Adam Berry/Getty ImagesR.E.M.‘s 1987 hit “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” has experienced a spike in popularity because of in the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and now the band’s frontman, Michael Stipe, has posted a new video online featuring him singing part of the tune and giving advice about the health crisis.
The singer has posted a four-and-a-half-minute clip on MichaelStipe.com, and a shorter video on R.E.M.’s social media pages and YouTube channel, in which he implores people to follow certain rules to remain healthy and help ensure the virus doesn’t spread.
In the longer video, Stipe begins by singing the chorus of “It’s the End of the World as We Know It,” then notes, “I do feel fine…The important part of that lyric, that song title, is ‘as we know it.’ We’re…going through something that none of us have ever encountered before…And it’s real and it’s serious and it’s here.”
In the shorter clip, Michael runs through four rules for helping contain the virus.
“Most important, number one: Stay at home,” he says. “Don’t go out unless you have to.”
Stipe continues, “Number two: Wash your hands for 20 seconds every time you come into or out of your house. …Three: Act like you’re already sick…And you don’t want to be within six feet of anyone else, because you could pass it on to them, they pass on to someone else, they pass it on to two other people.”
The final rule, Michael says, is “Be careful where you get your information from…[D]on’t trust social media. Go to the CDC website. Go to trusted news services for your information.”
Michael shares more in-depth message about the rules at MichaelStipe.com.
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