R.E.M. Shares ‘New’ Song For Bahamas Hurricane Relief

R.E.M. unveiled the previously unreleased track “Fascinating” to raise money for Mercy Corps’ Hurricane Dorian relief and recovery efforts in the Bahamas. The song, which Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe recorded in 2004 at Nassau’s Compass Point Studios can be streamed below and is available for download via Bandcamp.

“Fascinating” has a long history that dates back to the sessions for 2001’s Reveal. The song was a last minute cut despite being among Stipe’s favorites from the sessions. “It’s really beautiful,” Mills told R.E.M. biographer David Buckley. “It has a flute, oboe arrangement, but it made the record too long… and something had to go.”

The band brought “Fascinating” back during the 2004 sessions that yielded Around The Sun. Once again R.E.M. decided against putting it on the LP as this time they felt “the lush ballad ultimately didn’t jibe with that spare, atmospheric album,” as per a press release. After Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas, the legendary rockers agreed the time was right to finally release “Fascinating.”

“I have been fortunate to spend many weeks working and playing in the Bahamas, making friends and lots of music there,” explained Mills. “It breaks my heart to see the damage wrought by Hurricane Dorian. Please help us and Mercy Corps do what we can to alleviate the suffering caused by this catastrophe.” Mercy Corps is a global organization with a team of over 5,000 humanitarians that help in need across the world.

Stream R.E.M.’s “Fascinating” below: