Music only matters...

I am sitting in my Athens, GA apartment thinking what will be my final takeaway from this Fulbright experience. There are 39 days left before my return home and although there have definitely been so many nice moments, events, people, experiences, the only thing I can think of is music. And not any music, but R.E.M. music. More specifically, the verse which is currently (and continuously) occupying my head is "It's the end of the world as we know it". My takeaway Fulbright experience has somewhat been robbed by the Coronavirus and a strong earthquake which hit my hometown Zagreb today. However, there will be good memories of Athens and they will be spiced with music, since music strongly adds to any experience.

R.E.M., an original Athens band released this particular song in 1987. Supposedly, the lyrics "come from everywhere" as R.E.M.'s lead singer Michael Stipe explained, and were influenced by a strange dream he had. Any resemblance to the events happening at the moment is pure coincidence but one can hardly get this music worm out of her head. Or it just comes handy as a catchphrase for this blog post... :)

Bill Berry (drummer), Peter Buck (guitarist), Mike Mills (bassist), and Michael Stipe (lead vocalist) known as R.E.M. left a tremendous legacy in Athens, GA. It is visible in some physical locations; some of them are still alive and working, some remained a music heritage of the city, cherished (and saved) by the Athens community.

Let me take you on a small virtual music tour... Peter Buck used to work in the downtown Wuxtry Records, a still very much alive record store where he met Michael Stipe. You can't and you shouldn't miss it when visiting Athens, GA.

Their first performance, on April 5th, 1980 was in a church, of which today only a steeple remains on Oconee Street.

The 40 Watt Club, where many bands started out, is also downtown.

The band formed in 1980. Although they released some singles or extended plays in the following years (Radio Free Europe, Chronic Town), their debut album Murmur was released in 1983 building their reputation over the next years. The back cover of this full-length album featured the Trail Creek Trestle, which still exists and is properly landmarked.

Not far from there, is one of their favorite hangouts, Weaver D's traditional soul food restaurant, whose slogan was "Automatic for the People". Now you know where the name of R.E.M.'s most popular album comes from! If you happen to visit Athens for a R.E.M. vibe, this is the place you definitely want to experience.

Some of the members of the band still own houses in Athens, GA. To respect their privacy, I am not sharing their photos. However, using your famous detective skills, you should be able to find them yourselves. I'll just give you a hint: head towards Normaltown, maybe Boulevard... Anyway, what kind of a tour it would be if we revealed everything!

Important: be a good detective, look carefully and look down! You might also find R.E.M. engraved into the concrete pavement! A signature left after a party with other members of the rich Athens music scene, before the world knew who R.E.M. were...

The band can be said to be a pioneer in the alternative rock genre. With Out of Time, as well as Automatic for the People album, they became mainstream. Although Loosing My Religion was their highest-charting and best-selling hit, it is not going to be my takeaway Athens experience. I will leave in the tune of Shiny Happy People... more in line with the current times and all beautiful people of Athens we met and can proudly call friends.