R.E.M.

I'm a big fan of R.E.M. but news of the band's break-up didn't really affect me.  The band's demise happened after the follow-up to their 1992 album, "Automatic for the People".  In my book, that's the greatest album of all time (or maybe as great as Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours", Prince's "Purple Rain, and The Beatles' "Rubber Soul").  I would rush to the record store every time an R.E.M. follow-up album is freshly released, and would get disappointed each time.  "Automatic" was enough to seal their place in music history.

Lead singer Michael Stipe is a known lover of film.  He even dabbled in movie-producing.  That's obvious in Stipe's music videos and compositions.  Movie references abound.  The video below is inspired by the dramatic and surreal opening of Fellini's "8 1/2".  "Departure" was written for River Phoenix after he o.d.'d.  "Monty Got A Raw Deal" was about the handsomest Hollywood actor ever, Montgomery Clift. "Man On The Moon was an homage to comedian Andy Kaufman, and inspired the movie of the same name.  Ang dami!  That's why I like love listening to their songs from the 80s and "Automatic".  They're cryptic, rich in subtext, and make for perfect soundtracks to movies -- including "ang soundtrack ng buhay mo".  You celebrate, but mostly, wail, hurt along with Michael.