Hear Monkees’ Micky Dolenz Cover R.E.M.’s ‘Shiny Happy People’

Micky Dolenz has launched his cowl of R.E.M.’s traditional hit “Shiny Happy People.”

The observe comes from Dolenz Sings R.E.M., an upcoming tribute EP by the Monkees rocker due out Nov. 3.

“Once again, this EP reaffirms my long-held conviction that a solid recording always begins with solid material,” Dolenz declared in an announcement accompanying the one. “You don’t get much more solid than R.E.M. What a joy to sing these classics and honor a team of outstanding writers.”

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Originally launched in 1991, “Shiny Happy People” grew to become a Top 10 hit for R.E.M. and stays certainly one of their best-known songs. Dolenz sticks to the unique observe’s shiny, bubbly really feel in his rendition, however provides additional instrumentation and a Monkees-like association to the tune. The accompanying video, which you’ll watch beneath, is compiled of Dolenz’s house film footage, including an air of nostalgia to the tune.

Why Is Micky Dolenz Covering R.E.M.?

Dolenz’s R.E.M. tribute album was conceived by Glenn Gretlund, co-owner of 7A Records, a U.Ok. label that has been re-releasing remastered Monkees materials for a number of years.

“I was talking to Glenn about what to do next,” Dolenz defined to Rolling Stone. “The band R.E.M. came up. I went, ‘Wow, that’s very cool.’ I’m a big fan. I remember their stuff very well. And I’ve heard through the grapevine that the band were fans of the Monkees. I found that incredibly flattering.”

R.E.M. famously grew uninterested in “Shiny Happy People” and even stopped performing the tune in live performance. Still, singer Michael Stipe has expressed his pleasure for Dolenz’s interpretation of the observe.

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“Micky Dolenz covering R.E.M. Monkees style, I have died and gone to heaven,” Stipe said via statement. “This is really something. ‘Shiny Happy People’ sounds incredible (never thought you or I would hear me say that!!!). Give it a spin. It’s wild. And produced by Christian Nesmith (son of Michael Nesmith). I am finally complete.”