12 Huge Music Artists Who Hate Their Own Songs

7) R.E.M- Shiny Happy People

This lot were never the most cheery of bands. So, when their record company asked them for a happy, up-tempo pop track to include on 1991’s Out of Time, they responded with this saccharine, ironic number with the belief that it would be immediately rejected. It wasn’t and it became one of their most successful singles. “It’s a fruity pop song written for children.” Stipe told the BBC’s Andrew Marr in 2016. “If there was one song that was sent into outer space to represent R.E.M. for the rest of time, I would not want it to be Shiny Happy People.”