REM's Santiago JumboTron Shows HuffPo Results

Live from Santiago, Chile, there was an election night shout out from R.E.M. for the Huffington Post's election coverage. The video below starts with band manager Bertis Downes telling the crowd, "I think it's safe to say that the way things are going back home in the states, with all the states rolling in, no network has said it's official but we kind of like the Huffington Post and 538.com and I think it's pretty safe to say that Barack Obama is going to be the next President of the United States."

The band then projected a laptop image of Huffington Post's headline onto the JumboTron, as they sang their anthem, "I Believe." At the end of the song Michael Stipe asked, "Thanks guys, is it really true?"

I Believe

(Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)

"When I was young and full of grace
And spirited - a rattlesnake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You're on your honor not to tell

I believe in coyotes and time as an abstract
Explain the change, the difference between
What you want and what you need, there's the key,
Your adventure for today, what do you do
Between the horns of the day?

(chorus)

I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe in

When I was young and give and take
And foolish said my fool awake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You're on your honor, on your honor
Trust in your calling, make sure your calling's true
Think of others, the others think of you
Silly rule golden words make, practice, practice makes perfect,
Perfect is a fault, and fault lines change

I believe my humor's wearing thin
And change is what I believe in
I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe in

(repeat chorus)

When I was young and full of grace
As spirited a rattlesnake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You're on your honor, on your honor
I believe in example
I believe my throat hurts
Example is the checker to the key

I believe my humor's wearing thin
And I believe the poles are shifting"

R.E.M. has been a tireless booster of the campaign on their international tour, and this summer Stipe told the United Center crowd, "Thank you Chicago for giving us Barack Obama."

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election

Comments

[MajorKong]

The first time I heard REM back in the 1980s it was an epiphany. Music was never the same for me after that.

When I was flying in the Gulf War I always played two songs on my Walkman before crossing into bad-guy country - one of them was Orange Crush.

[prog]

I can't remember when so many high profile people came out so enthusiastically for a candidate. I note that REM has been at it at least since the 2006 mid term elections.

Lots of acts that were well known in the late 70s early 80s seem to have come out for the campaign. It was a very de-moralizing time in Reagan's America for many of us, and I think a lot of us have been hoping for a candidate and a campaign like this for much of our lifetime.

My favorite event I heard about was the DevOBAMA "Duty now for the Future" benefit put on in Akron, Ohio by none other than the band DEVO. It was their first gig in Akron since 1978; I believe they all live in California now -- working in film and TV scoring and commercials, as well as touring as a band -- but they felt that they needed to throw their efforts toward their home battle-ground state, Ohio.

[prog]

I can't remember when so many high profile people came out so enthusiastically for a candidate. I note that REM has been at it at least since the 2006 mid term elections.

Lots of acts that were well known in the late 70s early 80s seem to have come out for the campaign. It was a very demoralizing time in Reagan's America for many of us, and I think a lot of us have been hoping for a candidate and a campaign like this for much of our lifetime.

My favorite event I heard about was the DevOBAMA "Duty now for the Future" benefit put on in Akron, Ohio by none other than the band DEVO. It was their first gig in Akron since 1978; I believe they all live in California now -- working in film and TV scoring and commercials, as well as touring as a band -- but they felt that they needed to throw their efforts toward their home battleground state, Ohio.

The Pretenders' Chrissy Hynde, another prominent Ohioan, was also on the bill.

[arnray]

America: It's been a great day, you can take my picture now.

[zoozey]

I LOVE you R.E.M.!!!!!!!!!

Now, Michael, will you please, please become one of the main Bloggers on here? I have read interviews from you and I think you could lend a really wonderful voice to HuffPo! We have other celeb bloggers like Alec Baldwin, Stephen Weber, Tim Daly, to name a few. But not too many musicians. I think you could fill that void nicely, Michael Stipe!

[Karen Dalton-Beninato - Huffpost Blogger]

Wouldn't that be cool?

[Progress08]

I hope this song is played at the inaugural ball. Maybe REM can perform it. It's funny, that party will be 1300 miles from where I am, but it will be like I'm there.

[Petey131]

AMERICA HAS BEEN BORN AGAIN!

[StephCaster]

Yes, ironically, by kicking the "born again" Pharisees out of power.

[Salz08]

Isn't it amazing to see the images coming of people all around the world reacting to the US finally waking up from it's catatonic state and setting the right course?

As someone else said, we were all shiny, happy people Tuesday night...heck I still am!

Keep on making the beautiful music REM!

[kellygrrrl]

Arianna and Nate! Biggest Winners 08!

[hortonhearsawho]

Goooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!

[Clavis]

Tuesday night, we were all Shiny Happy People! :p

[rolfboy]

Except that it's the beginning not the end.
Might I suggest another, less known, REM title: Begin the Beguine

[swellsoire]

The REM song to which you refer is Begin the Begin. Cole porter wrote Begin the Beguine. The "end" that I was referring to is the end of the Bush administration. The end usually suggests a new beginning.

[swellsoire]

It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!