There's only about a handful of things more sobering than a song released over three decades ago still being relatable and relevant in 2020.
Due to the global pandemic we are currently facing, R.E.M.'s classic song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" has reappeared on the US iTunes Top 100 chart. Since Deadline first noticed on Friday, the song has continued to climb up the chart.
Other than its obvious title and chorus, Michael Stipe's rambling, stream of consciousness-style verses is a classic use of word painting. At the time it was written, the ranting verses were interpreted as flipping through TV channels and being bogged down with fear mongering information. Today, it reflects what it feels like to wade through the endless sea of coronavirus-related content online.
These are scary times but its important to ground yourself and remember that the human race has always faced pandemics and plagues and destruction. Take care of yourself and those around you, give "It's the End of the World" a few listens and bond with Michael Stipe over our collective existential dread, its what makes us human.
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