Tuesday Tunes: Shiny Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to singer, songwriter, film producer, and activist Michael Stipe, best known as the frontman of legendary alternative rock band R.E.M. Like most fans of Michael Stipe and R.E.M., I am often moved by Stipe's incredible vocal stylings and his surreal lyrics (when they can be understood, that is.)
 If we go way, way back to 1983, we can see Stipe and company making their television debut on Late Night with David Letterman, performing a song that - at the time - had no title apparently, but we now know and love as "South Central Rain (I'm Sorry.)"

As part of the fundraiser for the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Stipe and Chris Martin of Coldplay recorded a cover of one of my favorite songs: Joseph Arthur's "In the Sun."

And, finally, today I wanted to share a fun video from Sesame Street where Michael Stipe changed the lyrics of R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People" to the Muppet-ready "Furry Happy Monsters."

Happy Birthday, Michael.