"Radio Song" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released as the fourth single from their seventh album, Out of Time (1991), where it appears as the opening track. Lead singer Michael Stipe once said that he hoped everyone had enough sense of humor to realize that he was "kind of taking the piss of everyone," himself included. Stipe also asked KRS-One, leader of Boogie Down Productions (of which Stipe was a fan), to contribute to the track. He provides some backing vocals for the track, as well as a closing rap, and appears prominently in the video. Critical reception Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel named the song one of the album's "strongest cuts", describing it as "an adventurous amalgam of jangly funk and sugary-sweet pop balladry, with KRS-1 a good foil for otherworldly singer Michael Stipe. While Stipe is, as usual, a bit oblique ("I've everything to show/I've everything to hide/ look into my eyes - listen"), KRS-1's words are unambiguous ("Now our children grow up prisoners/all their life - radio listeners")." Celia Farber from Spin felt it's one of the few "that rocks out a little [on the album], settling intermittently on a classic dramatic R.E.M. moment, with a crescendo of arpeggiated guitars and words about the world collapsing." Track listing All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated. US/UK/Germany 7" / US/UK cassette "Radio Song" – 4:15 "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15 UK "Collectors' Edition" CD "Radio Song" – 4:15 "You Are the Everything" (live)3 – 4:43 "Orange Crush" (live)² – 4:03 "Belong" (live)4 – 4:47 US/Germany CD / US 12"/maxi-cassette "Radio Song (Tower of Luv Bug mix)" – 4:14 "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15 "Belong" (live)4 – 4:07 UK/Germany 12" "Radio Song" – 4:15 "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) (live)1 – 3:15 "Shiny Happy People (Music Mix)" Notes 1 Recorded on Rockline, Los Angeles, California; April 1, 1991. 2 Incorrectly listed as "Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia; November 13, 1989"; actually from Miami Arena, Miami (FL), April 29, 1989. 3 Taken from the live performance video, Tourfilm. 4 Recorded at the Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina; November 10, 1989. Details for the second and third live recordings (tracks three and four) for "Collectors' Edition" are not provided on the CD materials. Charts Personnel R.E.M. Bill Berry – drums Peter Buck