5. The One I Love – R.E.M.
This tune lets us hear exactly what we want. Clearly, that’s simply the lyric “this one goes out to the one I love,” and practically nothing else; the rest of the lyrics refer to the person as “the one I left behind,” “a prop to fill my time,” yet we still consider this to be a love song. Apart from one line, every other lyric is really nasty. How could we be so blinkered?
Michael Stipe, the main vocalist of R.E.M., has remarked on this often misinterpreted song, laughing it off by saying at this point, it’s probably best that everyone believe it’s a love song. We also agree. This misconception emphasizes how strong a good chorus can be in overpowering the actual message of a song. The powerful beat of the song and Stipe’s passionate performance help to contribute to the misinterpretation since listeners usually pay more attention to the musical vitality than to the lyrical content. Although “Fire!” is repeated in the chorus to heighten the intensity, it is really a metaphor for the terrible nature of the relationship the songs’ describes. Stipe has called the song “incredibly violent” and about manipulating people, which sharply contrasts with its widespread impression as a beautiful ballad. This discrepancy between the audience’s understanding and the artist’s aim begs fascinating issues regarding the nature of art and how personal expression could acquire fresh meanings if put into public view. The song’s ongoing appeal despite (or maybe because of this misinterpretation shows how often listeners project their own experiences and wishes onto the music they enjoy.
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