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Cover of Automatic for the People by R.E.M.
Cover: Automatic for the People

Song · R.E.M.

“The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” by R.E.M.

From the album Automatic for the People (1992)

“The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” by R.E.M. appears on 18 radio countdowns from 7 stations between 1993 and 2021. It was first released in 1992 on the album Automatic for the People. Its best result is #88 on the Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1993. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #267 alternative song of 1993 and #2,108 alternative song of all time.

18countdowns
7stations
#88best position
0#1 finishes
0top 10 finishes
1993–2021years charted

Watch

R.E.M. - The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite (Official HD Music Video)

Video from YouTube (remhq). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite" is the grin in the middle of Automatic for the People, R.E.M.'s heavy-hearted 1992 album, and it wears its debt openly: the title and the opening refrain both tip a hat to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", which even served as the B-side of the American single in 1993. Peter Buck later explained that a record so preoccupied with mortality, suicide, family and passing time needed a light spot, though the band came to suspect this one might be a touch too featherweight.

All four members share the writing credit, Scott Litt produced it with the band, and a guest section of violins, violas, cellos and oboe gives the goofball bounce a surprisingly plush backdrop. Kevin Kerslake directed the video, it made the In Time best-of in 2003, and for all its success R.E.M. never once played it live.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1993 88 Q101 Chicago, IL Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1993 101

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1994 405 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994) 500
1999 758 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 333 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 1565 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
2000 1565 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2001 1565 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 348 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2002 1560 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 1488 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 1564 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 1648 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) 2044
2004 1564 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 313 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2005 1562 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 305 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2006 500 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2021 745 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s 908

Also listed as: The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight; The Side Winder Sleeps Tonight.

Charting alongside it in 1993

Best songs of 1993 →
  1. 1CannonballThe Breeders
  2. 2CreepRadiohead
  3. 3LingerThe Cranberries
  4. 4PlushStone Temple Pilots
  5. 5No RainBlind Melon
  6. 6Soul to SqueezeRed Hot Chili Peppers

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