“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” by R.E.M. is a gritty, guitar-driven rock song released in September 1994 – with the instrumental version of the song on the B-side – as the lead single from their album Monster. Written by R.E.M. members, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, it marked a sonic shift for the band, moving away from the acoustic, introspective sound of Automatic for the People toward a louder, more distorted, glam-punk-influenced style.
The song’s title comes from a real-life incident in 1986 when CBS news anchor Dan Rather was attacked on a New York street by a man who repeatedly shouted, “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?” The phrase became a pop culture oddity, and R.E.M. used it to explore themes of media confusion, generational disconnect, and disorientation in a rapidly changing world.
Musically, it features fuzzy, overdriven guitars, a steady driving beat, and Michael Stipe’s somewhat cryptic vocals, which are more snarled and sarcastic than in earlier R.E.M. songs. The sound captures the band’s fascination at the time with rock’s raw energy, and it was a deliberate return to louder, live-oriented music.
The song was a commercial success, reaching becoming a Top 10 hit in numerous countries, including Canada, New Zealand, and the UK and topping Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States. It also became a staple of their live shows and a favorite among fans for its intensity and sense of controlled chaos.