Bang and Blame
1994 single by R.E.M
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"Bang and Blame" is a song by American alternative rock group R.E.M. It was released as the second single from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994), on October 31, 1994, by Warner Bros. Records. The song was R.E.M.'s last to reach the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 19, and was also their last number-one single on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The single reached number one in Canada—R.E.M.'s only single to do so—and peaked inside the top 40 on the charts of Australia, Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
- 5:30 (album with short interlude)
- 4:51 (single edit)
| "Bang and Blame" | ||||
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| Single by R.E.M. | ||||
| from the album Monster | ||||
| B-side | "Bang and Blame" (instrumental version) | |||
| Released | October 31, 1994 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length |
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| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
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| R.E.M. singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Bang and Blame" on YouTube | ||||
Stipe has described the song as being about domestic violence,[2] however, it has also been suggested that the song is about Stipe's relationship with the recently deceased River Phoenix, to whom the entire album is dedicated.[3] Phoenix's sister, Rain, provides backing vocals for the track, as does Stipe's sister, Lynda.[4]
Critical reception
Steve Baltin from Cash Box named 'Bang and Blame' Pick of the Week and "one of the strongest tracks on the entire album." He wrote, "A hard-edged guitar tune, vocalist Michael Stipe gets one of his best moments of Monster when he sings, "You kiss on me/don't kiss on me/you tug on me don't tug on me." The propulsive rhythm of this track should also prove enticing even to non-fans of the group."[5] Fell and Rufer from the Gavin Report felt that "Stipe's angst bites the hand that used to feed it. 'Bang and Blame' seems to be the result of some bad kiss 'n' tell. His genius as an oblique lyricist is most of his charm. The arrangement adds to the drama and makes it almost irresistible. Hot A/C will eat this one for lunch."[6] Terry Staunton from Melody Maker named it "one of the least effective songs on the Monster album, and therefore a particularly odd choice for a single."[7]
Martin Aston from Music Week gave it a score of four out of five and considered it "a more memorably commercial outing [than 'What's the Frequency, Kenneth?']. Medium paced with a sharply resonant chorus, 'Bang & Blame' sounds like Top 10 material."[8] Keith Cameron from NME said it "hinges on an archetypically pretty melody and Stipe's ambiguous voice, caught betwixt disdain and sympathy for the song's distressed subject".[9] Neil Spencer from The Observer wrote that on tracks such as "Bang and Blame", "there are bursts of the musical invention and humanist outlook that characterises their best work."[10] Roy Wilkinson from Select described it as "'Losing My Religion' at two-thirds pace, with reggae-lite rhythms".[11] Jordan Paramor from Smash Hits gave it three out of five, adding that "this is yet more weird warblings about life and stuff. However, I'm certain that like most of their singles, it'll be a grower. But come on, R.E.M., do cheer up a bit."[12]
Track listings
All songs were written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe. All live tracks were recorded at the 40 Watt Club, Athens, Georgia, on November 19, 1992. The performance, a benefit for Greenpeace, was recorded on a solar-powered mobile studio.
- "Bang and Blame" – 4:48
- "Bang and Blame" (instrumental version) – 4:48
- "Bang and Blame" (album version) – 4:48
- "Bang and Blame" (K version) – 4:58
- "Bang and Blame" (album version) – 4:48
- "Losing My Religion" (live) – 4:33
- "Country Feedback" (live) – 4:12
- "Begin the Begin" (live) – 3:26
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | October 31, 1994 |
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Warner Bros. | [46] |
| Japan | January 25, 1995 | CD | [47] |
In popular culture
"Bang and Blame" was featured in the Cold Case episode "Blackout" as well as in the Danish mini-series "Charlot og Charlotte" by Ole Bornedal (director of "Nattevagten"/"The Night Watch"), the My Mad Fat Diary episode "Not I" and the Melrose Place episode "No Strings Attached". The song was also used in "Weird Al" Yankovic's polka medley "The Alternative Polka" from his 1996 album Bad Hair Day. The song also leant its title to Episode 7 of Law & Order: Trial By Jury in 2005.