REVEAL: IMITATION OF LIFE

  And we get to the single for this album and the only song to make the final cut from REVEAL on their retrospective PT,PL,PH,PG. This lead single was the worst performer from an R.E.M. album in a long time, but it definitely sets up the listener for what they can expect from a forthcoming album. Little did fans know that this would be the radio friendliest song from the album, but it's for sure--like the album--a grower. So many great things in this song! First off, the metaphors and similes are excellent and unique, if there's a lyric that better illustrates the sardonic humor of the band than 'since bread came sliced' IDK what is (although this could be a separate blog). I have belabored this point lately, but Michael is really stretching his lyrical muscle and pointedly trying to give the songs some different perspectives. That said, I used to play this song live with 'Losing My Religion' calling it the sequel. That was really only based on the 'corner' mention and the 'try, cry' allusion, so it was a stretch but why not? Mostly because the LMR corner was forlorn love isolation and this song's corner is an attempt to convey the isolation of stardom. There's also no way Michael didn't want to write a song with the lyric 'c'mon' in it ... sort of like his 'yeahs' in MOTM. In retrospect the song has become very popular and I hear it all the time when I'm out shopping on musak store radio--it's upbeat and catchy. It's placement on the album I liken to Radiohead's 'Karma Police' on OK COMPUTER, it kicks in just when you need it--and maybe even a little past when you need it. Also, the video is insane ... I've added below!




IMITATION OF LIFE

Charades, pop skill, water hyacinth

Named by a poet
Imitation of life
Like a koi in a frozen pond
Like a goldfish in a bowl
I don’t want to hear you cry

That’s sugarcane that tasted good
That’s cinnamon that’s Hollywood
C'mon, c'mon no one can see you try

You want the greatest thing
The greatest thing since bread came sliced
You've got it all, you've got it sized
Like a Friday fashion show teenager
Freezing in the corner
Trying to look like you don’t try

That’s sugarcane that tasted good
That’s cinnamon that’s Hollywood
C'mon, c'mon no one can see you try

No one can see you cry

That’s sugarcane that tasted good
That’s freezing rain that’s what you could
C'mon, c'mon no one can see you cry

This sugarcane
This lemonade
This hurricane, I'm not afraid
C'mon, c'mon no one can see me cry
This lightning storm
This tidal wave
This avalanche, I'm not afraid
C'mon, c'mon no one can see me cry

That’s sugarcane that tasted good
That’s who you are, that’s what you could
C'mon, c'mon no one can see you cry

That’s sugarcane that tasted good
That’s who you are, that’s what you could
C'mon, c'mon no one can see you cry

 
   After recording this song, Peter realized he wrote DRIVER 8 again. What better way to juice it up than with electronics and open chords? I'm partial to the Am in the verse. This song is crazy fun to play and people know it, even if they don't think they do.


IMITATION OF LIFE

Intro/ Chorus

e|-0---0---|-3---0---0---0-2---2--3--2---|

B|-0---3---|-3---0---1---1-3-3--3--3--3--|

G|-0---0---|-0---0---2---0-2--2--2--2--2-|

D|-2---2---|-0---2---2---2-0-------------|

A|-2---3---|-2---2---0---3---------------|

E|-0---0---|-3---0---0---0---------------|

Verse                  

e|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0-0--|

B|-0---0---0---3---|-0---0---0---3-3--|

G|-9---5---4---2---|-9---5---4---2-0--|

D|-9---7---5---0---|-9---7---5---0-2--|

A|-7---0---5---0---|-7---0---5---0-3--|

E|-0---0---3---0---|-0---0---3---0-0--|

Break                  

e|-0---0---0---0---0---0--|

B|-3---3---3---3---3---3--|

G|-0---2---0---2---0---0--|

D|-2---0---2---0---2---2--|

A|-3-------3-------3---3--|

E|-0-------0-------0---0--|

End on Em