Word: stipe
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R.E.M. continued in this fashion for a handful of songs, most of which were Document-era, with political commentary astute for the ’80s but searing today. During the new track “Animal,” Stipe seemed almost confrontational, striding across the stage and staring straight into the eyes of the audience. The band backed him up with a booming backbeat that seemed to replicate the heartbeat of everyone staring up at Stipe...
...R.E.M. is past 20 years in the rock game, and while no one can escape the simple ware of age, R.E.M. still manages to do one thing with incredible energy, charisma, and ease: play a set of solid rock music. Though Michael Stipe took the stage in a conservative navy suit, he also sported a striking, blindfold-like band of blue eye shadow across his face. Whether the statement was spurred by fashion or politics is anyone’s guess, but in many ways, it proved irrelevant: Stipe performed the role of rock star to perfection, striking poses, affecting...
...concert: hard-driving, drums pounding, political and aggressive. The crowd roared at the song, and when that segued into “Begin the Begin,” the the Begin,” the lights on stage flashed dramatically. During the chorus, with the stage lit white, Stipe even broke out his uniquely peculiar dance remembered most vividly from the “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?” music video—limbs akimbo, body flailing, rapt in musical ecstasy...
...rock-star moves were amusing, but during “Welcome to the Occupation,” Stipe dropped the posturing for a keen, insistent cry of “Listen to me,” instantly bringing the focus back to the music...
...effective in echoing Stipe’s downcast lyrics. The lyrics themselves were still somewhat laughable at times, but their delivery was sincere and thoughtful; even Stipe’s rapping sounded credible. Later, the rendition of “I Wanted to be Wrong,” what Stipe referred to as the band’s “State of the Union,” was lush and sweeping, with a stage awash in red, white and blue...