Crucial Track for April 23, 2025

"It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M.

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Today I sang along to “Its The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M. from their album Document while lifting at the gym. My trainer, Kristen, is the same age as me and has similar tastes so I feel lucky to hear awesome music whenever I lift. Singing along to it in my head brought me right back and reminded me I still know the lyrics, mostly. Document was one of the first tapes I bought at the mall store with my own money and I loved hearing the political themes and ideas. R.E.M. was my first exposure to music as resistance. I love when Michael Stipe calls “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” and Mike Mills responds with “It’s time I had some time alone” and how it’s kind of a manic back and forth. I was thinking of all that tonight and while it got me through a tough session, it also made me sad at how relevant the lyrics still are.