R.E.M.

R.E.MSong by
General information
Release date	August 17, 2018
Recorded	2017
Genre	R&B
Length	4:05
Label	Republic Records
Songwriter(s)	Pharrell Williams
Producer(s)	Williams
Credits	R.E.M credits
"R.E.M"

"R.E.M" is the fourth track from Ariana Grande's fourth studio album, Sweetener. It was released through Republic Records on August 17, 2018.

Background

This track was first teased in a scene in the "No Tears Left To Cry" music video which displayed what appears to be the entire track list for Grande's album, Sweetener.

She confirmed the song on April 28, 2018, and tweeted some lyrics from the track. On that same day, Grande posted a photo to her Instagram story which included the definition of "R.E.M sleep", which is believed to be the concept behind the song.

On June 14, 2018, Grande posted a screenshot listening to "R.E.M." to her Instagram story. On June 18, 2018, Grande said that the story behind the song is "dreaming someone into your life".

Grande teased lyrics of the song in an interview with Elle magazine in 2018. She also teased a snippet a week before the album's release on her Instagram and Twitter. She posted a video snippet of her singing during rehearsals to the song onto her social media accounts.

The song is based from a Beyoncé's demo titled “Wake Up”, a scrapped song from her 2016 album, Lemonade.

Grande uploaded a snippet of a visual for the song on August 25, 2018.

Live performances

Grande performed a snippet of the song on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, on August 18, 2018. However, the song was officially debuted live on August 20, 2018 at The Sweetener Sessions.

Videos

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

Trivia

• The acronym "R.E.M." stands for rapid eye movement.
• This is the only track which is in all capitals because it is an acronym.
• This is one of three songs from Sweetener in which Grande doesn't mention its title in the lyrics. 
  • The other two are "Pete Davidson" and "Get Well Soon".
• This is one of two songs from Sweetener featuring backing vocals by Pharrell Williams, the other one being "the album's title track".
• "R.E.M" is on Grande's top 5 favorite songs from Sweetener.

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]
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)
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, I tried 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]
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