Bittersweet_Me

Bittersweet Me

Bittersweet Me

Song by R.E.M

"Bittersweet Me" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from their 10th studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). Like much of the album, the song originated while the band were on the road for the Monster tour, although the song was only ever soundchecked and has never been played live as part of a concert.[1] The song was a bigger hit in the United States than the first single from the album, "E-Bow the Letter", except on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, where the first single's number-two peak bested the number-six peak of "Bittersweet Me".

Quick Facts Single by R.E.M., from the album New Adventures in Hi-Fi ...

The CD single features a live cover of "Wichita Lineman", a song written by Jimmy Webb and made popular by Glen Campbell. The video for the single was shot in the style of an Italian movie entitled Stanco E Nudo (a translation of the line "tired and naked" in the song). It was included as a bonus video on the DVD release of In View - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a strumming, easy-paced rocker that rings with the vintage R.E.M. sound—clever, mildly introspective verses that build to a full-throttle, pop-soaked chorus that permanently melts into the brain upon impact." He added, "It's a familiar formula that never seems to grow tired, mostly due to Michael Stipe's always believable, subtext-riddled vocals and tight instrumentation that sounds like it's unfolding live. Already connecting at rock radio, the single will gain top 40 approval within seconds."[2]

Track listings

All songs were written by Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe unless otherwise indicated.

  • 7-inch, cassette, and CD single
  1. "Bittersweet Me" – 4:06
  2. "Undertow" (live)1 – 5:05
  • 12-inch and CD maxi-single
  1. "Bittersweet Me" – 4:06
  2. "Undertow" (live)1 – 5:05
  3. "Wichita Lineman" (Webb) (live)2  – 3:18
  4. "New Test Leper" (live acoustic)3 – 5:29

Notes

1 Recorded at the Omni Theater, Atlanta, Georgia; November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie.
2 Recorded at The Woodlands, Houston, Texas; September 15, 1995.
3 Recorded at Bad Animals Studio, Seattle, Washington; April 19, 1996.

Personnel

Charts

More information Chart (1996–1997), Peak position ...

Release history

More information Region, Date ...

References

  1. [1]
    R.E.M. Timeline
  2. [2]
    Flick, Larry (October 19, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 62. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  3. [3]
    Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 232.
  4. [4]
    "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9720." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  5. [5]
    "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9788." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  6. [6]
    "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9736." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  7. [7]
    "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 45. November 9, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  8. [8]
    "R.E.M. – Bittersweet Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  9. [9]
    "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.12. – 18.12.'96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 13, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  10. [10]
    "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bittersweet Me". Irish Singles Chart.
  11. [11]
    "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  12. [12]
    "R.E.M.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  13. [13]
    "R.E.M. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. [14]
    "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  15. [15]
    "R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  16. [16]
    "R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  17. [17]
    "R.E.M. Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  18. [18]
    "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 23.
  19. [19]
    "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Modern Rock Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 24.
  20. [20]
    "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  21. [21]
    "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  22. [22]
    "Best of '97". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 28.
  23. [23]
    "Best of '97: Modern Rock Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 30.
  24. [24]
    "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1166. October 4, 1996. p. 77. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  25. [25]
    "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 19, 1996. p. 37. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  26. [26]
    "ビタースイート・ミー | R.E.M." [Bittersweet Me | R.E.M.] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Bittersweet_Me, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.