey (2011)
98. Half a World Away (1991)
99. Wolves, Lower (1982)
100. Feeling Gravity’s Pull (1985)

Resources and Related Links:

DMDB Encyclopedia entry for R.E.M.
Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Performers”
Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Songwriters and/or Producers

First posted 9/22/2011; updated 9/18/2021.

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