The REM song called Orange Crush

"Orange Crush"

Single by R.E.M.
from the album Green
Released December 1988 (US)

May 1989 (UK)
Format 7" Single
Recorded 1988
Genre Rock
Length 3:51
Label Warner Bros. Records
Producer(s) Scott Litt & R.E.M.
Peak chart positions
#28 (UK)
#1 (US Modern Rock, US Mainstream Rock)
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Stand"
(1988) "Orange Crush"
(1989) "Pop Song 89"
(1989)



"Orange Crush" was the second single from R.E.M.'s sixth studio album, Green, in 1989. It failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 despite reaching #1 on both the Mainstream and Modern Rock Tracks. It peaked at #28 on the UK Singles Charts, easily making it the band's then-highest chart in Britain.

Though Michael Stipe's lyrics are generally oblique, it is thought that the title of this song refers to Agent Orange, the defoliant/herbicide used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.

As a guest on the late-night show Last Call with Carson Daly, Michael explained that the song was about a young football player leaving the comforts of home for the war in Vietnam.

The song was placed on R.E.M.'s Warner Bros. Records compilation In Time - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 in 2003.

The song will be playable in the upcoming video game Rock Band.


Cover versions
British indie rock band Editors recorded it as the B-side for the re-issue of the "Blood" single. The remake of the song was also featured in "The Metamorphosis," a fourth-season episode of The OC.

They also played the song at the 2006 V Festival with New York based band We Are Scientists


Track listing


All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe unless otherwise indicated.
"Orange Crush" – 3:50
"Ghostrider" (Suicide) – 3:47