"Daysleeper" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released as the first single from their eleventh studio album Up on October 12, 1998. Sung from the point of view of a night shift worker corresponding with colleagues, "Daysleeper" focuses on the disorientation of time and circadian rhythm in such a lifestyle, leading to despair and loss of identity. Lead singer Michael Stipe developed the song's concept after noticing a sign reading "daysleeper" on a New York City apartment door.
Background During R.E.M.'s performance for VH1 Storytellers, Stipe explained the background to the song:
The song "The Lifting" from R.E.M.'s 2001 album Reveal is a prequel to "Daysleeper" and features the same character.As stated by Michael Stipe on Later... with Jools Holland in 2001.
Music video The video, shot at Broadway Studios in the Astoria district of New York City in September 1998,Q, October 1998 was filmed in stop-frame photography to get what Stipe called a "really druggy, really great look." It features Stipe as the office worker who goes to work at night. All three band members then wear pajamas and bed socks, while failing to get to sleep during the day. The video was directed by the Icelandic Snorri brothers. "I think it's about the sort of alien nature of a night shift," explained Mike Mills. "The weird lighting, the fluorescent lights that you find and the isolation of working the graveyard shift—how it screws up your sleep patterns and that sort of thing, and I think that's the main image we're trying to get across."
Track listings All songs were written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe.
US 7-inch, CD, and cassette single UK cassette single European CD single "Daysleeper" – 3:32 "Emphysema" – 4:21
Canadian, Australian, and Japanese CD single "Daysleeper" (single) – 3:31 "Emphysema" – 4:21 "Sad Professor" (live in the studio, Toast, San Francisco, California) – 3:59 "Why Not Smile" (Oxford American version) – 3:00
UK CD single "Daysleeper" – 3:31 "Emphysema" – 4:21 "Why Not Smile" (Oxford American version) – 3:00
UK mini-CD single "Daysleeper" (single edit) – 3:31 "Sad Professor" (live in the studio, Toast, San Francisco, California) – 3:59
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1998)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA)57Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)27Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)1Italy Airplay (Music & Media) 9Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)15
Year-end charts Chart (1999)PositionUS Triple-A (Billboard)30
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)EuropeSeptember 1998RadioWarner Bros.United KingdomOctober 12, 1998 Misprinted as September 12.United StatesOctober 13, 1998Contemporary hit radioJapanOctober 26, 1998CD
References