REVEAL: BEACHBALL

   Another album down, two more to go and a revisit of CIN puts a wrap on the major portion of the blog--the end is in sight. Speaking of the end, what a way to end an album--I mean it's no 'Find the River' but ... okay, it's really not FTR. However, the album stays extremely true to its themes and style that the song wraps up REVEAL quite nicely. I've never had any problem with the song per se, when tagged on to the end of REVEAL, I mean if you get this far with a drastically different R.E.M. sound your beef shouldn't be with 'Beachball.' The song is perfectly harmless. That said, if you were to introduce a non-listener to ... say ... 'Radio Free Europe' followed by this song, good luck with that mixtape. I can't imagine the drum beat is not simply a preset rhumba beat, it's almost like the old They Might Be Giants method of percussion when they didn't have a full band. Unlike UP and NAIHF, this song isn't as much a harbinger to the next album as it is a final completion of a phrase. Some cool imagery here as always, the standard French blessing for sneezing, the 'coffee klatch career,' and the final welcoming of other people create a wistful and welcoming evening. This song might get the award for least R.E.M.-like song. They never played it live.




BEACHBALL
Tonight's alive the beachball's set to fly

Those well tequila'd guys who smile at strangers

à tes souhaits
à tes amours chéri
You give a little sneeze and dance the rhu-rhu-rhu-rhu-rhumba

This life is sweet
We're dancin' in the street
Who knows who you might meet?
You'll do fine

The little weekend's here

Thursday has an ear
Her coffee klatch career she talks to strangers

And kissing by the sea
Particular to me
'ti punch, mojito, sling, and dance the rhu-rhu-rhu-rhu-rhumba

This life is sweet
We're dancin' in the street
Who knows who you might meet?
You'll do fine

We flash the seaside sky
With starfish butterflies
To cast a spell and welcome locals, weekenders, and strangers

You'll do fine
You'll do fine
You'll do fine



   This song is mostly keyboard, but there is some guitar in there. I've converted some of the keyboard flourishes to guitar for fun. I've found using the Db chord in the song and the Db7 for the end the most pleasant, but you could do wither for the whole track. Also, Capo 3 for ease!

BEACHBALL

CAPO 3

Verse (Bb-Db x3, Cm-G)

g |-3---1----------0------0----|

D |-3---3--------1--1-1----0-0-|

A#|-0---3-------2-2--2--1---1--|

F |-0---3--------------2-2-----|

C |-2---1----------------------|

G |-3---1---x3-----------------|

Chorus (Fm7-G)

g |-2---0---2---0---2---0---2--|

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

A#|-2---1---2---1---2---1---2--|

F |-0---2---0---2---0---2---0--|

C |-0---2---0---2---0---2------|

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

Verse Keyboard Riff

g |----3-----3-5-----3---------|

D |-3-3-6-3-3---6-3-3-6-8-8-5--|

A#|--4-----4-------4----------1|

F |----------------------------|

C |----------------------------|

G |----------------------------|

Chorus End Riff

g |---------|

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

A#|----2-4--|

F |---------|

C |---------|

G |---------|

Final Pick (Bb-Db7)

g |-3---3---1---1-----|

D |--3---3---3---3----|

A#|---4---4---2---2---|

F |----5---5---3---3--|

C |-------------------|

G |-------------------|