The Story Behind the Often Misinterpreted 'Brutal' R.E.M. Song That Michael Stipe Nearly Didn't Record

[{"selector":"#anim-59626f4f-727b-4f3e-a51f-0deeef9e1e34 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-11.693548407696902%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ba595b1-0355-401d-b5e3-d5f4f7847040","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While often perceived as a love song, "The One I Love" actually conveys a darker message about using people.

[{"selector":"#anim-581d726d-1f32-4fa4-80aa-dc490fc316d6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05d19cf9-575d-4735-be81-a719b3d12b0e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Orange Lightning Michael Stipe initially hesitated to record the song, finding its lyrics too brutal and personal.

[{"selector":"#anim-63635ce3-a7cd-4e7f-b9d3-682592e067e6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-53.97186267880561%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00d65b6d-8fdc-4acf-8b27-e06012cebc42","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Orange Lightning Despite Stipe's reservations, "The One I Love" became R.E.M.'s first hit, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

[{"selector":"#anim-c71141d0-d727-42b6-9ef1-81ed8bd40560 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45bf8111-621c-41d3-96b6-439cc189cedc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Orange Lightning The song's lyrics use sarcasm to expose the shallowness of the narrator's feelings.

[{"selector":"#anim-0b5f2dcf-f656-4f82-833b-c584e4a5547d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc0ead97-d071-465c-b67f-384b763a34e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Orange Lightning The song's theme of fire aligns with other songs on the album "Document," suggesting a broader message.

[{"selector":"#anim-08cf5578-421f-4432-a718-639b8b410205 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-68.12499993173545%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-719046dd-1843-47ee-9d42-413328529328","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Orange Lightning Peter Buck came up with the iconic guitar riff for the song.

[{"selector":"#anim-599d7d9a-d111-42d7-a334-ea6145b6cb4d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(10.080645179049052%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef81e7e6-695d-4b95-a31d-15808d9cca01","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Orange Lightning Stipe eventually embraced the song's misinterpretation as a love song, finding it a positive outcome.

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[{"selector":"#anim-28d9ab40-755b-407a-9028-2c7d71397b3d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5061789-77a1-4ea0-8ea1-093cf02c76b2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(70.49999993173543%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Explore the dark truth behind R.E.M. song "The One I Love" in this article- Learn more