The themes of "Cuyahoga" include the pollution of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio and the treatment of American Indians earlier in American history.[1][3][4] Despite the grim themes, according to R.E.M. biographer David Buckley, the lyrics are "words of optimism, partnership and community, set against an age of individualism."[3] R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck said of the song that it "is a metaphor for America and its lost promises. This is where the Indians were and now look at it. It's one of the ugliest fucking rivers in the world."[1] The song opens with the lines "Let's put our heads together and start a new country up," which R.E.M. biographer Tony Fletcher describes as sounding like a "call to arms."[5] On the other hand, music writer Craig Rosen feels that the line adds to the song's optimism.[1]
Another line in the song states that "we'll burn the river down."[1][6] This line comes from the fact that as early as the 1910s the river was so polluted that one method of cleaning the river was to throw a torch in it and thus burn the pollutants.[6][7] The river also actually caught fire on several occasions, including in 1969, an event which helped raise awareness of water pollution and other environmental issues,[8][9] although it was a photograph of an even larger 1952 fire that was used in an iconic Time magazine cover on the subject.[10] This was another inspiration for the song, and for other songs such as Randy Newman's "Burn On."[8][9] Newman biographer Kevin Courrier believes that "Burn On" was an influence on "Cuyahoga."[11]
Buckley describes the melody as "beautiful" and the refrain as "anthemic."[3] Musically, "Cuyahoga" is propelled by Mills' bassline.[3][6]
Musician Ken Stringfellow described "Cuyahoga" as being "an anthem, but it's not self-congratulatory. It's about what's gone wrong with our country. It was an anti-anthem in that way. It took on an issue, but it was still unifying and powerful. That's a hard thing to do well."[3]Slant critic Jonathan Keefe noted that even 25 years after the song's initial release its "optimism...is still inspiring and relevant."[12] He goes on to note that the song's message "reflects an intelligent and decidedly nonpartisan approach to political reconstruction without resorting to...didacticism."[12]Pitchfork Media critic Stephen M. Deusner states that "With its rousing chorus and pensive bass line, 'Cuyahoga' mails postcard dispatches from a museum where rivers and plains are artifacts, consigned to diorama and memory rather than reality."[13] According to music author Martin Charles Strong, "Cuyahoga" (and "Fall on Me") showed the band developing "an assured poise."[14] Fletcher described "Cuyahoga" as the "lyrical peak" of Lifes Rich Pageant.[5] It is one of Mills' favorite songs and one he particularly enjoys playing live.[1]
^ abcdeBuckley, D. (2012). R.E.M.: Fiction: An Alternative Biography. Random House. ISBN9781448132461.
^Lynskey, D. (2011). 33 Revolutions Per Minute. Faber & Faber. p. 1843. ISBN9780571277209.
^ abFletchger, T. (2013). Perfect Circle: The Story of REM. Omnibus Press. ISBN9781780386980.
^ abcBlack, J. (2004). Reveal: The Story of R.E.M.. Backbeat Books. pp. 123–124. ISBN0879307765.
^Sullivan, D. (1998). R.E.M.: Talk about the Passion : an Oral History. Da Capo Press. p. 104. ISBN9780306808579.
^ abFeinstein, S. (2010). Conserving and Protecting Water: What You Can Do. Enslow Publishing. pp. 86–87. ISBN9780766033467.
^ abGreenberg, B.; et al. (2008). "Causes for Alarm". Social History of the United States. ABC-CLIO. p. 339. ISBN9781598841282.
^Urycki, Mark (June 18, 2019). "50 Years Later: Burning Cuyahoga River Called Poster Child For Clean Water Act". Morning Edition on NPR. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
^Courrier, K. (2005). Randy Newman's American Dreams. ECW Press. p. 135. ISBN9781550226904.
cuyahoga, song, cuyahoga, song, from, their, 1986, album, lifes, rich, pageant, written, primarily, bassist, mike, mills, drummer, bill, berry, earliest, environmentally, conscious, songs, along, with, album, lead, single, fall, cuyahoga, song, from, album, li. Cuyahoga is a song by R E M from their 1986 album Lifes Rich Pageant It was written primarily by R E M bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry 1 It is one of R E M s earliest environmentally conscious songs along with the album s lead single Fall on Me 1 2 Cuyahoga Song by R E M from the album Lifes Rich PageantReleasedJuly 28 1986GenreAlternative rock indie rock jangle popLength4 20LabelI R S RecordsSongwriter s Bill BerryPeter BuckMike MillsMichael StipeProducer s Don GehmanThe themes of Cuyahoga include the pollution of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio and the treatment of American Indians earlier in American history 1 3 4 Despite the grim themes according to R E M biographer David Buckley the lyrics are words of optimism partnership and community set against an age of individualism 3 R E M guitarist Peter Buck said of the song that it is a metaphor for America and its lost promises This is where the Indians were and now look at it It s one of the ugliest fucking rivers in the world 1 The song opens with the lines Let s put our heads together and start a new country up which R E M biographer Tony Fletcher describes as sounding like a call to arms 5 On the other hand music writer Craig Rosen feels that the line adds to the song s optimism 1 Another line in the song states that we ll burn the river down 1 6 This line comes from the fact that as early as the 1910s the river was so polluted that one method of cleaning the river was to throw a torch in it and thus burn the pollutants 6 7 The river also actually caught fire on several occasions including in 1969 an event which helped raise awareness of water pollution and other environmental issues 8 9 although it was a photograph of an even larger 1952 fire that was used in an iconic Time magazine cover on the subject 10 This was another inspiration for the song and for other songs such as Randy Newman s Burn On 8 9 Newman biographer Kevin Courrier believes that Burn On was an influence on Cuyahoga 11 Buckley describes the melody as beautiful and the refrain as anthemic 3 Musically Cuyahoga is propelled by Mills bassline 3 6 Musician Ken Stringfellow described Cuyahoga as being an anthem but it s not self congratulatory It s about what s gone wrong with our country It was an anti anthem in that way It took on an issue but it was still unifying and powerful That s a hard thing to do well 3 Slant critic Jonathan Keefe noted that even 25 years after the song s initial release its optimism is still inspiring and relevant 12 He goes on to note that the song s message reflects an intelligent and decidedly nonpartisan approach to political reconstruction without resorting to didacticism 12 Pitchfork Media critic Stephen M Deusner states that With its rousing chorus and pensive bass line Cuyahoga mails postcard dispatches from a museum where rivers and plains are artifacts consigned to diorama and memory rather than reality 13 According to music author Martin Charles Strong Cuyahoga and Fall on Me showed the band developing an assured poise 14 Fletcher described Cuyahoga as the lyrical peak of Lifes Rich Pageant 5 It is one of Mills favorite songs and one he particularly enjoys playing live 1 Although not released as a single Cuyahoga has appeared on several R E M compilation albums including The Best of R E M in 1991 and And I Feel Fine The Best of the I R S Years 1982 1987 in 2006 15 It was also included on the live albums R E M Live Unplugged The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions Live at the Olympia and R E M at the BBC 15 References edit a b c d e f g Rosen C 1997 R E M Inside Out The Story Behind Every Song Thunder s Mouth Press p 63 ISBN 9781560251774 Erlewine S T Life s Rich Pageant Allmusic Retrieved 2015 06 14 a b c d e Buckley D 2012 R E M Fiction An Alternative Biography Random House ISBN 9781448132461 Lynskey D 2011 33 Revolutions Per Minute Faber amp Faber p 1843 ISBN 9780571277209 a b Fletchger T 2013 Perfect Circle The Story of REM Omnibus Press ISBN 9781780386980 a b c Black J 2004 Reveal The Story of R E M Backbeat Books pp 123 124 ISBN 0879307765 Sullivan D 1998 R E M Talk about the Passion an Oral History Da Capo Press p 104 ISBN 9780306808579 a b Feinstein S 2010 Conserving and Protecting Water What You Can Do Enslow Publishing pp 86 87 ISBN 9780766033467 a b Greenberg B et al 2008 Causes for Alarm Social History of the United States ABC CLIO p 339 ISBN 9781598841282 Urycki Mark June 18 2019 50 Years Later Burning Cuyahoga River Called Poster Child For Clean Water Act Morning Edition on NPR Retrieved July 5 2019 Courrier K 2005 Randy Newman s American Dreams ECW Press p 135 ISBN 9781550226904 a b Keefe J July 12 2011 R E M Life s Rich Pageant 25th Anniversary Edition Slant Magazine Retrieved 2015 06 14 Deusner S M R E M Life s Rich Pageant 25th Anniversary Edition Pitchfork Media Retrieved 2015 06 14 Strong M C 2006 The Essential Rock Discography Canongate p 913 ISBN 9781841958606 a b Cuyahoga Allmusic Retrieved 2015 06 14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cuyahoga song amp oldid 1186069303, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
