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Star 69 (R.E.M. song)

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"Star 69"
Spain promotional release
Promotional single by R.E.M.
from the album Monster
Released1994
Genre
Length3:07
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
R.E.M. singles chronology
"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?"
(1993) 		"Star 69"
(1994) 		"Bang and Blame"
(1994)

"Star 69" is a song from American rock band R.E.M.'s ninth album, Monster (1994). The song was not released as an official single but still reached No. 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

Rob Jones of The Delete Bin called the track a "return-to-roots glam punk anthem".[2] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel felt that Michael Stipe's "echoing vocals swarm out of the churning punk vivacity" of "Star 69".[6] Keith Cameron from NME wrote that it "breezes through a mystery tale of celebrity obsession (possibly) like a rough cast cousin of "Pop Song 89", and is absolutely fine."[7]

Background

[edit]

The song is named after the access number for the last-call return feature of telephones in North America, as indicated by its chorus:

"I know you called
I know you called
I know you hung up my line

Star 69"

Of all of the songs on Monster, "Star 69" is the one that evolved most from its initial demo. It started out at six minutes long before having its bridge excised and its original chorus discarded.[8]

"Star 69" was frequently played live throughout the tours in support of Monster and their 1998 release Up but from 2003 to 2008 was only ever sporadically performed.

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1995) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9][10] 73
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[5] 74
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[11] 15
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[12] 8

References

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  1. ^ Peacock, Tim (September 27, 2020). "Monster: How R.E.M. Unleashed Their Inner Rock'n'Roll Beast". uDiscover Music. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Jones, Rob (20 August 2008). "REM performs 'Star 69' from the Album Monster". The Delete Bin. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  3. ^ Melis, Matt; Gerber, Justin; Weiss, Dan. "Ranking: Every R.E.M. Album from Worst to Best". Consequence Of Sound. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  4. ^ http://remhq.com/albums.php [dead link]
  5. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2009). Top Pop Singles. Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 811. ISBN 978-0-89820-180-2. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  6. ^ Campbell, Chuck (7 Oct 1994). "R.E.M. Rocks Anew On Heady 'Monster'". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  7. ^ Cameron, Keith (24 September 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 47. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  8. ^ Black, Johnny (2004). Reveal: The Story of R.E.M.. London: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-776-5.
  9. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 61, No. 10, April 10, 1995". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  10. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 61, No. 12, April 24, 1995". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  11. ^ "R.E.M. - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  12. ^ "R.E.M. Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-12-21.


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