MONSTER: KING OF COMEDY

  Some amazing changes take place during the course of MONSTER and the next few songs force fans of the band to change their equilibrium as well as their preconceptions.  KING does not sound like an R.E.M. song. In fact, this is where my friend cashed in her devotion to the band as it was too much of a departure for her. The track combines their intimate knowledge of the recording studio with their new rock aesthetic. It's slick and it is specific to the song, but I'm not sure if the song fully succeeds. KING OF COMEDY is a term that Stipe here uses to demonstrate the sensationalist tendencies of the media ... not exactly news and since this song the internet has taken speculation to a whole new level.  Stipe uses KING as a title that is fleeting and laments the need for showmanship to make money. People are not commodity, but there is a double standard here. In order to make your mark there needs to be an artistic risk or splash first. There are many forms of greed that Stipe talks about here, but his insistence that people are not commodity--while true--misses the point. Stories ARE commodity. And the more Stipe obfuscates his ambiguous sexuality the more interesting the story becomes. Most media outlets jumped on the line "I'm straight, I'm queer, I'm bi." The argument can be made that this is Stipe in his own voice, but the other opposing argument is just as valid. He has found a way to nestle this song in an album about characters, talk about sexuality directly (which he had never done before), and still create an air of obsequiousness. Textbook Stipe. Also textbook is the lyrics from the 25th Anniversary release, he's clearly saying what I have below, but in the notes changes a couple of words (Clear to Shrewd, Fly to Ply, and the to your in the chorus). Again, Michael controls the authorship, but in performance on the recording he is saying different words and the Scott Litt's Remix bears it out.
  Although the song is slicked up, there are still some great things happening. The addition of female background is really the peak of this songs' irony. It's almost funny. The band has lived this story to the fullest extent with their last two albums being their biggest hits while doing no touring to promote them. Stipe is saying: do whatever you want to get to where you want to be, but don't forget to be true to yourself." So, are we finally meeting the real Stipe during this album? Or is the band falling for their own cautionary tale?

KING OF COMEDY

Make your money with a suit and tie
Make your money with clear denial
Make your money expert advice
If you can wing it
Make your money with a power fly
Make your money with a buyout bribe
You can lie 
As long as you mean it

I'm not the king of comedy
Grease the pig and give a squeeze

(Squeeze me)

Make your money with exploitation
Make it holy illumination
Say a prayer at every station
Don't forget to ask for mercy
Make your money with a pretty face
Make it easy with product placement
Make it charged with controversy
I'm straight, I'm queer, I'm bi

I'm not the king of comedy
I'm not your magazine
I'm not your television

Make your money, make it rich
Make it young and make it quick
Make your money on the jukebox, baby
It's pick-up sticks
Make your enemies make your moves
Make your critics fumble through
Make it smart and make it schmooze
And make it look easy

I'm not the king of comedy
I'm not your magazine
I'm not your television
I'm not your movie screen

I'm not commodity

(All together now)
I'm not commodity
I'm not commodity

I'm not commodity

I'm not commodity

I'm not commodity


  The guitar on this is fairly simple, but there are still a couple of cool tricks from Peter. Of particular note is the return of the open b and e string power chords. A staple of the band's early sound. For the chorus the key is in how the G5 is played, it's imperative to get that high D note in the G chord, when paired with the open e, you get a minor chord feel. Almost a Bm without the B or the minor.

KING OF COMEDY

Verse

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

B|-0-0-0---0-0-0-8-8-0-------0-0-0---|

G|-7-7-7---7-7-7-------6-6-6-6-6-6---|

D|-7-7-7---7-7-7-------7-7-7-7-7-7---|

A|-5-5-5---5-5-5-------7-7-7-7-7-7---|

E|-0-0-0---0-0-0-------5-5-5-5-5-5---|

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

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

G|--9--9--9--9--9--9---4-4-4---6-6-7-6-|

D|-10-10-10-10-10-10---5-5-5---7-7-7-7-|

A|-10-10-10-10-10-10---5-5-5---7-7-7-7-|

E|--8--8--8--0--0--0---3-3-3---5-5-5-5-|

Chorus

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

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

G|-0---5---0------------------------|

D|-5---5---0------------------------|

A|-5---3---2------------------------|

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

Bridge

e|-------------|

B|-------------|

G|-12----------|

D|-12----------|

A|-10-10<------|

E|-------(x8)--|

Outro Pick (G5-D-G)

e|----3-------3------3------3-----|

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

G|---3--3----5--5---4--4---4--4---|

D|-5-------3------5------5--------|

A|--------------------------------|

E|--------------------------------|