Micky Dolenz Archives - chimesfreedom

Micky Dolenz Covers R.E.M. Song That Was Partly Inspired By the Monkees: “Shiny Happy People”

Micky Dolenz is releasing a cover of R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People,” a song that was itself inspired by the music Dolenz created with the Monkees.

Micky Dolenz and the Monkees once inspired Michael Stipe and R.E.M. to create the song “Shiny Happy People.” The song became a hit for the band when it was released as a single following its appearance on their fantastic 1991 album, Out of Time. This month, the Monkees connection to the song comes full circle as Micky Dolenz of that band releases his version of R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People.” The song appears on an EP of R.E.M. covers called Dolenz Sings R.E.M. (2023).

Micky Dolenz reports that one of the inspirations for creating the R.E.M. covers project was to repay the members of R.E.M. for being fans of the Monkees. One might imagine that the singer whose wonderful talents have often not received its due might have found a connection to a song as popular and maligned as “Shiny Happy People” that was also discounted by some as being too poppy for R.E.M. Like the Monkees, though, “Shiny Happy People” had a deeper origin story, with a title inspired by Chinese propaganda posters and written not long after the Tiananmen Square uprising.

For the new recording, Dolenz worked with producer Christian Nesmith, son of his former bandmate Mike Nesmith (who passed away in 2021). Their goal was to re-imagine the R.E.M. tracks on Dolenz Sings R.E.M. Thus, he does not merely provide a note-by-note- cover of the songs. Instead, he brings his own musical background with a psychedelic touch to the songs. Check out his version of “Shiny Happy People.”

Meanwhile, the last-surviving Monkee remains as active as always. He is still touring, and he is releasing a new book, a limited-edition 500-page photo book, I’m Told I Had a Good Time – The Micky Dolenz Archives, Volume One (with Monkees producer Andrew Sandoval).

Dolenz Sings R.E.M. is officially released on November 3, 2023. The other songs on the EP are “Radio Free Europe,” “Man on the Moon,” and “Leaving New York.”

Leave your two cents in the comments.

“Last Train to Clarksville” as a Protest Song?

The Monkees

One of the biggest hits recorded by The Monkees is “Last Train to Clarksville,” which was released in 1966. Many of us grew up singing along to the song without realizing it was written as a protest against the Vietnam War.

Take the last train to Clarksville
And I’ll meet you at the station,
You can be here by four-thirty,
‘Cause I’ve made your reservation, don’t be slow,
Oh, no, no, no,
Oh, no, no, no.

If you listen closely to the lyrics sung by Micky Dolenz, you can hear that The Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville” is actually in the voice of someone frightened about going off to war.

Now I must hang up the phone,
I can’t hear you in this noisy railroad station,
All alone, I’m feeling low.
Oh, no, no, no,
Oh, no, no, no,
And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home.

The song does not specifically mention the war, but songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart explained that they kind of “snuck in” the Viet Nam references. They noted, “We couldn’t be too direct with the Monkees.”

And that is the story behind the song.

What is your favorite song about the Vietnam War or about trains? Leave your two cents in the comments.

The Ambiguous Anti-War Underpinnings of “Galveston”

When is Mickey Newbury’s “33rd of August”?

Micky Dolenz Covers R.E.M. Song That Was Partly Inspired By the Monkees: “Shiny Happy People”

What Is the Murder Ballad That Holly Hunter Sings to Nathan Jr. in “Raising Arizona”?

Who Sang “Change in My Life” In the Steve Martin Movie “Leap of Faith”?

Matthew Ryan Finds Beauty Within Our National Affliction: “On Our Death Day”

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

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Pop Culture Roundup for December 2012

In case you were too busy getting ready for the holidays or trying to avoid a fiscal cliff the last few weeks, here are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed.

— Movies —

The Atlantic featured production storyboards from 15 beloved films.

What if there were an animated series called “Clockwork Orange Babies“? Here’s what the promo posters would look like.

The “Honest Trailer” for The Dark Knight Rises was released. Even though I liked the movie, the “Honest Trailer” is funny and captures a number of plot issues. (Thanks @PopcornJunkies.)

Dan Aykroyd on Ghostbusters 3 in Esquire. (Thanks @ravenval.)

Clerks III will be Kevin Smith’s last movie.

— Music —

The 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are Albert King, Donna Summer, Heart, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, and Rush.

E Online wrote about the 5 Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2013 Grammy Nominations.

Eddie Van Halen remembered how he came to work on Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It.’

Q&A: Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham Revealed Lingering Tensions in Fleetwood Mac.

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke will release his new album February 25.

A new book tells the story of the band the Smiths.

Popdose chose its Best Pop And Rock Albums of 2012

Read about the Monkee Magic of Micky Dolenz at Popdose.

Actor James Franco has released a music video.

Watch a video of Moses vs. Santa, Featuring Snoop Dogg.

A couple broke up and then decided to sing about it.

Kinky Friedman on Folk Music, Politics, Mass Murder, and His Bipolar Tour. (from No Depression)

Beck is trying to revive the days of singing ‘round the piano.

The A.V. Club wrote about how Townes Van Zandt’s song “Lungs” veers from platonic epistemology to magical realism. I can’t explain what that means. You’ll have to read the article.

And then there is the strange new John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John holiday song video.

Here is a list of the best (and best-worst) of new Christmas music.

— Television —