Bittersweet Me

"Bittersweet Me"
"Bittersweet Me"
Single by R.E.M.
from the album New Adventures in Hi-Fi
B-side	"Undertow (Live)"
Released	October 21, 1996
Recorded	November 7, 1995
Studio	Memphis soundcheck
Length	4:06
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Bill Berry; Peter Buck; Mike Mills; Michael Stipe;
Producer(s)	Scott Litt; R.E.M.;
R.E.M. singles chronology

"Bittersweet Me" is a song by R.E.M., released as the second single from their 10th studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). Like much of the album, the song originated while the band were on the road for the Monster tour, although the song was only ever soundchecked and has never been played live as part of a concert.^[1] The song was a bigger hit in the United States than the first single from the album, "E-Bow the Letter", except on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, where the first single's number-two peak bested the number-six peak of "Bittersweet Me".

The CD single features a live cover of "Wichita Lineman", a song written by Jimmy Webb and made popular by Glen Campbell. The video for the single was shot in the style of an Italian movie entitled Stanco E Nudo (a translation of the line "tired and naked" in the song). It was included as a bonus video on the DVD release of In View - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003.

Track listings

All songs were written by Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe unless otherwise indicated.

7-inch, cassette, and CD single

"Bittersweet Me" – 4:06
"Undertow" (live)¹ – 5:05

12-inch and CD maxi-single

"Bittersweet Me" – 4:06
"Undertow" (live)¹ – 5:05
"Wichita Lineman" (Webb) (live)² – 3:18
"New Test Leper" (live acoustic)³ – 5:29

Notes

¹ Recorded at the Omni Theater, Atlanta, Georgia; November 18, 1995. Taken from the live performance video, Road Movie.
² Recorded at The Woodlands, Houston, Texas; September 15, 1995.
³ Recorded at Bad Animals Studio, Seattle, Washington; April 19, 1996.

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996–1997)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[2]	90
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[3]	6
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[4]	42
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[5]	11
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[6]	92
Germany (GfK)^[7]	93
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[8]	5
Ireland (IRMA)^[9]	20
Scotland (OCC)^[10]	14
UK Singles (OCC)^[11]	19
US Billboard Hot 100^[12]	46
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[13]	1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[14]	6
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[15]	7
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[16]	28

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[17]	75
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[18]	59

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	October 8, 1996 (1996-10-08)	Contemporary hit radio	Warner Bros.	^[19]
United Kingdom	October 21, 1996 (1996-10-21)	CD cassette	Warner Bros.	^[20]

References

^ R.E.M. Timeline
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 232.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9720." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9788." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9736." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 45. November 9, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "R.E.M. – Bittersweet Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.12. – 18.12.'96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 13, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bittersweet Me". Irish Singles Chart.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "R.E.M.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
^ "R.E.M. Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1166. October 4, 1996. p. 77. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 19, 1996. p. 37. Retrieved August 23, 2021.

External links

Full video on R.E.M. HQ's channel on YouTube

[1] R.E.M. Timeline

[2] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 232.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-3] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9720." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-4] "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9788." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[sc_Canadarock_-5] "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9736." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[6] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 45. November 9, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[sc_Germany_R.E.M.-7] "R.E.M. – Bittersweet Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.

[8] "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.12. – 18.12.'96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 13, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[sc_Ireland2_R.E.M.-9] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bittersweet Me". Irish Singles Chart.

[sc_Scotland_-10] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_R.E.M.-11] "R.E.M.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[sc_Billboardhot100_R.E.M.-12] "R.E.M. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_R.E.M.-13] "R.E.M. Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[sc_Billboardalternativesongs_R.E.M.-14] "R.E.M. Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_R.E.M.-15] "R.E.M. Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_R.E.M.-16] "R.E.M. Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.

[17] "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[18] "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

[19] "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1166. October 4, 1996. p. 77. Retrieved August 23, 2021.

[20] "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 19, 1996. p. 37. Retrieved August 23, 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

v t e R.E.M.
Bill Berry Peter Buck Mike Mills Michael Stipe Bertis Downs Jefferson Holt
Studio albums	Murmur Reckoning Fables of the Reconstruction Lifes Rich Pageant Document Green Out of Time Automatic for the People Monster New Adventures in Hi-Fi Up Reveal Around the Sun Accelerate Collapse into Now
Live albums	R.E.M. Live Live at The Olympia Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions R.E.M. at the BBC Live at the Borderline 1991
Compilations	Dead Letter Office Eponymous The Best of R.E.M. The Automatic Box Singles Collected In the Attic In Time iTunes Originals And I Feel Fine Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011 Complete Rarities (I.R.S. · WB) 7IN—83–88
EPs	Chronic Town Not Bad for No Tour Vancouver Rehearsal Tapes Live from London Reckoning Songs from The Olympia
Other albums	Man on the Moon r.e.m.IX
Singles	"Radio Free Europe" "Talk About the Passion" "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" "Cant Get There from Here" "Driver 8" "Wendell Gee" "Fall on Me" "Superman" "The One I Love" "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" "Finest Worksong" "Orange Crush" "Stand" "Pop Song 89" "Get Up" "Losing My Religion" "Shiny Happy People" "Near Wild Heaven" "Radio Song" "Drive" "Man on the Moon" "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" "Everybody Hurts" "Nightswimming" "Find the River" "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" "Bang and Blame" "Crush with Eyeliner" "Strange Currencies" "Tongue" "E-Bow the Letter" "Bittersweet Me" "Electrolite" "How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us" "Daysleeper" "Lotus" "At My Most Beautiful" "Suspicion" "The Great Beyond" "Imitation of Life" "All the Way to Reno (You're Gonna Be a Star)" "I'll Take the Rain" "Bad Day" "Animal" "Leaving New York" "Aftermath" "Electron Blue" "Wanderlust" "#9 Dream" "Supernatural Superserious" "Hollow Man" "Man-Sized Wreath" "Until the Day Is Done" "Mine Smell Like Honey" "Überlin" "Oh My Heart" "We All Go Back to Where We Belong"
Other songs	"Sitting Still" "Gardening at Night" "Perfect Circle" "Pretty Persuasion" "7 Chinese Bros." "Begin the Begin" "Cuyahoga" "Ages of You" "Turn You Inside-Out" "Texarkana" "Country Feedback" "First We Take Manhattan" "Ignoreland" "Dark Globe" "Star 69" "New Test Leper" "All the Right Friends" "Out in the Country"
Videos	Succumbs Tourfilm Pop Screen This Film Is On Parallel Road Movie In View Perfect Square When the Light Is Mine R.E.M. Live Live from Austin, TX REMTV
Support and side projects	Nathan December Buren Fowler Peter Holsapple Barrett Martin Scott McCaughey Bill Rieflin Ken Stringfellow Joey Waronker The Baseball Project Filthy Friends Hindu Love Gods The Minus 5 Tanzplagen Tuatara Tired Pony
Related articles	Discography List of songs Awards Tours 170 College Avenue Peter Buck Athens Andover "I Belong to You" Hib-Tone Surprise Your Pig: A Tribute to R.E.M. Drive XV: A Tribute to Automatic for the People
Category