![Listen to R.E.M.’s New Benefit Song, ‘Fascinating’](https://townsquare.media/site/295/files/2019/09/REM-David-Belisle.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Listen to R.E.M.’s New Benefit Song, ‘Fascinating’
In the wake of Hurricane Dorian's devastation of the Bahamas last week, R.E.M. have gone into their vaults and unearthed a song called "Fascinating."
They're selling the track to raise money for Mercy Corps, a disaster relief organization. You can listen to "Fascinating" below before you buy.
According to a press release, the band first recorded the song in 2001. Even though it was singer Michael Stipe's favorite track from the Reveal sessions, it wound up on the cutting-room floor. They gave it another shot in 2004 while recording Around the Sun at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, but felt the song's sound contrasted with other tracks on the album.
The song can be streamed at Bandcamp and downloaded for a minimum donation of $2, with all of the money going to Mercy Corps, which will provide 3,000 families with emergency kits and solar lanterns that have USB ports to keep mobile devices charged. R.E.M. previously raised money for the organization following 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
“I have been fortunate to spend many weeks working and playing in the Bahamas, making friends and lots of music there,” bassist Mike Mills said. “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.”
“The Bahamas faces a long road to recovery after this devastating hurricane,” added Mercy Corps CEO Neal Keny-Guyer. “We’re grateful to have R.E.M. in our global community of humanitarians, sharing their song with the world to help the people of the Bahamas recover and build back even stronger.”
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