This was inspired by the late comedian Andy Kaufman. When he was a teenager, R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe saw Kaufman on Saturday Night Live, and has cited him as a huge influence ever since.

It is a history lesson for a lot of people, but old people like me understand it. We lived it.

Andy Kaufman was one of greatest jokesters ever. He was pulling in millions from Taxi and took on a busboy job at a restaurant across the street from the studio. When he died of cancer few believed it because he was always putting people on.

The music video for this shows old clips of Andy Kaufman doing his Elvis impersonation. He also went into wrestling, and people never knew if he was joking or not. There was also a conspiracy that he faked his own death. Which ties into the song lyrics, just kind of making you want to ask questions and to question everything. Darwin, Newton, religious figures and themes ('I'll see you in heaven if you make the list"). Besides the lyrics, though, this is such a sonically pleasing song, the instruments, the vocals on the chorus. It's just so GOOD.

Andy Kaufman was a comedian who used to " goof on Elvis" doing Elvis skits. He did skits on snl and played the mechanic on Taxi.

I vividly remember the first time I heard this. I was 12 year's old and was spending the weekend at my grandparents. Every Saturday morning the chart show was on the television and they'd play the latest videos. I'm literally closing my eyes and I can see the music video for this flash up on the screen while I'm eating my breakfast. Man, crazy how some memories stick in your brain like that. That's probably why this is my favourite song of theirs. Well, this and what's the frequency Kenneth.

A fitting tribute to one of the all time comedy greats . I never make it through this song without a tear. 🎸😇👍

This song is about the late great Andy Kaufman. There was a movie about it starring Jim Carrey called Man on the Moon. Andy was a trickster on stage, and part of his show would be him goofing around about how they faked moon landing, or do you really believe this or that. It didn't matter what it was he would question everything. You never knew if he was telling the truth or not, so much so that when he died everyone suspected he faked his death. He was all about the shock factor and he would do anything for a laugh. The song was made for the movie and if you saw it the song would make more sense.

Love them. Every song has magic

Man On The Moon is actually a great movie for you guys to do on your channel. This song will make a lot more sense then. If you even watched the old TV series Taxi then you have seen Andy Kaufman at work.

he was a actor/comedian. he also wrestled. he was a trip! saw Andy Kaufman wrestle a black woman in Memphis Tennessee back 1982. he was an interesting character! and this album was well worth the money!

Michael Stipe, lead singer and main lyricist for R.E.M. often wrote cryptic, purposely ambiguous lyrics, similar to Jon Anderson of Yes. He said he liked to keep his songs open to the interpretation of the listener. Also, R.E.M. always had killer harmonies and catchy yet off-beat musical arrangements.

Asia & BJ, you’ll love their “The One I Love”, “Stand” and "Shiny Happy People"!!! Shiny Happy People features Kate Pierson of the B-52’s!

I think this song is mostly about a reverence for the late Andy Kaufmann, but also free thinking, REM band members were very well educated, but, also anti-establishment and wanted people to think for their own. I don't think they are discrediting the Moon landing, I think that's just a tangent to bring the hooks together... It really is all over the place. Congrats on the sneaking up to 250k, you will get there soon!! Love the channel!!

This song is a tribute to Andy Kaufman, a legendary comedian who died very young of cancer. Despite being lost so soon, he remains one of the most controversial and influential comedians in history. The man thought of his comedy as "performance art" and as such, you could never tell whether he was joking or serious when he did things. For example, back in the late 70s he hade a very angry feud with professional wrestler Jerry Lawler. They hated each other. Called each other out in the press, and even got into a fist fight on the David Letterman show. Except it was all a con. Lawler and Kaufman were close friends who were putting on the "feud" as a practical joke. And he lead his entire life like that, to the point that when he finally died of cancer, about half of his fans assumed he faked his death as a joke. (And of course, this wasn't helped at all by his friend Bob Zmuda showing up a year after Andy died dressed up as one of Kaufman's best known characters in public).

The older I get the more I have to remind myself to think kindly of those younger than myself. Glad you enjoyed the song.✌

I once got my picture taken with REM. That's me in the corner!

Andy Kaufman was an edgy American comedian , famous for playing Latka in the 70’s show Taxi , Jim Carrey played him in the film based on his life called “Man on the moon “ RIP Andy

Wife here.., Sometimes this song just pops into my head..Love the way this song talks about Andy Kaufman's "Goofing on Elvis"..Hey Guys I also believe this is about what you believe or don't believe...I also like the part about Andy Kaufman wrestling..Andy really did professional wrestling with a comedic spin..As Andy was a wrestler...My Husband was a HUGE Andy Kaufman fan

You should see a movie called "Man On the Moon," about Andy Kaufmann, starring Jim Carrey. That's who this is about. Great movie. The thing about Kaufmann is you never really knew what he was going to do, and he LOVED to do stunts and bits in front of people who weren't in on the joke. Like getting involved in professional wrestling. He was one of a kind.

The thing with Andy Kaufman was that you never knew when you were being had. When did the skit end? He always kept you guessing. That is the gist of the song. REM took the license to apply that sentiment to popular conspiracy theories. Are we all being had?

This song is in 1992 REM´s álbum "Automatic for the people" this is the main theme of "Man on the moon" film that portrais the history of the comedian Andy Kaufman. (i do recomed to see the movie) REM is one of those bands that influenced many mucicians and a hole generation. (thyey are the fathers of indie / alternative Rock) and, after listening this song you know why they are so cool.

So many references to younger days. Monopoly, 21, checkers, and chess. We did put a man on the moon, Andy Kaufman was a comic genius who did go to wrestle in Memphis, TN, and Mott the Hoople was an actual band. This IS an interesting song.

The reference to Freddie Blassie, the Pro Wrestling legend, was a breakfast that Andy and Freddie had recorded together. It's pure gold.

Love this consistently amazing band

Even just hearing other actors from the sitcom Taxi describing Andy will give you some insight on the the craziness of the situation

Andy Kaufman was a mad genius. He was famous for his "foreign guy" act "Latka Gravis," which he brought to Taxi. His characters were practically alter egos. He also insisted that hire a friend of his, "Tony Clifton" to make appearances on Taxi. Tony was another Kaufman character, but he insisted he wasn't a character. Tony was the polar opposite of Latka and was obnoxious to everyone he encountered. The production company had to pay them separately and keep up the rouse. One of my favorite stories is that when he played Radio City, he told the audience at the end of the show, "I love you so much I wish I could take you out for milk and cookies." "-no really." And he sent them out to the street where a line of school buses took them to a local school where he had milk and cookies waiting for the entire audience in the lunchroom. You should check out some of his appearances on Saturday night live, or his comedy special.

I may be wrong, but I have always understood the lyrics to be saying that knowing the "truth" is not where joy is found in life. It is found in experience, in understanding the limits of what you can know, in valuing the doubts raised by watching Andy Kaufman in a wrestling ring.

With REM you have to start with something like Radio Free Europe and then work your way forward. Hard to start with the radio friendly pop stuff instead of the college radio stuff we love them for.

REM is one of my all-time favorite bands, right up there with Pink Floyd. They are always on my playlist. Deep catalog of music, so profound and beautiful!

Andy Kauffman was one of the greatest alltime comedians. Jim Carey played him in the movie Man on the Moon taken from this song.

This is a great song.

Asia! love your Selena Quntianilla t shirt. I have been hearing her all the past two weeks on the radio. She was so great. Love her. Tears to my eye.🙏💯

i cant wait for you to go down the Andy Kaufman rabbit hole and you must. the movie Man on the Moon with Jim Carrey is one of his best and will get you wanting to learn more about the wonderful world of Andy Kaufman

Great band

This song is like fine wine. One sip, two sips....and years ahead you will remember its taste as something unique, that only this wine gives you...that's R.E.M.

The genius of Andy Kaufman inspired this song. The lyrics make reference to various aspects of his life. He was a stand up comedian and also starred in the old show "Taxi"

R.E.M were from Atlanta area? University of Georgia freaks! I'm Wisconsin clown going off. These cat's were fire in the 80's on college radio. Then, they became global superstars overnight. This is my time. High School. "Everybody hurts was just after this" But Jr. High with "Kenneth" dang. This band had a 10 year run in the mainstream. The had hits into the late 90's. But now I got to watch. Get it!!!!

Very good upload! So glad you reacted to this one . REM gives the listener food for discussion... Most definitely ~

Andy Kaufman, he played Latka on the show Taxi, which was such a funny sitcom. The earth is round btw, 😊

What Pete said, and there’s a bio-pic on Andy Kaufman named Mon on the Moon w/ Jim Carey

Man On The Moon would be a great movie for you to watch on your film channel. All the commenters have told you that is a tribute to Andy Kaufman who died of cancer 1984 at the age of 35. He was brilliantly talented and appeared on the 1st ever episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. He was more of a performance artist than a comedian, and often played with his audience by saying outrageous things in public and doing unexpected things on stage to --and beyond -- the point where the audience became frustrated and sometimes hostile. He sometimes played a character, Tony Clifton, who was a bad lounge singer and would make rude jokes about women and challenge men to fights. It was sometimes hard to tell how seriously he would act b/c he never broke character and was always pushing the envelope. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer many of his fans assumed he was doing a bit, even as he lost weight and canceled performance because of his weakened state. When he died many of the same fans assumed it was a hoax (it was not) and that he would make a grand reappearance at a later date. It didn't help that he had joked years earlier about faking his death at some point. This was spurred on later when a year after his death Tony Clifton made several last minute appearances at different venues, played by Kaufman's close friend Bob Zmuda. Needless to say, the song is not about promoting certain conspiracy theories so much as about the irony of a man who spent his career fooling audiences into believing things that they knew in their hearts weren't true, up to and including the point where they watched him get sick and die and still didn't believe it...

♥ this song! You gotta check out their song: Orange Crush

You guys should watch the movie “Man in the moon”, Jim Carry plays Andy Kaufman 👍

The Man On The Moon movie is one you guys may want to watch. I just know if you would get much of it if you have no idea who Andy was. And although I've grown to not care for Jim Carey as much he is awesome in the role. He totally embodied the role.

The video for this song is really cool 😎

Watch the live version it's very good!

Great reaction! I'm so glad you did this terrific song. Everything by REM is amazing and has its own unique sound and often cryptic lyrics. Also, I think some of the lyrics on this video were off a little bit which might have added to some of the confusion. But, you hung in there and it is definitely a groove!

Andy Kaufamann. The biggest jokester, prankster ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look up Andy Kaufmann. He died of cancer in1984. Truly an original.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah cool 👍

Liked REM very much, deep lyrics and thought provoking messages with a very unique style

The Opening Line is My Favorite Band of All Time The 70’s , a great time to be Alive Trivia. The lead singer of REM was a member of the Mott The Hoople Fan Club , The Sea Divers

Thank you for this song! I really enjoyed seeing you guys getting into this….😊😊😊

Love REM and this song. In his affection for Andy Kaufman, REM's Michael Stipe lent this song to be used for the movie "Man On The Moon" of which Andy Kaufman was the main character, played by Jim Carey. In real life, he was a supposed comedian; although, many people didn't "get him". There was a wildly popular sitcom in the 80s titled "Taxi" that first introduced a character named Latka Gravas, played by Andy Kaufman whose character I actually DID "get". I would say that for me, Andy Kaufman was probably more of a satirist and his humor was more abstract. I was one of those who didn't always "get him" or his humor, but he certainly was entertaining!

Always dug this..😎

How we loved that song back then

There is a decade of back story to this song

Oh, and you owe it to yourself to look up a KZfaq video called "Andy Kaufman's Elvis Presley Impression". This was Andy's first television appearance, and its amazing.

I can't figure out the lyrics, but then again no one ever figured out exactly the talented and confounding comedian/ performing artist Andy Kaufman featured at the heart of the song. He was already dead - by cancer at 35 - by the time they recorded this beautiful moody tribute.

ASIA...You are 100%%% right!!! ALL the world's a stage! Exactly what you think this song is about...is what it's about. Are we actually paying attention?? MOST of humanity is still asleep. He's telling US. For those with eyes to see. Andy Kaufman was a master at comedy of "playing a roll". 2 different personalities. People didn't "GET" that he was playing a roll. Michael Stipe is masterful at saying one thing, but actually meaning another ---for those with eyes to see...ears to hear!!! You 2 are right! Most REM fans don't get what this song is about: Opening our eyes to the lies. Buzz Aldrin (astronaut) was on video saying ...we never went to the moon. I saw it-- Research "Firmament"

The song will make more sense if you do a little research on Andy Kaufman and YES, the US really did put a man on the moon. Andy was a comedian FAMOUS for impersonating Elvis. Jim Carey played him in the movie Man on the Moon.

it's about the great late Andy Kaufman there a movie name '' man on the moon '' that on the life of Andy Kaufman (Jim Carrey played Andy Kaufman ) a good comedie movie that song is in the movie also you should listen to REM ''The great beyond ' '(official video )that song it's also on this movie very good song as well

P.S.S. I also think that in Dumb & Dumber, the "man on the moon" part (where he sees the very old newspaper article on the wall), was a suggestion by Jim Carrey. The song was released in 1992, and Dumb & Dumber was released in 1994.

Now you need to watch the movie "Man on the Moon" to put this song into perspective. Ironically, I believe I posted a comment awhile back after you did a Jim Carrey movie, about it. IMHO, it was his best acting performance, and it is legendary. Even Andy Kaufman's family was blown away. P.S. You also need to watch all Andy's appearances on David Letterman. There are plenty of videos on youtube you can see them on.

Andy Kaufman was the original "punk'd" guy... He was an aspiring comedian in the 70's who would often prank the audiences. He played 'Latka' in the comedy series 'Taxi' where he would put on a fake European immigrant accent... His 'Elvis' impersonation was his trademark. Audiences would not often know if he was joking when he did comedy skits... Andy had a public feud w/ pro wrestler Jerry Lawler, and was famously put in the hospital by Lawler after a wrestling match... Years later, Lawler himself admitted that it was a set up - he and Andy had been friends and the 'feud' was their idea, because Andy wanted to use his celebrity status to help Lawler's wrestling circuit (which Andy was a fan of). When Andy Kaufman died from cancer in 1984, people wondered if it was a prank... that he had faked his own death. He was truly ahead of his time... Jim Carrey played Andy Kaufman in the biopic movie that was titled 'Man on the Moon' in 1999 after this R.E.M. song. Jerry Lawler played himself in the movie and (late) Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's widow Courtney Love played Kaufman's girlfriend Lynne. Actor Danny DeVito, who was Andy Kaufman's co-star in 'Taxi' played Andy's manager.

Andy would delight in how confused you are by the lyrics. He loved to make himself laugh. If you were amused, too, then he wasn’t doing the joke right.

Look up Andy Kaufman Jerry lawler letterman. One of the most legendary tv moments ever. Those two had a legendary wrestling feud blurring the lines between reality and fake. Jerry has said that years after Andy passed that Andy’s parents told him that for years they thought Jerry really hated their son

This song got me through the morning shift of one of the shittiest jobs I ever had. Was my favorite song to fall asleep to when i snuck a nap in the dressing rooms, before the store would open lol

This song is from the movie man on the moon about Andy Kaufman

Love your shirt Asia ♥️

Andy Kaufman, watch "Man on the Moon" and you'll get all the answers you need Asia and BJ.

Andy was a famous comedian who died in 1984. Just like there have been conspiracies about the moon landing there were conspiracies that Andy never died. Same with Elvis.

BJ caught all of the Elvis voices. I saw you BJ. Good catch.

Watch a few classic taxi episodes with. Andy. Then watch his wresting and Elvis impersonation. Elvis himself was said to have loved Andy’s impersonation of him

Oh my. Yeah, do a deep dive on Andy Kaufman. Another example refuting the fine like between genius and insanity. (Any genius or insane person will tell you that line was miles and miles back, not right here, nearby.)

It's a song about actor and entertainer Andy Kaufman. He would do Elvis impersonations and would take on wrestlers and perform stunts and gags where he would get injured.

Great band! This was overplayed and still is on the radio haha. Classic. Check out their "Orange Crush" and "Nightswimming" songs sometime.

Here I come to save the daaay! First SNL episode, I believe. Andy was a genius

Check out REM's best song, Nightswimming.

Great Song, Great Reaction Video, Thank You. Happy Thanksgiving 😀

As people told you, the song is about Andy Kaufmann. Jim Carrey played Andy Kaufmann in a movie called "man in the moon". I'm pretty sure this song was in that movie😊

This is a song on the great Andy Kaufman . If you want to react on a movie about him , watch " Man On The Moon ". A real life story .The part of Andy Kaufman is played by Jim Carrey . Also Danny De Vito is in it .

Andy Kaufman. Funny comic that died young.

Watch the movie "Man On The Moon ", starring Jim Carrey as Andy Kauffman. Very good film explaining the meaning of this song.

Oh man, this is it's own whole thing. Andy Kaufman , was an actor/comedian in the 70's / 80's he was on SNL, and a sitcom (Taxi) he ended up getting into wrestling (kinda) I recommend a documentary (I'm From Hollywood the Andy Kaufman story) also the movie starring Jim Carrey "Man On The Moon". Yeah, Andy even had a whole alter ego/Tony Clifton. The dude was kinda crazy ("Are we losing touch") Sometimes people weren't sure if he was crazy or was he just a friggin joker. He pissed everyone off by wrestling women, and beating them, live, on SNL. He had appearances on David Letterman, he ended up in a wrestling match with Jerry Lawler. It was insane. Danny Devito was his friend. He did an Elvis impression on stage. It's hard to explain. REM has some good songs you guys will like though; It's The End of the World, The One I Love, Orange Crush

Andy played Latka on Taxi,

The movie adaption was great too jim carrey nailed it

If y'all haven't seen Man on the Moon, starring Jim Carrey, gotta react to it.

Andy Kaufman was a comedian, goofed on Elvis, was N2 pro wrestling, took a pile driver from Jerry The King Lawler, they mention Mr Fred Blassie, former pro wrestler/turned manager, U can google/and/or look up info, quiet interesting 👍😎😎👍

Andy Kaufman was a controversial comedian in the 70s, during a late night talk show he got into it with a well known wrestler of the time. The wrestler attacked Andy during the show shocking everyone!

Andy Kaufman was a comedian who broke all the rules. He died of cancer in his 30's. Jim Carrey played him in the movie same title as the song. You should check it out on your movie channel.

andy kaufman blurred the line between reality and comedy. he was a genius. check out videos of his work. he was a genuine individual soul.

P.S. I also recommend the documentary "My breakfast with Blassie". Not sure if BJ was into wrestling as a kid, but if so, Blassie was a legend, and it is why Andy Kaufman started wrestling women. His wrestling persona was brilliant. He would let any women who could beat him in a match "marry him"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Literally, that was their prize!!!

TAXI, tv series with Danny DeVito, who was hilarious as the boss, Tony Danka, Jeff Conway(brother -Law to Olivia Newton John), who played Kaneki in GREASE!❤. The Best comedy series in the 80s. Check out TAXI!🤗💙👍🏽

Andy Kaufman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You guys need to react to the movie "Man on the moon" with Jim Carey

Hey Baby!… lol.. Gets me every time..

“They filmed him jumping on the moon “. 😅😅😅 You mean there was a film crew waiting? 😅😅😅

Andy Kaufman had the greatest comedic mind the human race has ever produced.

I think he is walking us though big events in human history..as least to me. Moses, Egypt, Newton, Darwin, Checkers and Chess, Monopoly, 21, Andy Kaufman the comedian, Elvis, Man on rthe Moon from Purdue University Neil Armstrong ...Wrestling the 70's..Means what you want it mean..that is the beauty..

It was often difficult to say whether Andy Kaufman was serious or joking. He started to read The Great Gatsby to his audience. He finished the entire book. He had a bit with a pro wrestler. For a long period of time, nobody knew if it was real or an act. And i think this is why the song is appealing to Andy