Music Monday: Bang & Blame 1994
Twenty-five years ago, this week (November 26/December 2, 1994) the song Bang and Blame by R.E.M. debuted on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart (Page 119/called Modern Rock Tracks in 1994), entering at #8, making it to #1 on December 17. Released October 31, it was the second single from the album Monster, their ninth studio album. Co-produced by the band and Scott Litt, all song writing credits are the band members. The song also made it to #1 in Canada on February 20, 1995, and peaked in the top ten in the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart (Album Rock Tracks in 1994), Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart and, in Finland, Iceland and Poland.
Rain Phoenix (sister of River & Joaquin) and Lynda Stipe (Michael’s sister) sang backing vocals. Recordings were difficult with Mike Mills and Bill Berry‘s illnesses and, the deaths of Kurt Cobain and River Phoenix. The album is dedicated to Phoenix.
Television Episodes (song used)
Lyrics (from LyricFind):
If you could see yourself now, baby
It’s not my fault, you used to be so in control
You’re going to roll right over this one
Just roll me over, let me go
You’re laying blame
Take this as no, no, no, no, no
You bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
Then blame, blame, blame
You bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
It’s not my thing, so let it go
If you could see yourself now, baby
The tables have turned, the whole world hinges on your swings
Your secret life of indiscreet discretions
I’d turn the screw and leave the screen
Don’t point your finger
You know that’s not my thing
You came to bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
To blame, blame, blame
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
It’s not my thing, so let it go now
You’ve got a little worry
I know it all too well
I’ve got your number
But so does every kiss and tell
Who dares to cross your threshold
Happens on you way
Stop laying blame
You know that’s not my thing
You know that’s not my thing
You came to bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
Then blame, blame, blame
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
It’s not my thing so let it go, you
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
Then blame, blame, blame
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang
It’s not my thing so let it go
You kiss on me
Tug on me
Rub on me
Jump on me
You bang on me
Beat on me
Hit on me
Let go on me
You let go on me
Cosmic-Observation 
December 5, 2019 at 9:33 AM
This one I really like. They couldn’t lose for a long time until the 2000’s.
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December 5, 2019 at 2:23 PM
I’ve always liked their work though I have never owned an album. 🤔🤨
I dug around on the song. I came upon some site with a forum & a poster/commenter remarked that the song, itself, was about River. Michael & River were ‘involved’ and, River had trouble processing it. His sexuality was a mess due to his entire family being in the Children of God cult.
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December 5, 2019 at 2:26 PM
I didn’t know that about River at all. REM always seemed to stand for something. They had integrity about them.
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December 5, 2019 at 2:52 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_International
It’s the same organization that the New Age guru Zen Gardener (Gardner?) was involved in…a buddy of David Icke. He wiped out his website because the backlash was incredible:
https://newspunch.com/david-ickes-friend-zen-gardner-confesses-he-ran-pedophile-cult/
This is what got River killed and why Joaquin is so fucked up.
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December 5, 2019 at 8:04 PM
The article mentioned Jimmy Savile…you can see him on videos reaching and trying to grope.
It amazes me groups like that get by with it as long as they do.
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December 5, 2019 at 5:50 PM
Because the sickest of the sick are also the richest of the rich. Debauchery was created at the highest levels…Caligula, Vatican, Royalty…no ethics, no morals, no shame. And, they have the tools to hide and the words to obfuscate. 💩🤡🤬🤮
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December 5, 2019 at 6:02 PM
They don’t have to have morals or shame…they pay off what they don’t want known…and sometimes dont even care about that unless it can put them in jail.
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