It's the End of the World as We Know It - R.E.M.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY]

This song reminds me a lot of "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies and "Run-Around" by Blues Traveler. It's not the music or content that makes a connection for me; instead, it's the fast lyrics that are so familiar, but so hard to keep in the right order when singing along. Then, you get to the chorus and everybody jumps in full force to sing it loud. Back to the verses, everyone's lost all over again. It's always impressive when you meet that one guy that actually sing it as it was originally recorded.

R.E.M.'s hit reminds many people of another song, though, Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues." Guitarist Peter Buck even admits that the song was influenced by Dylan. I personally don't really hear much in the way of similarity beyond, again, the fast paced lyrics. "End of the World" was released by the band in 1987, only reaching a #69 spot. The first time I heard the song was during a scene in Independence Day. It was a fitting lyrical line for the movie.