What R.E.M. song is about an '80s street attack on journalist Dan Rather?

Last updated: December 4, 2023

What R.E.M. song is about an '80s street attack on journalist Dan Rather?
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I was once in a karaoke bar in Athens, Georgia, filming a video for my work, when the bartender politely noted: "If Michael comes in here, you'll have to put that camera down."

In Athens, with all due apologies to everyone else with this name, there is only one Michael: Michael Stipe, frontman for R.E.M.

Spoiler alert: "Michael" never came in, but it was a great bar and Athens is a great town that fosters some great musicians.

With a career as long and decorated as R.E.M.'s, you take song-writing inspiration from a variety of sources. In this case, a strange and largely forgotten 1980s news story serves as inspiration. But for which song?

Click START to answer.