R.E.M.

This article is about the song. For the fragrance, see R.E.M. by Ariana Grande. For the beauty brand, see R.E.M. Beauty.

R.E.M.Song by Ariana Grande
General information
Main artist	Ariana Grande
Featured artist	Quavo
Release date	August 17, 2018
Recorded	March 12, 2011 (T-Pain & Pharrell Williams Writer’s Reference Demo) 2012 - 2013 (Beyoncé Version) January 9, 2017 (Ariana’s Version) October 4, 2017 (Quavo’s Demo)
Studio	Midnight Blue Studios (Miami, Florida) Conway Recording Studios (Hollywood, California)
Genre	R&B, Pop, Ballad, Neo Soul, Alternative Pop, Soul, Electro-Pop, Alternative R&B, Dream
Length	4:05 (Official Release Version) 4:27 (T-Pain & Pharrell Williams Writers Reference & Quavo's Demo) 3:40 (Beyoncé Demo)
Album	Sweetener
Label	Republic Records
Songwriter(s)	Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, T-Pain, Beyoncé, Quavo
Producer(s)	Pharrell Williams, T-Pain
Credits	R.E.M credits
Sweetener track list
"The Light Is Coming"
"R.E.M."
"God Is A Woman"
Audio

"R.E.M." (an acronym for "rapid eye movement") is the fourth track from Ariana Grande's fourth studio album, Sweetener. It was released through Republic Records on Friday August 17, 2018. A live version of the song is featured on K Bye For Now (SWT Live), released on December 23, 2019.

Background

"R.E.M." is based on a T-Pain demo/scrapped track titled “Dream” back in 2011, which Pharrell co- wrote, produced and featured on. The demo was given to Beyoncé, who retitled it to "Wake Up" and planned to use it for her 2013 self-titled album, Beyoncé. The song never made it to the album and was scrapped, Beyonce's demo of the song can be listened to here. Five years later, Pharrell began working with Ariana Grande on her fourth studio album. He gave the song to her, which she rerecorded and titled "R.E.M." She later said that that she had turned it into an entirely new song.

Grande's version was first teased in a scene in the "No Tears Left To Cry" music video which displayed what appears to be the entire tracklist for Grande's album, Sweetener. She confirmed the song on April 28, 2018, and tweeted some lyrics from the track.^[1][2] That same day, Grande posted a photo to her Instagram story that included the definition of "R.E.M. sleep", which was to believe that was the concept behind the song’s title.

Grande continued to tease some more lyrics on a Instagram post she had posted on May 26, 2018.^[3]

On June 14, 2018, Grande posted a screenshot listening to "R.E.M." to her Instagram story.

Four days later on June 18, 2018, Grande said that the story behind the song is "dreaming someone into your life". Grande teased some of the lyrics of the song in an interview with Elle magazine in 2018. On July 30, 2018, a fan had asked Ariana was the song wake up by Beyoncés version, and she responded by saying: "mmhmm ! well kind of, it’s an entirely new song now but the hook was so dreamy ☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️ it had to find a home."^[4]

Ariana soon teased another snippet a week before the album's release on her Instagram and Twitter on August 10, 2018.Another snippet was then teased, it was a video snippet of her singing the song during rehearsals, she posted the song on her social media accounts on August 15, 2018.

On March 17, 2021, the demo version featuring rapper Quavo from the Migos leaked online.

Grande uploaded the first snippet of the visual for the song on her Instagram on August 25, 2018. The second snippet of "R.E.M" visual leaked online six years later on June 14, 2023, along with two others that were "Sweetener" and "Get Well Soon". The full visual leaked a couple days later on June 18, 2023, along with the other two visuals in full.

Audios

• Writers Reference (Dream) (T-Pain Feat. Pharrell Williams) - ( listen)
• R.E.M (Wake Up) (Beyoncé Demo) - ( listen)
• Demo (Featuring Quavo) - ( listen)

Live performances

Grande performed a snippet of the song on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, on August 16, 2018. However, the song was officially debuted live on August 20, 2018, at The Sweetener Sessions. She also performed the song live on BBC Radio 1 in September 2018, and on the one-hour special, Ariana Grande at the BBC, which was recorded on September 7, 2018, and aired on November 1. It was also a regular part of the setlist of Grande's Sweetener World Tour, which began on March 18, 2019.

Ariana Grande - R.E.M Live on The Tonight Show-2

Ariana Grande - Sweetener Sessions- r.e.m. (Live DVD Version)

Ariana Grande - R.E.M. in the Live Lounge-2

Ariana Grande - R.E.M Live at BBC-2

Ariana Grande - r.e.m (sweetener world tour DVD)-2

Videos

R.E.M new snippet – Ariana Grande – Sweetener

Ariana Grande Premieres a New Song from Sweetener in a Game of Song Association ELLE

Beyonce - Wake Up ( R.E.M.)

R.E.M

Ariana Grande - R.E.M (Vertical Video) PART 1

Ariana Grande - R.E.M (Vertical Video) PART 2

Ariana Grande - r.e.m (swt live)

Ariana Grande - r.e.m (sweetener world tour DVD)-2

Ariana Grande - Sweetener Sessions- r.e.m. (Live DVD Version)

Trivia

• The acronym "R.E.M." stands for rapid eye movement.
  • Rapid eye movement is the stage of sleep when your eyes move rapidly beneath their eyelids, causing dreaming to be at its most lucid. The song itself was titled R.E.M. because it is about "...a relationship that blurs between the dream world and reality." Grande later elaborated that the song was about "...dreaming someone into your life."
• The songs scrapped visualizer was recorded on February 8, 2018, during the albums shoot along with "Get Well Soon" and "Sweetener".
• The demo featuring rapper Quavo was recorded in the same session as "100".
• Though Ariana's version of the song was recorded in January, 2017, the earliest known version of "R.E.M." dates all the way back to 2011, making this the oldest song on the album.
  • The second oldest song on the album is "blazed," dating back to 2014.
• This is one of three songs from her album in which Grande doesn't mention its title in the lyrics. The other two songs being "Pete Davidson" and "Get Well Soon".
  • "R.E.M." has been referenced by Grande several times through various other non-music projects, including: one of her fragrances, cosmetics line, and the title of her netflix documentary.
• This is one of five songs featuring backing vocals by Pharrell Williams, the other four being "Blazed", "Sweetener", "Successful", and "Get Well Soon".
• Grande got a tattoo of a heart with the text "REM" below, behind her right ear.
• "R.E.M." is the second longest song on the album, Sweetener after "Get Well Soon".
• "R.E.M" was included in the set list for the Rift Tour.
• In an Q&A video from R.E.M Beauty, Ariana confirmed this is one of her favorite songs from Sweetener.
• In a video "Song Association" for Elle, Ariana sang a snippet of "R.E.M" before it was released.
• In the first episode of the Dangerous Woman Diaries series on Youtube, Ariana is shown played the song R.E.M to each member of her tour crew.
• Despite not containing any profanity, This song is still marked as Explicit on streaming services.[5]

Lyrics

• Final
• Demo feat. Quavo
• Wake Up Demo (Beyoncé)

[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]
Mmm, last night, boy, I met you, yeah
When I was asleep ('Sleep)
You're such a dream to me, mmm, woah
And it was on a day like this, yeah
If you can believe, if you can believe (If you can believe)
Mmm, you're such a dream to me

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Don't wanna wake up, oh
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Boy, you're such a dream
If you can believe, babe
Boy, you're such a dream to me

[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]
"Excuse me, um, I love you"
I know that's not the way to start a conversation, trouble
I watch them other girls when they come and bug you
But I felt like I knew you, so I just wanted to hug you
Plus you don't know your way around
You can stop your playing now
All your worries, lay 'em down, shh, don't say it loud
Is this real, baby?
(Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum)
You're like: "I love you—who starts a conversation like that?"
Nobody, but I do
But you are not a picture, I can't cut you up and hide you
I'll get you out my mind, mhm, or try to
But I just want to stand and yell
I will never dare to tell
Think I heard some wedding bells, shh, keep it to yourself
Is this real? (Is this real?)

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Don't wanna wake up, oh no
Wake up, wake up, wake up
'Cause you're such a dream
If you can believe
You're such a dream to me, mmm, boy

[Verse 3: Ariana Grande & Pharrell Williams]
I could buy you anything, but I cannot buy you
Before your boy gets smart, I would never try to
You know I'm thinking to myself, "What happened? Why you?"
But when I see you in my dreams, psh, I know
You know how to treat it, you know how to eat it
You know how to beat it (I know how to keep it)
The Good Housekeeping Seal
(Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum)
I don't just wanna touch you
I'm tryna turn two single people into a couple
What's your next month like? Tell me what you're up to
We can leave right now, boy, you don't need a duffel
What about La Perla? Let Vickie keep her secret
Boy, it ain't no secret if I know you're gonna peep it, oh

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wa-wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wa-wake up (No I don't want, no)
'Cause you're such a dream (Does this end?)
If you can believe, you're such a dream to me
To me, mmm, boy, to me, mmm, yeah

[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]
Mmm, last night, boy, I met you, yeah
When I was asleep ('Sleep)
You're such a dream to me, mmm, woah
And it was on a day like this, yeah
If you can believe, if you can believe (If you can believe)
Mmm, you're such a dream to me

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Don't wanna wake up, oh
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Boy, you're such a dream
If you can believe, babe
Boy, you're such a dream to me

[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]
"Excusе me, um, I love you"
I know that's not the way to start a convеrsation, trouble
I watch them other girls when they come and bug you
But I felt like I knew you, so I just wanted to hug you
Plus you don't know your way around
You can stop your playing now
All your worries, lay 'em down, shh, don't say it loud
Is this real, baby?
(Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum)
You're like: "I love you—who starts a conversation like that?" Nobody, but I do
But you are not a picture, I can't cut you up and hide you
I'll get you out my mind, mhm, or try to
But I just want to stand and yell
I will never dare to tell
Think I heard some wedding bells, shh, keep it to yourself
Is this real? (Is this real?)
You might also like

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Don't wanna wake up, oh no
Wake up, wake up, wake up
'Cause you're such a dream
If you can believe
You're such a dream to me, mmm, boy

[Verse 3: Ariana Grande & Pharrell Williams]
I could buy you anything, but I cannot buy you
Before your boy gets smart, I would never try to
You know I'm thinking to myself, "What happened? Why you?"
But when I see you in my dreams, psh, I know
You know how to treat it, you know how to eat it
You know how to beat it (I know how to keep it)
The Good Housekeeping Seal
(Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum)
I don't just wanna touch you
I'm tryna turn two single people into a couple
What's your next month like? Tell me what you're up to
We can leave right now, boy, you don't need a duffel
What about La Perla? Let Vickie keep her secret
Boy, it ain't no secret if I know you're gonna peep it, oh

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Don't wanna wake up, oh no
Wake up, wake up, wake up
'Cause you're such a dream
If you can believe
You're such a dream to me, mmm, boy

[Verse 4: Quavo]
Wake up, wake up in my dreams (Wake up, yuh)
Feel like paradise between the sheets (The sheets)
Telling me that it belong to me (It belong to me, ooh)
Slipping waterfall, it's a dream (Slip, slip)
I keep slipping, Imma fall in your dream (Slip, slip)
I'm like Sonic, she my Tails, kiss the ring (Kiss the ring, silence—)
Don't wake me up at all, Imma sleep (I'm sleep, dreamin')

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wa-wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wa-wake up
(No I don't want, no)
'Cause you're such a dream (Does this end?)
If you can believe, you're such a dream to me
To me, mmm-

[Intro: Beyoncé]
I don't wanna wake, wake

[Verse 1: Beyoncé]
Excuse me? Um, I love you
Who starts a conversation like that? Nobody but I do
But you are not a picture, I can't cut you up or hide you
I'll get you out my mind, hmm, I try to
Why you? In my dreams, I knew
You knew how to be there, you knew how to treat it
You knew how to keep it, I wanna do more than touch you
I'm tryna turn two single people into a couple
What's your next month like? Tell me what you up to
We can leave right now, n*gga, you don't need a duffle
La Perla, provocateur of secrets
How is it a secret if I know you're gonna peep it?
I see you peeking, don't wanna hear a peep
Wait

[Chorus: Beyoncé & Pharrell Williams]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Don't wanna wake up, oh
Wake up, wake up, wake up
You're such a dream
If you can believe?
Boy you're such a dream to me, yeah, yeah
You might also like

[Verse 2: Beyoncé]
Hey there, boy, I love you
I'm feeling like I know you, I can't help but wanna thug you
I'm watching all these broads trying so damn hard
But I can't even blame 'em 'cause you're so irresistible
I want to stand and yell, I won't ever dare to tell
I think I heard some wedding bells (keep that to yourself)
Is this real?
Ooh child, I can stop praying now
Past life, let's rewind
To the day when I met you
Throwback
Dear God, how could I forget you?
Your sex
Boy, it feels just like a dream to me
Now

[Chorus: Beyoncé & Pharrell Williams]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Don't wanna wake up, oh
Wake up, wake up, wake up
You're such a dream
(You're such dream)
If you can believe?
Boy you're such a dream to me, yeah, yeah

[Bridge: Beyoncé]
So to whom
It may concern
Please don't disturb me
Can't you see?
I'm happy, happily sleep, yeah

[Chorus: Beyoncé & Pharrell Williams]
Before you speak, don't move
'Cause I don't wanna wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up
I don't wanna wake up, oh
Wake up, wake up, wake up
You're such a dream
(You're such dream)
If you can believe?
Boy you're such a dream to me, yeah, yeah

[Outro: Beyoncé & Blue Ivy]
Ma ma, ma ma
(Don't mess with my baby
They better not mess with my baby)